bogbrush

Happy first aneurversary Myra. Have a good one. Like many others, I found the first year the hardest, but it does get better. Regards Keith

Hi Blossomuk and welcome to behindthegray. I think we've all had that feeling in the early weeks and it's a natural reaction when something devastating like this happens. The feelings do diminish with time, it's early days. There are some great people here who do understand what you are going through and can help with anything you need to know. Regards Keith

Best wishes on your 1st aneurversary Shiree and good luck with the driving. Well done. Have a good one. Keith

Hi Jane No need to apologise. Beth was right, I wasn't complaining. Maybe I should have worded my first paragraph a bit better. A search of these forums using a few keywords can often reveal the information you are looking for. It's a useful tool. Just click "search" at the top of the page, put in a few keywords and see what it throws up. Always happy to answer any questions if I can. Regards Keith

Hi Jane A search of these boards for "follow up" reveals hundreds of posts on the subject. It has been discussed many times. I don't think there is an average/normal/expected interval between check-ups, scans etc. it varies so much between hospitals. In my own case, I was discharged from further follow-up scans after 18 months, so they are not even keeping an eye on my aneurysm now. I would prefer that it was still monitored though. Regards Keith

Hi Joanne My BP was very high after SAH; consistently over 165/110, but it was always high anyway. My GP said it was too high, but didn't want to treat it saying that the recovering brain can often call for more blood causing high BP. My NS also said the same thing when I saw him at 3 months, telling me that the time was now right for my GP to deal with it. I was told that diet and lifestyle can help lower BP, but in my case, medication was also required because, as the doc put it, I'd already had an "event". I am now on 3 different BP meds and my BP is consistently below 140/90. As for what is normal BP, you GP can tell you, but there is also some good information on the Blood Pressure Association website http://www.bpassoc.org.uk Regards Keith

Hi Steve and welcome to behindthegray. I was seen by 2 doctors at my local hospital before discharge (I don't think they were neuro docs) and was only asked to walk around my bed which I could just about manage and also asked if there was anyone at home to look after me ... I got the impression that the local hospital just wanted rid of me. My wife only worked a couple of hours a day at the time, but she took a week off work, and would you believe it, the second day she went back, I was taken ill again and blue lighted back to hospital. I was given no professional support at home (didn't really need it), they just told me to contact my GP or the hospital where I was treated (Wessex Neuro, Southampton) if I had any problems. Regards Keith

Hi Angie and welcome to behindthegray. That's a very good attitude to have. Regards Keith

Hi Penny Welcome to behindthegray and thanks for sharing your story. Regards Keith

This was posted in the chat room at 2304 on 02 February 2009 by trishdnzl5 so I've posted it here on her behalf. Keith

Laura, please do. Send some of your scans to behindthegray@gmail.com and I'll pick out one or two for the Brain Scans album. Cost me £25 for mine too. Regards Keith

That's great news phil. Really pleased for you and Sharon. Regards Keith

Hi Vaughan and a warm welcome to BTG I live not far from you in Basingstoke. I used to live in Alton and worked there for many years. If you ever fancy meeting up, let me know. Regards Keith

That would be the basilar artery then. Regards Keith

Just following instructions Karen, as my username is non-gender specific. In French, it's feminine: la brosse à WC Regards Keith

Aged 45 Left PICA (posterior inferior cerebellar artery) Male Coiled (4 coils) Regards Keith

During the first few weeks, I slept a lot at odd times of the day and night, often having vivid dreams and waking in the early hours unable to get back to sleep. It took several months before I returned to a fairly normal sleep pattern and not generally needing to sleep during the day. Even now 2.5 years on, I still often wake very early in the morning. I get very tired after a week's work and often need to sleep during the day at weekends. Just sitting quietly helps, but the need for sleep is sometimes overwhelming. I don't often dream, not that I can remember anyway. The dreams I do have and remember are not that vivid, but they are very strange ones. Regards Keith

Hi Poppy. Here's a few topics for you and Dee to read: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1557 viewtopic.php?f=1&t=277 viewtopic.php?f=1&t=697 viewtopic.php?f=1&t=326 Regards Keith

Hi Joanne and welcome to behindthegray. It sounds to me that you are not ready to go back to work just yet. You are only just over 2 months on which is very early in your recovery. As for recommending a minimum time, no one can say. There is so much rubbish put out there about recovery times, and as you've said, everyone is different. We've all been down the path where people say you look well, but they don't know or understand how you feel inside. You are among people here who do understand. Tell your GP how you feel on your worst days and hopefully there will be some understanding. Don't be pressured into returning to work, as it's a big step; a step you should take only when you feel properly ready. Even then, you may find you struggle to cope with the work environment. It's something you need to discuss with your manager: a phased return, starting part time on a small number of hours to see how it works out ... but only when you are ready, not when others think you are. You are not a fraud. You have suffered in the same way that others here have suffered, aneurysm or not. You should definitely get on to the hospital about your follow-up. Tell your GP as well. I think it's disgusting that they should move it so far ahead. Take care and hope it goes well with the GP tomorrow. Regards Keith

Hi Donna I know how hard it can be to lose weight. I'm trying to lose a couple of stones myself at the moment as I know that my weight is affecting my general health. It requires a lot of willpower and you really have to want to do it ... for yourself, not just for other people and it sounds like you do want that. Gentle exercise is the key, nothing strenuous. I've started going for a 20 minute walk every lunchtime and it's definitely helping. Anything much more strenuous than that and you should consult your doctor. I won't mention the exercise bike as I had an argument with one of those a couple of years ago which I recounted on here at the time. I also know it can be hard to find the energy when you are suffering from fatigue post SAH. I won't give any diet advice as there are a million and one opinions on that one, except to say that I've cut out all snack foods and sweet stuff from my diet, except for the odd lapse at weekends and that has helped a lot. I'm not going to say how much I weigh either I'm just short for my weight Regards Keith

Lucie and John Happy aneurversary to you both Regards Keith

Laura that is exactly according to the law, the leaflet from their website explains it all in plain English and it couldn't be any clearer IMO. But but hey, I'm not the expert here so I'll give up on this one ... good luck. Regards Keith

Yes Scott, I've read those websites. Nowhere does it say you must surrender your licence. I was certainly never required to surrender mine, even after I informed the DVLA. Even the DVLA say surrender is not a requirement, only that you must inform them and they will decide after medical investigations. The DVLA is the only body that can tell us the answer, not the NHS or the Wessex and I believe that answer is already very clear. Regards Keith

Scott, I believe it is very clear on the directgov website about what is required. There is no ambiguity. Notification is mandatory and it is a criminal offence not to tell them, but: (see links in my earlier post) If you voluntarily surrender your licence, no medical enquiries need to be made: Indeed, the form you fill in when you surrender your licence is called "Declaration of Voluntary Surrender" Of course, if you subsequently re-apply for you licence to be re-instated: Regards Keith

Hi Scott Great start. A few suggestions: 1. DVLA - What do I need to do? You are required by law to inform the DVLA. You are not legally obliged to surrender your licence. That is a voluntary process if your doctor has informed you not to drive. Surrendering your licence removes the need for the DVLA to make formal medical enquiries into your fitness to drive. It's all set out at the following links. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Dr ... DG_4022415 http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Dr ... DG_4022414 4. Recovery This has been covered on this site in the SAH information section http://behindthegray.co.uk/welcome/inde ... &Itemid=42 There may need to be some expansion on that. Ditto Symptoms. Will continue to have a think about this. I did post somewhere a list of questions I asked my own NS, so I'll dig it out when I've got a moment. Regards Keith