|
|
| Laurie |
|
I contracted viral encephalitis in 1986. I was 28 at the time. I worked for a financial institution in Northern BC. I don't remember getting sick, my story is related from what my family and friends have told me happened.
At the time of my illness, I was separated from my husband, and was raising my 7-year-old daughter by
myself. I held an important position at a bank. About 1 week before the illness struck, I had been complaining about an excruciating headache, and fatigue. One day at work, I collapsed. (Remember, I can't recall any of this) My co-workers called the ambulance, and by the time I got to the hospital, I was in a coma. The doctors in that small community thought I was over-dosing on drugs. My parents were called, and informed of the doctors' opinion. My parents vehemently denied that, and demanded that I be seen by an expert.
A neurologist was called in, 2 spinal taps were taken (thank goodness I don't remember those!) and viral meningitis was diagnosed. I was air ambulanced to Vancouver, where viral encephalitis was the final diagnosis. I was in a coma for 5 days. When I came out of the coma, my memories and behaviors were that of a 15 year old. I didn't know I had a daughter, had been married, held an important post at the bank, none of that. I was 15, and that's all. The doctors asked me who was prime minister of Canada, and I told them, "Trudeau, but I hear he's not doing very well!" That's how they were able to establish how much damage was done to my brain. They did all sorts of testing, again, none of which I remember.
I was released from hospital 2 weeks later, flew home with my parents, and got to meet my daughter! She expected me to be the Mom I was before I left, but I was only 15 years old, mentally. I stayed with my parents for about 1 week, and then I tried to go back to work. Every one there welcomed me back, showed me where my desk was, and that was it. I was back, and could do my job. Well, being only 15 years old, I had no idea what to do. During the month that I was at that position, I had fits of anger, tears, and I blacked out quite a few times. The bank finally decided I couldn't do that job anymore, so they made me take a teller's position. That was fine, but I didn't know how to do that either! Because the illness had affected my memory, both long term and short term, I couldn't remember my job from day to day. Each day I had to be trained all over again like it was my first day. I began to have petit mal seizures, not grand mal, where you writhe on the floor, and swallow your tongue. I'd just pass out. The bank always phoned the ambulance, which upset the workings of the bank. After about 6 months of this, the bank put me on a long-term disability plan. On my last day of work, the personnel officer called me into her office. She looked at me and said," I don't want to see you in this branch again. If you come in here, looking like you do, all normal etc., you'll upset the other staff members". So, for a year, I stayed in my house, afraid to go out in case I ran into someone from the bank.
The summer of the 1986 ( I got sick in January 86), was my 10-year grad reunion. That was an extremely difficult weekend for me. Unless I had gone to elementary school with a person there, I did not know whom they were, as I had lost all my memories from about grade 7 on.
I could go on and on about the trauma and stigma of my illness, but it brings it all back in a painful way. The medical info on my particular attack, is that because I refused to "be sick" when the headaches started, the scarring that the encephalitis left settled into my temporal lobes, which is where your memories are stored. I have scarring all throughout my brain, which makes an operation to remove the scarring, impossible.
I live from day to day. I get lost very easily, even if I've been to a place many times before. I can't retain new information very well at all. People always say that they lose their car in a parking lot. Well, I would literally forget what I was driving if I'd had a mini seizure. The motor vehicle branch finally suspended my license, until I had been seizure-free for one year. In 1996 that finally happened, and I haven't had a seizure since 1995. Day to day living is tough, because I can't remember most of what I did the day before. Participating in conversations is hard also, especially if there is background noise. I can't follow conversations, especially if the person is talking about something that happened a week ago, because I don't remember.
I have recovered from my illness as much as I ever will. The doctors have all told me that my memory retention will worsen, I will tire more easily, and I am more prone to Alzheimer's than the average person. With that kind of future to look forward to, I get depressed quite easily. The bank that I worked for had a disability income program, thank goodness. That, and the disability pension from the government is all that I live on. My daughter is now 21, and I think because of my illness, we are a lot closer than most. Because I can't remember my teenage years, I lived them through my daughter. Instead of being "Mom" I was her friend.
|
Laurie
British Col. Canada
Posted: Nov. 4, 2000 |
|
|
