Encephalitis and Me Part 1(2)
What is it? What do you need to know?
Encephalitis and Me – An Encephalitis Survivor while living in Japan. My journey of resilience and challenges. One never knows when their world will turn upside down. This article is written to raise awareness of this disease, and I felt the need to share it publicly in detail for the first time in five years. As of this writing, it has taken me 16 days and six attempts to only complete Part 1. The entire story will be broken down into two parts. I apologize for not being able to condense it further. This is a monumental challenge for me to divulge these events. Lastly, I have decided to include this in my Memoirs series, which tells the story of me, a Canadian, living in Japan.
The Onset
Have you ever had a memory so vivid that it feels like it happened just yesterday? A moment etched so deeply in your mind that every detail remains crystal clear, no matter how much time has passed?
I have such a memory, one that stands out among the countless typical days that have blurred together over the years.
It all started on a muggy, rainy weekday morning in spring, five years ago in Japan. It wasn’t a usual morning for my family as we were all infected by influenza type A. The previous day, a brutal nurse had jabbed a cotton swab painfully into my cranium through my nostril, confirming that I, too, was the last to succumb to the illness. As my family slept, exhausted from the virus, I began my morning chores. Little did I know, that that morning would turn upside down and change my life forever.
My brain began to melt.
The Observer
Influenza was something I had dealt with before—high fever, tiredness, and body pain. But that morning, I discovered a higher state of misery.
Stress from work and worry for my family’s safety suddenly started to drown me, making it hard to breathe. Emotions crashed into me in turbulent waves. In addition, I started to worry about what my neighbors were thinking of me at that moment, about waking my family, and about why I was worrying so much.
I met a new companion that day, let’s call it The Observer, my new unfortunate lifelong friend. It was the only rational part of me, watching helplessly as my body acted out like a marionette without its master—bloodying my knuckles as I punched the hardwood cabinet in fits of unbridled rage, laughing hysterically, then crying, all in a vicious never-ending cycle. The Observer tried to understand but could only watch the chaos unfold.
After what felt like an eternity, The Observer finally stated, “Something is terribly wrong.”
It was then that I started to scream.
“Help me! Help! Call an ambulance!”
This is NOT an Ambulance!
My wife may have regretted her obstinate stance on driving me to the hospital that day, instead of doling out money for an ambulance.
Although I tried to control my emotions, I said things that hurt everyone. My tongue was razor-sharp, and I had no control. I spoke in tongues, like the Devil was speaking through me. My emotional control was being stripped away. It wouldn’t have surprised me back then if my head twisted 180 degrees like in the Exorcist, reassuring my traumatized daughter that daddy is alright while I was devolving before her eyes.
No, the ride was not pleasant indeed. Thankfully, I did not punch the roof every time we hit a red light, like I wanted to.
The Keen Insight of a Japanese Doctor
Our family was immediately quarantined due to the influenza. The many patients in the emergency waiting area were disgruntled when a doctor came to me almost immediately, shining a light into my eyes.
He asked me if I was okay in Japanese.
I punched him.
No. I really wanted to. It was a moronic question to ask someone who was so emotionally unstable and thoroughly traumatized.
I didn’t punch him, but I truthfully attempted to just minutes later when he asked me that same question, as I lay naked on a sterile, cold metal hospital bed awaiting a spinal tap. Three nurses foreseeing this event held me down until I gave up any resistance. I think at that point I was deliriously singing a song ranting and raving as emotions relentlessly washed over me, tears streaming down my eyes. The Observer was aghast that I would try and punch a doctor!
It wasn’t until an IV bag full of drugs with an “I don’t care as long as they work” concoction was latched onto me that my rampant emotions finally began to subside.
A Substitute Ambulance Ride
Gurney rides through many lit hallways, many rooms, MRI machines, and a multitude of other tests were done in blissful silence as the drugs sedated me, and the doctors gave up trying to communicate with me in Japanese. I don’t speak Japanese well enough. The Observer was still cognizant but had become relaxed throughout the process. This was my first hospitalization, after all, and I had a mildly detached sense of curiosity.
Finally, I was resting in a bed by late afternoon, attached to a multitude of hospital monitoring apparatuses and IV drips, awaiting my wife to tell me what the hell had happened to me. My emotions were either bludgeoned down or leeched out. I was normal once again, but I wasn’t. Little did I know at that time, I only had a 50% chance of surviving the night.
On April 26th, 2019, I was hospitalized with influenza-induced encephalitis. If it weren’t for the insightfulness of the doctor, for whom I will be forever grateful, I may not have lived.
What is Encephalitis?
Encephalitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the brain. The term “encephalitis” comes from the Greek words “enkephalos” (meaning brain) and “itis” (meaning inflammation). While the name describes the inflammation, the condition itself can have various causes, such as infections or autoimmune reactions.
Most cases of encephalitis stem from viral infections, though bacterial infections or autoimmune reactions can also be responsible.
In my case, I was infected by the influenza virus, which is a very rare cause of viral encephalitis. Yay! Lucky me.
Japanese Encephalitis in Japan
In Japan, Japanese encephalitis (JE) is the most common form of encephalitis. Here are some key statistics:
- Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a viral infection caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, primarily of the Culex species. The incidence rate of JE in Japan is estimated to be less than 1 case per million people per year.
- Other Causes: Encephalitis can also be caused by various other viruses, bacteria, and pathogens. The overall rate of encephalitis in Japan is estimated to be around 5-10 cases per 100,000 people per year.
Symptoms of Encephalitis
- Early Symptoms: Fatigue, headache, high fever, and mild to moderate neck stiffness.
- Severe Symptoms: Confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, memory issues, nausea, vomiting, personality changes, seizures, and speech issues.
Treatment for Encephalitis
- Hospitalization: Most people with encephalitis require intensive treatment in a hospital, including life support if necessary.
- Medications: Treatment may include antiviral or antibacterial medications, depending on the cause.
Encephalitis and Me
The medical terminology of encephalitis emphasizes only the inflammation aspect, but doesn’t highlight that encephalitis survivors may or will most likely suffer permanent brain damage. The brain is not designed to withstand the pressure of being pushed against the walls of the skull. This damage can result in serious and debilitating conditions.
One recent movie I watched addressed the subject of brain damage in professional American NFL football players. It was a decent movie, but the topic really resonated with me. The abrupt personality changes that I endured was reflected in this movie. The movie is called Concussion, and it is based on a true story.
I will attempt to finish my story in Part 2. To be honest, I may struggle to complete it. Writing about this is challenging for me because when I start to break down the barriers I’ve put up, my emotions surface. In the past, dredging up those memories has caused me severe depression.
Nevertheless, I will try.
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