Meningitis Support Group
Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord. Although the most common causes are infection (bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic), chemical agents and even tumor cells may cause meningitis. Meningitis can produce a wide range of symptoms including fever, headache or confusion and in extreme cases, deafness, brain damage,...
I am 32 years old, a few days after I was born- 1981 I was diagnosed with strep B blood infection, before leaving the hospital, I was then admitted into the ICU. All my life I have been affected by the after effects of the disease.
I have always had- long-term problems with learning, memory, thinking or reasoning skills. Difficulty in concentration, coordination issues, Tremors (hands & body)
My husband has to take time to help me out with simple tasks, sometimes he will have to explain things afterwards so I understand better.
I had always thought I had Multiple sclerosis, never diagnosed with MS.
I have had MRI's done & have lesions on my brain.
But now after doing research I am to the conclusion that everything is related to having meningitis as an infant.
I am wondering if anybody else or someone you know was diagnosed with neonatal meningitis, as an infant & any lasting effects that you/they have had?
Thanks,
Bonnie
I have always had- long-term problems with learning, memory, thinking or reasoning skills. Difficulty in concentration, coordination issues, Tremors (hands & body)
My husband has to take time to help me out with simple tasks, sometimes he will have to explain things afterwards so I understand better.
I had always thought I had Multiple sclerosis, never diagnosed with MS.
I have had MRI's done & have lesions on my brain.
But now after doing research I am to the conclusion that everything is related to having meningitis as an infant.
I am wondering if anybody else or someone you know was diagnosed with neonatal meningitis, as an infant & any lasting effects that you/they have had?
Thanks,
Bonnie
I had meningitis at the age of 8 months. I am 39 now.
I had a fever of 106 and went into convulsions. I don't know what kind of Meningitis I had. They only told my mom it was Viral Meningitis.
I have memory and learning issues(retention and comprehension,mainly), mood swings and depression/anxiety.
At 30, I lost the use of my arms for a month, now i have reoccuring numbness in my arms and hands. I have had a MRI on my neck which only showed a bit of arthritis in my spine from shoulders to top of my neck. I have spent my life with a lot of spinal pain and issues.
Every doctor I have seen, Nerologist and GP's, have all said it is just in my head and wont help me any further.
Drisana
Meningocochal meningitis at age 3. Had to recover from retardation. Started stuttering badly at 4 and had depression from that young age. I was very reclusive and shy, and sensitive to a lot of things. In school I really struggled with my subjects, insomnia, but had a knack for drawing and singing.
Later in the real world I realised I had to face my fears, but I have struggled with the lack of self sufficiency since I left school. As of 47 years of age I have no established career. I hit a 3 month wall in my jobs which always convinces me I need to quit. Everytime I leave because of how my colleagues treat me. I realise I am hyper sensitive, since I am far more comfortable alone than around people.
I noticed I have tinnitus for the past ten years now. I stay optimistic but made some changes to my way of life. Was vegetarian for the past nine years and recently became vegan to begin the process of regeneration.
It has been hard to rebuild my brain, and very lonely since no-one understood what was going on inside me. For a long time I did not even understand what was going on inside me.
This is a nutshell, but the story goes far deeper.