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Very odd neurological symptoms as possible result of Meningitis?
johns_anon_account
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hey H/A,
I come to you with kind of a odd question. The quality of help here has been really helpful to me in the past so I really appreciate any knowledge anyone has on this topic.
About three weeks ago I had little night of drinking, nothing too crazy but I did have a bit of a hangover. This seemed to pass and later on in the day I noted that I was feeling very 'heady' and out of it, essentially if you have had an concussion, that sort of feeling. Another way to explain it is feeling slightly impaired, as if I had two beers in me but only the negative side effects of alcohol. For a week these symptoms persisted and I was sure I had ether broken my brain or I had gone crazy, I was quite worked up. I made an appt with my college councilor and she informed me she thought I was suffering from anxiety and that was causing my symptoms. I tried to explain I was not anxious or paranoid until I started having these awful symptoms. I went to the college doctor and ended up taking an antibiotic (zithromax) for an apparent sinus infection (which later on a CT scan showed my sinuses were fine). Suppose that helps ruling out bacterial infections.
Later that week I ended up getting very ill with a fever of 102 fluctuating around there for about 3-4 days, also had a stiff neck and very soar throat. When my fever started I went to the ER as these seemed like the signs for meningitis. They did many tests there. The doctor concluded the thought I had some virus and that it would go away with time. The 'sickness' stuff went away mostly but I still felt heady and in general impaired which feels AWFUL.
Tests that have been run:
Slew of blood tests but I'm not sure what ones. Many vials were taken when I was in the E.R. All that I know was that everything was negative and my white blood cell count was a little elevated. Some ones I know for sure that were tested and negative were: HIV, HSV1 and 2, Malaria (with chest xray).
CT Scan (came back normal)
MRI (Came back normal, no inflammation in head found)
Now its about a week and a half since I had the fevers and I still have symptoms. Physically I seem to be just feeling a little wiped out, but better for the most park. Mentally the awful feeling symptoms have remained and don't seem to be getting better over time.
To note, 4 months ago I was in Southeast asia in Thailand and India, in very rural and impoverished areas for 1 1/2 months. I may be referred to see a infections specialist.
Other note: My GF got sick with a fever for 2 days and felt similar psychological symptoms for up to 5-6 days, she said she felt like she was on autopilot. Shes now totally better.
Also, I'm going to see my doctor again on the 27th. He gave me anti-anxiety pills until he gets back. They don't seem to help except the symptoms, except for making me not really mind as much that I feel terrible, which is to be expected. Doctor said these kind of things can take up to 4-6 weeks to clear up, but I am concerned that I am seeing no real progress.
So thats my little story. I am curious if anyone has ever had these symptoms before and if it ever got better? I should note there is a chance this is all anxiety but I swear it feels more physical than that. I'm in a rather fragile mental state from all this so comments of "you are going to die" or "you are busted for good" may not be really beneficial for me.
tl:dr
Viral-Meningitis like mental symptoms of feeling perpetually drunk persisting after 3 weeks. Anyone heard of this/how long did it take to go away?
Thank you so much, I really appreciate any feedback.
-Jack the D.P.
I come to you with kind of a odd question. The quality of help here has been really helpful to me in the past so I really appreciate any knowledge anyone has on this topic.
About three weeks ago I had little night of drinking, nothing too crazy but I did have a bit of a hangover. This seemed to pass and later on in the day I noted that I was feeling very 'heady' and out of it, essentially if you have had an concussion, that sort of feeling. Another way to explain it is feeling slightly impaired, as if I had two beers in me but only the negative side effects of alcohol. For a week these symptoms persisted and I was sure I had ether broken my brain or I had gone crazy, I was quite worked up. I made an appt with my college councilor and she informed me she thought I was suffering from anxiety and that was causing my symptoms. I tried to explain I was not anxious or paranoid until I started having these awful symptoms. I went to the college doctor and ended up taking an antibiotic (zithromax) for an apparent sinus infection (which later on a CT scan showed my sinuses were fine). Suppose that helps ruling out bacterial infections.
Later that week I ended up getting very ill with a fever of 102 fluctuating around there for about 3-4 days, also had a stiff neck and very soar throat. When my fever started I went to the ER as these seemed like the signs for meningitis. They did many tests there. The doctor concluded the thought I had some virus and that it would go away with time. The 'sickness' stuff went away mostly but I still felt heady and in general impaired which feels AWFUL.
Tests that have been run:
Slew of blood tests but I'm not sure what ones. Many vials were taken when I was in the E.R. All that I know was that everything was negative and my white blood cell count was a little elevated. Some ones I know for sure that were tested and negative were: HIV, HSV1 and 2, Malaria (with chest xray).
CT Scan (came back normal)
MRI (Came back normal, no inflammation in head found)
Now its about a week and a half since I had the fevers and I still have symptoms. Physically I seem to be just feeling a little wiped out, but better for the most park. Mentally the awful feeling symptoms have remained and don't seem to be getting better over time.
To note, 4 months ago I was in Southeast asia in Thailand and India, in very rural and impoverished areas for 1 1/2 months. I may be referred to see a infections specialist.
Other note: My GF got sick with a fever for 2 days and felt similar psychological symptoms for up to 5-6 days, she said she felt like she was on autopilot. Shes now totally better.
Also, I'm going to see my doctor again on the 27th. He gave me anti-anxiety pills until he gets back. They don't seem to help except the symptoms, except for making me not really mind as much that I feel terrible, which is to be expected. Doctor said these kind of things can take up to 4-6 weeks to clear up, but I am concerned that I am seeing no real progress.
So thats my little story. I am curious if anyone has ever had these symptoms before and if it ever got better? I should note there is a chance this is all anxiety but I swear it feels more physical than that. I'm in a rather fragile mental state from all this so comments of "you are going to die" or "you are busted for good" may not be really beneficial for me.
tl:dr
Viral-Meningitis like mental symptoms of feeling perpetually drunk persisting after 3 weeks. Anyone heard of this/how long did it take to go away?
Thank you so much, I really appreciate any feedback.
-Jack the D.P.
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I ended up getting blood work done at the clinic on campus and after going back to my doctor with the results, she basically said "hell if I know". Didn't take any medication - by the time I had checked back in with her the symptoms had gone away on their own.
Because of that I'd guess the problem was probably stress induced. While I was affected, throughout the day, I was involuntarily "touching" my molars together. This was far more common at night and I actually woke myself up several times from grinding my teeth in my sleep (something I've never done before in my life). Could easily explain the jaw and upper spine soreness, and the resulting lack of sleep could have created the fatigue and dizziness.
It could very well be viral meningitis, but it's possible it's stress related. Just a thought. If you're being prescribed antibiotics and other medication though, your doctor definitely knows better than I do. Ride it out and you'll be fine.
And thank the lord you don't have bacterial meningitis.
You had a WAY more expensive workup for the symptoms that you have. If the blood tests and imaging are clear, you have no reason to suspect that it's something serious. Lay off the WebMD, and you'll be fine in a month or so. If you aren't fine again after 3 months, you might want to see a regular primary care physician about persistent problems.
Believe me, you'd know it if you have viral meningitis. It's not a feeling that you'd forget. The pain alone will drive you to a hospital.
The way you describe your brain impairment doesn't reveal much about any particular neurological problem, unless you have specific examples of what you can't do and can do.
I agree with Hahnsoo1 that it might be mono.
Just out of curiosity, is the acute disease caused by Epstein Barr virus most commonly called mono in the US? In the UK no-one would have a clue, with the disease being commonly being called glandular
It does sort of sound like mono, but if you have had blood drawn, they would have picked up on actual mono. So it is probably a mono-like viral infection. There are plenty out there. Water, sleep, avoid being hit by cars (seriously) was exactly what the doctor told me to do when I got mono so I would guess they would be good ideas for mono-like viruses as well
I was lucky I only had mono for 2 weeks. I hear most people have it for months. I imagine it's the same thing of other mono-like viruses.
Are your lymph nodes swollen, most notably in your neck? Is your spleen swollen or is it tender to the touch? (left side of your body right under the bottom of your ribs) I wouldn't think meningitis at all.
If there was anything remotely suspect in your CT/MRI you'd be sure that they'd follow up with more imaging diagnostic tests, not just from a liability sense, but also cause (from a purely cynical perspective) a CT is and instant $5K hospital bill, and another 5 bills for the nuerologist.
IANAMD. Get a primary care physician so you don't have to go through the most expensive channel to receive care.
Not necessarily. I had the viral flavor of meningitis, and it lasted for two months. Worst two months of my life.
OP, if it feels like your head could explode at any second if you moved it even one inch, then you've got meningitis. Only way to know for sure is a spinal tap, and it's not a fun procedure. There's a reasonable chance it's probably mono, as others have said, but I ain't a doc.
A. Had all your vaccinations from a travel clinic before hand, so you most likely didn't get anything rare from Southeast Asia.
B. If you did have something super rare, it would have killed you by now.
So your best bet is that you are having a rough patch and you should go see a therapist and talk about your worries and anxieties. Either way, I don't think you are going to die or you are permanently broken. Hang in there and make sure to take your anxiety medication every day.
Edit: and keep on the anxiety meds. Less stress = healthier immune system = if it's something your body can fix itself it'll happen faster.
1. GF did not come to Asia.
2. Already had mono, while I had strep (it was a blast), but I hear you can get it again.
3. I suppose the best description of the lingering symptoms is feeling slightly drunk or the effect of laughing gas at a dentist... minus the laughing. Another way to explain it would be like my mind is looking thorough a short tunnel until it reacher my eyes. Interfacing with digital interfaces (playing video games, working on computer, even just messing around on the phone) and I don't notice the symptoms at all. When I go outside the amount of light is very uncomfortable, and the horizon 'shakes' and jitters with every step.
4. Yes throat swelled up like a balloon, only lasted 5 days though. Headaches are still present but only in the front of my head. Slightly sharp at times, often dull.
The good news I suppose is that this morning, after sleeping for a very long time, my symptoms of being disoriented outside (looking at things far away) has about halved in severity. Its still terribly uncomfortable, but its better than before.
The test for typhoid is a good idea. I was vaccinated, but its less than 50% effective in some cases. My doctor said I should test for Japanese encephalitis regardless (the onset can be slow), so I'll have those two done for good measure.
Thanks again for the advice, I'm not a high-anxiety person, but in there areas I was in (refugee camps) abject desease and death were prevalent, and perhaps some of those mental images has warn on me with the onset of these symptoms. I have noticed certifiable improvement as of this morning, which I havent seen in two weeks, so that makes me feel a little better, but I am trying to be cautious.
Edit:
Oh and yeah, I may see the infectious specialist still, docs call when I see him again next week. Also in the ER I happened to get a doc and a nurse who both worked for doctors without boarders and their general idea was that I had some virus I picked up there, but difficult to determine obviously. Again thanks for the help, my stress level has reduced greatly due to the replies.
While mono is caused by a handful of virus infections, there are a lot of other viral infections that give you similar symptoms. Immunity to one through past infection won't confer you an immunity to all viral infections for all time, so yeah, it's quite possible for it to come back. The only thing I would suggest is check for swollen lymph nodes and avoid roughhousing or heavy physical activity (specifically, hits to your ribcage on the left side. It's where your spleen is. You definitely don't want a ruptured one).