Ern

Hi Donna, At the 2 1/2 year mark, I had gained a fair bit of weight (It may have been noticed that I like my food!). And I used to get dizzy with standing for prolonged periods. I changed what I eat. So instead of things like crisps & chocolate (which I still love) I have fruit. I then started exercising. I began with five minutes daily at first and then GRADUALY built that up to ten minutes, then fifteen, etc. Then I started swimming. Now I am doing between an hour and an hour and a half in the gym. Plus I do a daily yoga workout every morning. I have lost a lot of the weight I gained when I was in hospital and convalesing and feel a lot healthier in general (OK, I do occasionally crave a ciggie and a I love my sausage rolls:-D). but before you even think about starting exercise, speak to your Dr. Good luck with everything.

Hello Diane. my memory has been badly affected too. I think that with time it should start getting better. I would offer suggestions to help but I think that a mix of Kel's suggestion of the memory album and a trip to the neuro-psychologist would be the best thing. I know that things must be a real nightmare for you at the moment. But hang on in there. Finding this site is a step in the right direction. Good luck. Ern

Hi Angela! Welcome to the site. Glad you got around to posting stuff. It took me a while too. Keep going with the recovery.

Hi Bubbles. Welcome to the site. Take it easy. Write whenever you are ready. It is really early days for you still.

Hi Kylie. welcome to BTG I am sure that you will find lots of advice, tips and support here. I know that I have. I am also caffeine free. But mine is due to insomnia rather than blood pressure. Going caffeine free in the first couple of days was worse than giving up smoking and the headache was, for me at least, worse than my haemorrhage. Strange but true. Anyway. Herbal teas (if you get the right ones) are pretty nice nowadays. but I still miss the coffee & cigarettes. Particularly in the mornings. But I have found new vices to keep me amused.

Hi Katie. Welcome to the site. you will make friends here. everyone knows how you feel and has a pretty good idea of what you are going through. Ern

Hi Mark. Like the others, I can't help with the legal side of things. I didn't have any cover when I had my SAH. Sorry. But I would be interested to kow how you get on. Good luck.

Hi Maggie. Welcome to BTG. We are a friendly bunch. I still have to get round to writing my story, so you are already way ahead of me in the game I hope that you find the support and help that you are looking for here. Ern

I had my phased return over a six week period. I had to use up my leave as well. but I was lucky as I had 30 days leave & if I took any more sick leave I would have dropped to half pay. (I got 182 days full pay & 182 half pay then on to SSP) But my phased return was really tricky due to the nature of the job. I know exactly what Kel means by finding a new direction. that's why I have started a degree. I can't stand my job now!

Hi Jan. I returned to work six months after my SAH. I was told thsat I couldn't without a letter from my doctor, a full risk assesment (as I was public facing in a stressful environment like you) and a signed agreement between myself & my line manager. But I was lucky in working for a government department. So everything was done "as per procedure" With hindsight I would not have gone back into a public facing environment. Get the advice from your doctor, the DWP and your HR department. & don't let anyone pressure you. Good luck Ern X

Hello. I sort of new from the start that the SAH was a type of stroke. my wife was a medical student at the time, ironically enough, studying neurology at the same hospital I was admitted to. It was a med student who pointed out that I had had a SAH. There is an appalling lack of information about SAH both in the medical profession (The number of people who have been misdiagnosed is staggering) and in the general population. I must get around to putting my story on the site. I didn't have the sudden onset headache or the prolonged painful headache. but I did feel a pop. It's risky generalising about the symptoms. That is why they missed me. A male? 35? No trauma? He wouldn't be having a SAH, surely? So. I think that knowing what I had to contend with was a big help for me. It also gave me a new perspective on what my dad (he had a stroke in his fifties) went through. but nothing could have prepared me for the things I had to go through to get back to being me. The F.A.S.T could have given a mention of the SAH but then as there are many types of strokes, where would it have ended.

Hi Zoe. I was at Leamington rehab for a while after my SAH. I had major left sided weakness. Without that, I would not be able to do half the things I can do now. Also as an inpatient at the rehab he would be able to get the follow up care once he is discharged a lot quicker. Good luck.

Wow! That is lucky. Well done to the optician.

Hi Homer. We all find our own path. OK that was a tad deep for a Monday morning, but you know what. you managed 13 years alone. That shows a true strength of character. Welcome to BTG. You are no longer alone.

Hi Blueday & welcome to BTG. I have aphasia too. It can be flaming frustrating for me as I have to talk to people all day at work and now they treat as if I am a bit simple. Anyway. The research done by Wellcome Trust might be helpful. Hope you continue to improve. Ern

Oh . I was told that I would keep improving for about 18 months and that would be it. But 3&1/2 years on, I am still improving.

Hi Lynz, I had my SAH in October 2006. I still have troube coping with processing information particularly storing it. but it is getting better. This was one of my key skills for the job I had at the time (Investigating Officer in the Immigration Service). I also lost a lot of my articulation skills and and developed Aphasia thus I was unable to present cases at court. To lose both of these skills was a real blow to me. But I found ways around this (The Post It note is a lifeline for me!) and have retrained my brain and developed new neural pathways. My balance was severely damaged (they "took out" a few blood vessels when I was coiled) and so I had a fair bit of rehab. But I found that yoga helped a lot. I have also been using one of those gym balls. They are really good to get you to regain balance (Make sure someone is with you if you decide to try that, I know from experience that you will need help with that!) I do have the occasional panic attack when I am in unfamilliar situations or crowded or noisy places. But my biggest problem is that I get very frustrated at times. I used to be known as Mr grey because I never showed any emotion when I was at work. Since the SAH I have been told that I can be intimidating at times and that I need to calm down. I have since left that job for a calmer one. I am also on tablets to help. I am also meditating and practising yoga. But I am over most of those problems now and you will be too. The guys here at BTG are an amazing source of support and advice. If you do feel that you need further help, speak to either your GP or your consultant and really push for further help.

Hi Jen & welcome, I joined fairly recently and have found loads of advice &, more importantly to me, support from lots of wonderful people.

Hi Angela. Sorry I'm late in saying hello. I am sure you will see that there are some wonderful people and you will get loads of support, help, advice and all the other things that you need here. Ern

Hi Zoe. I know that this is a worrying time for you. My SAH left me with some left sided paralysis. But with lots of physio and encouragement I was almost back to normal after a couple of months. Your husband is in the best place at the moment and you are doing the best thing for him. You have found a great source of help, advice and support here at BTG. As Tina said, take care & get some rest. My thoughts are with you. Ern

I used to work for the DWP (Well. It was the benefits Agency back then) so I thought that I would be able to negotiate the forms & everything with relative ease. I have been disallowed twice (I won't go on about the spivs who get there sickness benefits for "backache, etc) despite my panic attacks, confusion, mood swings, left sided paralysis (OK thats getting better) , etc. /But I shall be applying for a third time now. I know that DLA is awarded whether you work or not. I was working when I had my SAH. I went back to work after six months. My phased return used up my holiday leave. Since then I haven't had a day off sick I use my own leave for hospital & drs appointments even though I would dearly love to tell my employers to take this job and ......... I had to change my car to an automatic because I can't use a manual car (I have to drive to where I work as it's out in the sticks (No buses go there) as I can't feel the clutch pedal. So it's more expensive to run. Surely I would be entitled to some financial help? Apparently not. Anyway. Hopefully third times a charm. Thankfully, my carbomezapine is working today or I would be really ranting now! Stay groovy folks

Hello Mel. I had my SAH in October 2006. I went back to work in April 2007. physically I was ready for it. but mentaly I was not ready. However. Every one of us is different. I suffered with very bad mood swings and got frustrated with not being able to find the words I was looking for. But I managed to get some brilliant counselling and things are so much better for me now (apart from needing a new job as this one's so boring! ) My memory is still really bad. I suppose that at the moment things look pretty bleak. But with time and patience things will get better. Ern. PS. It took them a week to spot my SAH & then another week to coil me.

Nice one Caz! I love hearing the good news. I would suggest you give yoga a go. It helps to build up the stamina and flexibility & it isn't a major workout. It helped me no end.

I never contacted Headway, But I should think that they would be very good. It's that specialist knowledge thing. I can remember everything before my SAH without any trouble. It's the things afterwards that I struggle with. My spelling is shot to pieces too I got over most of my pessimism by talking things through with a series of counsellors, psychologists and the friends I was lucky enough to have.

Hello. I used to be very pessimistic too. But, like Louise, I was in a rehab hospital & had a psychologist to speak to. I also contact The Val Hennessy trust (I think thqat I spelt that right). They are a charity that helps people who have had SAH and they gave me some extra counselling. instead of planning for the future, why not try planning a couple of days in advance & gradually building up from there? It's the little steps that eventually turn into giant leaps. I used to be so vain and loved looking at photo's of myself. I really can't bear doing that now. Like you there is so much I can't cope with. But you are doing better than me in one respect at least. My cat hates being cuddled. She just isn't affectionate with anyone! Keep your chin up. Things get better eventually. Just make sure you get someone to talk to. Ern X