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| Ann |
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My name is Ann and I live in Essex, Great Britain.
I was 32 when I contracted meningo-encephalitis, in 2000. I had had a headache for 5 days that was progressively worsening. My temperature was increasing and I was getting waves of sickness. Early one morning I had a seizure, followed by a period of unconsciousness. My husband called an ambulance and I was taken straight to hospital.
My memories of hospital are vague - I was there for 2 weeks, suffered more seizures and had various tests and scans until I was diagnosed. After I returned home I was listless and weak for months. I became depressed and lacked motivation. I was taking numerous pills. When talking with my husband it became clear that I was having memory problems - some memories had gone for good and my short term memory/concentration was appalling.
However, I steadily improved over the following months and my medication gradually reduced. My memory was better and my concentration returned. After 8 months I was back at work.A year later I was effectively back to normal and did not need to take any more pills - I fell pregnant with my first child. I had no complications with my pregnancy, although I suffered mildly with post-natal depression afterwards,
Unfortunately, I did develop epilepsy as a result of the disease. It was nearly 4 years after the illness when I suffered another seizure and tests showed I had epileptic responses in my brain. I had just found out that I was pregnant again, which may have been a triggering factor.
Over five years on I live a normal life. I take anti-seizure medication and have an increased tendency for stress/depression, but it could have been a lot worse and I count myself lucky to have been let off so lightly.
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Ann
Essex, Great Britain
Posted: Dec 2, 2005 |
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