Lingering symptoms viral meningitis

[wlich]

About 7 weeks ago, I had classic symptoms of viral meningitis and went to the ER.  Diagnosis via spinal tap was indeed VM and I've been sick ever since.  I was in the hospital for 6 days and then at home, in bed for another week.  Started moving around the house more but couldn't work and was in bed or on the couch most of the day for another 3 weeks.  Went back to work for 1/2 days only for a week now but can't seem to get past this point.  I feel like after battling this illness for 7 weeks now that I should've been further along.  My Dr says that some people take 3 or 4 months to fully recover and that I'm actually doing well since apparently, I had a severe case.  I am concerned however because I still have this weird feeling in my head....a flutter, or feeling something move, or dizziness  or whoosh like feeling occurs.  It effects my ears and seems to get worse when I use my eyes too much like at work or driving (I am still unable to drive at this point).  When it gets worse I get extremely tired and then, it kicks in my stomach with an acid reflux type of effect.  It's a terrible cycle that I can't seem to stop.  To complicate issues, I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritus.  When it has rained, of course, my symptoms from these ailments kicked up.  I thought my VM effects were getting better slowly but surely (even though I seem like I've hit a wall right now) but then, we had 3 days of rain come in and everything kicked up at once.  My head got worse and I ended up in bed. I got to the point that I could hardly walk without listing to one side and the light really bothered me.  I feel like I regressed 2 or 3 weeks in my recovery.  Is this all normal?  Is my fibro complicating the issue? Should I expect this weird feeling in my head to eventually go away or, will it linger and only get worse when inflammation in other areas occur?  If it is to linger, how long should I expect?  Are there tests they can do to make sure there is no permanent damage to my optic nerve since a lof of this seems to be tied to my vision in my left eye (I had double vision for the first few days in the hospital with my perifreal vision only).  I'm also concerned because my memory is terrible....especially to recall things that happened with a month or two right before I fell ill.  I just don't know if this is all normal and if it will get better with time or what.  I take many vitamins and herbs for my fibro (which I normally have only 1 or 2 attacks a month that last for one or two days only) and also see a chiropractor every two or three weeks  So, I'm open to any natural remedies you can suggest.  As you can see I'm very frustrated and loosing patience with this whole situation and need some difinative answers for what is happening in my head.  It's very scary to think that maybe CFS or some other type of permanent damage has occurred and I'll have to put up with these symptoms the rest of my life.  I'm only 43 and a mom of 3 so life has GOT to get back to normal.  Thanks!

[KimPolitis]

Hi my daughter had VM a year ago.  She is still having dizzy symptoms and reflux etc.  The pressure in the head in your daughter is not good. We had to go back to Doctor to get more Dexamethasone as she was not progressing at 3 weeks post, and I could tell her brain was still swollen and she needed the steroid to reduce it.  Once she did that she was up and about with in 12 hours.  We are now thinking (12 months on) that we may need to go back and ask for a small dose of it again to help her with her dizzy spells and feeling yuk.

[MamaLouanne]

Hello, I see this is an older post, but feel compelled to write.  I hope to hear back from someone.  My 15 year old daughter is 8 weeks post VM and still having terrible symptoms.  She has severe head pressure, gets dizzy very easy and when the pain is especially bad, she has tremors in her legs and pain in her arms.  She finds it hard to concentrate and it hurts to move her eyes.  We saw a second neurologist this afternoon, who told us she is using too much tylenol and that is causing her headache.  We are looking for some insight and also would like to be a source of support to others in the same or similar situation.

[kenziegirl1]

im 19 years old now and had VM when i was in 6th grade. i was horribly sick at home for about a month and another month stuck in the hospital and then again at home fora month. then finally allowed back to school. its been years now and i still have symptoms. i get easily lightheaded and dizzy, easily dehydrated and major headaches. i also have a very weak immune system no matter how many vitamins and minerals i take. im starting to think that the effects of VM will never go away. if you have any suggestions let me know please.

[Dena73]

I am in the same boat having the same symptoms. And my memory is horrible now too!! If you get answers please tell me. I am frustrated and sick of being sick!