Liz D

Hi Tom I'm also hypothyroid. I used to get a lot of sinus infections but didn't get so many once my hypothyroidism was treated. Now I find I get blocked sinuses if I have too much dairy. Dairy can cause an increase in mucus in some people. No amount of painkillers will take away the pain of a sinus infection, you need strong antibiotics. Steam inhalation will help too. Anything can cause your sinuses to block. A cold, hayfever, red wine etc, anything that makes your nose run, I used to find being in a smokey atmosphere would block my sinuses. If you produce more mucus than your sinuses can drain, then they'll block. Your so early in your recovery that you should make your GP your best friend! If you have any worries then it's always a good idea to visit your doc and get things checked over.

My blood pressure shot up when I was 4 months post SAH, apparently this can happen. But he didn't put me on meds straight away, he was still coming to visit me at home at that time, he checked 3 times that first week and when he came back on the Monday and it was still high then he prescribed meds. I was put on a beta blocker and a calcium channel blocker. I couldn't function because they made me feel so tired, even though my GP told me that I would be taking them for life I decided I wouldn't! I did have a healthy diet but I became even more strict, everything is cooked from scratch , even biscuits, so that I know exactly what's in it. I drink a glass of beetroot juice each day and try to buy organic food as much as possible. I needed to bring some sort of exercise into my routine but I'm not allowed to go to the gym or even to lift heavy weights. So I walk to and from work, I do a little detour coming home and walk up a flight of 124 stairs as well as walking up a very steep hill. I also bought a home monitor because I suffer from 'white coat syndrome', although my GP says they deduct 15 from each number because most people's BP is a little higher at the surgery. I take my BP every other morning at the same time and I now have it down to 112/72. I no longer take the beta blocker, which was the main culprit for feeling tired, and my calcium channel blocker is a quarter of the dose I had been on. I still intend to be off that one day! My GP says my BP has to be just the lower side of normal. Having the home monitor saves me from having to visit him every 2 weeks to have it checked, now I only need to go every 6 months. I would have thought you would have needed several readings to see just what's going on with your BP but I'd also stress that if it is high then meds will bring it down, it's not good for us to have raised BP. Whatever you do, you should do it with the agreement of your doc.

Michelle that's what I don't like about the bit 'however doing very little for a few days leads to decreased fitness and motivation', yes it may lead to decreased fitness but the one thing that comes across in abundance on here is motivation! Seems to me that everyone is full of motivation to be the best that they can be and reading something like that could make you think that you're some how failing. Having feelings of guilt because of fatigue will mentally drain you and make the fatigue worse, I believe. I'm not allowed to go to the gym because of the brainstem stroke and my blood pressure. I can't walk fast and I can't run, again as a result of the weakness down my left hand side. I've been told to walk, so I do. I walk almost every day but it's taken me 3 years to get this stage. I get dreadful backache and headaches when I first increase the distance, I have scar tissue at the top of my spine and at the lower end. I walk the short distance to work during the week and again a short walk on a Saturday and a longer walk on a Sunday. But for the last two Sundays I have managed to walk 4 miles! I'm smiling with satisfaction as I type this! I also have to do my physio exercises each day to stop my neck and shoulders from stiffening up. But when I feel that deflating balloon sensation I have to choose between this physical exercise and being able to function mentally. I scale back the physical, that includes housework and this allows me to function better at work. I used to love the 'high' I got from a session in the gym but I'm getting that 'high' again after my Sunday walk! Sandi I have to agree with your psychologist, it's maybe a pressure that you don't need right now but it's very difficult when we're given all this conflicting advice from 'experts'. I agree with Karen that's it's about prioritising what's most important to you and then being able to add to the list as when the body allows.

I agree there is some really good advice but I don't really agree with what's written about 'bad days' arguing against resting. I find when the fatigue hits I have no option but to rest! But it is all about pacing yourself but you have to push things a little to find your limits. I also like your description of what the fatigue feels like Sandi, that awful feeling of your body weighing a ton. I've always likened mine to a deflating balloon. Nowadays it's like the air slowly escaping and this is my sign to rest up and scale things back. When I do this I can feel the energy coming back. Earlier in my recovery, when I didn't recognise the signs it would be like the balloon pops. I describe that feeling to my family like the cartoon character that has been run over by a truck and is completely flat and I have to wait until I 'pop' back up! Again this is when this website is so fantastic. It's always reassuring to hear from people that have similar experiences and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It's just that all our tunnels are different in the length of time it takes to come out of it!

Hi Sandi I know how that feels, it's like an electric jolt when you realise you've made a mistake, knowing that it's something that would never have happened before. it does knock your confidence for a bit. I used to be able to calculate quite complicated sums in my head and I was quite a whizz with spreadsheets. But like you, I'm very stubborn and determined. I worked at it and found that when I do something repetitively then it will all come together. I would be left with thumping headaches and could barely string a sentence together but that all goes away after several attempts. Your brain is getting better all the time because it's picking up your mistakes. That's a great breakthrough I believe. This has to mean your concentration and memory are improving. Well done. All your hard work is paying off and I really believe it will get easier for you, the more you do it. I'm now 3 years post SAH and still improving, I still have days when my brain feels as though it's under water when faced with a new task and the dreaded fatigue will hit me and I'll suffer headaches. But I see it now as my brain getting even more better! The one thing I still find very difficult is showing someone what to do. Having to concentrate on the task as well as explaining it, makes my brain really hurt. But at the same time it feels wonderful that colleagues have so much confidence in me that they will ask me for help in doing something when they are stuck! I've said it before and I'll say it again Sandi, you are such an inspiration and a fantastic example of how hard work and determination (and quite a lot of stubborness lol! ) certainly pays off. Good luck to all of you on this very rocky road back to work.

Thank you for letting us know Paul. My very best wishes to you Rod and to Merrill and your family. Such sad news. xxx

Hi Dawn Are you able to record your own message on your answer machine? I had to have my husband record a daily message for the first couple of months, as I was unable to cope with phone calls. He used to say: Hi, (he'd say the day and date) if you are calling to speak to to Liz, sorry but she's resting at the moment and unable to take your call. Please leave a message if you like and thank you for your concern. He changed the day and date each day, so they new it wasn't an old message. If a call back was needed then he would do that when he came home. I have such a large family that I would have been driven crazy if I had to speak to them all. I wouldn't even take calls from my brothers and sisters, I just couldn't cope. Even now after 3 years I still get tired after a phone call because i have to concentrate so much. They are also now so used to me ignoring the phone at times and they will always leave a message saying, just calling to hear how you are, no need to call me back! Even at work, I prefer to email rather than make a phone call. I'm fine with taking messages but conversations leave me tired. I hope you find a solution that works for you.

My aneurysm burst on 10 February and I actually went to work the next day. It refilled and burst again on 14 February. When I was admitted to the Edinburgh Western on 15th, there were another 4 admitted the same day with a SAH and 3 more the next day. One lady from Aberdeen another lady from Dundee and I don't know about the other 2 ladies. Funnily enough it was 3 men admitted on 16th. Edinburgh Western covers the whole of the east side of Scotland. There are more causes as to why an aneurysm bursts. But what I was told was it's when the autumn starts to change to winter and winter starts to change to spring, then Edinburgh is very busy. In Scotland these changes usually happen in February and the end of October, hence why they are so busy. Because I was quite lucid through out my stay and needed a nurse by my bed, the charge nurse would sit with me (during staff coffee breaks and meal breaks)and talk to me about SAH, it's effects etc. We used to have some very interesting chats!

Hi My goodness, I'm quite shocked at some of these stories. I was first taken to my local hospital, where I worked as a secretary, and was treated by my colleagues. I can only say my treatment was second to none and if it weren't for the doctor who did my admission on the ward, I wouldn't be as well as I am. He phoned Edinburgh Western for advice, as he suspected a SAH, and they told him to treat me for a SAH until it was proved that it wasn't and not to the other way around. The nurse that was looking after me even got a pillow case, rolled it up and tucked it over my eyes, to keep out the light, when I was sent for a CT scan. I was transferred to Edinburgh Western the next day. I found the staff wonderful. I was very poorly and needed a nurse by my bedside 24 hours. The consultant told me that he was on stand by if I deteriorated. I wasn't well enough to be coiled until 3 days after admission to Edinburgh, as they needed to stabilise me first. I had a nurse with me 24 hours for 12 days, so my meds were always given on time. I still got my meds on time when I was eventually moved to another room and no longer needed a nurse by my bed. Even after bed baths the nurse lathered me in my moisturiser, made sure I had my antiwrinkle cream on (lol the vanity!) and sprayed me with my perfume. They said it was all part of making me feel better. My family commented on the standard of care being given and said that allowed them to worry less when they left me. I was aware how busy these nurses were. The elderly gentleman in the bed next to me had quite a few tubes coming out from his head and he kept pulling them out and trying to get out of bed. The lady across from me kept having little seizures and her mood kept getting worse. She would shout at everyone to get out of her house and her language was very colourful! I suffered my SAH in February and the charge nurse told me that February and October are 'aneurysm season' and they are very busy with patients who have suffered a SAH. Something to do with air pressure changes. So neuro units do have exceptionally busy times but why go into nursing if you can't be compassionate. But surely it's poor organisation if meds are consistently being given late.

Hi Dawn I think it's a coincidence. I had a fibroid, which was discovered when I was in labour with my first baby and it was subsequently removed. About 20% of women will suffer from fibroids, so when you look at how few people suffer a SAH, I don't think the numbers show a relation. There are lots of reasons as to why fibroids start to grow but they grow on muslce tissue, where as an aneurysm grows on an artery. I agree with Mary, heavy bleeding can be a clotting factor problem. I know that was one of the tests they ran when I was admitted with my SAH, and my clotting in normal. My daughter used to have dreadful nosebleeds that would go on for more than 1/2 an hour. It was thought that she had a problem with her vitamin K levels or her clotting factor. But both were normal. These stopped onece she had come through puberty, so they thought it was her hormones causing the bleeds. Our hormones have a lot to answer for!

I thought long and hard to try and post on the other thread but can't think on anything that I miss before I had my SAH! this one is so much easier. I'm like you John, I don't see negatives anymore and I know that I annoy my husband at times because nothing gets me down now. But he does say I'm infectious! He's now much more positive than he used to be, even though we had some tough times during the early days. Biil B you hit the bullseye! There most certainly is a wisdom, that you may, or may not take advantage of, that comes with this terrible event that we all have experienced.. I don't miss getting angry anymore, I'm so laid back now. Anger is just not worth the energy! I don't miss charging through life at 100 miles per hour. I like this slow pace, even if I'm running late, so what, I get there and getting there is the important thing! I don't miss that 'Monday morning' feeling! Even on a Monday I look forward to work and am just as happy getting up then as on a Saturday morning. Each day is for living not dreading! I really like the person that I am now and the way I take one day at a time. I have time to enjoy each day. I'm almost 3 years post SAH and looking back I can't believe how far I've come. Each year things get easier and better.

Hi Dawn This is the 3rd time I've typed this reply, my computer is playing silly beggars! Your first appointment will be a chat. You will either see an OH nurse or the OH doctor, the doctor is a GP who has done the OH course. There shouldn't be any tasks or tests. Your manager will have written a referral to OH and you are entitled to see what has been written about you. I would suggest that you ask to see it, it can help to see what questions your manager has asked OH. There's a report written after every appointment and you are entitled to have a copy of this, again it's helpful to see what is being said about you. You can aslo bring someone along to sit in on the consultation, I took my husband to some of my appointments because I could forget what the doc said or forget to ask some questions! If OH think some tests may be helpful, ie neuro tests, they will discuss this with you. Neither will they tell you when you should return to work, they may want to discuss your return to find out what support you will need but if you are not ready then they will support you. I found OH very supportive and really helpful. Good luck with your appointment.

Just thought I'd add this, it's a form of positive thinking. It's what my doctor said to me way at the beginning of recovery. I was not to think of it as going forward and then backwards. I was to think of it as up and down. Good days I was striding up the hill with ease. Not so good days, I was sitting at the top of the hill, catching my breath, getting ready to slowly go down the hill. The not so good days are healing days, healing days are to be seen as good days. I remind myself of this when I'm being hit with the dreaded fatigue and it allows me to give me permission to just rest and chill!

Hi Sarah Lou I'm sorry you had such a difficult day. I completely understand how you feel. When I initially returned to work, the main problem was my manager being unable to understand that her pushing me to do things, before I was ready, was making things worse. I remember only too well feeling that I was rubbish and useless. I kept asking myself, why do I think I can do this? It was the Occupational Health doctor (after listening to me in what was a VERY tearful consultation) that said to me that I wasn't rubbish and useless but my manager was the one that was rubbish and useless! She was being paid to manage and in his opinion, wasn't managing my situation. It was because of this pressure (and not being listened to) that I was signed back off sick eleven weeks later, being very ill with work related stess. You have to speak with your manager and explain how this day made you feel, remember not just the physicial symptoms, but you have to say how it affected your confidence in your self. Why not ask for some feedback from your manager, ask how he/she feels you are doing, considering you have had a brain injury. Would it not be the case, that if you were'nt coping then your manager would have spoken to you about it by now? Then you can get an agreement that should this happen again, then whoever is in charge, knows that for the time being you are exempt. I don't know how you managed to finish your day in that environment. I wonder how a non SAHer would have coped with this if they had a dreadful headache, I think they may have gone home sick!!!!! You did very well to finish your day. You've being doing really well Sarah Lou, don't let this get you down. Sadly it's one of the many hurdles that we have to jump, dealing with people who just dont' get it! I hope you are feeling better today, take care.

I have to agree with Lin. I was back working my normal hours of 35 per week at 16 months post SAH. It felt great and made me feel I was getting back to 'normal'. But my weekends were spent recovering from work and getting ready for the next week. I was very tired in the evenings and was getting a lot of headaches. After 4 months of working 35 hours I decided (after much soul searching) that I needed to be living my life and not just working my way through life. I cut my hours back to 18 3/4 and what a difference. My days are no longer revolving around my work. In fact work is now a welcome interlude in my day. I am back to enjoying my hobbies and can enjoy my social life, without worrying that I'm going to be too tired for work! Everyone has to get the work life balance right, for them. Whether they have had a SAH or are in perfect health. I watched a programme last night about Hilary Devey (the new member off Dragon's Den) and how she made her fortune. She said she worked every hour, never took a sick day but neither did she have a family life and this is her biggest regret. She had a stroke 3 years ago and had to re-evaluate her life and look at all she had missed out on, especially time with her son, because she was always working. This is what we have to do. Decide what is really important to us and if it's work then keep on plugging, you will get there. You may need to scale back on your hours for a bit and then start to increase them again. The new sick notes that the government introduced are so much better now. If you feel that you need to cut your hours back, go see your GP and get him/her to write you a 'fit note' for the hours that you think you are able to cope with. But you should always listen to your body when it's telling you that it needs a break! Take care, you really are doing very well.

Mags I found the fatigue building up over the weeks. My first return to work wasn't a success at all (I've written about it before) and ended up being signed back off sick after 11 weeks. I had worked up to 12 hours per week but the pressure from my then manager caused me to get ill with work related stress. She took the view that as I was back at work then I was better! After another 4months of sick leave I was ready to go back to work but occupational health advised that I shouldn't return to that office, so I was redeployed. By then I was 17 months post SAH and I went straight back into 35 hours per week. I managed these hours and even managed to cope with learning a new job. But I was unable to do anything else, I had no energy for cooking or housework and weekends were all about recovering. I coped with 35 hours for 4 months. I work in the NHS within Psychological Services (has to be the very best place to work after a SAH!) and after a discussion with the consultant psychologist I decided to cut my hours back to 18 3/4. I now work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday afternoons and a Friday 9.15 to 4.30pm. I need my Wednesday off. I haven't looked back since cutting back on my hours. I can cope with it all, housework, cooking, shopping etc. I had even set myself the goals of getting back to knitting and reading books by the end of this year. I've lost count of the books I've read and have even knitted my sons cardigans for xmas (such a cliche, lol). I still get bouts of fatigue but I give in it to it and it does pass, I've accepted that it's part of my life. It all about pushing things but also accepting when to cut back. Sandi some really good tips from your therapist. Hopefully when you get used to working the breaks into your day you'll start to notice that you're coping even better. I still have my 5 mins here and there when I'm at home (although no need to hide in the loo, I sit on the sofa lol!)and what I find is after several minutes I get a rush of energy and I know it's time to continue with the chores. Even when reading or knitting, I take little breaks. This stops me getting that horrible fatigue that feels like a slowly deflating balloon. My GP once told me that if I use up all my energy then it's like empyting your bank account. It's so much easier to save and watch the balance increase and life is much easier with a bit of a cushion but if you have a spending spree and the account is empty, then it's so much harder to start saving again. I hope you have a restful weekend, take care.

Hi Sandi I agree with the rehab therapist, you may think you can do without breaks but your brain can't! You'll find that you are actually more productive if you take breaks. They don't necessarily need to be long ones but 5 minutes here and there makes a difference.I used to go to the loo, switch the light out and just sit for 5 mins in the dark, close my eyes and do breathing exercises. This gave me a bit of a boost and stopped my brain getting that numbing sort of feeling. You have to give yourself credit for just how much you are able to do! Remember that we go through a grieving process because we no longer are quite the same people we used to be. I think you are approaching the 'acceptance phase', which comes after 'denial'. A perfectly normal range of emotions to have to go through. Also, remember that a 'new me' doesn't mean a 'lesser me'. Yesterday my line manager approached me asking if I would be interested in a promoted post that may be available next year. The old me would have jumped at it and relished the pressure. The 'new me' didn't even have to think about it, when I thanked her and said no. I really don't want pressure from work to have an affect on family/leisure time. But how good did I feel that she saw past the brain injury and thought me capable of doing it! She has asked me to think about it and she will speak to me again after Christmas but my answer will still be no. I much prefer the 'new me', she's so much more laid back and still, 2years & 10months post SAH, does not get angry. But it took quite a bit of soul searching to accept the changes in me. Sandi you really are doing so well and are such an inspiration, keep up the hard work, just take it easy now and again!

http://www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/selfhelp If you click on this link and then enter Anger in search box, you should find the booklet on Anger. You will see that there are booklets on all sorts of subjects. Hi David I'm sorry to read that your wife has been diagnosed with cancer. I work for our NHS within Psychological Services. I've included a link to a self help booklet on Anger. Our psychologists give these out to their patients if they are helping them with anger management, I hope it may help you a little. The psychologists also have relaxation techniques that they can teach. Can you access psychological help? The professor of neurology that was treating me, explained that after a SAH parts of our personality can become exagerrated. People have different ways of dealling with things. Therefore if you were prone to outbursts of anger, when feeling stressed, before your SAH then you may be prone to even more outbursts afterwards. It sounds like your wife is feeling very stressed and no wonder, what a very scary diagnosis to be given. I think you are doing the right thing at the moment by taking yourself away from the situation, rather than escalating things. Have you tried explaining to your wife, when things are calm, why you leave the house and ask her how it makes her feel? But maybe you should visit your GP, explain all that is going on and tell him/her that you need help and support to get you both through all of this. You both are having to deal with such a lot at the moment.

Hello Anna The grieving process is a very painful one, which can be overwhelming, but you will get through it and some day you will find peace. My daughter lost her first baby earlier this year which has caused untold pain in our family. But the minister who conducted the funeral said some wonderful words. She said at such times it was usual to have a crisis of faith and to be very angry with God. This was ok because he has very broad shoulders and it's His job to accept this anger. She also said to ignore anyone who said that it was His plan that little Frances be with him, she said He would never want to take a child away from it's mother. So it would never be in His plan to take away such a loved mother and wife. It's such a painful journey but you will get there and one day when you think about your mum it will comfort you. I'll keep you, your family and your mother in my prayers. Take care.

Hi Sarah Congratulations on reaching your 3rd anniversary. I'm with the others, it's not too late to do something. Why not make a phone call and meet a friend for coffee or even do something nice this evening. It's those vivid memories, that we keep under wraps for most of the time, that pop up and it is hard to get rid of them. I hope you manage to have a nice day.

Hi David I can't cope if our office gets too hot. I work in what was old stables and the whole of the front of the building is now glass. Between the sun shinning through and the heat from the computers it can get pretty stuffy. I start to look like a tomato! I get very light headed and can't think straight, I think there is not enough oxygen getting to my brain. But my colleagues are very good when I say that I have to open the door and let some air in, even on quite cold days I have to open it for a bit. Living in Scotland it always seem such a pity to close the blinds on the sun but needs must, haha! I'm fine outside in the sun and heat. But just as in cold weather I have to wear a hat. I get very bad headaches if the sun beats down on my head and can feel quite sick but don't get that light headedness. I'm sure you'll still be able to enjoy your golf, just wear a hat, sunglasses and make sure you have plenty of water so you don't get dehydrated.

Hi Kate I was due to have a follow up angio on my first anniversary, so everything was a bit fraught for me. It's was the 14 February, the day after my birthday. We were going out for a family meal when I collapsed in the street just outside of the restaurant. I was so nervous about thinking about the angio that I didn't feel like celebrating. It was also going to be my 50th birthday and my brothers and sisters wanted to have a party for me, but I couldn't have coped with that. We had a quiet family meal on the 13th with my husband and children. They said I was very quiet and mostly sat listening. But on the 14th we spent the day at the coast, I couldn't stay at home. I seem to have this need to feel safe and want to get away. My 2nd anniversary we spent the day in Kendal. It was much easier, no angiogram to think about! It was a lovely peaceful day. I have trouble separating it from my birthday and all the fuss that surrounds Valentines day! But I've been told that because I only face this once a year that it will take me some time to be able to separate it. I would love to be able to treat it as just another day. I also think it's really nice that some celebrate the day, that's such a positive thing to do. Whatever you decide to do, have nice day and congratulations!

Well done Sandi, what an achievement! Great analogy about Everest, enjoy your weekend.

Hi Sandi Have you spoken with your staff and explained to them that your still 'finding your feet'? It may well be that they (like so many people) look at you and think that your 'better'. Do you have an engaged sign or a do not disturb notice that you can put on your door and close it for part of your day? You can still be an open-door manager some of the time. It's no surprise that you got cranky, your head must have been spinning! Have a good rest day.

Hi Louise Congratulations on reaching 12 years. I remember your 10th anniversary post. I had just found BTG and was 10 months post SAH and had so many questions and anxieties. But on reading that you were 10 years on gave me great inspiration for my road ahead. You have wonderful insight and understanding. I'm so sorry that you have lost your memories of your mum and dad, that must be very difficult. But again you still keep positive. You show that remaining positive in the aftermath of a SAH is so important, it can be very difficult some days, but we should always be trying to look forward and try not to look back too often. Yes we are the lucky ones. Here's to many many more years Louise.