April

It is so different for each of us. July 15 I had the SAH. After the dentist appt my neck was stiff. Got stiffer then at the drugstore kept rubbing it. Got in the car and whammo. Burning at the base of my neck, shot gun headache then it went over my head into my eyes. The world turned upside down and sideways. I drove 1/2 block back to the dentist and said "help me". Called the ambulance. Went to 2 hospitals and one that has neurosurgeons. 2 weeks of intensive care . I was awake and I remember every detail. It took 6 weeks on the couch at home. No sound, no light, no talking , no food as all I wanted to do was throw up. Gradually over the summer I felt a little better. But believe me i did not do a thing. I did not want to talk to anyone or do anything. I was terrified. Yes I got depressed then one day said I am getting better. 1 month later by 5th CT scan it was like it never happened. My advice. Slow slow slow. Do not push a thing. You almost died. For some reason we were all saved. This is the most deadly bleed and if you live you will recover. It may take years but so what. Time is now. I am a very healthy person, positive, upbeat, lots of things to do, retired but wow was I ever consumed with rushing and perfection. It kicked my butt. We live in Mexico 6 months and here I am. I made it. But guess what. I fell off a 3 foot cement wall and badly sprained my ankle. Now 2 weeks on the couch again. What the hell???? I was so lucky I did not hit my head on the cement I fell onto. So what is the lesson again??? Take care and time will heal . Just dont rush!

wow you are so lucky to be up and about so soon. I had this happen July 15. But I was awake for the whole experience. It really scared me. I ended up in ICU in 2 different hospitals for 2 weeks. No operation and they did not find where it happened. Just in the fluid surrounding the brain. I laid on the couch for 6 weeks. No light, no sound, no movement, terrible headache and nauseous. But then over 4 months i gradually got better. But groups of people or noise I cannot do. I really listened to my body. I am very healthy but high blood pressure and now very controlled Please take things slow. A brain injury is traumatic. But in my mind I believed I would get better. We are the lucky ones being alive and no neurological aftermaths . Feel blessed and this is the best site. I am writing this from Mexico where we flew 2 weeks ago for 6 months. I feel really lucky to be able to do this. I am now walking about 5km a day. So everything came back!

Our bodies told us before we had the SAH that things were going to explode. I was running everywhere, being super woman, booked all the time, working out like a demon and just letting everything bother me. Explosion. I am retired! How does that work? I got really scared after this happened. I laid on the couch with ice packs. dark glasses and the worst headache ever for 6 weeks. Now I have stopped. No more headaches. I listened every time I felt a twinge or tired or weird. I laid down and rested and listened to my body. No more running, no more extensive working out, no more listening to other people's stupid stuff and most of all just living moment by moment. I changed my life and now can walk and talk and look at nature and I dont need the high standards I always put on myself. Yeah life!

I got so scared that I knew I was close to death. I listened to everything the doctors and physio told me. I laid on the couch for 6 weeks. Dark glasses, ice packs, worst headache, lots of lots of naps and so dizzy and nauseous. I did NOTHING. For the first time in my life I stopped doing all the things I thought I had to do. I took no phone calls as I just couldnt talk. I have never had a serious illness. I work out with a trainer 3x a week, Healthy and full of energy. Then Kapowwwww!!! Now almost 4 months it is a miracle. The doctors say I am a Superstar. Really nothing wrong except a bit of dizziness bending over, I am not crazy working out. I take breaks. I dont have to be places and most of all not having people in my life who stress me out. I have changed my life. Please change your life and you will get better.

I thank God everyday for my SAH. It was a huge kick in the pants. I was going so fast down a spiral spin that was out of control. I am a type A, go getter, I can do it all. I never ask for help and sometimes complain about how I need help but I would not accept it. You are too slow in showing me and then get so frustrated. I created stress and more stress in my life. Everything bothered me. We had incredible things going on. Building a home in Mexico and our builder took all our money and slowed down building. Everyday ( living there for 6 months) I would cry looking for him to come and do work and he would not show up. Came back to Canada and our dog got Addison's disease and almost died with huge bet bills. Hubby not working for 6 months and no income. I am retired. Then I got an awful flu and hubby went back to Mexico and I was alone and frightened and so sick. I let stress eat me alive. I cried and screamed and felt so sad about everything... Then whammo! In the dentist chair got up and had a stiff neck. Then sitting in the car alone. Burning pain in my neck, headache like a bullet hit me and then my eyes went all wonkey. Drove 1 block back to the dentist collapsed and they called the ambulance. 2 weeks in the hospital in intensive care. 5 CT scans. Bleed stopped. Came home and hubby was home then and I laid on the couch with dark glasses, ice packs and lots of tylenol for 6 weeks. I was scared but had lots and lots of time to think. My life has changed. The only thing I want is to live and be happy. Nothing else matters. I have let all the stress go. If it doesnt get done so what. If I feel tired I dont invite people over and I dont go out. I dont schedule things like I did and so good at cancelling. To see, to breath, to walk and to enjoy a day in the sunshine. It is all so simple. Please make your life more simple. Just because you are good at something doesnt mean you need to do it. Let it go. Less money, less time and more energy to see the sunshine. Good luck and breathe and let it all go! Over the past 4 months I have improved to almost 90%. Because I know what I need to do and I listen.

I am so nervous about putting anything in my body after this SAH. I talked with my doctor about this. Last year before the hemorrhage I got the flue shot and I got the worst flue in May for 6 weeks. Obviously the strain that wasnt in the shot...Geez My doctor told me last week this. If I didnt work at a job that required me to have it or a job that I was in public contact dont take it. Plus I am healthy ( normally) not too old ( 62) can take a week off with a cold etc. dont bother. I am not in a high risk even with the SAH. They believe I got the SAH from quitting my high blood pressure pills....duh! stupid me. So I have decided not to get it. I take good vitamins, VD, antioxidant, multi and I did get a cold a few weeks ago. Took lots of fresh ginger, lots of warm lemon water, rest, extra VC and 5 days it was gone. So I am not getting it as I dont want any side effects and my SAH only happened on July 15.

Interesting. I have never been sick and dont get headaches much at all. Then whammo at the dentist office. Stiff neck. distored vision and the worst headache of my life. Burning in the back of my head. 2 weeks in the hospital and 5 CT scans and they could not find where the bleed happened. In the fluid surrounding the brain. Non-Aneurysm SAH. I dont take aspirin but had quit my BP pills 3 weeks before. My BP was over the top. Could this be this??

So many things have changed since my non aneurism SAH. It has only been 2 months but the symptoms. Stiff neck, burning pain at the back of the head, worst headache of my life then my vision went wacky. I drove myself one block to a Dr office and then called the ambulance. 5 CT scans later and 2 weeks in and out of hospitals I came home. The bleed stopped and it was in the area in the fluid that surrounds the brain. They have no idea where it bled and no surgery. I am a miracle. I did exactly what they told me for 1 month. Ice packs, lots of rest, dark glasses no light, tons of rest and quiet. No computer or reading for 6 weeks. I was so scared. I cannot drink coffee now only decaff. Limited amounts of alcohol if none. My taste is crazy. Everything tastes like hairspray...weird...I had quit taking my BP meds and whammy. Never never again. But my energy is coming back and I did lose 10lbs as I was so sick from the meds. I only walk short distances. If you looked at me I look normal and no physical disabilities. But when I overdo anything I have to immediately lie down and rest. Its like my body just says no. Good luck and its only been 2 months for me and an amazing recovery..but so scary

Thanks so much. In the past few weeks I am dizzy , kind of light headed , no matter what I do. Even sitting or walking and turning my head at night on my pillow my world turns. I am not over doing anything. My neurosurgeon thought it was my BP meds?? It never did that before. Almost 7 weeks now. I guess everyone is different but what a strange feeling???

Thanks and yes. No more Tylonel just dizzy lots. At night when I move my head wow!! I am not taking my BP meds at night to see if that was it but no. I am still dizzy...light headed...how long does this last??

I had my 1 month hospital follow up with my neurosurgeon. After another CT scan #5 she said it all looks good. Yes I can fly and it really is about my Blood Pressure and keeping that under control.

Thanks everyone for your kind and comforting words. I went back for my 1 month check at the hospital. They did #5 CT scan. My neurosurgeon told me it was really good. No vessels had gotten larger as in 1 CT scan they had. The bleed was almost dissolved. She did all my neurological tests as walking and moving and all of it. I passed 100per cent. She called me a pristine patient. As I did everything they told me to do as resting, ice packs and taking it easy. They have released me and I can fly. Also drive if I feel good and not too dizzy etc. I have no headaches just the fuzzy vision behind the eyes and dizzy. Light headed I guess. She said it could be due to my BP meds and she reduced it a bit in the am. I am so lucky to be alive and no disabilities. She said this bleed was the most deadly kind but if you survive it is a good recovery. My brain is tired and just needs to rest is how I feel. But the simple things like sitting and looking at flowers is so wonderful as I was so sick and in so many hospitals and ambulance rides. Thank you brain for being here!

Hello I had this happen just over 1 month ago. Terrifying experience. Wow back at work?? I was in critical care for 5 days then went home got sick from the meds and 5 CT scans. Back in another hospital for 4 days. Finally stabilized. I just had my 1 month check at the hospital with my neursurgeon. I have a great CT scan. She said I am a pristine patient. Amazed and wonderful. I did what they said. No activity for a month. Ice packs and lots of rest but I have no children and am 62 years young. I am a go getter. Always projects, doing everything, working out and really really healthy. Do you have high blood pressure? That was my problem I quit my meds...ugh sooooo stupid... My head feels like a bubble. No headaches thank god. But dizzy and light headed and vision blurry a bit. She said this will go away. I get real tired and know now to just stop and lay down with ice. This seems to be the best advice from everyone. At night I have a hard time sleeping on the pillow. I wake up then get a ice pack then go back to sleep. Noise drives me crazy and people talking. I only can have 1 at a time. They said it is due to hypertension and a weakness but dont know for sure. I did not need surgery and no aneurism. Talk away as it is very recent for both of us

Thanks and of course must see what they say! I am nervous about everything now so one more event does not matter. Just hope they say yes and then I can rest for a few months to get my nerves under control.

I have been checking things out and it seems to be ok to fly after a Non-Aneurysm SAH ?? It will be be almost 3 months before we leave. Is it ok?? I see the hospital on Friday for my one month check up.