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HI, I had my sah in January this year and I have my 1st follow up appointment on May 2nd, starting to feel nervous about it as I have no idea what to expect. I was hoping someone could tell me what I might expect and if I should be feeling nervous, I still suffer constant headaches which I'm learning to live with along with the constant noise in  the ear.

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You shouldn’t feel too worried. I would write down the things to tell the doc such as headaches and questions to ask. Not sure if you are back to work or if you have to work with computers or people or both. 

Make sure you get lots of sleep and water. Goodluck ?

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I had a follow up appointment around the same time after my NASAH.  I don't think you should be worried.  The way it was explained to me:  They want to do another image just to be sure there is nothing there they could not see when they did the initial images.  Now that some time has passed, the blood should have cleared from your head, so they can get a better view.  

 

Mine turned out to be a relief, because they confirmed that no underlying hidden cause was present, and I was cleared to go live my life again, start exercising, whatever I wanted.  I was still having headaches and fatigue at the time, because I was still healing.  Your are still healing too.

 

I hope yours turns out the same.

 

Chris

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First time I saw my surgeon was on follow up MRI I wrote a long list and left it at home !! 

 

I thanked him for saving my life as I was really bad so I am told.

 

To cut my story short I had an MRI and got a letter back saying all was okay with head and Surgeon did say "never stress" so I think happy thoughts and never listen to others problems.   Coming from a big family it is hard to do lol xxx 

 

Good luck and don't worry xxx Well natural to worry, just think about how you survived xxx

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Hi 

Try not to worry too much about the appointment. Just make sure you are well prepared for it. Write all your questions down and take a pen and paper with you to write the answers too! If you have someone to go with you do take them as 2 pairs of ears are better than one.

 

I didn't get to see the consultant on my follow up, it was nurse led but she was brilliant. Gave me all the time I needed and was very patient - pity I can't remember more about it and I wish I'd had a list of questions and there are thing's I'd like answers to now and will probably never get them!

 

Good luck, keep us posted 

 

Clare xx

 

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Ian, you're still in early days and weeks of recovery. It's only normal to feel panic ... I know that I did at your stage when I went to my first appointment!  

 

Mention the headaches and ringing in the ears .... both aren't uncommon from what I've learnt. I had both of those....but write down a list of questions and just hand that list over to whoever you see... don't ever worry that your questions are a bit naff .... looking back, I wish that I'd been brave enough to ask them, as I'm sure that it would have helped me and stopped my struggling.

 

I'm quite some time on from my SAH ..... I'm still alive and kicking... good luck! xx

 

 

 

 

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Well I'm not really sure if it went well or not as I think I'm still none the wiser, he asked how I was feeling, so I told him about the headaches and ringing in the ears and pains at the top of neck at base of head, I asked about the exhaustion I get from simple things like getting dressed in the morning and the answer left me a bit baffled." Your body is like a car engine and when it breaks down and you replace the part it doesn't run the same as before"

 

The worrying thing I have is when I asked what caused it he said they didn't know, it wasn't  an aneurysm , or other names I cant remember, but could have been a small tear in a vessel. He is making another appointment to have a mra to see if they can find anything . 

 

So I feel I'm none the wiser than before, don't know what caused it  and don't know  if it could happen again.

 

Thanks 

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Hi Ian,

 

I have found they (the doctors) don't know everything..the brain is mysterious in some ways.  I am hoping for you that your upcoming MRA will help set your mind to rest somewhat. 

 

I know, it is horrible to have that worry "it could happen again"... I still carry the fear with me but now it is becoming more of a back seat thought instead of a front seat thought ...(hope that makes sense)  I am just 1 year out...I am hoping every month, every year will push it back a bit more and I hope it does for you also.    Take care

 

Jean

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Hi Ian,

i am 17 mos out, and never did get an answer or reason why I ended up in the hospital for one month.  Specialist was never able to find what caused my brain bleed.  I am one of the lucky ones, as I haven’t experienced any lingering headaches, but like you whenever I do get a headache, I tend to go on panic alert.

 

I wish, along with the hospital care for the physical healing, there would be a counseling component.  Honestly, I found that my mental state was worse than my physical one.  I work in Early Childhood Education, so I was off work for most of the school year.  When I did go back, it was very gradual.  The fatigue was astounding, but I would be awake at night wondering.....

 

i did have a cerebral angiogram before I was let out of the hospital, and 6 mos later - everything was back to normal.  I keep saying I’m ok, and 95% of the time I am, but there still are days when the anxiety strikes.  It does get better, but it takes time.  This group is a great place to “talk” things out.  Good luck in your recovery!  YOU GOT THIS.

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I found that also Pat, I was scared to be honest and while I was out of it my Daughter found this site.

 

I came on here and it has been a real good feeling knowing you are not alone in this,  and laughter returns to our lives.

 

Wishing you all the best and I always come here at least once or twice a day lol (Shhh pain in the neck I am) xxxx

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Hi Ian, just had my follow up appointment today.

 

I too had my bleed in January and there was no apparent cause for mine either. I’m not in a high risk group, don’t smoke or drink much and I have low blood pressure.

 

I had flu before mine which went into my chest. I was coughing loads and then just this feeling my skull was going to explode. 

 

I count myself lucky though, it could have been so much worse.

 

My doctor was dismissive of my worries, but MRI and Angiogram showed no abnormalities. I take comfort for that, sometimes things happen which we can’t explain, but we are here.

 

Not knowing what’s normal and when we can expect normal is horrible, but this site shows you, you aren’t alone and there are people here who know what you’ve gone through.

 

The best advice I’ve gotten is to listen to your body, put yourself first and rest.

 Take care Ian

 

Nikki

 

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