kempse

Good luck

Hi Gary, a warm welcome to Behind the Gray It's lovely to have you on board - just post as and when you feel up to it. There's a wealth of experience on this forum, some of which has already been of benefit to you. Support and understanding go a long way on the road to recovery, so stay with us! Best wishes, Sarah

Hi Carly, I've only just seen this thread, so a warm welcome to you. I had coiling done 6 and half years ago after a ruptured aneurysm, then had to have more coils inserted a year later. I still have a neck on this for which I still have regular mri scans to see if it has changed. At the same time they check another aneurysm that I have. My next scan should be in August. I have already been advised that if the unruptured one needs treatment, then it will have to be clipped not coiled. So, I do understand how all this can make you feel. I too trust the neuro surgeons and their teams - they are amazing people in my view. I don't remember too much about my daughter's school prom, but I do remember my sons - I got a call from the teacher 15 mins before the end asking me to come and collect him, he'd had some alcohol which obviously wasn't allowed and then peed in the car park! As it was a 30 minute drive away, I just ignored the request! I have just got to get one more son through his prom next year, then I'm done! Wishing you all the best, Sarah

So pleased all went well Carolyn and good to have you back at BTG. Glad you too are recovering well Debbie Sarah

Hi Heather and welcome to BTG. I'm truly sorry to hear your daughter has experienced a sah at such a young age, I'm not surprised there have been a few tears this week, it must be frustrating for her and equally for you not knowing what to do for the best. Regardless of her age, she will no doubt need time for her brain to heal and I'm guessing that studying hard will not give it the best chance it needs - what is best for the brain is rest. I hope her school is on board here to help her. Although not for the same reasons, my own daughter is just finishing her first year at uni, whereas all her peers are all just finishing their 2nd year. Although she was apprehensive about starting a year later, it has worked out just fine and I'm sure your daughter will find the same if that is indeed what she decides to do. I believe there is support for most things at uni and the socialising and parties just goes on and on, so she wouldn't miss too many and could perhaps join in as and when she feels up to it, starting off with the odd hour or two and build from there. The one thing that we older sahers have found is that it's too easy to feel ok, do too much and then suffer the consequences and feel exhausted for a few days unable to do much at all. I think a lot of it will be trial and error, but try not to let her get too disheartened, things do and will improve, albeit slower than she would like. I wish you both well, Sarah

A belated welcome Alison. Not the best way to start your 40th birthday celebrations - plenty of time later to catch up with that - for now, you need time to recover and this is where there are no set rules! I'm sure you'll be finding your way round this site and gaining a lot of useful information along the way, much of which you will be able to relate to. It's nice that you have a good doctor on board who is keen to see you each week - that's reassuring - when the time comes to return to work though, just be cautious - 4 weeks might sound like a good stretch, but many on here have regretted going back too soon and found it a struggle. I had 5 months off before returning and at that point was only returning to a job I did two days a week! Best wishes, Sarah

Hi Gemma Welcome to Behind the Gray. Wow, you have been through the mill, but like you say, at least you were in the right place at the time. I suppose going back to work before the school holiday is not such a bad thing in that it will give you an idea of what it's like, but also knowing you will soon have the long break to concentrate on resting and repairing - or at least that's the theory. I found it pretty hard going just having my own two teenagers at the time of my event plus an 8 year old to look after, never mind a class full! It's very common for friends, colleagues and even family not to fully appreciate what you have been through so joining this site is an excellent place as we've all been through it and do understand! I'm beginning to understand congenital heart defects too, as my husband is currently awaiting major open heart surgery to correct things he was born with. I think you have endured a lot of trauma lately and really need to take things easy. Your young age will be on your side, but that's not to say you don't still need the time to recover like the rest of us. Wishing you all the best, Sarah.

That's good to hear Best wishes, Sarah

Hi Janey and welcome to the family of sahers! I've just read your story and yes certainly a holiday not to be forgotten in a hurry! I remember when I had mine at home in an attic bedroom, I wondered how on earth I would get down two flights of stairs never mind getting down a mountainside in the snow! It sounds like you are doing really well and I'm sure the support from this group will help as you go along the road of recovery. Like you a second aneurysm was discovered when I had my sah 6 and half years ago. It was also mentioned to me that it was probably congenital, but I've no idea how they know. I had my second one monitored annually for three years then a three year gap and am due to have an MRI later this year to check it again. Best wishes, Sarah

Hi Misskdk, Welcome to BTG, glad you found the site last night and have already gained comfort and support from it. Sorry to hear what you've been through at such a young age though. Unfortunately others don't always see or understand the problems we face during recovery, so a few reminders may be required - looking fine on the outside does not mean we are necessarily fine on the inside! You have returned to work very quickly. I, for example, was off work for 5 months, so take it easy. Wishing you all the best, Sarah

Hi Debbie, a warm welcome to BTG. i can fully understand your apprehension regarding your forthcoming surgery, I have been there so know exactly how you are feeling right now. In fact I have been through coiling twice for a basilar tip aneurysm. Mine, which I think was 6mm, ruptured in 2008 when I was 46. It was coiled, but at the check up 3 months later it was discovered it needed more coils put in. This 2nd procedure was eventually carried out 11 months after the initial bleed, so I had far too much time to worry about it! The fact that yours has not ruptured is a great blessing and once the procedure is done, you will have peace of mind that it no longer poses such a threat. For me, I think all my worry and anxiety beforehand was rather wasted - I felt fine afterwards and was discharged after a couple of days after the 2nd coiling. I know it's not easy, but please be reassured that you will be in good hands and the relief afterwards is immense. I also have a 2nd aneurysm too, 3 mm, which is being monitored - I'm due for my next scan in August, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nothing has changed. Wishing you well and sending a big hug to help you through, Sarah

Hi Roy, welcome to the BTG family. Hope you're doing ok, things do get better as time goes on - speaking as a sah veteran!. (I was born in Somerset, now live between Manchester and Sheffield and had the maiden name of Hughes!) Wishing you all the best, Sarah

Hi there, a warm welcome to BTG - certainly a good place for the realities of recovery, written by those who have first hand experience of the aftermath of a sah. You will find plenty of good advice on here. This all happened very recently for you, so it's good that you've found this site so early on - it took me over a year to find! Wishing you all the best on your journey of recovery, Sarah

Hi Clare, Welcome to BTG - I'm sorry that you have suffered a sah though. At least on here, you will be alongside many others who have also had one, so have a good idea what you're going through. I laughed out loud at you Barack Obama comment! It gets a bit much when you have to start naming the heads of other countries! In relation to recovery, you are in the very early stages. Each recovery is unique, but fatigue is a very common issue. Just be aware that it could take many weeks, possibly months to get near to pre sah levels - I had many relapses whereby I'd have a few good days with good energy levels followed by days where I could hardly do anything and ended up sleeping for several hours during the day. (I managed not to fall asleep on the days I was at work though - but only just!) Unfortunately, it's not possible to predict how long the fatigue or the cotton wool feeling will last, but having suffered both, I feel confident to say that it does improve greatly albeit with plenty of time and rest along the way. I also know this combination is easier said than done. - I wish you all the best. Sarah

Hi Michelle, just wanted to say hello and welcome to BTG. I'm sure you will find this support group very beneficial as you continue with your recovery. I think Macca has given a great response, covering many good points. I'm fortunate in that I don't suffer headaches or dizziness, but many survivors do which I imagine is very debilitating. I hope the rest of 2015 is a year of improvement for you. Best wishes, Sarah

Hoping all went well and you're getting plenty of rest and tlc. Sarah

Hi Jane, and welcome to BTG. I'm really sorry that you are currently having to come to terms with recently finding out about these aneurysms, I can imagine such news is pretty tough to deal with and hope you have friends and family around to help support you. I have a 2nd aneurysm close to my opthalmic artery which measured 3 or 4 mm (can't remember which) at the time of my bleed 6 years ago for which I have regular scans to check it out, so I can appreciate how devastating it must be to suddenly be told what you have been. I hope you get some answers to your questions to allay any fears and I wish you well with your forthcoming operation. Sarah

Hi Rob, Sorry I'm late in saying hello! My sah was caused by a Basilar tip aneurysm rupturing too - 6 years last November in fact. I hope you continue to do ok - it will take time to recover, but with that time it will become easier and those creepy crawly feelings you describe, should disappear in due course. Sarah

Hi Sara and a warm welcome to Behind the Gray. Glad you found this site, but sorry for the reasons you have. This site, as you have already discovered, is a great source of comfort and useful advice for those of us that have had the misfortune of experiencing a sah. I still like to visit the site, six years after my event! I wish you all the best in your recovery and look forward to seeing you again in the New Year, Sarah.

Hi Nat, a warm welcome to Behind the Gray, a great site for meeting people who have had the misfortune of having a sah yet are willing and able to offer friendship and support to others who find themselves in a similar situation. The combined experience on here is vast and varied, although there are a lot of common themes when it comes to recovery, which you will become familiar with as you read through the threads and posts. You are still in the early days since it happened and there will be good days, but I don't think anyone escapes those 'down' days which have a habit of creeping in from time to time. I had my fair share of those and the other thing for me was the "tiredness" - just when I thought I'd cracked it, it was back a vengeance! It all takes time for the brain to repair and the blips along the way are a reminder that it is still healing and will do so in it's own time! As has already been mentioned, the Green Room is a good place to go for general chit-chat. Take care, Sarah

Hi Remy, Welcome to Behind the Gray. I am one of those who had some more coils put in after the original ones had compacted and therefore blood was still entering the aneursym. I too was anxious and worried about going through the procedure once again, but I got through it ok and you will too. I am coming up to the 6th anniversary of my sah on 8th November and my re-coiling eventually took place in the October following the sah, having been cancelled a couple of times on the day I was to go in, due to more urgent cases taking priority. Despite me getting worked up over it, I was only in hospital for 3 days as opposed to 11 days for the sah. I think the surgeon /radiologists are better able to see things as there isn't the blood everywhere like there is following the sah. I appreciate how you feel, but time doesn't stop still and soon it will be all over, at which point you will feel relieved, can relax again and congratulate yourself on how well you've done to get through it! Best wishes, Sarah

Hi Poppy, so pleased it is all over for you and went so well. I remember that feeling of elation after my second coiling - such a relief. Hope your recovery goes well and take all the sleep you need! Best wishes, Sarah

Wishing you all the best for the morning and hope to hear from you in due course. Sarah

Hi Ben and a warm welcome to BTG - sounds like you've been through the mill recently. That was some speed that the ambulance clocked up to get you to Cardiff! Glad to hear you are now recovering - I too was delayed getting to hospital - 6 days after my sah, but no blue lights in my case - just a lift in with my Dad. I wish your own Dad all the best with his treatment - and a big hug for Mum for being Mum! Bye for now, Sarah

Hi Poppy1, I went through this scenario after my sah and I was scared at the time too. My angiogram revealed blood still entering the aneursym due to compacted coils, so they wanted to put some more coils in to stop this. One of the things that scared me was that they'd said it ought to be done in the next 3/4 weeks - that made me automatically panic. It wasn't until much later that I realised that the urgency was more to do with it being a quieter time in the hospital with not so many staff being on holiday leave. I did go in for more coiling, but twice it was cancelled on the day I was due to go in due to more urgent cases. The 3/4 weeks wait turned into a long 6 month wait which did not help my anxiety. Having said that the actual coiling operation was more straight forward in that they didn't have the leaked blood to deal with and my stay in hospital was about 3 days in total as opposed to 11 at the sah stage. I am scheduled to have this aneurysm (which also has a wide neck) checked next year along with another aneurysm I have, so I will no doubt become worried again at that point. If you should need more surgery I hope you don't get any delays like I did but do try and get answers from your consultant to any concerns you may have. Best wishes, Sarah