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Aseptic Viral Meningitis

Last summer I was diagnosed as having viral meningitis after about a month of misdiagnosis.  My symptoms were acute leading to a 2 month hospitalization for supportive care and eight lumbar punctures to relieve the inter cranial pressure.  I did have one seizzure like episode, but recovered my speech after a LP.  Through out this time I was constantly dizzy and throwing up.  I had lost thirty pounds and thought I was going to die.  It was found that I also had suffered paplademia - swelling of the optical nerve.  I am currently being seen by a nuero opthamologist.  He hasn't prescribe the meds b/c they are harmful and my scans are at least on the charts now.  He's waiting to see if it returns to normal without the meds.  He claims there is no dizziness associated with this condition.  I have returned to my nuerologist b/c the dizziness has not gone away.  When I look up, bend my head back, lay down and sit up the whole room spins.  The dr claims that this is just residual from the acute meningitis and that it will go away.  I trust my new doctors at one of the most renowned hospitals in New England, but it's not subsiding and it scares me.  They said I'm more suseptable to getting another bout of meningitis and it will probably be that way for at least a year.  I'm a school teacher around sick kids during flu season.  Would you agree that this is all normal and I've just become a hypercondriact b/c I was so sick?
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Avatar universal
Currently in week 6 of viral meningitis. Thought I was on the mend so began had days at work last week. However after 5 hours in the office today I was struck by a crippling headache. Worse than I'd experienced for at least a week. The frustration of it is extremely upsetting. It's just good to know others out there understand.
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i have had viral meningitis two time in the past year.. the first time i honestly thought i was going to die. i was having a fever, headache, and my back and neck were very stiff. Spent several days in the hospital where a lp proved for me to have viral meningitis, i threw up for 15 days straight and suffered depression, anxiety, and panic attacks plus tremors that i could not control. I felt like i was trying to learn things all over again. small task. my ability to remember how to seemed to deminish, and then 1 yr later i ended up with it again. they ran all kinds of test for infectous diseases and all came back negative. they seemed to be stumped. this has affected my ability to work. i have been put on several meds for anxiety and depression. this is how i function normally. they have come to the conclusion that when i was in an abusive relationship  my nose was broken and this is why i am getting this infection so much. so now i have to have my nose reconstructed and see if this is where the problem lies. i feel for you all because i have been where you are.
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I have stiff neck, headaches, and have been running a fever since saturday. I have been treating the symptoms with advil and Tylenol every three hours. May fever still stays at about 102. I have not had a spinal tap, however my CBC is normal. I'm never sick. This doesn't make since
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I developed viral meningitis in 03.  I didn't have insurance and thought for sure I was going to die.  I was in very good health prior to this.  It took a doctor several days to do a MRI, probably because I didn't have insurance. When they did, they found brain lesions on my frontal lobe.  Subsequent MRI's show nothing.  I'm told that these are the tracks that a brain infection leaves behind. I'm still lightheaded and fatigued.  It's now 2010, and my symptoms have not changed since that acute attack.  I've consulted with Infectious Disease and Neurology.  There is nothing anybody can do for me I guess. I've had to deal with deep depression and anxiety since then.  All they can do is treat me for that and I cope with this that way.

I hope others find a way to manage this disease effectively.
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Avatar universal
I myself had viral meningitis in March 2010. I was sent to the hospital where i thought i was having a stroke i had lost all feeling in right side of my face and it was going across to the left side and very dizzy (yes i know stroke is left side) after many tests i was told that they didnt know what was wrong sent me on my way and called it Vertigo. continued headaches and dizziness and face numbness i again proceeded to ER after dr told me i may have viral meningitis after a lumbar puncture it was confirmed.  It is now July and my headaches have never ceased and my dizziness returned with a vengances two weeks ago.  After many bouts of antibotics i had a MRI and temporal bone MRI done yesterday with and without contrast.  My pain is insane to the point i dont know what to do anymore along with my dizziness (falling).  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated?
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Avatar universal
If the viral meningitis is caused by herpes simplex HSV-2 (one of if not the most common cause of viral meningitis), then it is actually quite treatable with simple aciclovir. I wonder why after that many lumbar punctures they never tested for specific viruses like HSV-2.
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Avatar universal
i had meningitis in1995 viral meningitis i had 4 docotors come and se me and 4th doc called the hospital because i collapsed.
i went to worthing and was isolated i recovered after 3 weeks and went home i lost lots of weight and i lost hair. i notice i now have terrible listen habits and suffer from flu and right side of my head i get pain from top to my neck when i get flu .  i do think this is because of what happened because i never had this before i suffered with viral meningitis can anyone help
regards its a lonely world ??
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Avatar universal
There is no treatment for viral meningitis
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Avatar universal
Hi,
I appreciate your feelings.
If you had meningitis and taken treatment for that, the chances of getting meningitis again are same as anybody else in population. If you are immuno deficient in any manner, then chances are likely to increase.
In your case and anybody else case, if you have suffered so much, you tend to become little cautious.
1shannob, the word is hypochondriac, not hyperchondriac.
Hope this helps you.
Bye.
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Avatar universal
Hi,
I think you are right in being concerned. I would suggest you to seek a second opinion.
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