Sasbo

Hi John Welcome to the gang. I can only reiterate what my friends above have all said - this site is a God-send. Good luck and look forward to chatting. Sarah

Hi there We're nearly neighbours - live near Northwich now but used to live in Great Sutton. Welcome to the site Sarah

Hi I was treated for depression and anxiety, both of which still plague me. I take Citalopram for depression which I have been cutting down on as, depressingly(!), they have increased my weight. I got right down to minimum before kicking them completely, weight improved, then the shingles got me and the Doctor advised I go back to full strength for a while as an ongoing effect of shingles is depression - and I have really felt like murdering people over the last couple of weeks so he's right! Anyway, started to cut down again now but if you hear of murder and mayhem Cheshire-way you'll know I cut down too soon!! I also attended OT once a week prior to second op and will be returning there in the next week or two. The therapists there have been so helpful in my mental/pyschological recovery. Sami, I totally empathise with the anger thing - you've put into words exactly how I've been feeling for the last few months but couldn't fully understand, so thanks. Sarah x

I was Head of PR & Marketing for a company that provides Radio, TV and Live Entertainment to British Forces overseas. I have given up work now as my job, which I loved, involved amongst other things, a lot of overseas travel to wherever we have service personnel - Germany, Cyprus, Falklands etc. as well as hostile areas, ie Afghanistan, Iraq (not necessarily travelling via BMI or BA and staying on bases, not luxurious hotels!). It was a fantastic job but stressful and, although I have now left, if I hadn't I still don't feel that I would be ready to return to such a level. Sarah x

Hi there As everyone has said it's a really individual thing and only Jim will know when he's ready. I'm still not back at work (SAH Sept 06 then clipping of 2nd annie Oct 07), indeed I left my employment as I knew I wouldn't be back for a long time. It was also a high pressure high profile job which I won't be able to do any more - life's too short for that kind of stress and pressure. I'm beginning to cast about for a 'laid back' part time job and I know I'm extremely fortunate in that there's no urgency for me to have to work. It's still very, very hard for me to cope with any kind of pressure, confrontation and stress so a job that's got of any of that is an absolute no-no. We're all at different stages and with different post-SAH 'legacies' but here on this site we have one thing in common - we understand each other, a priceless commodity. Keep moving forward Sarah xx

Hi Mollie I've had similar experiences apart from my GP who is really sympathetic, helpful and excellent. It's quite a dilemma as I feel the hospital and consultant where I was treated for SAH saved my life and therefore I should be (and am) extremely grateful; however my experiences with the staff there (not consultant) such as for appointments, test results (for fluid on the brain) lack of bedspace for second aneurysm clipping etc. has been abysmal. I'm due back in tomorrow for this second aneurysm and just hope there is a bed this time around. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do to change anything other than just hope they realise they're making us suffer even more than we need to - my GP agrees and is quite resigned to the whole poor state of the admin procedures of the NHS. It's so sad but true. Good luck with everything. My aunt was recently in Walton for suspected heart problems - she found them really good and was happy there (apart from her illness of course!). Cheers and chin up Sarah xx

Hi Kim I'm really feeling for you and pray that things will improve for you all. I'm going to have a talk to my partner to see if she can suggest how to help with your father. My father was in complete denial and therefore problematical about my SAH so I know the family had to try to manage him as well as take in all that had happened to me. As banal as it sounds in your current state please try and keep positive for your own sake as well as everyone elses. Thinking of you Sarah x

Hi Diane Welcome to btg - a great site where we can just be ourselves. Sarah x

That's really good and reassuring to know he understands x

Hi Mary Thanks for the info - there seems to be so much that the surgeon/consultant/gp says shouldn't/can't/won't be related to SAH when what we all experience seems to discount that. Must have been really scary though, not to be in control of your walking or movement. I do think that the experts should listen and take seriously the experiences of their patients, i.e. US. After all, the customer is always right! Sarah x

Apparently I still get confused now, 12 months on!!! Not very much though, only when v. tired so don't worry. My emotions were also all over the place, it was very much like when pregnant with pretty much anything setting me off in floods of tears. It will all pass and become much more acceptable. Sarah x

Hi Michael's Girl Been offline for a while due to puppies chewing computer cable so have only just seen your posts. Welcome to the site and do hang in there. You sound really positive and strong, and so so supportive. Love is amazing, isn't it? I'm a SAH survivor but my partner was there for me like you are for Michael and it means so much. It brought us even closer together, which I didn't think could be possible, but it did. We're all here for each other and I know the gang have helped me through some sticky times so welcome to our gang. Hang in there, we're all here for you. Sarah x

Hi Rachel Thinking of you and Jon and sending you all the best vibes possible. Trust all goes well, love to you both Sarah xx

Mucho gracias Joan!!!!

Hi Clare Great news, congratulations - now celebrate!!!!! Sarah xxx

Hi Karen Totally agree with you and I veer from hysterical hysteria(!), bouts of bawling, grim acceptance and the very real need to kick the s**t out of surgeons' secretaries!! However, I daren't do this last thing - not because I could be arrested but because she has the power to move me right down to even further than the bottom of his list! Life can be so cruel..... Sarah

Hi Karen Ward sister said one to two weeks, the surgeon's secretary said, and I quote, 'Dunno'. Lots of frustrated prompting questions later I have deduced it could be one week, two weeks, one month, two months, four months.......'dunno'! If it wasn't so upsetting it would be laughable. Guess that's what I should do, laugh, but not quite in the mood for that yet! Sarah :?

Hi guys Thanks for kind thoughts. Sadly, though, the op has been cancelled and I'm now awaiting a revised date. No beds. Gutted goes just a little way to describe how I'm feeling. Sarah xx

Thanks guys Means a lot. Will ask Fiona or probably Hannah - she's more technically proficient but don't tell anyone I said that! - to post an update. Just hoping there's no postponement now....got to ring first thing to check I can still go in. Don't think I could go through this build up again. Anyway, back to guess the prime minister and what day is it?????? Who ever knows what day it is at any given time anyway! Cheers all, chat soon. Lots of love Sarah xxx

Hi Holly Welcome from me too! It's an excellent place, here, for all us SAH-ers; all questions and queries can be answered by at least one person who will have experienced it and there're some great discussions to be had! Loads of humour too which is always welcome. Cheers and stick around Sarah x

Morning all I couldn't make sense of my feelings last night - found it very odd to be grieving for someone I've never met but reading all your posts has helped with the understanding. It's made me even more scared, however, about next week, an emotion I've been battling with, and losing, for the last month. It is the thought of the family's loss, having seen how it was for everyone when my mum died and I subsequently had the SAH. Trying to keep very, very busy..... Sarah ps - my OT asked me what negative feelings I have been experiencing lately and selfish is the main one. I hate it as it's the complete opposite as I was pre-SAH but can't yet overcome it. I will.

Hi There I was given a Nintendo DS for Christmas, along with Dr Kawa-wotsit 1 which I still do fairly regularly. My brain age varies from 70-something to, you better believe it......21!! Yes, really! Think I'd like the new one now. I also have New Super Mario which I love and is a necessity for us SAH-ers...or so I tell everyone! And I had Tetris but have lost it but that was good fun and good for hand/eye co-ordination too. Would like a Wii but there's only so much wheedling Fiona can take!! There are some downloadable games which are brilliant for concentration and memory - go to http://www.bigfishgames.com and try some of their Hidden Object games - you get a free trial for each one which'll keep you occupied for quite some time! Be warned, they are addictive.... Happy gaming......... Sarah xx[/url]

Hi there and welcome Have just ordered your book and am looking forward to reading your experiences - thanks for sharing them, there's so little out there to help us. Welcome once again Sarah

Hi DG Welcome to the best SAH site in the universe. There's nowhere else like this, on the web or elsewhere, for being able to share SAH/aneurysm experiences. I had mine last September, a first bleed that I thought was a trapped nerve in my neck so stayed in bed a couple of days unable to move but no head pain if I didn't move it, then just 3 days later a repeat experience but worse so my partner rang emergency services as I lost consciousness. The rest of my story is published here at BTG, so as not to bore everyone else again! Unfortunately I have a second aneurysm (found at the same time) for which I will be having surgery in about 4 weeks time. So, mine was a fairly quick diagnosis - from main bleed to surgery in 4 days (and those four days are virtually completely lost to me!). I have since given up work as I had quite a pressurised job and will decide what to do with the rest of my working life post next surgery. But enough waffle, we're all here for which we should be eternally thankful and are able to enjoy life better in a lot of ways - I know I do as I appreciate the simpler, more natural, things of life a lot more now. Keep coming here - it will help more than anything else, and welcome to the gang! Sarah

Hi there I still have a very tender scar area, rhs forehead and about 3-4 inches all around it. The more tired I am the more sore and tender it gets. It's always numb too (apart from when it's sore, that is!!) Sarah xx