Any ideas on easing the lingering effects?

• By WendyStation
• Posted November 5, 2009 at 1:19 pm
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Hello Ron...
How recently did you have encephalitis?

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• By Ron57
• Posted November 5, 2009 at 10:21 pm
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September 8, 2004. Through West Nile.

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• By MichelleN
• Posted November 6, 2009 at 6:45 pm
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My vision gets really bad when I'm tired or under stress of any kind. I am on a sleep schedule & that's helped me not constantly be tired. It took awhile to get the schedule, but now I found one that works.

Falling & balance aren't so bad for me because I'm on my cane. I try to stay close to a wall or right in the middle of a walk way so I have a better idea where things are.

I hope you find something to help.

Michelle

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• By one_lil_red_hen
• Posted November 7, 2009 at 3:48 am
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Hi Ron,

I had West Nile Virus Meningoencephalitis in August 2005.

I can so identify with your problems. But I have seen improvements.

I don't know about you, but pushing myself too hard results in an increase of symptoms. Rest is still very important for me.

My eyes get tired easily and the blurry and double vision come with overuse. Especially anything up close. Eyedrops to help keep my eyes wet, because I developed dry eyes. I also developed cataracts, two different eye doctors said that it's not uncommon for them to see vision problems following West Nile. Unfortunately they did not have any advice to help improve the problem as it comes from the brain.

My tremors have improved over time. I still get it when I overdo any type of physical exertion. It's especially bad in my left arm.

The fatigue, I don't know if that will ever go away. At first I slept 22 hours a day for 4 months. Then I gradually began to stay awake more. I still need more rest than the average Joe. Sometimes I just can't hold my eyes open and have to go to bed. I just go with it. I tried to fight against it, but that was doing more damage to me, than giving in to the sleeping all the time. I still have spells where I just have to sleep.

Sometimes it's for 3 days in a row, can't hold my eyes open, can fall asleep anywhere, can't tell you how many times I had to sleep in my truck before I could go home from an appointment.

Sometimes those periods would be for as long as 3 weeks. I still have those spells, but they do appear to be getting farther apart. One can hope~

Complex B vitamin with C, Flax Seed Oil and recently I've added a protein shake, it does help with the fatigue and brain function.

The being off balance, I saw a ENT, Ear Nose and Throat doc and he referred me for Vestibular Therapy. Still haven't gotten there for that. But there are several people here who have had the therapy with varying degrees of success.

I'm wondering if you're talking any medications and which one. The falling down could be a seizure or vertigo problem or a lack of coordination.

Wondering what kind of prognosis you've received from doctors. Every one I see tells me something different, it's very frustrating.

What about anxiety? Controlling your emotions? Sleep?

I hope I have helped you some, at least you will know, you're not alone in the West Nile ship... Feel free to ask questions, I will do my best to answer them.

~hen

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• By wasadoc
• Posted November 7, 2009 at 12:06 pm
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I had West Nile Virus in February 2003, and have dealt with both fatigue and visual problems since then. At first I had difficulty getting peripheral vision and central vision to work together. It seemed like things in at the side were jumping in front of me- trash cans seemed to jump out of alleys, it often looked like black cats or shadows were always in my peripheral vision. This seems to be almost back to normal now. The fatigue has been a constant companion, although I have found improvement by paying attention to pacing, yoga, good diet, and a set rest and sleep schedule.

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