Viral Meningitis. halp me BG wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.

[Salodin]

So I got topic title almost a week ago, and holy shit fuck nature yo. Aside from the bouts of dizzyness, the headaches are something the likes of which I've never experienced before, and wouldn't even wish on my enemies.

Spoiler: show

It started when I went to the ER for my tonsillitis, which I get frequently but ignore cause i don't have the insurance to remove my tonsils. While not normally a big deal for me any more (I get it 3-4 times a year), the headaches were a new symptom that I couldn't ignore. After a few IV bags, spinal tap, catscan, etc etc, I got the VM. They gave me antibiotics for the tonsillitis, and ibuprofen for the fever and pain. As is the nature with viruses, I can't specifically treat the infection but only the symptoms. 800mg of ibuprofen lasts about an hour for pain management, then I'm back to being debilitated.

Has any one had this before and can give me some tips to manage this pain?

Im scared cause a lot of googling I do shows people dealing with this pain for months or even years. I can't afford to be out of work much longer, but more then 10min of just being on my feet triggers the return of the pain. This really is affecting my life style, and well fuck this really sucks lol.

On the plus side, thanks to brobama, once I get my w2 I'll be able to do my taxes which I know will qualify me for some insurance, but from that till I can actually see a doctor is still a few months away. Halp me BG wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.

[Cream Soda]

I wouldn't get my hopes up for "Brobama" even I didn't qualify for anything cheaper than $113/month.

Feel better soon broseph

[Byrthnoth]

Go get your tonsils removed somehow. Meningitis is not really something you want to mess with, and you are putting yourself at risk unnecessarily.

Once upon a time a dude got meningitis. It caused an immune reaction that destroyed all the neurons in the dorsal horn of his spinal cord. Now he has no sense of touch and cannot tell where his limbs are or even how tense his muscles are. He sleeps with the lights on because he cannot coordinate his movements well enough to turn on a light switch without being able to see his arm.

[Melena]

I wouldn't get my hopes up for "Brobama" even I didn't qualify for anything cheaper than $113/month.

Feel better soon broseph

Depends on the state. Some states chose to not accept federal funds to make it so people like you would still qualify cause 'MERICA.

As much as the bill is going to suck, as others said get those tonsils out asap. This is something you don't want to fuck with.

[Salodin]

I wouldn't get my hopes up for "Brobama" even I didn't qualify for anything cheaper than $113/month.

Feel better soon broseph

I did the quick check with estimates in the site with my 2012 info, and I currently qualify for shitty high deductible insurance; but if I wait for my 2013 information I can barely skip by on slightly better insurance that will save me thousands if I ever end up being hospitalized. I'm only so determined to wait cause the out of pocket costs were so different. If Florida didn't decline expanding medicare wed both be insured by now more then likely, but those retired baby boomers gotta ruin everything for us. Fortunately, I've been able to maintain enough income to be enough above the poverty level to go about it the normal ACA way.

Go get your tonsils removed somehow. Meningitis is not really something you want to mess with, and you are putting yourself at risk unnecessarily.

Once upon a time a dude got meningitis. It caused an immune reaction that destroyed all the neurons in the dorsal horn of his spinal cord. Now he has no sense of touch and cannot tell where his limbs are or even how tense his muscles are. He sleeps with the lights on because he cannot coordinate his movements well enough to turn on a light switch without being able to see his arm.

The current best guess is my tonsillitis didn't cause the VM, but my immune system was so busy with it that the virus that caused VM had the opportunity to sneak in and get a foot hold in my brains lining. The tonsillitis is bacterial, but meningitis is viral; that's why my tonsils respond to the penicillin but VM won't.

Generally speaking, VM is mild compared to bacterial meningitis; the later being fatal if not treated. Most people recover from VM with out serious help, but some people get a variety of side effects that last weeks to years; this headache being the most common one. I've also noticed trouble paying attention, but luckily its not so bad that I cant deal with it. I've heard people also get short term memory problems but so far I seem to be lucky in that department.

[BaneTheBrawler]

what kind of pain are we talking about, here? abdominal? muscles? or headaches? if it's headaches i'm afraid there's not much you can do outside a pharmacy. try to time your pills for right before bed, i guess. that way you might snatch a few hours of sleep. if the pain is bad enough to keep you awake, anyway. if it is, that's a whole new level of misery.

[Salodin]

Sorry, headaches if it wasn't clear. It comes in waves, and laying down alleviates all except the throbbing behind my head so I don't worry about timing a pill before bed. ATM I'm timing pills for right before I leave in the morning, and then the other two doses for the next two headaches that come after that. I can't do more then 3 doses a day, so if I do get more then that I just sit down and act miserable till it passes lol.

[Rocl]

Once upon a time a dude got meningitis. It caused an immune reaction that destroyed all the neurons in the dorsal horn of his spinal cord. Now he has no sense of touch and cannot tell where his limbs are or even how tense his muscles are. He sleeps with the lights on because he cannot coordinate his movements well enough to turn on a light switch without being able to see his arm.

is there a website i can read about this

[Meresgi]

Had a kid die in high school due to meningitis, get that shit looked at man and those tonsils removed asap. Like others said, Brobama care depends on the state. Hopefully you arnt living in a redneck capital

[BaneTheBrawler]

Sorry, headaches if it wasn't clear. It comes in waves, and laying down alleviates all except the throbbing behind my head so I don't worry about timing a pill before bed. ATM I'm timing pills for right before I leave in the morning, and then the other two doses for the next two headaches that come after that. I can't do more then 3 doses a day, so if I do get more then that I just sit down and act miserable till it passes lol.

hmm. my niece gets migraines, and she suggested the juice from canned peaches. Drink it when you feel like shit. But... headaches are pretty goddamn mysterious, so that might be the most amazing cure ever or a complete waste of time. all i got, man. if it were abdominal pain, then i could offer you more.

[Silenka]

Not to be alarming, but there's a reason anyone staying at a dorm in college is required to get a meningitis vaccination. It can be fatal. So I would get it checked out regardless of the cost... but like you said VM is different from the bacterial kind, still, I don't know enough about it to say anything other than I would go to the hospital for it for sure.

[Byrthnoth]

is there a website i can read about this

It was a case study that we hit in order to emphasize the role of the dorsal horn in the spinal cord, but here are some random meningitis testimonials:
http://www.meningitis.org/blog/about...-effects-35764

[Moss]

It was a case study that we hit in order to emphasize the role of the dorsal horn in the spinal cord, but here are some random meningitis testimonials:
http://www.meningitis.org/blog/about...-effects-35764

I was in a comma for a few weeks.

Jesus, that's more dire than I could have possibly imagined!

[Blubbartron]

I was in a comma for a few weeks.

Jesus, that's more dire than I could have possibly imagined!

Could be worse - he could've been in a colon.

[Xajii]

just to chime in and add, I also knew someone who died from meningitis. this isn't just some annoyance; don't fuck around.

[Byrthnoth]

Here's an article from the future telling you about another type of meningitis:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2...urrentPage=all
(publication date is 1/20/14)

[SamanosukeShiva]

just to chime in and add, I also knew someone who died from meningitis. this isn't just some annoyance; don't fuck around.

QFT dont fuck around