I contracted West Nile late summer of 2007. It started with terrible headaches, and I would make it into work maybe 2 days out of the week. This was not good, since I had just started my own business. My headaches were getting the best of me.
I went to the doctor, and he said it was definitely West Nile, and prescribed pain killers and ibuprofen. I started having pain all over my body. One morning it was so bad that I couldn't get out of bed to go to the restroom. Thank God I had the phone by me. I called a friend, and she drove five miles out to the country to come help me.
My friend took me straight into the doctor, and he said again, West Nile. I asked him what can be done about the pain. He prescribed more pain killers. I went to fill the prescription, and broke out into an awful rash. The pharmacist told me to go right back to the doctor. I did, and he took my blood for testing. Decidedly West Nile.
I was in the doctors office once a week for six weeks. They wanted to admit me, but I had no insurance. I could not afford the hospital bills if I were admitted. The doctor made me keep someone with me at all times, so I stayed in town.
After eight weeks of this horrendous pain it slowly went away. I thought everything was over. I had a few head aches here and there, but not bad as they were. I started losing my hair, my nails, and my skin had patches all over. I would freak out over everything privately, because I thought I was losing my mind. All focus seems to have left me. My ears had always rang a little, but now they will ring so loud and long I couldn't sleep. The doctor put me on medicine for anxiety.
Through the last 18 months I've had a great deal of memory loss. I forget the names of people I've known for 20 years. I have forgotten to pay my bills. I no longer have a business. I feel like I'm losing my grip on my life.
I moved home for support from my family. I felt like a failure, and I want to get back on top.
I know from reading other stories that I was lucky. I find it extremely hard to get back to normal.
