ENCEPHALITIS CASES

Encephalitis Cases

Maya

Hi, my name is Maya and I hope my story can give people some hope if they know someone who is sick with encephalitis.

I am 19 and in 1999, when I was 15, I had viral encephalitis. I was living in Boston when I got sick. Most of my story is what my parents have told me happened.

One night after dinner I had complained of a headache and was simply told to go to bed, hoping it would be gone the next day. The next morning my mother found me in bed vomiting and having multiple gran mal seizures. When the paramedics came I was still convulsing. When I got to the hospital I had gone into a coma. This lasted for several days. They had no idea if I would wake up and if I woke up, if I'd be the same person. When I finally came out of the coma I was the same person. However, I had to stay in the hospital for a few more weeks so they could determine what I had. I had tons of spinal taps done and other tests. They finally decided it was viral encephalitis. I was finally released from the hospital and was just really tired and out of it. I slowly started going back to school and continuing my usual schedule.

Now I'm in college and doing fine, but I still have a seizure disorder. I've only had a few gran mals since my illness and I have small seizures known as "confusion spells" about once a month or so. But it's getting under control.

Thanks for letting me share my story. If anyone has any questions feel free to e-mail me.

Maya
Boston, MA. U.S.A.

Posted: March 30, 2003

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