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Hi Chris, A warm welcome to you. You hear about near death experiences, but to go through one must be surreal. So glad you are here and you came back down to your wife and kids:-D. I'm sure you will find a lot of advice and support on this site as you continue on your road of recovery. All the best, Sarah

Hi Jan, Pleased to hear you have got that phone call out of the way. That sounds like a thoughtful suggestion of hubby - Hope you don't have to wait too long as I know each day feels like a year when you are waiting for the day to arrive. Will no doubt speak again before then. Take care, Sarah

I'm not sure if the information issue will ever improve - back in the early days, I was actually asked to bring any spare copies of the B&SF booklet into hospital next time I visited, so they could pass them on to other patients:crazy: That sums it up:frown: Sarah

Sorry Jan, only just seen your question. The first coiling was from the rupture, the second one was discovered after a check up, when they discovered blood was still entering the aneursym. They knew, although I didn't at the time, that they had not filled it up completely as I had severe vasospasm at the first op, and they had not wanted to put too many coils in, for fear of them coming out and causing me to have a stroke. I have since found out that there is still a small amount of blood entering it and it has a wide neck. My other annie will be check by MRI in August and I have been told it will be discussed then. Oh the joys! (So I didn't think I had much choice than to have more coils put in) Sarah PS. I was in and out very quickly the second time. Operated on the Wednesday, out Friday!

Hi Harry, Welcome to BTG. I do believe that most of us improve over time, of course there are a lot of factors that determine how well, or how fast we see these improvements, like the severity of the bleed, the location of it etc and what, if any disabilities might have occured. I can only advise on my personal experience and consider myself to be perhaps one of the luckier ones, but I would say I am about 99% back to normal, I still suffer from tiredness and visual disturbance since my sah 26 months ago, but I do lead a normal life. That's not to say I have been as good during all that time since my sah, the first year was pretty difficult, mainly with family not fully understanding the impact a sah can have on someone. That quite often lead to emotional turmoil. Perhaps you could persuade your wife/friends to come on this site and read some of the threads of personal or carers stories, to give an insight as what life after a sah is/can be like. Wishing you all the best, Sarah

Hi Jan, Not an enviable descision to have to make. I'm not quite at that point yet, although I could possibly be later this year and I am already getting anxious at the thought of being in the same position as you. So I am not sure what to say about coping or deciding as I know it's not an easy position to be in. Without having the actual descision around me, I tell myself I would opt for coiling but if and when the time comes I know I will be in a state trying to weigh it all up. I have been through coiling twice now so I suppose I would somehow cope with a third op if needs be. Sorry not to be of much help, but it is so much an individual descision and not that simple to make but I do wish you all the best. Take care, Sarah

Hi Vicky, Pleased you found us all here and are managing to find your way round the site a bit now:razz: Sorry you too have had the misfortune to suffer a sah - it's always a relief to find and be able to talk to others who have experienced the same. There is always a lot of support and helpful advice on here. Having read your story, it brought back memories of how I was checked over by a paramedic and likewise was left at home and that will always haunt me due my knowledge now of the seriousness and importance of getting seen quickly. Anyway it's great that you are ok, but be careful not to over-work yourself! Sarah

Zoe, Such a relief for you all, so pleased it went well. The builders coming in too - that's good news - it'll be so nice when all the alterations are complete. Best wishes, Sarah

Whilst not averse to a bit of furniture moving, it was not what I was doing prior to sah. Stress is what I blame for my bleed, or rather the rising of bp caused by the stress, putting the annie under strain and causing it to burst. Some of the stress I was under is documented in my story but that is only a small insight into the whole picture. The majority of stress I have been under over the past 10 years has been unpreventable - it even becomes stressful worrying what effect continued stress is having on my unruptured aneursym:roll: I do however, try to remain optimistic and have a sense of humour:-D Sarah

Oh Anna, sweetheart, what can I say. I so wish I could give you a hug right now. It's so nice that you are coming on here, but it's made difficult that we can't actually be with you during this time. Please be assured that our thoughts are with you and your family. lots of love, Sarah

Sorry to hear that it was cancelled at the last minute Zoe. I'm one of those that this happened to and it's not nice. I hadn't actually got to hospital, but it was cancelled on the day I was going in. I found that really hard at the time. Can't help with the stents - I would have been looking blank too - there is just so much to take in and unfamiliar things just don't register. I hope it all goes ahead next week and ends the agonising wait for you all. Take care, Sarah

Hi Karen, Sorry I can't help on this one either, but would suggest you go and speak to your GP about how you are feeling after taking the tablets - it should at least put your mind at rest. I used to hesitate about going to the Docs, but am slowly learning it is not the thing to do! Sarah

Anna, I just wondered if you have looked at the Brain and Spine Foundation website - they have a help line run by neuro nurses and having just had a look myself it says it is for emotional support aswell, perhaps it's worth a try and might help a bit. Sarah

Hi Anna, I'm sorry to hear about your Mum, I know Mum's are special and when something like this happens unexpectedly, we find it so hard to take it all in, whilst trying to continue with day to day life. Like others have said, she is in the best possible place, with a great team, giving her the best possible care. Don't lose hope, there are many on here who were not expected to pull through but have proved people wrong. The early days are the longest and hardest to deal with, but don't forget you can come on here and ask anything you like - there is a lot of support from people only too willing to help you through this difficult time. Sarah

Hi Kelvin, Glad things are improving for you - it all sounds good to me:thumbsup: Good luck to your son:-D Sarah

Hi Sam, a warm welcome to BTG. It sounds like you have done really well, returning to work - full time after 10 months is a praiseworthy achievement. Returning to a class full of Year 6 children, in itself must have been quite tough. I have one Y6 in my house and that's plenty!! I also read that you are trying to make awareness of sah which can only be a good thing. It concerned me when I rang the emergency services (when I was actually having my sah) that even the paramedic who came didn't recognise it and left me at home:frown: Anyway, despite another few other medics missing it too, I did eventually get treated and like you, despite severe vasospasm, came out of it all remarkably well and consider myself to be one of the lucky ones too. I wish you all the best for the future Sarah

Hi Zoe, Just wanted to send you and Rich my best wishes for next week. Please be reassured that he will be in the care of a very dedicated and skilled team on Wednesday. My thoughts will be with you during this time. Take care, Sarah

Hi Amelia, I'm so glad you have joined us here and have had the courage to raise your concerns at such a sad time. I'm really sorry you have had the heartache of losing your Mum and hope you have lots of support to help you through this difficult time. As others have said, if you have a chat with your GP, when you feel up to it, I'm sure it will help with the questions and concerns you have. I do admire you for posting this on here and by doing so will have actually helped others by raising the subject. I, too am 49 and whilst I was very fortunate to survive a sah, I have an 18 yr old son who I don't think has even thought about this, despite my own grandad dying from one. I did mention this to my consultant briefly, but now think I too will be asking a few more questions when I next see him, so thank you. A warm welcome to BTG and sending you a big hug. Don't forget there is always a lot of support on here and a lot of good ears to listen or shoulders to cry on! Take care, Sarah

Hi Mel, sorry I have only just got round to replying. Having a ten year old boy myself, I ought to have had the perfect solution, but can only reiterate what those before me have said. It is an big ordeal what he has been through, but I am sure as time passes things will become easier for him (and you). I remember when my own son fell out of a toy car, onto a broken plant pot, at the age of two he had a big cut above his eye and I was devastated for him because I knew he would always have this scar above his eye, but when he was older and I asked him how he felt about it, he said it was ok because Action Man had a scar like that! So it does appear to be quite cool to have scars8). Dylan - I think you are doing gr8:thumbsup: I know not everyone likes hospitals, but they are great places for making you better. I have just counted up the number of times my 10 year old son has been to hospital and I have counted 14 times - he's only actually stayed in hospital for 2 nights though, so not quite as brave as you - oh and he has an appointment at hospital next week so that will make 15 in total. He doesn't mind too much now because he usually gets a bit of time off school;-). He's not had the same operation as you, but he does remember having a lot of after his operations. At first he was a bit:sad1: but after a while he would be like this:lol1: Anyway, I hope you feel better soon and look forward to you being a member on here:-D Mum, you're doing great too:smilewinkgrin: Best wishes to you both, Sarah

Sorry to hear this Karen , I'm sure any one of us would feel the same as you do about this happening. I know a few on this site have experienced seizures following a sah/stroke and whilst it does sometimes happen, it is probably little comfort when you are the one who has just gone through it and is feeling concerned and worried about it all. It might just be an isolated occurence and having been given tablets should help control the situation for you. My brother in law suffered his first and only seizure last April. He has not had a sah, but did find it quite scary, as did my son (aged 9 at the time) who was the only one with him at the time. I'm not sure how much info the hospital will have given you - sometimes knowing a bit more about the subject can help you come to terms with it, but this doesn't have to be immediately if you are tired or upset at the moment. I wish you all the best during this time and don't forget we are all here to support and help where possible. Best wishes and a big hug, Sarah

Hi Rog A warm welcome to BTG. Glad you have joined this site where you will obtain lots of helpful advice/tips and can read people's experiences of having a sah and also stories from a carer's perspective which you will find useful. I can understand you being concerned about your wife and it is not surprising - you have both been through a traumatic event - and only very recently. However, it is good to hear that your wife is doing so well. I think you need to be cautious that she doesn't try and do too much in the early days - I only mention this because I know some (including myself) have taken a backward step later on - nothing major - just we tried to carry on as before -a little bit too soon for our injured brains liking and as a result ended up even more tired! Despite suffering severe vasospasm myself at the time of my sah and taking tablets to combat it, I don't know enough about it to advise, although I imagine it to be highly unlikely that they would have discharged her if there was any risk whatsoever. I am sure your wife will be having a follow up appointment in the not too distant future which will give you an opportnunity to discuss any concerns. Perhaps you could start at list and jot down anything you want to ask as you go along. That way you are less likely to forget to ask the questions when you are there. Try not to worry too much, just ensure she gets plenty of rests and drinks plenty of water and what's more, you need the rest and sleep yourself -I also think your anxieties will diminish over time. I wish you both all the best. Sarah

Hi Sandi, I know recovery can be timely and frustrating but I do believe your wellness rep is right on this one and although it is hard, I think if you heed that advice now, you will benefit in the longer term. I probably felt similar to you following my bleed and I took 5 months off work (and I only work part-time) - I was also 46 when this happened. I'm glad I did have that time off although I still didn't rest as much as I should have - being a mother of 3 doesn't allow for that!! Even 26 months on I can get tired and tearful if there is too much going on. I do, however, for the majority of the time feel more or less the same as pre sah - and I am sure you will, providing you don't try to do too much too soon. I don't think there are many on here (if any) who have fully recovered after 2 months and 10 days so don't be hard on yourself. Wishing you all the best, Sarah

Hi Lynne, Think it would be worth mentioning it to the Doc and if not make that appt at the optician. My experience sounds different to yours, but my eyes went funny in June last year. (19 months after sah) Everything I looked at had another image on top. It was the weekend and I was basically trying to ignore it knowing that the local doctors surgery and opticians were closed. It was my daughter who was more concerned and called my parents over, they persuaded me to ring NHS Direct which I did. I was told a doctor would ring me back and when he did and heard my history told me to make my way over to the collaborative?? unit at a Sheffield hospital where they would assess me and if needs be get me admitted to the neuro ward at the other hospital in Sheffield. Unfit to drive I asked my Dad to take me. I was just getting a few things together when the Doctor rang back and said he had had second thoughts and had ordered an ambulance to take me straight to the correct hospital. After a ct scan and a night in hospital I was told it was probably an acephalgic migraine. (Never experienced one before or since - touch wood) An MRI scan was arranged a few weeks later, but that threw a blank as to the reason for the double vision. However it was good that I had been checked over. My vision returned to normal the next day thankfully. I am not trying to put the wind up anyone who reads this- rather to say don't dismiss problems with eyes. Always get them checked out. Sarah

A warm welcome Sandi. I am sure now you have found us, you will start feeling a lot better just by knowing you are not alone in the way you feel. When I joined last January it was the first forum I had ever been involved in too - now I'm a permanent fixture:-D Many have said it is like one big family and it is - only in this family everyone understands and can relate in one way or another to the aftermath of sah/stroke. I know others have said it, but the best piece of advice is not to over do it - unfortunately, due to the lack of information on leaving hospital, it is so easy ending up learning the hard way. Good to see you took a day off today:-D All the best Sarah

Hi Anne, I have every sympathy with you on this one as I am in a similar situation, ie a small unruptured annie plus a ruptured one a year later than you (Nov, two thousand and eight - keep getting a smiley using numbers!!). I can only remember being told it was too small to operate on - not that they didn't have small enough coils. I am not even sure what size mine is or whether it is in an operable position, so it is a constant worry. I am apparently going to be written to by my Consultant after my next MRI scan in August, so I will know more then. Certainly if I was in your situation, I think I would be leaving it alone although it is not a nice dilema to be in anyway and the hard bit is that you have to make that decision. I'm not a statistic fan or expert, but those odds (1/200) sound reasonable to me. I am not looking forward to being faced with what could be a similar descision in the future but guess I will be doing! Take care, Sarah