Jenni - my story 11 weeks on

Hi Jenni, don't be embarrassed as you'll probably be surprised as to how many people have had a SAH after being intimate. It's any spike in blood pressure....you could have been sitting on the loo and straining, in the gym, gardening ... etc.

If you've got an aneurysm lurking and about to rupture, it will do it with any spike in blood pressure....whatever you're doing at the time ... lots of people on here that have had the SAH with different circumstances and post sex is one of them and you're not alone. I've been running this site for many years and we've heard everything, so there's no need to be embarrassed...we're here to help!

So, go to the Introduce Yourself forum or the SAH forum if you want help and support with a specific problem. 

And no, your outcome wouldn't have been any different if you had revealed to the Doc that you were intimate before the SAH ... It's as simple as that.... having a blood pressure spike could have happened whatever you were doing at the time, as the aneurysm was there ... don't feel guilty. We've had the fittest of people on here, who were in the gym, bike riding or the same as you, or on the toilet and many other examples.

It honestly does and will get better for you ..... xx

Hi Karen I just keep thinking if id said they would have taken me more seriously and I would have been treated earlier. I didn’t look like someone with a ruptured aneurysm as I was walking around complaining of a headache. I can’t understand why the brain scan was clear. Most stories I’ve read where someone has colllapsed and been operated on straight away seem to have a better recovery. Sorry I just can’t help thinking I made it worse. Thank you for your kind words. Xxx

Hey Jenni, you didn't make it any worse and some people have a post coital migraine head, which is nothing to do with a SAH.

There are lots of different accounts on the website of peoples experiences. I wasn't operated on straight away and it wasn't straight forward.

I can only say, that you're early days into recovery ... it can take 3 months for the blood to fully dissapate down the spinal cord. Keep your fluids up/hydrated and make sure that you rest up when you need to.

I would say that yes, you need to let things settle - re: eyesight. They're looking after you and understand your situation. 

There's not many of us who've had to stop driving long term ... keep positive and even at 14 years post SAH, I'm still seeing improvement. x

Jenni, 

The fact you’re were walking and talking when you went into hospital meant they didn’t recognise the symptoms ,not great I know and others have experienced similar and then sadly they couldn’t get the positive confirmation of a bleed with a LP . As I understand it a CT scan isn’t as clear as a MRI to confirm blood in ventricles and arachnoid space and whilst all bleeds are incredibly serious , depending on the grade of the bleed it may mean less blood is present , as does where the bleed is located, there are so many variables so often the LP becomes the check point if unsure. 

My daughters were 6 and 9 when I had my SAH and they had to adapt to mummy being very poorly for a long time An day unable to care for them and then not driving for well over a year and generally not able to do everything as I did and everyone here told me not to worry, that they would weather it, just to Be honest with them and kind to myself as I healed .

They were right. My girls are 16 and 14 now and they have grown into compassionate and independent young women, and a deal of that is down to their experience of supporting their mum, and that’s ok, and you know what ? They wish it hadn’t happened but they also see the value of having lived through it. Life goes on. We learn, love and go on. You will too. 

The BTG gang knew when they gave me that advice over 7 yrs ago that the best way to recover and adapt to change is to look after yourself and don’t beat yourself up and about the whys and regret. Your little girl has her mummy, that’s the key thing to celebrate , nothing is going to change the fact that our bleed happened, so slow it all down, don’t worry about what you could have done differently. 

Hi Daffodil

Thank you for your message it’s given me hope that I’ll see my little grow up.

I'm so nervous about my first MRI in Feb, 6 months after the bleed. I worry I might need more coils or something else might be there. I go in a spiral of worry about my vision to my headaches to my coils to getting another aneurysm. I haven’t had normal sleep as my worries resonate in my dreams. I’m trying not to worry but it’s so hard. 

Keep well & continue with your recovery. Xxx

27 minutes ago, JenniH23 said:

I'm so nervous about my first MRI in Feb, 6 months after the bleed. I worry I might need more coils or something else might be there. I go in a spiral of worry about my vision to my headaches to my coils to getting another aneurysm. I haven’t had normal sleep as my worries resonate in my dreams. I’m trying not to worry but it’s so hard. 

 

For you to have those worries is only natural. I don't think there is anyone on this site who hasn't had those worries.

Yes it is hard not to worry and regardless of what anyone says you will still worry.

You should have peace of mind once the MRI is done and you get the results.

Have you thought about asking your GP for counselling to help you over those worries so that you may be able to sleep? Sleep deprivation will not help your recovery.

There is no shame in counselling, we have many members who have taken the opportunity of it and benefitted. 

Oh Jenni. I'm so sorry the system failed you those first 5 days. How scary and frustrating for you and your partner. The amount of awareness needed- even in the medical community- is a real thing.

Be kind and patient to yourself as you adjust to your new normal. 

Be gentle....wishing you and your family a happy holiday.

Best,

Liz

Hi 

I`m new here, 5 days ago I had the worst headache of my life, I`d been having headaches for a while but this one felt different in that it felt like someone had my head in a vice and was poking their finger between my eye socket and eyeball, and in my temple. I called the doctor and she told me to go to A&E straight away.

Initially I had a chest x ray head CT scan and blood tests at Whipps Cross Hospital, and they decided to admit me. The next day I had further obs done.an MRI and more bloods etc, the next day I had another CT.  A doctor came and said I could go home the problem was with my pituitary gland, but not serious.

A couple of hours later my world crashed when a consultant came and said they`d had results from the second CT which actually showed I had an aneurysm. I`m so scared. They've upped my blood pressure medication, but will I be able to drive if they are managing it medically? They`ve told me to inform the DVLA.

I`m so cross with the initial doc who told me I could go home, only for a specialist an hour or two later to say that it wasnt the case.

I`m scared too because I often get constipated am I likely to blow my aneurysm that way?

Welcome to BTG.

May I suggest that you start a new thread in Introduce Yourself  https://web.behindthegray.net/forum/8-introduce-yourself/

or in Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Discussion  https://web.behindthegray.net/forum/6-subarachnoid-haemorrhage-discussion/

Your post will then be more visible to users.

Jenni

So sorry to hear of your plight. So many emotions when this happens and especially hard for you as a Mum caring for little ones. As others have said already, there is hope for you and you are in the right hands. I also had a brain hemorrhage in 2016. It was just a headache at the back of my head (I was on my way to work on the train). It was a little strange as I don't really get headaches and it didn't seem that bad.

Anyway, whilst emailing at my desk I noted that I couldn't see the right hand side of my screen without moving my head that way. Long story short, visit to Chiropractor didnt sort it. Visit to Moorfields Eye Hospital confirmed it wasn't an eye defect and they sent me in a cab straight to a stroke unit in London. That was a shock! No-one expects a stroke do they! I am recovered as I think I will be but still have the loss of vision. I do, however, have my driving licence back (woo hoo!) although it did take 20 months! We are all here for you and we all have our own stories and coping mechanisms.

Come back here whenever you feel alone or unable to understand the issues you are facing. Be kind to yourself and keep hydrated!