ENCEPHALITIS CASES

Encephalitis Cases

Vicky

I contacted viral encephalitis in October of 2000. I was 40 years old at the time and was in a coma for 2 months (in the hospital for a total of 4 months). The doctors have no idea how or where I contacted it. It started off with me hearing and seeing things, then I got this massive headache. I went to the walk in clinic in our area and Dr. Gray sent me directly to emergency at our local hospital. If it hadn't been for Dr. Gray I probably wouldn't be here today to talk about it.

I kept trying to take out the tubes they were putting down my throat while in the coma so they did a trachea. I bit down on one of the tubes in my mouth and I now have a numb tongue that probably will never get the feeling back. I also ended up with double vision, which the eye doctor said would be permanent, but after 3 months of wearing prism glasses my vision cleared up.

I now have carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists, short term memory loss which they say may be permanent, a numb tongue, bad circulation in my left leg (I have a blood clot in my left leg that has hardened but hasn't broken up yet), high blood pressure, low thyroid, depression and a 100 pound weight gain due to the depression, low thyroid and medication.

I now have a better understanding and sense of humility towards older people and handicapped people. Have you ever sat in the car at a stop light and watched someone walk in front of you at a snail's pace and made the odd comment about them speeding up or whatever (I've been there and felt that). Walking is very difficult for me right now. Instead of feeling like 42 at times I feel like 82.

I'm on a special doctor's study now. They've invented a new machine that massages the lower calf and gets the blood flowing (hopefully it will break up the clot). There are only 10 of us in this study.

I'm still on long term disability at work hoping they'll take me back part time soon. They figure it will be 3-4 months before I'm back full-time and because of the severity of my bout with encephalitis they figure it will be 2-3 years more before I'm fully recovered.

I've had such a good support group of family and friends, doctors and nurses. They've made the start of the healing process a little easier to handle because I always have someone to talk to.

Vicky
Ontario, Canada

Posted: September 18, 2007

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