When I was 13 years old I contracted encephalitis. I am a male, 53 years old now. I can say without hesitation that encephilitis changed my life forever. My story is SO simular to all of yours. Confusion, headaches, migraines, balance problems, short term memory issues, fatigue, depression... all part of my life struggle for many years. Although I managed to finish high school, I just finished... probably because of my sense of humor and my relationship with teachers and students being good, cause I really had NO IDEA what was going on for most of my hours sitting in a classroom warming a seat. When i finished school I could not say that I felt that I learned anything as my retention was TERRABLE! For years after I struggled with severe headaches, balance and vision issues. Vertigo was a HUGE problem. The docs that I saw would say everything from "You are a hypochondriac" to "Well, just take it easy." The long term effects of encephalitis may never be fully addressed or resolved... but I am so glad to hear from all of you as it makes me feel that I am not alone. I worked my way through life using my wits rather than my ability, or inability, to follow simple conversations. I cannot get past the first level of anything that I need to comprehend. Keeping it simple is the only way that I can manage. Yet, when I was in my early 40's I returned to school. I learned to pace myself... to not take too big of a bite in what I needed to learn, and then to process it. A head injury in 2000 complicated my life as I suffered a TBI which in turn caused me to recoil for some years. But I fought back. I earned an Associates Degree in Fire Science, a BA in Facility Management, and a MS in Public Safety Administration. I even wrote a book last year called 'Phishers of Men'. It tells my life story up until now. A good part of it goes into my life and death struggle to stay alive with the encephalitis. I always wondered if ANYONE could identify with me. And NOW i have found all of you! I wish we could all meet to discuss our collective issues with board of Neurologist... to help them gain some insight. I always wondered how it felt to be 'normal'. Dont know if I will ever know... but I keep trying. Check out my website if you get a chance at www.LandofUz.com Maybe you can drop me a note. My goal in life now is to tell my life story as it relates to my experiences with encephalitis, Identity issues and life's struggles. Maybe I can help others in doing that. God Bless!
Wow I'm glad I found this blog. I had viral encephalitis when I was seven and have had many of the symptom people have listed above. I have trouble remembering names, spelling, directions you name it. It is difficult having conversations with people because I have to hide that I can't remember things very well. I have had depression and other emotional problems as well since having encephalitis. It has affected my life profoundly. It is good to know I'm not alone.
ok ill let yall know since yall r experiencing this prob too. so i had encephalitis as a kid. where i had fever and balance probs so my mom took me to the doc he was like i have encephalitis. so after a few days, i had coma and lost my speech. but came back as a little baby and still like have that squeaky voice lol. and also have seizures now so its tough!!
yeh he or she can get seizures, stroke, balance problems, and etc. ive had that disease as a kid it was tough but u just have to tolerate the pain. it seems dangerous but years went by and nothing so dont worry he/she is gona be ok :)
is it possible to have brain tumor symptoms after an encephalitis?
I had encephalitis when I was in 3rd grade and have been struggeling with fatigue and comunication with groups for years. I am 56yrs. old now and have worked as a night caretaker for over 10 yrs. in a group home setting...I was too embarassed to tell anyone for years I had encephalites for fear of being called a retard. When I get enough sleep my mind appears to function better but my husband tells me I have disorganized thoughts. He wants me to start to take drugs to help me cope better..my confidence at this time is at a low. It is good to have this site where I can relate.
I saw this it was amazing. I had encephalitis and my ain't to to throw this stuffed dog at me when I was very ill like the people in the movie. Where ever she was in the room...my hand always went up and caught the dog...just like the patients in the movie...
I am so glad I found this place. I got viral encephalitis when I was about 13.. On a camping trip.. Bitten by a mosquito. I came home and was acting crazy had awful headaches and that's all I remember. I was in a coma for 6 weeks and spent 7 months in the hospital. Had to learn to walk and talk all over and got awful headaches. Managed to graduate highschool but college was too much. Been successfully working for over 10 years...I'm a homeowner and I do drive. I seem normal to people so the don't get that I'm not. I forget a lot have concentration issues, I get lost everywhere and have anxiety. Also have a hard time trusting. People think I'm a hypochondriac too...they don't get it! I'm doing really well considering but I am often hard on myself when I don't get something...which may just be because of my illness...I of course still have side effects...I have to remember that. So glad I found u guys
I used to have to take drugs for that...I got suck of them. I really don't trust modern medicine. I have been off the ant depressants and anxiety meds for 7 years now and I'm managing. I take some herbal aides...like passion flower or velarian root to calm me down. It's a sleep aide but I have no issues sleeping...it just chills me out some. Meditation also helps. Look for herbal remedies. I trust Mother Nature way more than I trust Big Pharma.
I contracted encephalitis when I was 5 years old. I lost my hearing, eye sight, and became incontinent and quit urinating all together. I went into a coma and it lasted over 3 wks. The doctors told my parents that I wouldn't live through the night and if I did, I would be a vegetable. I slowly came out of the coma, learned to walk and talk again, but now I'm 37 yrs old and have been fighting anxiety and severe depression for 13 yrs. I tried online school and got good grades but couldn't retain what I had read. I'm currently on disability and have been since 2001. I'm trying through the doctor's help to get out of my student loan due to my learning handicap. I can't believe how this site has answered many questions for me, now I don't feel so alone.
Hi i had this when i was 6 years old dont really rember alot isit normal? my memories bad my mood swings, i stuuter alot and cant pronouse certain words? Get depressed quickly aswel
you are spot on with as i had same probs. as u say DONT GIVE UP fight the side effects of E. ive been running own buissness 4 over 9 years. 4 those who had E i have faced concequences/lived and learned from it/ ur not on ur own.
Yes, I am the king of falling down. And have been since I came out of the coma. People affected by this will have similar but slightly different side effects depending on where the internal brain damage has occured. Check out The Encephalitis Society of the UK they have a great PDF file explaining post viral encephalitis and the life long hell people go through. You can download it and read through it at your leisure. One bit of advice. Its life long and you need doctors that not only give a damn but can help. If you are not recieveing proper care. Fire your team and start over. There is no cure. But your quality of life doesn't have to so horrid. Good Luck.
I had the exact same thing happen to me at age 3 (age 3 seems to be a popular age for this sh*t) Anyway, you have to stay strong, f**k those people. There not the ones going through this. You are. Our symptoms sound similar in nature. The disease decided to hold up in my cerebellum which is why it effects me the way it does. But yeah I totally get it. I have the same joint bone problems. Muscle spasms that won;t go away. Mental issues with remembering things. Explaining myself, understanding social situations, attention, mood (especially anger) I don't even remember being a child. Or graduating from tech school in 2008. So not to write a big f*****g book but in short your not alone. Be strong, live strong.
I had viral encephalitis as well when I was a kid. All I remember is falling asleep and waking up in the hospital. As it was a lot of details I can remember only the small details. I was told that I was out of it. I had no control over my involuntary muscles. I would twitch uncontrolably. Today I suffer migraines about every other day and I have muscle spasms. I have not been to a doctor to be evaluated after having the viral infection so in which I probably should