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Hi Jo, Welcome to BTG. Don't give up hope yet - I had my sah on 8th Nov (3 years ago) and certainly would not have felt up to much the following Jan. I also have 3 kids although they were a bit older when I had mine, (my youngest had just turned 8 ) but it has been hard work - no time in which to recover in peace! Not sure how I've done it, but I have and I'm sure you will too - just don't try to do too much too soon - it's so easy to be tempted, but may set you back - your brain needs to recover. Wishing you all the best, Sarah

Hi Carl, A warm welcome to BTG - glad you stumbled across us! The symptoms, feelings that you mention are quite common following a sah, all of which can be frustrating at times, but at least on here we do understand, unfortunately it is the majority of people we come across in our day to day lives that don't. All they see is what is on the outside of us, which does not always tell the full story. Three years on and still, very occasionally, getting the wrong word or being short tempered, I feel as if I can almost say, "been there, done that and now wearing the t-shirt. In fact, I could lend you my t-shirt which says "I've had brain surgery, what's your excuse", but I'm not sure the colour would suit you - it's pink! Joking aside, I wish you well in your continued recovery, stay with us -we're a friendly, supportive bunch! Take care, Sarah

Hi Dan, A warm welcome to BTG - it's a pity you didn't find it earlier, but I'm sure you are already finding out how useful this site is with it's wealth of information and personal experiences. Sorry to hear about the problems you've had - hopefully the next part of your journey will be less lonely now that you have found some fellow sahers to chat to. Take care, Sarah

Hi Ron, Just wanted to say hang in there too. It's certainly not easy some days - the concerns about your driving licences, the tinnitus, the fact that you are not sleeping so well because of it, aswell as recovering from a serious event, all contribute to the reactions you describe - don't foget you didn't ask for any of these things to happen and it strikes me you are doing really well. I'm not sure how old your kids are, but having 3 of my own, I know it has certainly made being a parent that little bit harder whilst recovering from a sah at the same time. Take care, Sarah

Lovely to hear from you Robert. I'm really pleased for you that the coiling has been completed and you are recovering well. It is such a relief when it's done and I know your wife and kids will be pleased as well. Take care and take things easy, although I know that's not always easy with having kids around! Sarah

Hi Carole, Sorry I'm a bit late is saying hello. I too had my sah just over 3 years ago, although I must say your experience in hospital sounds much worse than mine. Glad you found this site - it took me just over a year to find it, but it certainly helps knowing of other peoples experiences. I wish you well in your quest to help others, Sarah.

Hi Anna, I remember you telling us your story and feeling touched that you came on here during that heartbreaking time. I have often thought about you, so it's lovely that you have called by again. It must be so difficult to lose someone so close to you, especially someone like your Mum whom you obviously loved so much. I have heard the organisation "Cruse" are really good for supporting people who have been through a bereavement which may be of benefit to you, your brother or Dad. I too wondered if you managed to get to university. I wish you well on whatever path you take and don't forget you are always welcome on here. Sarah

Hi Jilly A warm welcome to you. Glad you managed to register and find us all - it certainly helps being amongst others in a similar situation. I hope all goes well when you have your meeting in December - getting your other aneursym coiled should take away that daily fear that you say you have. I too live with another aneursym which I have known about for nearly 3 years and somehow have managed to shelve it at the back of my mind. I have it monitored in July each year and my last scan revealed it hadn't altered, so they decided to leave it another year. Thankfully, it no longer consumes my every day thoughts, if it did, I think I would be straight back demanding coiling too. I hope you let us know how you go on, best wishes, Sarah

Hi there and a warm welcome to BTG. I expect you have read many threads on here and gathered that recovering from a bleed on the brain is unfortunately not the same as recovering from other ailments and can take quite some time. I think most of us didn't realise how long it can take to regain our energy levels, but there is always hope and a good chance that things can and will return. I know there are a few members on here who have returned to their passion of cycling, although I can't recall how long this took. 12th Oct is not long ago - it is really early days for you and as much as you find it difficult, the best thing is to take things really easy to give your brain the best chance - it has suffered an enormous trauma, but it should gradually allow you to do more if it is treated with patience along the way. I know this can be a bit disheartening and too slow an approach, but having had a sah I certainly would have got on better if I'd known in those early days and months that it was too much to expect to continue as I had before. I'm sure you will gain a lot of advice and support from this site - I just wish it hadn't taken me over a year to find it! I wish you well, Sarah

Hi Mike, I liked the style of your writing - very impressed that you managed to write all that so soon after the event. Unfortunately these haemorrhages don't tend to give us any warning - striking out of the blue. They can however leave us feeling very tired as the brain recovers from the trauma, so don't forget to work with your brain rather than against it - it will let you know when it needs a break. I wish you well, Sarah

Hi Gina, Thank you for updating us all. She certainly is one very brave lady -well done Theresa! I wish your sister all the best as she recovers from her operation. Please pass on our good wishes, Sarah

Hi Sandi, the shops will still be open, but I think my low energy levels today and the fact that there is thick fog to drive through to get to any decent shops, has made me think it would be more enjoyable if I went when these two conditions have lifted;-) Thanks anyway - in the meantime I'm off for a snooze - perhaps not the best way to mark your anniversary, but I should feel better afterwards:-D Take care, Sarah

Thanks Sarah - you're always there to cheer people up:-D Sarah

There are some nice suggestions/ideas on this thread on how you all deal with your anniversaries:-D I have just re-read the thread as it is my 3rd anniversary today and I don't seem to be doing much at all - I am trying to get on with some boring housework, but my mind will insist on going back to that awful day despite my best efforts for it not too. I would have thought my memories of it would have faded over this time, but seeing various vivid images in my mind today has made me think otherwise. I don't recall anniversaries 1&2 being like this. Maybe I should have arranged this day a bit better and done something more to occupy myself - like shopping:-D. I never underestimate how lucky I have been in my recovery and really ought to concentrate on this aspect - for today at least. Wishing everyone all the best, especially if you have an anniversary date approaching and are feeling apprehensive. Sarah

Wishing you all the very best Theresa and I hope your recovery goes well. Sarah

Hi Robert, just want to wish you all the best for the 23rd Nov. I know what an anxious time it can be leading up to the op - I had over 7 months of waiting in 2009, but you have got through this before and you will again. Oh yes, don't the medical profession come out with some helpful, reassuring words - not. My radiologist once said "oh you worried me, I have never seen such bad vasospasm" and I once asked if too many coils could be put in and cause an aneursym to rupture (having visions of a balloon with too much air) - his reply "oh yes it has been known":shock: It was his laughter that made me wonder if his answer was actually right or full of sarcasm to my perhaps silly question. Sorry to mention this as you await your op, but with you having mentioned what your own neuroradiologist said, I expect you, like me, assume it is their strange sense of humour! I'm sure you will have great support from your family over the coming weeks, take care, Sarah

Well done Louise in all that you have achieved during the past twelve years. You have not only dealt with your own recovery, but have given much of your time helping others on sites like this - that in itself is something to be proud of. I would imagine losing so many memories is very difficult at times, particularly those memories of your parents. I appreciate this time of year is not an easy time, but you have shown strength and courage by writing this today. Well done for climbing half way up Arthur Seat - I have just had a quick look at it on the internet and I think you deserve a medal! Best wishes for the future, Sarah

Hi Shirls and a warm welcome to BTG. Reading other people's stories and advice on here is certainly a great aid to helping you realise that you are not alone in how you feel post sah. It sounds like you have done really well so far - I'm not sure how many of us would have managed a house move so soon afterwards:shock: Tiredness and fatigue seem to be very common following a sah, I know these still hit me on a regular basis and although I'm coming up to my third anniversary, I do allow myself to have a daytime sleep as and when I can/need to. I appreciate this is not possible for everyone, if working full time or not being able to sleep easily, but for me it is a neccessity and I make sure I fit this in between my two part time jobs, two teenagers and 11 year old! Don't be hard on yourself, you have been through a major event and it is perfectly acceptable to rely on others to help you through your recovery. I wish you all the best, Sarah

Hi David, Sorry I'm a bit late in welcoming you - at least here you will find plenty of advice and support which will hopefully help you along the road of recovery. I really hope you get something that works for your headaches soon, that must be zapping so much of that precious bit of energy that we have in those early days. You perhaps have tried to return to work too soon - your brain needs time and rest to repair and unfortunately working doesn't really allow this to happen. I wish you (and your wife) all the best along your recovery journey and hope to hear from you again soon. Sarah

Hi Lynette, Welcome to BTG. It's hard sometimes to tell what is normal after sah, but if anything is worrying you, then it would be as well to mention it to your gp. You may already have done that by now, but I hope these latest symptoms improve soon for you. Take care, Sarah

Hi Samantha, My goodness, what an awful situation to be faced with. I can't begin to imagine how difficult all this is for you. I just wondered if perhaps you could arrange an appointment with your neurologist and have a "sit down discussion" with him - I would imagine that when he rang you, your mind would have gone into a bit of turmoil and it would have perhaps been difficult to take it all in. If this is feasible could you take a couple of family members with you and take a list of all your concerns with you. Otherwise, trying to weigh up the pros and cons on your own is not going to be easy. I wish you well with this and hope you find the strength and help to make an informed decision, Sarah

Hi Ryan, Nice to meet you! So glad you have come across this site as it can be quite a lonely experience recovering from sah. It was over a year until I came across this site and I found it very difficult getting by at times, especially when I had to go in for more surgery. Fear does tend to subside over time. It's still early days for you in terms of recovery - no two people recover at the same pace, but please be reassured that things will get better as time goes by. Don't forget to ask any questions that might concern you, it is more than likely that someone on this site will have experienced something similar and give you some sound advice. In the meantime, take it easy, rest and drink plenty of water, these simple things really can make a difference. Take care, Sarah

Hi Gaynor and welcome to BTG. You appear to have retained a sense of humour through all this. I'm sure you must be relieved that the aneursym was found and treated before it had chance to rupture. I had to smile at your "2 for 1 deal" -only because I too have had one annie coiled and another left untreated - so that deal would have been quite appealing to me;-). In the beginning I used to think of my unruptured annie as a ticking time bomb, but have since told myself that a time bomb surely needs a battery to detonate it and since it is now nearly 3 years since mine was discovered, I think any battery would be well and truely flat by now! it's theories like this that keep me sane! I hope your good days outweigh the bad and things improve further for you as time goes on. Wishing you all the best in your continued recovery, Take care, Sarah

Hi, That is an incredible coincidence Jan - I do hope he is ok and the news is good at the hospital. It would be nice to know how things are in due course. I also hope you are recovering well after your latest coiling. Best wishes to both of you, Sarah

Another brilliant, humerous post Win:-D Wonderful that you managed the stairs - well done you. I like how you are determined to prove them all wrong - keep smiling:-D:biggrin: Sarah