Hello,
actually, I have new information.
I suspect viral meningitis.
--upsetting warning---
I was raped by 5 teenage boys when I was 12.? I was extremely ill after that, physically, even though the assault, though traumatizing, was not physically devastating.
I contracted genital herpes.? I found that out years later.
I was very very very very very ill with flu symptoms, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, etc.?
and seizures.
---
I still have the genital herpes.
I feel like I have the flu all the time.? I force myself to function anyway.
my neck is stiff
painkillers do not help
nor does anti-anxiety medication.
my back is stiff.
---
I just found out
that long term genital herpes
can cause long-term viral meningitis.
I have been under a great deal of stress
the herpes flared up.
I got it when I was 12.? I'm 39 now.
I often feel achy, like I have the flu.
owwww.
I'm going to get a spinal tap done.
I strongly suspect this:
take care.
Mary Katherine
Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Meningitis
I have endured four episodes of
viral meningitis within the past two years. The first time I had the
meningitis symptoms I was 28 weeks pregnant with my son; the doctors
had no idea how or why I had contracted the illness. I was told it was
a possible complication due to a viral sinus infection? My lumbar
puncture was positive for viral meningitis, but the reason was unclear.
My son was born almost three months later, healthy, although he did
show signs of distress while still in utero. Six days after my son was
born, I had the same meningitis symptoms. Once again I had all of the
tests done including another lumbar puncture, and once again, I was
given no reasonable explaination as to how or why this was happening.
Four months later, I went to my OB/GYN with a genital sore, she did a
herpes culture and it came back positive for HSV 2. I was shocked since
I'd been with my husband for over two years (we were both faithful, I
believe that with all my heart). I could only assume that I contracted
it from my husband during oral sex since he had a minor history of cold
sores (one or two in the years I knew him, but never one during
intamacy) Beside, all of the literature I've read on oral HSV 2 is that
it seldom if ever has recurrances? Two weeks later, I was back in the
hospital with meningitis again. I was given all of the same procedural
tests and another lumbar puncture. I informed my Neurologist of my
recent herpes diagnosis; he ran a PCR test on my spinal fluid and said
the HSV 2 virus was indeed present, and at that point he diagnosed me
with "Mollaret's Meningitis." I was placed on oral Acyclovir for a one
year period to see if the meningitis would remain dormant if the herpes
virus did. By the way, that was the one and only outbreak I can ever
remember having, I didn't experience any herpes symptoms with my first
two meningitis episodes, it wasn't even suspected at that time. I
remained both herpes and meningitis free for the entire year. I moved
to Hawaii during that time frame, but I contacted my Neurologist by
e-mail a few times to ask questions. I was desperately wanting another
baby, but I was terrified to remain on the Acyclovir and do so. I was
instructed to discontinue the medication since a year had passed, and
that it should be safe for me to get pregnant if I chose to do so. I
spoke to a few specialists here in Hawaii and no one thought that
herpes could actually be the cause of my recurring viral meningitis? I
had my fourth episode of meningitis in June of this year. I went to the
ER and I was told that since I had a history of viral meningitis, no
tests would be run, and that Acyclovir wasn't an option. I was given
some pain medication and sent home. My husband and I had decided that
we wouldn't risk having another child eventhough we both wanted one,
when all of the sudden I found out I was pregnant. I am three and a
half months along now and terrified of having another episode of
meningitis. I have had one severe outbreak of herpes since my pregnancy
began and it lasted for three weeks! I don't know what to do. Will it
be safe for me to take pain medication if I do have another meningitis
episode this early on? If the HSV 2 virus is causing my recurrances,
WHY is it happening? There are millions of people with this virus and
they don't have this complication! I've been told this is extremely
rare, but I have found a few others that have recurring meningitis
though most are due to other things like head trauma. What about this
virus only causes this to happen in certain people. I don't have any
other immune disorders, and my immune system has always been strong.
PLEASE help me. I am so afraid for me and my unborn baby. I can't
imagine haveing this illness for the rest of my life if it is being
caused my the incureable herpes virus, I am miserable everyday in fear.
I pray someday someone will take an interest in people like me and try
to find a cure. I know there is no present cure for herpes, but I would
hope it would stop the recurring meningitis if there were. Thank you
for listening.
Dear Kim:
1. It is
reasonably well-established in the last few years that herpes simplex
virus 2 (HSV-2) is the commonest cause of recurrent viral meningitis
(Mollaret's meningitis). Most such cases occur in "normal" individuals,
not immunosuppressed ones, and the cause of this occurence is not
known. HSV-2 certainly appears to be the cause of meningitis in your
case. Although treatment of this problem is debatable, prophylactic
long-term use of oral acyclovir (or valacyclovir) may have fair
efficacy and is an acceptable option if spells are frequent.
2.
Recurrent genital herpes has very significant obstetrical/neonatal
risks associated with it, and probably may merit treatment with
acyclovir as an independent problem. A recent study addresses this
question (Brocklehurst P, Kinghorn GA et al. randomised placebo
controlled trial of suppressive acyclovir in late pregnancy in women
with recurrent genital herpes infection. Br J Obstet Gynaecol, Mar
1998, 105(3) p275-80 ). The use of acyclovir in pregnancy may not be
unacceptably unsafe in late pregnancy.
3. Symptomatic control of
a bout of meningitis (with painkillers such as tylenol#3) during your
pregnancy may actually be relatively trivial as compared to the problem
mentioned in point 2 above.
You need expert care from an
obstetrician and an infectious diseases specialist. A neurologist has a
secondary role in your case.
Good luck!
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