Hi Kimberly,

I read your post and felt like I was looking at myself all over a gain.
I got Viral miningitis 3 and a half years ago and it was just like your
case, No fever! I have learned a lot since then and will try to give you
the benefit of my experience. My first question to you is "Did the
doctor give you an antiviral med?" If not, please insist that he do so
emediately. If my doctor had given me an antiviral med it would have
saved me a lifetime of constant pain. I had meningitis for 4 solid
months! Constant headache, felt like my brain was going to swell out of
my skull,( this symptom is called hydrocephalis headache). I couldn't
stand any amount of light, (this symptom is called photophobia) I wore
sunglasses to church and shopping ((what little bit I did) My neck hurt
like crazy, sleeping at night was practically imposible I felt more
pressure on my neck and head when I layed down. I had to go back to the
emergency room with meningitis attacks every few months. This is the
main reason you MUST get some antiviral, this can turn into a terrible
problem from which there is no return called ( ARACHNOIDITIS) I got
arachnoiditis at exactly two months from the day I got meningitis. The
arachnoid is one of the layers of meninges that cover the brain and
spinal cord, it is called arachnoid because it looks like a spiders web.
Once the infection gets into that layer there is no recovery, it is
permenant! Once you get arachnoiditis you find out very quickly that
none of the so called neuro specialist know very much about it. The only
doctors that know much about it are the hand ful of arachnoiditis
specialists located in 3 or 4 states in the united states and a few
scattered throughout the world. I've had to learn all about it through
my own research, lucky for me I used to be a nurse so I at least had
some understanding of medical terms and language. The symptoms of
arachnoiditis are bizzare, the pain in your head goes from feeling like
your brain is swelling to feeling like someone has taken a blow torch to
the outside of your brain, it burns, tingles,etc. It feels like bugs are
crawling on you skin or like water is dripping on your legs, you get
stabbing pains in various places like someone is stabbing you with an
ice pick, you get strange muscle twitches, the bottoms of your feet feel
like you are walking on broken glass or sharp rocks. Emotions hurt, you
can feel when you are having emotions of anykind but especially strong
emotions, it makes your brain burn, My head hurts all the time but
sometimes it is unbearable, I had to pay close attention to figure out
what was the trigger for that, I found out it is Low Pressure storm
systems. When there is low pressure it causes the cerebal spinal fluid
to swell, since there is now scar tissue it doesn't allow the meninges
to expand causing a great deal of pain! I also got virtigo, it was
terrible for a few weeks. I couldn't stand to even turn my head to the
side, my eyeballs would go back and forth real fast
and the world would spin like crazy. It was real bad for a couple of
months, then week by week it gradually got better until I now only get a
little dizzy when I look down while getting up from a sitting or laying
position. I don't know you but you are a woman therefor you are my
sister and I would hate for you to go through what I am going through
when it can easily be cured by some medication. Even if I had been given
the med the first two weeks the arachnoiditis symptoms started it
probably could have been stopped by I saw 9 stupid neurologist and I
told everyone of them what was going on with me and they looked at me
like they hated me. I found out later that there are a lot of doctors
that get very offended if their patient knows more than they do about
their disease. What a bunch of prideful jerks. because of their pride I
have permenant damage and pain for the rest of my life. Please don't let
this happen to you, insist on getting "acyclovir" that is the name of
the antiviral before it is too late for you. I hope the best for you.
Feel free to contact me anytime you want. Sincerely Merrila or Mert (if
you prefer)--- In PostmeningitisHeadache@yahoogroups.com, "philip_maas"
<philip_maas@...> wrote:
>
> LAY OFF THE IBUPROFEN!!!!! THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR MENINGITIS!! It makes
it worse! I almost killed myself with ibuprofen as I was misdiagnosed
the first time and they just thought it was a stomach bug. Was popping
motrin's every 3 hours....thank god I stopped. Stick with Tylenol!
>
>
> --- In PostmeningitisHeadache@yahoogroups.com, "Kimberly" kstegman@
wrote:
> >
> > Hello everyone,
> >
> >
> > I am now on 5 weeks out since getting viral meningitis. My fever,
> > chills, sweats and tremors have stopped and for the most part not
> > getting the non stop migraines anymore but did have a migraine
attack
> > but only lasted less than half a day however I have been getting
> > almost 18 hours a day vertigo, extreme off balance feeling too and
> > neck aches, headaches unlike the neck pain and migraines. My doctors
> > think it is far too far out since the initial viral meningitis
attack
> > as well not having any fever, etc but as well are surprised
regarding
> > my horrible balance issues that I honestly have not been able to
> > drive since 5 weeks ago and very rarely can get out of the house due
> > to the store lighting in most places makes my vertigo much worse.
> > They are doing an MRI tomorrow of my neck and brain, although went
> > through a CT 2 weeks ago and found nothing they are not expecting to
> > find anything on the MRI either however what the heck can one do for
> > the almost constant vertigo? I know this has to be from the virus
> > because prior I would have occasional vertigo with occasional
> > migraines but still functioned. This is just horrible! I am down to
> > only taking 1 advil migraine a day and 1 extra strength Tylenol
which
> > is little compared to 800 mg of ibuprofen and 3 Tylenol's a day I
> > used to be on.
> >
> > Any suggestions, ideas please let me know! :)
> > Thanks so much everyone, Huge Hugs,
> > Kimberly :)
> >
>