Aseptic Meningitis

The physicians have determined Doug has aseptic meningitis. The good thing is that most patients make complete recovery, anywhere from two weeks to 2-3 months. Doug’s recovery is coming along very well. He will have a third MRI on Monday. This should indicate that the inflammation has decreased even more.

Doug has been to physical therapy Thursday and Friday. Both occupational and physical therapy will be done on Saturday and Sunday. Everything has improved, speech, walking, eye sight and fine motor skills. The hardest part is the agitation he feels. Unfortunately, the steroids side effects can cause sleeplessness and irritation. He doesn’t realize how much progress he has made. He only sees the things he can’t do. Everyone there has been so encouraging. So many staff member have said how impressed they are with his progress. They let him know they saw him over the weekend and can’t believe how well he is doing. The speech line that the Dr Armstrong has him say is, “Purple people eaters.” On Tue or Wed it really wasn’t distinguishable; today it was loud and clear. Dr Armstrong has decided to cancel the speech evaluation; Doug can try that later on if he needs it.

The hiccups continue. They aren’t 100 % constant, but he has them so often that they interfere with his sleep, his speech and they are very tiresome and hurt. They were giving him something for them tonight; hopefully he’ll be able to get relief. His mouth/tongue still hurt from biting it during the 10 minute seizure on Sunday. His appetite isn’t increasing, but he is eating. The foods have been pretty yucky. Those meals where he had to eat a soft diet where disgusting. I see much progress and anticipate seeing more over the weekend.