Aseptic Meningitis

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I just wanted to let everyone know what I have been through since my

decompression on August 31st so maybe I can help someone else

recognize the symptoms of meningitis.

8/31: My surgery at NSUH

9/5: Discharged from NSUH with headache

9/6: Left Variety HOuse with headache

9/9: Arrived Waco TX (Parent's house) still had headache. Trip was

pretty miserable but was able to stop or sleep whenever I wanted to

9/10- 9/12: I had the ever present headache, no real change

9/13: My headache intensified, I was no longer able to sit up without

great difficulty. My lighht sensitivity became blinding and later I

was struck by the nauseau that finally sent me to bed. By 6pm I was

asleep and woke up fine by 10pm. I was able to eat a little and then

went back to bed.

9/14: I acted about the same as the day before except that when I

tried to sleep it off, nothing changed, I didn't feel better and now

I couldn't keep any food down.

9/15: After sleeping most of the day, I was woken up by my mother to

get me to eat. I refused. This evening I was vommitting and having

loose stool. After speaking to Dr. Chan, my father took me to a

small hospital in Palestine, TX where they gave me a shot of demerol

and sent me home.

9/16: Slept the whole day.

9/17: I received a call from June inquiring as to how I was

feeling. I explained the symptoms: Headache, nauseau, vomitting,

loose stools, and she surmised that it was food poisoning. I went

back to bed, and then woke up with more severe symptoms. My father

took me to Providence Health Center in Waco, TX.

9/18: I was admitted after they found antibodies in my lumbar

puncture.

9/19: None of the doctors felt they could help me but I did

eventually respond well to steroid through the IV. I was released

with an oral steroid (prednisone 50mg / day for 5 days then 25mg /

day for 4 days).

9/20: The headache started coming back dispite the oral steroid. By

3 pm I was at my PCP's office. She then sent me directly to another

hospital ER.

9/21: 7am St Francis Hospital (Tulsa) finally admitted me. I met

with Dr. Debra L Murray MD, PHD Infectious diseases and she started

a fungul culture on me besides the spinal cultures. She started me

on an antifungus called amphrotericin once a day.

9/22-924: I still complained about the headache, so they gave me

morphine, demerol, and then finally a dilotted pump.

9/25-9/26: Dr. Murry, against her better judgement gave me IV

steroids. They calmed down the headache immediately.

9/27: Dr. Murry received all of her lab tests back, and all

were " inconclusive " . She has recommended my release date of 9/28 on

the basis that I am not contagious. Sent home with prednisone 40mg

twice a day, then taper down quickly.

I sent this synopsis to Dr. Bolognese and his responce was that I was

suffering from Aseptic Meningitis; that my own red blood cells that

were left over in my spinal fluid were causing the meningitis.

I hope this helps someone else avoid the many problems I experienced

with these small town doctors. The hospital in Palestine, TX could

have killed me by their not recognizing the symptoms, they just gave

me a shot of demerol and sent me HOME. Meningitis can kill within

hours so if anyone has these symptoms seek medical attention

immediately. To get a better list of symptoms, go to

www.meningitis.org or

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/viral_meningitis.htm.

In my case the meningitis was not caused by a virus or by bacteria

but by my own blood cells being in my spinal fluid. I have not found

any information to lead me to believe that MY aseptic meningitis

could have been fatal but it hurt like heck and I lost 12 pounds and

spent too may days eating hospital food...yuck!

I am still on the steroid for a few more days so wish me luck. Dr.

Murray seems to think that the meningitis is not through with me

yet. All I can do is wait and see. She did stress that if I have

any symptoms at all to go directly to the emergency room...do not

pass go and do not collect $200...

I am a little worried, I don't know if I'm being paranoid or what but

each day that I tapper off of the steroid my neck seems to get a

little bit stiffer and sore. I am so afraid that the headache and

neausea will come back.

Ok, I think that I have written enough...I sincerly hope that this

helps at least one person. If anyone has any questions please email

me. I tried to be as accurate as I could but I find that I always

leave something out that makes people go .... huh??? what's she

talking about...LOL

Love to all! Take care and have many pain free days!!!

Hugs,

Sheila

FRMLY of West Palm Beach, FL

Now in Tulsa, OK (Love it! I'm so close to my family now!!!)

10.5 mm herniation decompressed 8-31-07

Spina Biffida Occulta w/pars defect

OTFT surgery scheduled for 11-29-07 @ NSUH