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Will my wife remember having encephalitis?

Anarchy_X
0 Recommendations

Hello, my wife has been in the hospital for the past two weeks being treated for Herpes Encephalitis. They didn't think she would live, but has made a strong recovery starting over the past two days that has impressed the doctors so far. She remembers me and her friend, can speak softly and can follow all commands by everyone she sees (therapists, doctors, nurses, etc.).

My question is will she remember these days when she recovers? I ask because her neurologist says that one of his patients didn't remember him when she came through it and wondered if the same has happened to others here as I am wondering if it will happen to my wife in that she doesn't remember this horrible time.

Any words or thoughts are greatly appreciated as it is just killing me to see my wife like this.

Explore topics in this discussion:

Pain Memory Encephalitis Stroke Paralysis Stress

22 replies

Sadie19

every case is different some people make a full recovery while others don't you wife is off to a great start. I hope she gets well soon.

jerseagal

Great news so far. She made it. She is alert. She is able to process information and follow commands.

I don't remember much from the headache until going home from rehab 8 weeks later.

Just hang in there and praise every tiny step forward. Create an atmosphere of joy and support!

Have you ever taught a baby to walk? The encouragement and joy in that baby's accomplishment is what I am talking about. My family established that kind of support system for me. Cheered when I “passed” the IQ test. Clapped when I was able to feedback the list of words. They watched while a relearned to walk. I was a group project.

IngridGuerci

She will remember being sick and what she felt like before she ended up in the hospital. I remember every detail but my residuals include remembering people's names, names of places or things, etc. I was extremely light sensitive, I still have a headache everyday and I have a ringing in my ears.

I am so glad you found this group. When your wife gets better and case use the computer, PLEASE get her to sign up. Also, can you please tell her neurologist about us so he can send his other enceph patients here and also tell his neurologist friends about us so they can do the same? Thanks!

Ingrid/Tarrytown, NY
HSE 12/95 (I was 45 years old)

"Of all things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." -- Ozzy Osbourne

hoboswife

Hobo remembers the headache and being at work but he doesn't remember anything else untill he woke up a month later in ICU. He does not remember the worst of it all and I am glad for that.

Hoboswife-Kim

petersencm

we all have stories to tell with a heart to help you out.
My story goes as follows. I remember things up to my seizure, then from being in the ambulance but once in the hospital - I don't remember ANYthing for a full week and a half. Then, I felt like I 'woke-up' with a terrible headache. "Were am I" I said. At that point, the doctors could tell I was past the worst part and would go up hill from there. It's great your wife remembers names because
that sure wasn't with me. I basically didn't know anything. It's not like my brain was then empty and had to relearn everything thankfully (and most thankfully remember my loving God - even though for a few days I thought my brother was Jesus :-D - -- Things just needed to be sort of 'pulled out' of my brain. I had no idea I had a 6 month old and 4 year old daughter. What's a husband? They warned my family that I would say what ever was on my mind but as days and weeks go by, I will get my adult way back and, as we do know, think before talking. (My sister knew I thought her shirt looked icky) Everyone was warned too that I could only think about myself. Thankfully, I was found physically fine. After two weeks in that first hospital, I then went to another for about 2 and a half weeks just to work on my memory.
Those weeks, after showing most of my normal frame of thinking was back, I went home but had to have someone around me for weeks while I had some out patient therapy done. Finally, I was able to be 'back to life' However, my mind to this day can not remember things as I'd love. Mainly names and details about things I don't have to deal with on a daily basis.
I know your wife could have a totally different story but thought I'd just let you know that, like your wife, I had a noticeably improving point at the hospital, everyone could finally breath, and it was at that point where I was able to begin and work on remember things.
Not everything - not every detail - but over all, most things I can now remember. (I'll never forget the day in the second hospital I thought 'Why are those little men funning around in a little box playing with a ball?' I was watching a football game on the T.V. in my room :-O
Hope this helped your thoughts. My husband would have LOVED it if he has this source for help but 18 years ago, nothing like this was around.

MichelleN

I don't remember anything about the time I first came down with E nor a long time before that. I can remember things now much better, but any time near the coma I can't remember at all.

Michelle

BobTX

Hi Anarchy

There are things I remember during the acute phase that I wish I could forget such as the paralysis, terrifying hallucinations and delusions. There are other parts I don't remember as I became semi-comatose. Afterwards I had trouble remembering people I did not see during the acute phase. I had to be re-introduced to some people and gradually my memory of them came back.

The degree of your wife's recovery can be greatly strengthened like Jearsey Gal said by a positive atmosphere. However I would have hated anyone who would have clapped after my E due to my hypersensitivity to sounds. It still is a literal pain to my brain when there is clapping. But that's just me.

"Your mileage may vary"

Bob

Anarchy_X

Thanks for all the great information guys. I am really hopeful she comesback to me as close as possible to how she was before and your info has me hopeful to say the least.

dannon

I remember most of time with encephalitis.
However, there are a number of things (in my mind) that don't add up and the time-line (as I try to recall things) doesn't knit together.
But I remember being at the point of "I can let go and die" I remember breathing manually, I remember a white haze and the only sensation was extreme hot breath running over my gums. I remember enough. I know what its like to be dying.
-dannon

jerseagal

Interesting phrase Dannon "breathing manually".

I think that is exactly what my family describe when they tell me how I was breathing un-naturally but rhythmically a gasp and quick blowout before I was finally placed on a respirator.

I also use the word "manually" when describing the process of relearning, silently self-talking myself through the steps of what formally was a reaction or automatic response or action.

WendyStation

Hello AnarchyX... I had HSE in 1999.

The last thing I remember is excusing myself from work, saying, "I have a headache, I'm going home." I don't remember anything after that.

Over the past 10 years, my family have shared with me some dramatic and unbelieveable stories about my antics in hospital, including my tugging the IV from my arm and running for the door with hospital gown flapping on my bare butt, as I shouted, "I just MUST get back to work!"

Please check out the section of our website ( http://www.encephalitisglobal.org ) titled HELP.

MichelleN

I tried to go back to work & college after E, but now not only do I not remember trying to go back I don't remember going to college or working. My family couldn't convince me that I couldn't so they told me it was a holiday.

Michelle

plbubba

My Mother does not seem to remember any of her 2 month hospital stay. It is probably good because we almost lost her several times. I attempt to explain to her that she had an infection in her brain but she is doing better now. I can't stress enough that family support is really important. My Mother has good days and bad ones but we are learning to take small steps and to be patient with the days that we don't see improvement.

javelinmanjohn

My 76 year old father went into he hospital Sept 5, 2009. Started with flu like symptoms. Once we were at the hospital, he was talking but not making any sense. We thought he might of had a stroke. Found out it was encephalitis -HSE. For the first 2 weeks he was very sleepy and unaware. He was on the IV with the antibiotics for 2 weeks. Slowly he started to come around. Did rehab with several walkers, and now is able to walk again on his own! We moved him from the hospital to a specialized care nursing home Oct 6, 2009. Now more rehab at the new place. I think he is doing very good for only one month and a few days. He is talking much better and louder now. He does not remember going into the hospital or having encephalitis. He does remember his grade school and high school teachers, etc. Definately still issues with short term memory. Starting to get a little better now with names of people. He cannot remember what street he lives on or what the front of his house looks like. I have printed a few pictures and was working with him over the weekend. That helped his memory of his house. He does appear to be doing better everyday. I'm hoping by bringing more photo albums to him may help with his memory. At the same time I do not want to go too fast and frustrate him. From what I have read, encephalitis is different for everyone. This website was and will continue to be a great help for me!

MichelleN

I have trouble recognizing places even my house, but we put a sign in front so I have a decent idea that it's mine. I tend to recognize things & animals more than people or places. If people are around with animals on a regular basis I can usually remember them or I try to find something with them that never changes.

I was supposed to meet my friend in a store & we made a mistake with when & I was about to go home when I saw a lady that looked like someone I might know then I saw that she had a necklace that was similar to my friend. It was my friend who I see at least 2 times a week, but I recognized her necklace not her.

When I try to remember something like my address I write it down then take a short walk repeating it over & over again. If I find any hesitation I look at the paper then do the walk again until I'm almost completely sure. I'm never completely sure, but now I know that it's possible I'm right if I don't think about something too hard.

Michelle

MUESL

My wife was diagnosed with Herpes Encpeh on may 26th and 7 months pregnant at the time to boot. She spent 2 1/2 weeks in the ICU and then was transferred to the rehab facility. They released her to come home on 6/30. She only remembers the last two or three days of the rehab facility but she is doing just fine now. I don't think they where ever really concerned about her living but when she left the rehab facility she couldn't count to ten or do many other basic memory functions

My wife while in the hosipital and rehab facility could only remember my name and her close families but everything else was pretty much gone ad has no recollection of her sicknes. She has made a terrific recovery but still having some short term memory issues.

Hang in there.

misseaster13

my husband had hse in april this year,he cannot remember ever feeling ill,his recovery was quite rapid ,he had numerous visitors in hospital from his family and friends yet he cannot remember this,i used to feel troubled by it but as time passes i concentrate on his daily memory ,after all the survivor im sure does not need to remember the trauma of it all,as a carer i try to forget it,i hope things go well for you ,the best advice given to me was take it slowly.

MUESL

BTW, my wife did a number fo things in the hospital very similair to Wendystations above. One thing was she was absoltley obessesed with having us bring her numeous outfits to wear to the hospital. They also had to restrain her a couple of times during the stay because she kept wanting to leave and got down right nasty about it. The difficult part for us was she was 7-8 moths pregnenant so they couldn't give her anything to calm down other than benedryl and that doesn't do much. She was at DODD hall the rehab clinic at Ohio State University and they had two very nice med students watching her 24 hours day that made all the difference int the world.

The point is as bad as it seems at times there is hope around the corner just have hang in there.

Anarchy_X

Thanks for even more info everyone. The doctor's say since she's young (37) and got treated wheb the symptoms started for about a day, she should make a full recovery and go back to work; it's just any deficiencies she may or may not have that are a concern, especially since I just niss her and her personality so much right now.
Good thing is that she recognizes me and friends. And can even say our first names, though last names she can't say but they say that's typical when brain is still inflamed.

Btw, all of you have been more help than I could ever imagine and I thank you for it.

newmustangsally

hi , just wanted to let you know that i had E 9 yrs ago and i remembered all of my people, but i did lose alot of past memories and had a very bad short term memory. when she gets home just have plenty of sticky notes on hand, thats what i used to remember to take my meds and do other daily things.
hope it helps
sally

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