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October 13, 2021 | By Tabitha Andrews Orth and Mari Wagner Davis
Every parent or caring adult knows all kids have gone through enough during the past few years. They deserve to have a fun and memorable Halloween celebration, keeping in mind the Covid-19 rules and mandates still in place in many states and countries.
Trick-or-treating was certainly different last year and may be this year as well. Whether the area you live has scheduled full door to door trick or treating or modified events, you can make sure every child gets to experience the candy, the costumes, and the fun of this truly kid-friendly event. Here are some tricks you can use to make this Halloween a treat for most families. This is an opportunity whether out of need to simply to create a new and fun Halloween tradition for many of us to get creative and enjoy this wonderful time-honored day!
Stage a Trick-or-Treat in Your Home: Set out buckets of candy in different rooms, decorate each door in a special way, and play Halloween music. Instead of going door-to-door in the neighborhood, kids go door-to-door in your house. Add to the fun by carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them.
Do a Twilight Hunt: Adhere glow-in-the-dark stickers to goody bags and hide them all over the backyard. At dusk, give each child a small flashlight and send them searching for treasure. Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with friends or neighbors, is an added bonus.
Host a Mask Costume Contest on Zoom: Pictures can be submitted to an appointed judge. Then, friends submit to design the judge the designs of personal or a family’s set of face masks. Gather together over Zoom to see who has come up with the award-winning single mask and set of masks.
Create a Backyard A-Maze: Set up a family obstacle course with booby traps and haunts. Ask the kids to collect balls to win a prize. A few options here would be:
Stage a Halloween-Themed Meal: Organize a Halloween-themed meal at home with your family members. Get creative with your meal choices, thinking up fun ways to present traditional meal items geared toward this holiday. Need help? Check out the Weelicious blog for some fun ideas!
The Halloween-themed meal described above can also be staged for larger groups, too, in an outdoor location when eating and socializing with larger groups. In fact, there’s an opportunity to maximize the fun for adults if there’s competition involved in either the set-up or the food – or both!
Organize a Schoolwide or Other Parking Lot Trick-or-Treat: If the weather will cooperate, it’s easy enough to stage this in a large, local parking lot. Decorate the cars or trunks before gathering to give and receive candy. With everyone wearing a face mask, park in alternate spots, and place cones six feet from each car’s trunk. Include a rope at the end of each cone that’s clipped with candy for trick-or-treaters. By planning this in advance, you may be able to ask businesses inclined to participate (especially those are geared toward children) to donate candy, coupons or other treats to the event. If the space allows this, add an outdoor Halloween movie with people/families spaced six feet apart.
Do a Window Treasure Hunt: Pick a Halloween symbol – something simple like a witch’s hat – and then let the kids cruise the neighborhood to try to find as many as they can. This works best by coordinating in advance with neighbors, encouraging them to dress appropriately and creating a station outside of each participating home with glow tape to mark social distancing. Toss treat bags or stock a station made up as a caldron or witch’s table with treats, so each child can come up to it to get a treat left by the retreating witch. Lights and music can enhance this event dramatically! Other fun ideas for this are in this video, including how to make glow-in-the-dark chalk to create social distancing, games, a maze that gives clues to the next treat stations, etc. Let your imagination guide you.
Host a Zoom Costume Party or a Photo Shoot: Have a Zoom costume party to demonstrate your creativity. For safe social distancing, dress the kids up, set up a backdrop outside and let each of them ham it up for their own mini photo shoot. Give treats and prizes to all participants and a memorable photo to make the occasion.
Reversed Trick-or-Treating: Organize a “You’ve Been Booed” event with your friends and neighbors. Get the word out by text, e-mail or phone to explain the game, asking people to sign up for a “Secret Boo.” Every participant’s name is put in a bag and each person is assigned who they will “Boo” by a drawing. Ring the doorbell of the person’s name you receive, leaving a bag of goodies out front, and running away before the door is opened. Tape a big sign to the bag that says, “You’ve Been Booed!” along with the recipient’s name and signed by the giver so they know whom to thank.
Host an Online Jack-o-lantern Event: Make sure entries are put in age categories – painting for the kids and carving for adults – so pumpkin art is judged among peer groups. Pictures can be submitted to an appointed judge. Have treats and prizes for all participants. In the event this is done in a neighborhood, light your jack-o-lanterns at a marked social distance when it’s dark enough to see each work of art. Judging and treat- and prize-giving can be done at a social distance.
Organize a Halloween Car Parade: Car parades can be a lot of fun. Music and lights can add to your Halloween caravan. Create a “drive-by event” or contest where individuals dress up or decorate their vehicles and drive by multiple judges’ homes, with a Zoom event after for awarding prizes.
“Drive-through events” are where individuals remain in their vehicles in an area with Halloween displays. Participants can receive a treat bag of commercially packaged non-perishable treats. Contact local places of worship, schools and locations that have large parking lots to see if you can arrange an event at a central location.
Door Decorating Competition: Get neighbors, friends and family living nearby to sign up for a door decorating competition. Then walk or drive by each house to view the spooky scenes. Arrange for treat-giving at each location by texting or calling the house to announce your arrival. Treats can be placed on the hood of your car (hopefully by someone in costume) so the kids can get out and retrieve their treats while social distancing. Again, appoint a judge in advance and host a Zoom after to award prizes for the best door.
Halloween Window Letter Hunt for Kids: This is a great activity that still involves the neighborhood! Contact your neighbors via text, phone or a neighborhood Facebook group. Pick a secret word relating to Halloween, e.g. Ghost, Witch, Goblin, Frankenstein or Vampire. Each home participating is assigned a letter in the secret word. They then create the letter they are assigned with Halloween art. Here is a link to inspire you. A list of participating addresses is posted in front of each participating house so passersby can join in the fun and everyone has the correct addresses. Walk or drive to each house on your list and look for the letter that will be posted by a specific date and time to signify the beginning of the hunt. Make a note of each letter you find at each house. At the end of the hunt, unscramble the letters to solve the word scramble puzzle and discover what the secret word is. Text the organizer the secret word so they know you have solved the trick. Celebrate solving the puzzle trick by having a Halloween-themed meal at home, a special dessert, Halloween family movie time or a candy hunt in your yard or home.
Visit a Pumpkin Patch or Orchard: Be sure in advance that attendees use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, and that wearing masks in enforced as is social distancing.
Become an Advocate by sharing your story. It may result in accurate diagnosis for someone suffering right now who is yet to be correctly identified. Submit your story with two photos to IAES@autoimmune-encephalitis.org
International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society (IAES), home of the AEWarrior®, is the only Family/Patient-centered organization that assists members from getting a diagnosis through to recovery and the many challenges experienced in their journey. Your donations are greatly appreciated and are the direct result of IAES’ ability to develop the first product in the world to address the needs of patients, Autoimmune Encephalitis Trivia Playing Cards. Every dollar raised allows us to raise awareness and personally help Patients, Families, and Caregivers through their Journey with AE to ensure that the best outcomes can be reached. Your contribution to our mission will help save lives and improve the quality of life for those impacted by AE.
For those interested in face masks, clothing, mugs, and other merchandise, check out our AE Warrior Store! This online shop was born out of the desire for the AE patient to express their personal pride in fighting such a traumatic disease and the natural desire to spread awareness. Join our AE family and help us continue our mission to support patients, families and caregivers while they walk this difficult journey.
FREE Webinar Series. Open to the public. Register Now to secure your space as seating is limited. IAES has arranged for some of the top experts in the field of autoimmune neurology and psychiatry to make presentations structured specifically for the layperson in mind on the most commonly asked about topics. Encourage, friends, family members, as well as your doctors and therapists, to attend one or more of these presentations.
Purchase decks for your family members, friends, doctors and therapists during AE awareness month. IAES in collaboration with Dr. Josep Dalmau has created the first product in the world specifically addressing the needs of the AE Warrior™ and those impacted by Autoimmune Encephalitis. ALL proceeds will support Dr. Dalmau’s research group. Our excitement continues to build over the rave reviews we are receiving from experts in the field about our AE Trivia playing cards. Doctors have begun to provide decks to their patients and have been receiving smiles all around. The support patients have been reporting is so exciting and gratifying to hear. This simple educational and rehabilitation tool appears destined to be the greatest personal support any AE patient, caregiver, therapist, teacher, or medical professional can own. A true game-changer in helping you to become a strong advocate, receive an outstanding educational foundation about AE, and doubles as a rehabilitation tool!
This inspiring video shows the wide age range and diversity of AE patients, it explains what AE is in simple terms and provides key RED FLAG warnings to any medical professional who views it. This is IAES’s 5th annual awareness video. Sharing this video on your social media platforms has proven to have a profound impact in raising AE awareness among the medical community and public which has lead to many patients receiving an accurate diagnosis in past years.
IAES has done the work for you. Download our press release and directions. Reporters can make use of the quotes from experts cited in the press release to enhance any article. Additionally, you can provide any writer with the contact information for the doctor who diagnosed you. Make sure you contact your doctor to confirm that they would be open to discuss your case with a reporter for a human interest or health story. Personal stories about AE patients and their journey are the best way to raise awareness broadly and on a much larger scale. It involves a few simple steps. Contact local and national newspapers as well as popular magazines such as People, Time and Newsweek.
Share your love and encouragement by purchasing a survival kit, (Goodies not included). IAES has created 11 different variations of these kits that are bound to bring smiles of pleasure to those who receive them. Create a kit for your AEWarrior™, AE Mom, Doctor, Psychiatrist, Nurse, Infusion day, Child or Caregiver. These kits are available year-round.
The Royal IAES Registry designates The AE Warrior™ and AE Sentinel with Royal Title. In recognition of their heroism under fire. The Royal IAES Registry is the highest honor to be bestowed upon those engaged in the mighty autoimmune encephalitis battle. Without warning and within an instant, these unprepared citizens were thrust unto a perilous fire raging battlefield. To fight demanded that they dig deep into the depths of their soul for the inner-strength they had to summon to save their life or the life of the one they loved. This act is so rare IAES sanctifies and affirms by sealed decry the bestowing of Royal Title into the IAES Registry on the second month of each year.
April-1-2020 | Barbara Layt Vujaklija, RN
Now that frantic February is finally over its time to look back and take stock of what we achieved. World Encephalitis Day (WED) was started by the Encephalitis Society in October of 2013 and has been held every February 22nd annually since then. The purpose is to raise awareness of encephalitis globally. The International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society (IAES) has participated in WED annually since its formation. This year IAES designated the month of February to be Autoimmune Encephalitis (AE) Awareness month and will continue to exhibit the face of AE every year.
So, what did we do to bring attention to AE in February 2020? IAES President, Tabitha Andrews Orth, put together our 4th annual AE awareness video. This wonderful video features members who were kind enough to send photos of themselves in treatment and before and after shots. The AE Warriors Stepping Forward video was a great success so thanks to all who participated.
Our annual Virtual Arts Show 2020 was a beauty to behold. Filled with talent. Drawings and paintings, poems and short stories. It was an outpouring of emotion from the hearts of AE Warriors from all over the world. If you ever want to know what it feels like to have AE look no further.
We rolled out a selection of AE awareness products that provide the support and encouragement of everyone in the AE community’s desires. AE Warrior Gifts, now available year-round, features the Royal Registry certificates for the AE warrior ™ and Caregiver. These certificates recognize the heroism in battling AE by the patient and caregiver for their heroism under fire. Survival Kits for AE patients, caregivers, doctors, RNs, Kids, and parents were created, and many members gave these out. Candy bar wrappers with fun encouraging statements were developed for fundraising efforts and are available for free as well as a unique AE Medical Identification card IAES developed.
With all these great things going on there was still a magnificent topper to the month. Tabitha and her team rolled out a first of their kind Autoimmune Encephalitis Trivia Playing Cards Deck. These remarkable cards were developed with assistance by Dr. Dalmau and have questions and answers about AE to use for quiz games with families, who want to know more about AE, doubles as a rehabilitation tool or can just be used as playing cards. The original art on the cards was done by a fellow AE warrior, Julia King. Complimentary decks are being sent out to AE doctors on our Doctor’s List. The excited responses IAES is receiving from doctors about AE Trivia playing cards are filled with praise and congratulations in developing the ideal tool for AE patients, families and therapists. AE Trivia playing cards are on sale to the public and all proceeds will go to support AE research. Well done team.
So outreach for the first annual Autoimmune Encephalitis Month was a big success and thanks to all the members, caregivers and volunteers who put in their time and hearts to make it happen.
Of course, the culmination of the month is February 22nd and World Encephalitis Day. Many members sent in updates around this date and pictures to show before and after views that we decided to share some of them in case you missed them the first time around. So here are some great pictures and a few quotes to go with them.
From Renee Sanchez, “Well today’s the day! Almost exactly 5 months from her first seizure, which would be the last day of work and the beginning of this nightmare for our daughter, she is going back to work!”
From Paula Lee Ramirez, “Happy world encephalitis day
From ICU September 2017 to now. Symptoms started in August 12, 2017. I wasn’t admitted and believed I was sick until September 17,2017. Diagnosed on October 3, 2017 with ANTI-NMDA Receptor encephalitis. I have yet to relapse! ❤️
Lucy May Dawson, “Today is World Encephalitis Day. I, like 78% of people, had no idea what Encephalitis was until the words fell out of my neurologist’s mouth after I was misdiagnosed as having had a mental breakdown and had spent 3 months in a psychiatric ward…….Regardless, I am one of the lucky ones, and I hope that by continuing to post about encephalitis, someone will one day remember one of my posts when their loved one begins to act strangely, and they will ask their doctor to test for it, and it may just save a life”.
Daisy Garuvadoo: World Encephalitis Day today, from being critically ill with Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis in Nov 2017, 2 years ago, having to relearn to walk, speak, to brush her teeth. to get dressed, to read, to write, to learn basic maths, to tell time and to regaining her cognitive abilities to Medical School and thriving. Yesterday, my daughter was honored for her research project related to Intrathecal procedures at her Medical School. INTRATHECAL RITUXIMAB TREATMENT(though the spine) IS WHAT SAVED HER LIFE.
Kimberly Anne Thompson I beat this. I have no lasting side effects. But awareness is so important… Because Encephalitis often presents with psychiatric symptoms it is often misdiagnosed… I spent six weeks in a Psychiatric Hospital originally diagnosed with having a Nervous Breakdown. I was given meds that only made My condition worse. It wasn’t until I started having Seizures and the Encephalitis began affecting My Heart that I was transferred to ICU and had a Lumbar Puncture which showed I had Anti-NMDA Encephalitis…. It is this delay that kills. I urge all Medical Professionals to consider Encephalitis in Patients that present with Hallucinations for the first time… You could save a life.”
Grace Harimate, It is world Encephalitis Awareness day today yesterday in NZ time…. as I contemplated sharing these images and my story, my heart was pounding … I wanted to forget but this ordeal you’ll never forget…I was misdiagnosed and mistreated with bipolar taking the wrong medications and wrong treatment for 6 years from 13y to 18y. Spending most of my teenage years in the mental health ward. But so glad I met the most amazing people in those years…..The hard part was to come when I woke up from a two-year coma… I was fully blind for one-year memory loss still tube fed etc.
I was determined to walk … determined to get my eyesight back determined to get back on that horse determined to get a job … I walked into my 21st blind.
These awesome warriors and their brave care givers look at World Encephalitis Day and the new Autoimmune Encephalitis Month as a milestone. Where was I last year and where am I now? Some who have been floundering in a wilderness of lost memories have found their way or at least see a light at the end of their tunnel. Some are still, though making progress, struggling with issues others cannot even begin to imagine. Not only one year at a time but moment to moment. Some have been in comas only to wake up to a new truth, new situation, others are missing months or years of their lives. People they will never see again and new members of family and friends they are only meeting now. Such is the nature of Autoimmune Encephalitis. Your own body turning on you and messing up your brain. Sometimes making you hear, see, taste or smell things that are not there. Trying to make the family and friends in their lives understand the impossible.
March on brave warriors, continue to fight and savor your special month and the day set aside for you every year. May your lives look better next February.
Become an Advocate by sharing your story. It may result in accurate diagnosis for someone suffering right now who is yet to be correctly identified. Submit your story with two photos to IAES@autoimmune-encephalitis.org
(World renown expert who identified the disease and put AE on the map. All proceed directly support Dr. Dalmau’s research group.)
IAES in collaboration with Dr. Josep Dalmau has created the first product in the world specifically addressing the needs of the AE Warrior™ and those impacted by AE. ALL proceeds will support Dr. Dalmau’s research group. Stay tuned for the announcement of this exciting educational and rehabilitation tool. It is destined to become the most vital product anyone touched by autoimmune encephalitis should purchase. A true game changer in helping you to become a strong advocate, receive an outstanding educational foundation about AE doubles as a rehabilitation tool!
The IAES Angel has lifted IAES upward by ensuring that comfort, guidance and improved health is brought into an AE patient’s life. IAES Angels are motivated by their Spirit of giving. They are Champions in raising AE awareness.
When you become an #IAESANGEL, International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society will send you this badge and profile frame to place on your Facebook page or Website. As badges ‘take flight’ heralding IAES has been ‘touched by an angel’, others will take notice and they too may find their wings. Together, we will create a future where AE is eradicated from this world and only referenced in medical history books.
The Royal IAES Registry designates The AE Warrior™ and AE Sentinel with Royal Title. In recognition of their heroism under fire. The Royal IAES Registry is the highest honor to be bestowed upon those engaged in the mighty autoimmune encephalitis battle. Without warning and within an instant, these unprepared citizens were thrust unto a perilous fire raging battlefield. To fight demanded that they dig deep into the depths of their soul for the inner-strength they had to summon to save their life or the life of the one they loved. This act is so rare IAES sanctifies and affirms by sealed decry the bestowing of Royal Title into the IAES Registry.
This inspiring video shows the wide age range and diversity of AE patients, it explains what AE is in simple terms and provides key RED FLAG warnings to any medical professional who views it. This is IAES’ 4th annual awareness video. Proceeding videos have had a powerful impact on raising AE awareness and has lead to many patients receiving an accurate diagnosis.
IAES has done the work for you. Download our press release and directions. Reports will use quotes from experts cited in the press release as well as contacting the doctor who diagnosed you. This raises awareness on a much larger scale and only involves a few simple steps.
By going to our FUNdraiser Page, you will see several ideas for all ages that allows you to have FUN and raise awareness for AE at the same time.
Share your love and encouragement by purchasing a survival kit, (Goodies not included). IAES has created 11 different variations of these kits that are bound to bring smiles of pleasure to those who receive them. Create a kit for your AEWarrior™, AE Mom, Doctor, Psychiatrist, Nurse, Infusion day, Child or Caregiver. These kits are available year-round.
IAES has created 14 unique candy bar wrappers you can raise some sweet awareness. These free wrappers include sentiments for people in the AE community and public. These wrappers can be given as your simple act of kindness or used as a fundraising vehicle. They are a wonderful way for children and siblings to get involved in fundraising and raising awareness as well. Candy wrappers will be available throughout the year.
Post this Infographic throughout the month on your social media platforms and also download it onto card stock paper and give it out at school, work, gym or your place of worship.
Tour the IAES Virtual Art Show and share the link on your social media platforms. Showcased is art in a variety of forms done by patients, siblings and caregivers of all ages. Experience a special insight into AE through their eyes and experiences.
February 20, 2019 | Tabitha Andrews Orth
World Encephalitis Day is the Friday, February 22nd. This is a single day when everyone in the Autoimmune Encephalitis community works to bring awareness to AE. If you have AE or know a loved one battling the disease, your participating can make all the difference in the world.
What can you do to participate?
1. Use a profile frame on your FaceBook profile picture to raise awareness from now until WED
2. Encourage people to tour our Virtual Art Show. Amazing and inspiring art done by patients and their loved ones which include stories of the artists. Share the link on all your social media and post it on your timeline. You will find the Art Show under Inspiration Gallery on our website.
3. Create a FaceBook fundraiser for IAES to support our mission in spreading awareness in the medical community/general public, helping patients/families reach best outcomes and encourage research.
4. Post our awareness video: You Are The Reason ~on World Encephalitis Day~ utilize all your social media platforms. This year’s video has already surpassed our expectations in reach. Your post may save a life by leading a patient to become accurately diagnosed.
5. Become a card carrying member of International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society. For as little as $20 a year, you can become a ‘Basic’ member. Your membership includes a small gift of thanks from IAES along with your membership card.
6. Share/Post this informative meme that explains what Autoimmune Encephalitis is in easy to understand language. Share it on all your social media platforms. A Downloadable/printable version is located on our ‘Living with AE page’ on our website.
7. Make a $10 donation to IAES on World Encephalitis Day
8. Direct people to our website
9. Use #RED4WED #WED #Worldencephalitisday #IAES in your posts. Tag friends and ask them to share your posts so more people are reached.
10. Distribute the Gold Standard paper: A clinical approach to diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis. This vitally important paper was written by 26 experts around the world who collaborated to ensure that a patient with AE be easily identified in any hospital with equipment readily available.
International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society (IAES) is a Family/Patient centered organization that assists members from getting a diagnosis through to recovery and the many challenges experienced in their journey.
Driven by the knowledge that “Education is Power”, International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society manages an educational support group for patients diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis and their loved ones, empowering them to be strong self-advocates and advocates that will lead them to best outcomes and recovery. We are the premiere organization leading in these vital roles.
February 22, 2018 | Jenny Goetsch-Lawrence
On April 20, 2016, my brother, AJ, checked in to Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah and made a Facebook post stating that this would be his home for the next few days. Little did he or we know that this would not be the case. His symptoms began with tingling in his hands and feet and balance issues, which he thought may be a complication with his Type 1 Diabetes. After having an initial MRI, his doctor wanted him to check in to the hospital for further testing.
For the next couple of months, AJ remained at Theda Clark and endured numerous spinal taps, CT scans, MRI’s, rounds of steroids, plasmapheresis, daily blood draws and therapy sessions. Our Mom stayed with him six days a week while I stayed with him the other day to give Mom a break. Our Dad made the daily trip from Sheboygan to Neenah to be with AJ and help out with his therapy sessions. It took quite some time before AJ was finally diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis.
On July 11, 2016, the day after AJ’s 35th birthday, he was moved to a facility in Madison and remained there until July 31, 2016 when he was moved to UW Health, also in Madison. Once at UW, AJ underwent chemotherapy treatments with Rituximab and then a brain biopsy. Both efforts resulted in no positive results. On August 24, 2016, our family was asked to have a meeting with his team of doctors. In this meeting we asked the question, “Does AJ have brain damage and if so, to what extent?” In the following minutes, all breath and life was sucked out of us when the head Neurologist told us that AJ had severe brain damage and would never come back to us in any shape or form. In the next few days, our family had to make the decision to remove him from all life sustaining treatments. We had him moved to Sharon Richardson Hospice to be close to home so that family and friends could say their last goodbyes. AJ gained his wings and entered eternal life on September 2, 2016.
Prior to his illness, AJ was a volunteer firefighter/paramedic and was the owner of his convenience store, Route 32 in Krakow, WI. AJ lived life to the fullest and was always there to help anyone in need, friend or stranger. Our family still has many unanswered questions regarding his illness and we know the answers will never come. The only thing we do know is that we have our very own guardian angel looking down on us.
Symptoms of AE. Click Image for more information.
Early Diagnosis and aggressive treatment of Autoimmune Encephalitis lead to best outcomes. It is of the utmost importance that a Neurologist specializing in the field of Autoimmune Neurology oversee these cases. Since AE was first identified in 2007, it is not widely known and patients are easily misdiagnosed or experience a delay in diagnosis. Refer to our Doctor’s list for an experienced physician near you.
Recognizing Signs at onset of Autoimmune Encephalitis, Diagnosis and Treatment
International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society (IAES) is a Family/Patient centered organization that assists members from getting a diagnosis through to recovery and the many challenges experienced in their journey.Driven by the knowledge that “Education is Power”, International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society manages an educational support group for patients diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis and their loved ones, empowering them to be strong self-advocates and advocates that will lead them to best outcomes and recovery. We are the premiere organization leading in these vital roles.
Heather Smith’s story
Hi Everyone! Today I thought I would share my story, at least to date. I’m 41. About a year ago I had a gastric bypass and have since lost about 100 pounds. I was the healthiest I had ever been in my life. Happy and really living life for the first time in many, many years. The migraines that had plagued me since my teens were gone. So was the type two diabetes, high cholesterol, etc.
About 3 months after the bypass everything changed. I started getting severe headaches. The kind where you would drop anything in your hands and just grab hold of your head. The kind where you can’t think, can’t eat, can’t do anything but pray the pain would stop. I was seen in the ER on at least 7 occasions. The doctors there just kept saying it was dehydration, the rapid weight loss from my bypass, and/or my migraines. They would not listen to me when I told them this felt nothing like the migraines that I have had all my life.
At the same time, myself and my family began noticing other changes. I was dizzy all the time. Walking in to walls at work, stumbling, and getting tunnel vision. My husband noticed changes in my speech, especially when I was tired. I would stutter, have trouble finding my words, or completely blank out in the middle of a sentence and not remember what I was going to say. Finally, on July 28, 2017, I went in with the worst headache I had ever had. The doctors, tired of seeing me, finally decided to order and MRI. The MRI showed 3 white matter brain lesions; #1 in the right superior parietal lobe, #2 in the left peritoneal region, and #3 in the left temporal parietal lobe. One of the left lesions looks like a MS type lesion, however the other two do not. I was admitted to the hospital and the doctors started looking for a cause.
Over the next 10 days I stayed in the hospital. The headache did not let up. The doctors ordered two different courses of High dose steroids, solumedrol and Depacon. I had no relief from either course. They also did multiple rounds of MRI’s, CT scan, blood work, and a lumbar puncture. The LP was positive for 2 oligoclonal bands. With no idea what was going on, I was discharged on day 10. By this point, I could not walk without assistance. I was prescribed stability crutches. I have rapid weakness, spastic reflexes, fatigue, head pain that is constant around the base of my skull, with multiple episodes of severe stabbing pain all over the crown of skull every day. I am dizzy and have vertigo 24/7. I have increasing difficulties in social situations and public spaces. I have tremors, and spasms that make my whole-body jump. I have insomnia. Bright light, moving lights and colors, and music all increase the head pain. I have stabbing pain behind my eyes that make my vision blur and eyes water. I have nausea and vomiting multiple times a week.
In October the doctors sent an encephalopathy panel to the Mayo Clinic for testing. I am NMDA negative, but positive for N-Type VGCC. This spurred them to do more CT scans to check for cancer. At this point they told me they suspected Autoimmune Encephalitis. The CT showed that I had an ovarian remnant left from a previous surgery as well as two tumors (believed to be endometrioma) on the left side and a small mass in the right abdominal wall. PET scan showed no activity in any of these locations and all masses are believed to be non-cancerous. I have also had a MOG test sent to the Mayo Clinic, but have not received any results from that testing. Currently, we are only treating symptoms. Gabapentin for the tremors and headaches, which does little to nothing. Trazadone to help me sleep, and promethazine for the dizziness. I am undergoing surgery on February 20th to remove the ovarian remnant and all 3 masses. My Endocrine Gynecologist does not believe that the masses are causing any of the Neuro problems. His notes state “Concern by neurology that ovarian remnant or tumor could be secreting a chemical causing her encephalitis. Low suspicion by OB/GYN for the remnant appears to be an endometrioma which are not known to produce these sorts of chemicals or hormones.” However, we are going forward with surgery to rule this aspect of the disease out.
All of my treatment is through the University of Iowa Hospital. I don’t see my Neuro again until a week after surgery. Thanks for sticking with my long story. I just don’t know what to do next or how to proceed. I’ve lost so much to this in the last six months. I’m basically housebound. I cannot drive, I lost my job, and my independence. I’m frustrated and constantly scared. Always waiting for the next bomb to drop.
Heather contacted International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society for help, support, and guidance. She has recently joined the Int’l AE Society Educational Support Group designed for patients with an AE diagnosis and their support people. We will be helping Heather through her journey and guide her in getting the best treatment possible for a best outcome.
First, make a donation to International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society, and provide your mailing address in the transaction. Every donation in the amount of $30 US or more will receive an AE awareness ribbon water bottle with the definition of what autoimmune encephalitis is on the back.a
When you receive your water bottle, e-mail a picture with you using your water bottle with your name and where you are from. All pictures will be posted on World Encephalitis Day, February 22nd.
International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society (IAES) is a Family/Patient centered organization that assists members from getting a diagnosis through to recovery and the many challenges experienced in their journey.
Driven by the knowledge that “Education is Power”, International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society manages an educational support group for patients diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis and their loved ones, empowering them to be strong self-advocates and advocates that will lead them to best outcomes and recovery. We are the premiere organization leading in these vital roles.
February 1, 2018
How can you participate? Starting now until February 22nd, World Encephalitis Day, you can join a virtual walk that will help us raise awareness: #StepUp4AE. You can create your own team and come up with an awesome team name in honor of your #AEWarrior. Get friends, family, neighbors and school mates to sponsor you. If you are working, ask your employer if they will match the donations you raise or make a pledge.
click here to find out more.
Our World Encephalitis Day 2018 Video is out. Post this on your Face Book page, e-mail it to friends and family and tweet it out to raise awareness for Autoimmune Encephalitis.
We encourage you to do independent fundraisers throughout the month. Have a bake sale, poker night, Game night, gather at a local restaurant where the owners donate a % of the proceeds to International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society. Be creative. You can even do a fundraiser on your Face Book page:) Let your voice be heard as we Walk through the Month of February together raising awareness.
International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society (IAES) is a Family/Patient centered organization that assists members from getting a diagnosis through to recovery and the many challenges experienced in their journey.
Driven by the knowledge that “Education is Power”, International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society manages an educational support group for patients diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis and their loved ones, empowering them to be strong self-advocates and advocates that will lead them to best outcomes and recovery. We are the premiere organization leading in these vital roles.
Our website is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice. Nothing contained on our website is intended to be used as medical advice. No content is intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice. Although THE INTERNATIONAL AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS SOCIETY provides a great deal of information about AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS, all content is provided for informational purposes only. The International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society cannot provide medical advice.
International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society is a charitable non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2016 by Tabitha Andrews Orth, Gene Desotell and Anji Hogan-Fesler. Tax ID# 81-3752344. Donations raised directly supports research, patients, families and caregivers impacted by autoimmune encephalitis and to educating healthcare communities around the world. Financial statement will be made available upon request.
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