West Nile Virus

[linen53]

This thread is about my journey through West Nile.

I’ve had it twice. Once in 2012 and now, again in 2015.

In 2012 I had 4 of my grandchildren visiting in the summer. It was a busy summer. Not only did I have my own things to do on a daily basis, but to also make sure my grandchildren had 3 squares, tons of laundry and a good time to boot.

Towards the end of their visit, I began to feel “poorly”. A lot of body aches, especially. I just chalked it up to fatigue and old age creeping in and “took two aspirins (and call me in the morning)” type of treatment.

The kids had to go home. I was left with a body that was screaming at me. I’d just pop more aspirins or Motrins by this time, and keep on trucking. I had my animals I need to take care of as well as a full garden and a husband to care for.

Life is never dull after retirement.

Then one night after dinner my husband, who had been concerned about me for a long time, said if I didn’t get better by the morning I was going to the emergency room…..no more arguing about it.

I just looked at him and said, “I don’t think I can make it until tomorrow morning.”

So he helped me into the car and away we went to the hospital. The hospital he chose was about 35 miles away. It was dark outside and I remember that ride like it was yesterday. I was in so much pain! There was nothing in my body that wasn’t screaming at me. I just couldn’t cope with it anymore. It was the longest ride I believe I had ever taken. My brain was in a fog and I was barely able to register landmarks until we hit the emergency entrance. A wheelchair, and I was whizzed through the automatic sliding doors.

Because of my pain level they could see I was in I was rushed off to an emergency room cubicle immediately. I was wreathing in pain. Many questions, by this time I couldn’t even register, let alone answer. My husband was there to answer the nurses and doctors. That’s all I remember.

Then they slipped a needle in my arm and 10 minutes later the pain began to subside. I didn’t really realize just how much pain I was in until I had an absence of it. I was actually coherent again. Almost.

Tests. I don’t remember how many. Blood samples? Surely. I remember being rolled on a gurney for tests under a machine. I don’t remember what. Back to my little cubicle. As told to me by my husband later, the doctor came in and said, West Nile. He suspected, because I had it so long, he wanted to check for Meningitis. A spinal tap later, it was confirmed.

I waited there until they could get a room ready for me on the ward. It took a while. I do remember the elevator, the ding as the door opened, being rolled up to a quiet ward, to a quiet room with dimmed lights and transferring to my new bed. I felt such relief. The pain shot was still working so I just sighed and felt my war-zone body relax. My husband came up shortly to wish me a good night and then it was dream land for me for the night.

The next morning the shot had completely warn off and I was wracked with the intense pain again. All I could do was roll into a fetal position and moan and cry, but only softly because to cry hard made the pain worse.

Three days total in the hospital. Plenty of nurses came in. They were like floating ghosts to me. I didn't register much of their visits. Doctors and specialist as well. I don’t remember much. My husband was there a lot. I do remember that. But I was alone a lot also while he went back home and took care of his business. Wracked with pain, searing, screaming pain. Nausea, vomiting, weak as a kitten. I could barely make it to the bathroom and back. And more pain.

After my 3 days the doctors said there wasn’t anything else they could do for me, thank you, and they sent me home. I thought okay, now I can recover. My husband made an appointment with my own doctor as a follow-up the next day.

My mind stayed in a fog for many weeks, but I do remember the first visit, vaguely. I was in so much pain it was hard to register what was being told to me. But my husband was there to take it all in. Pain pills were prescribed. Nothing else because West Nile is a virus. And there is no chance of a mucus infection or lung infection, no infections at all. Just that awful virus coursing through my blood. 4 milligrams of morphine every 4-6 hours. It barely cut through the pain. It just dulled it.

This went on for what? Four or five weeks? I really don’t remember. I was helpless as a baby. Wracked with all kinds of symptoms, which I will list later in this thread.

But I finally started to regain my strength. Slowly.

But no, there’s more.

Remember, I had been diagnose with meningitis as well. Well that’s a whole different game I had to jump into the playing field and learned its rules. As my doctor described it: “Your brain is floating in pus. And pressure to boot.” Bottom line: I sustained brain damage. I won’t go into detail the physical therapy I went through for a whole year and the horrible frustrating times I had as my brain repaired and rewired itself (it can do that!), but it was a very long recovery.

Okay let’s get to the present. As I sit and write this, I have West Nile again. I tried to get a blood test to confirm it, but because I had had it in the past I will always test positive for WN.

So I couold only go back to my list of symptoms and do a check-list. Yep! Yep! Yep! Check! Check! It’s West Nile.

I’ve spent the past 5 days in bed. I am respectful of this virus enough NOT to ignore it. It’s a foreign disease, meaning it came from a foreign land may thousands of miles away in Egypt. And, just as our customs here in the United States are different from Egypt, so are our viruses if you compare them side by side.

The West Nile is vile. It’s like a many layered onion. You start with the outer skin. It’s tough and protective of the onion. If you are sensible, you will go to bed, straight to bed and do not pass go to collect your $200. Then in a few days when you fell a little better and get out of bed and attempt some work, and end up relapsing, back to bed you go. This can be repeated as often as you like. Your recovery is up to you. Stay in bed and get better sooner, ignore my warning and you will relapse time and time again. Relapsing is its ugly head. It loves to relapse!

You see, this is a magic onion. It can grow a new layer! Anytime you don’t respect it. And it can add on more sick time. And if you ignore it like I did you might end up with meningitis and/or encephalitis. I’ve known people who have had both.

I know you probably haven’t been educated about this virus, but I’m here to try to warn you. Don’t disrespect it. They say the virus, in the slow stage, the stage I am controlling it this time in, lasts about 2 weeks.

I am doing well by the way, I just got out of bed before I came in here to post this. I have been in bed approximately 22 hours straight. So, you see, I am not over it yet, but I am respecting it and in bed a lot still. When I become weak and tired, I dive back into bed. Read a book (I've read 4 books in 5 days), sleep if you can, but complete rest.

They say only 1% of those who contact West Nile get it as bad as I did. So you may not have anything but mild symptoms. But just be aware this is a very ugly virus and please pay homage to this foreign virus in our bodies.
In 2012 I made a list of symptoms as they occurred so I would have them for future reference. Here they are.

1st day
Rash on stomach-no irritation or itching-it looked pretty benign.
Upset stomach
Lethargic
Headache

2nd day
Still had rash
Upset stomach
Lethargic
Depression
Vertigo started but it wasn’t bad.
Body aches-muscle and joint pain
Headache

3rd Day
Rash started going away
Vertigo-happening more frequently
Lethargic-getting worse now
Headache-splitting
Depression
Neck ache
Body aches
Fever

4th Day
Vertigo-very bad
Lethargic
Headache-splitting
Body ache-severe
Chills-severe-bone rattling-teeth chattering
Depression
Neck ache
Fever
The vomiting started

From there I had all the above symptoms all day and night every day for 4-5 weeks before the insanity began to slowly disappear. All in all, that first time I had West Nile I lost 17 pounds. I’ve known people who lose 50 lbs! Seriously.

I’ve always wanted to tell people about what to look for. Now that I have WN again seems the perfect opportunity.
Good luck, my friends.

[Faith33]

Thank you for this post, linen...

Good to know you're doing well, I've been very worried about you.
Please don't rush your recovery...

You're in my prayers, dear friend...(((hugs)))

[Clover]

Hello Linen. I am commenting to prescribed. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. This will help me learn about an illness I knew very little about.

Take care.

[skygazer]

Hi Linen, thanks for sharing your story. I hope you are on the mend real soon. Take it slow.

[linen53]

Thank you skygazer, Hope and Clover. If I can help just one person avoid what I had to go through the time spent compiling this is worth it!

So little is known about just how serious the symptoms are. Mostly we hear about death, end of story. But there are those who are permanently brain damaged, crippled, or otherwise damaged for life.

[Tobi]

Linen! I am so sorry you have this virus and are feeling so sick right now. I knew diddly-squat about West Nile, so this has been an educaion. But I really feel for you. Don't anti-viral medications help this?

I know it may sound a bit nuts given how severe this is but you could try raw Garlic, and Echinacea Angustifolia 3 or 4 times a day. Both have powerful anti-viral properties, and also boost the immune system, as well as helping with any secondary infections. If you can't get it together to eat the garlic (yikes!) cut it into tiny pieces and swill down with water like pills.
They will not interfere with pain medication. But it will be wise to inform your doctor about what you are taking. Don't take garlic in heavy medicinal doses if you have a blood clotting problem or are on anti-coagulants and/or antibiotics. Don't take Echinacea if you have any auto-immune problem or are on antibiotics.

[linen53]

Thanks Tobi. It's always good to hear your perspective. No, there are no anti-viral medications that helps WN. Not then and not now. I have an auto-immune disease already so I faithfully take some very good immune boosters (2, twice a day of each). I eat fresh garlic on a regular basis, though since I became sick I haven't had the strength to do much cooking.

I'm glad I was able to educate you on this horrible virus. You won't hear what I have to say on the news or talk shows!

BTW, I am starting to turn this thing around. My nausea has lessened and the body aches and headaches are almost non-existent. Now I have to gain back my strength. That means more bed rest, of course.

Night all.

[Tobi]

I'm glad you are beginning to feel a little bit better. Hope your recovery continues.
I am so sorry you are bugged by this.

[linen53]

Thanks Tobi. Better still today. I just have to be patient as my body gains strength.

[skygazer]

How are you feeling linen?
There has been a lot of rain here, so many mosquitoes in non wooded areas, I was thinking of you last night.