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Hi Bev and welcome to BTG. Sorry to hear that you've had a bleed. I'm sure that not knowing the cause does cause some anxiety, but I think the stats for it happening again are very remote indeed. Whilst you mention many after effects that you now have, it is, in terms of sah recovery, very early days for you so there is still plenty of time for improvements for you. I can't recall exactly how I was at 4 months (it'll be 4 years in Nov for me), but I personally didn't have the symptoms you describe, (although there will be others who have) apart from the flashing lights which started after my bleed too and unfortunately I still have episodes of that to this day. I wish you well in your recovery. Sarah

Great poem David. Hope you have a good day tomorrow - whatever you decide to do, it will be a far better day than a year ago. I hope the coming year brings continued progress for you, Take care, Sarah

So glad to hear all went well Mark, such a relief for you all - no wonder you put three smilies on the end of your post:-D I wish your wife well as she recovers. Take care, Sarah

Hi Nic, Welcome to BTG. You have just confirmed my worst nightmare that being in goal can be a dangerous place to be. I say this because my youngest son, who is 12 next month, has played as a goalkeeper since starting playing at the age of 4. He has won managers player of the year twice since then playing for our village team, but in 2010 he was playing for Sheffield Wednesday young owls and during a training session, on a similar surface to yours, he too had a player's knee slide full pelt into his head/face. Luckily, he didn't have the misfortune of a bleed in the head like yourself, but his face was covered in blood and in the middle of his unrecognisable, swollen face was a broken nose, which was later operated on to straighten. Of course, being a goalkeeper is in your genes I guess and this incident didn't put him off wanting to be in goal - just like yourself. Since then I have become a very nervous spectator! I really don't know the answer to your question, but suggest you get a few more opinions from the experts - I too go for annual MRIs and I certainly wouldn't want to risk being in goal, but there again I'm a 50 year old female who feels sorry for every goalkeeper when the ball ends up in the back of the net -so probably not the best person to ask!! Take care, Sarah

I have in the past experienced the annoying "chatting brain" syndrome, but at the moment at least, it does not keep me awake at night which must be the most frustrating time for your brain and thoughts to start working overtime. My brother-in-law suffered badly with this and last year actually wrote a book on the subject with various stratergies to help combat the problem. If anyone would like to take a look at the book to see if it might be of any help to them, it can be found on Amazon on the following link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Discover-Calm-Neale-Daniel/dp/1447710185/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1342716835&sr=8-2 Sarah

If my memory serves me right Donna, you, like me, have another aneurysm which will be why they continue to scan us, but the fact that you were only scanned in December and now have a letter saying you have an appt with the consultant is a bit of a mystery. Perhaps a quick call to the consultants secretary would be a good idea to put your mind at rest. I go once a year to be scanned, which was today in fact, but last year was told I did not need a follow up appt. with the consultant because the aneurysm hadn't changed from the previous year's scan. I wasn't told at today's scan how or when I would be told the results, so guess it's just a matter of playing the waiting game - last year I was told I would hear the results in 10 days but it took 46 days before I heard anything, so what you expect to happen and what actually does happen are not always one and the same. Take care, Sarah

Hi Jules - looks like you are settling into life on BTG! You certainly had a rough time of it with all those added problems. To me, it sounds like quite a rapid phased return to work for you - I hope you are ready for it, but be prepared to put the brakes on if it gets too much. I wish you well in your continued recovery, take care, Sarah

Well done everyone on your efforts on the work front - you all deserve a pat on the back for trying so hard - be proud of yourselves:-D As for me, I have this morning finally received confirmation of my terms & conditions of employment for my new job. It has only taken 2 months and 4 days to receive this after being told on 10th May I'd got the job:roll: There is a total of 72 pages of A4 papers with print on both sides to wade through:shock: Forms to read, digest, sign and return - a job in itself! The start date is this coming Wednesday 18th July - I was hoping for a day of relaxation after my MRI on 17th but it is now not to be:frown: Now, this is where I will find out if I can hold down 3 different jobs - wish me luck! Anyway off to work at the cafe in half an hour:biggrin: Sarah

My ruptured one was a basilar tip aneurysm - I also have an unruptured, internal carotid artery aneurysm close to the right opthalmic artery:frown: Will be having my annual MRI next week to check up on the latter. Sarah

Good Morning GG. Well done on reaching the 4 year mark – I’m so glad you remembered the date – it makes it easier for me to remember that I am exactly 4 months behind you! Despite all that life has dealt you during those 4 years, you have come out shining and for that you deserve a great amount of credit. You are an inspiration Michelle and we are all in a better place for having you on this forum. Your friendship, humour and caring nature are all assets you can be proud of. When that driving licence finally appears on your door mat, it will be the icing on the cake! Sarah

Hi Nick and a warm welcome to BTG. A great site where you'll find a wealth of information along with other people's accounts of what can be expected in the weeks/months following a sah. It's certainly a good place to ask those million and one questions that you have - just fire away when you're ready and someone will come along with some advice from their personal experience. Am I right in assuming you were treated at the Royal Hallamshire if you are from Sheffield? I live just outside Sheffield and have had two coiling ops under their care. Wishing you all the best in your recovery, Sarah

I've not posted on this 'back to work' thread until now, but I heard my name mentioned so thought I'd join in. Yes, Goldfishgirl, you are correct - the Working Tax Credit rules were changed by the government in April of this year and I for one was affected. The full rules are on the gov. website, but generally speaking you now have to work at least 24 hours per week - up from 16 to qualify for WTC. I might just add that before my sah, I was working part time having worked full time until the birth of my 2nd child, my husband was in full time work and when he lost his job 19 months ago, we had to rely more on benefits. Whilst returning to work after a sah is not at all easy, I have found having to apply for various benefits to be 10 times more stressful because they are so time consuming to do, take ages to sort, so many errors by various departments along the way that have so many knock on effects, it has been, and still is, an absolute nightmare. On top of that there is the massive loss of income to try and adjust to, plus all the associated work involved, like changing to cheaper gas/electric/phone and then all the errors that these companies cause - the list goes on and on. I doubt that anyone knows or cares what us sahers have to go through to continue with day to day living. The change in this rule and the fact my hubby can't find a job, has virtually forced me into getting another (my third)part time job, which although I managed to secure on 10th May this year, I have not yet started because of yet more red tape causing delay. I am under no illusion that it will be easy having 3 jobs, but I have a family of five to feed so it just has to be done somehow:frown: My main fear and my only hope is that all this stress has not caused my other unruptured aneurysm to change in any way - I will find out after my next MRI which is in 3 weeks time. Rant over, household jobs to do, Sarah

Lovely to hear from you again Alison. So pleased to hear things continue improve for Chris - mowing the lawn and hedge trimming are an amazing achievement after 5 months. You will probably find further improvements as the weeks and months roll on - hopefully even getting his clothes on the right way round! You have both done remarkably well in a relatively short time, so well done and all the best for the future, Take care, Sarah

Hi Paula, welcome to BTG, it's good that you've found the site so early, as reading through previous posts will help you relate to how you feel now and will also help as you go along your journey of recovery. It is understandably difficult for family, particularly children to see one of their parents go through this, but like others have said, you didn't ask for it to happen, so try not to feel guilty. Looking back, I am very proud of the way in which my three kids dealt with me being ill and in time I'm sure your guilt will turn to pride too. Sorry I can't help regarding sick pay - worrying about loss of income is just another thing we could well do without. It's probably worth getting advice from CAB though. Take care, Sarah

Hi Mark, a warm welcome to BTG. It sounds like you and your wife have been through and still going through quite a lot. I hope they find the cause of the arm pain. I too have an unruptured aneurysm which has been monitored for the past 3 years. I hope Walton give your wife the all clear to be able to go to Cyprus and you both can get to have a relaxing holiday. Sarah

Hi Rhiannon, Welcome to BTG:-D Sorry to hear your situation, I think I would be upset if I were in your shoes. It can't have been nice discovering that your job had been advertised without your prior knowledge. Hopefully, with the long school hols approaching, it will give you a bit of time to recover further from the stroke and you can be back in September - although having two young children of your own won't give you much time to rest! Are you in a teachers union that could give you some advice as you could do without the "wondering" anxiety hanging around for weeks. Hope everything works out for you. Good luck, Sarah

Sorry to hear you are having an anxious time just now. Good to hear he is being checked out although the worry will be still there with you. Hopefully the lp wont reveal anything either. At least with us sahers, they do take things a bit more seriously following our sah, I know I was rushed in for suddenly having double vision and had a ct scan. It's always a good thing to get these symptoms checked out and hopefully nothing untoward is found. Wishing you both all the best, Sarah

Hi Sally, what a fiasco! If you weren't ill before getting involved with this country's benefit system, you certainly would be when you'd finished. The whole system is an absolute farce. Anyway, I do hope you manage to get back to the sewing company, maybe they have some part time hours to start with? I know how tiring work is and when you have family at home, the work never ends. I know I couldn't manage full time work, but I've just managed to get another job in addition to my other two, just because the government changed it's rules and I now have to work 24 hours instead of 16 just to get the benefit back that they took off me. I thought this was preferable to ending up living on the streets! I really hope things work out for you Sally - you deserve it, good luck:-D Sarah

Hi Paul, nice to meet you, albeit the reasons for doing so are not the best! You have done well up to now and I think your girlfriend needs some praise for dealing with all that - I'm sure you're very proud of her. I'm glad you've found this site which I'm sure you will find useful and comforting - it has certainly helped so many of us on here as we have travelled along the road of recovery, having been struck by this rather scary event. Gill has given some good advice regarding rest etc. It is quite common to "overdo" things and then be set back by tiredness/fatigue as your brain has to work a bit harder now whilst recovering and doesn't always like it! At least the valuable platinum is well hidden! Sarah

Hi Claire, Your nightmare seems to be going from bad to worse. Just wondered if PALS (the NHS patient and advice liaison service) would be of any use to you. I've no experience of them, but I understand you can complain/get advice through them if you are not satisfied with any aspect of your care. Again, it's more hassle, but it might take some of the unwanted, undeserved pressure off you. Good luck, Sarah

Hi Lindsey, a warm welcome to BTG. My, you were young when you had your sah 15ish? I'm so sorry to hear you are suffering with these issues now. Hopefully your neurologist can throw some light on it for you when you see him. I'm not sure that there are too many regular members who had their sah so long ago, so maybe won't be able to give advice from experience, but hopefully just being amongst other sah survivors will help you through this with their support and friendship. I wish you well and hope things improve for you soon- it certainly sounds like you have a positive attitude which is good. Take care, Sarah

Hi Cath, I'm quickly losing count of the MRI/angiograms I've had - I think its two angiograms and 3 MRI's with another MRI due in July. I remember being very anxious going for them both the first time - I think it's the unknown that makes us worry. Yes, the mri machine is noisy and the length of time in can vary - I've had a 10 minute one and a 40 minute one. Obviously you have to remain very still throughout both procedures, but I think for the angio they strap your head down to avoid movement. I would have been fascinated by watching the monitors, but being very short sighted I never saw a thing. They warn you if and when they inject the dye and I'm sure they will explain how it might feel, but it's ok as far as I remember. I'm sure you will be fine, just remember it'll soon be over. Yes, don't be alarmed if you don't hear anything within the timescale they give you, I was told last year I would hear something in 10 days - it turned out to be 45 days! Best wishes, Sarah

Hi Cath, a warm welcome to BTG - I hope, now you've found us, that you will find some useful information and no longer feel you are so alone in coping with the after effects of sah. I can't really advise on the vertigo and balance issues as I did not experience those, although I know it is quite a common problem. Hopefully in time this will improve for you - you are still at the very early stages of recovery and most symptoms do appear to improve over time. I only had a few incidents whereby the ground seemed to be swaying and it was always worse if I was in crowded places. I wish you all the best in your recovery, Take care, Sarah

Hi Eddie and a warm welcome to BTG. So glad you found us all and have learned a lot from the site already. Here in the UK there is also little information given following a sah, which I believe is the reason we all start searching for a few answers on the internet. This site is such a great place to find, giving reassurance that you are not alone when dealing with recovery. If you have any queries, concerns etc, you only have to ask and someone will always be around to help and support. Best wishes, Sarah

Good luck for next Tuesday Claire, I hope the consultant does more than give you a brown paper bag this time! I think it's well worth the effort you are putting in, to get some answers. Best wishes, Sarah