KelBel

Cheers Poppy, will have to look into that as I have travel ins. via my bank, so will need to check how I stand now I have had SAH... Kel x

Hi Sally Welcome to the site/extended family/support network! This site is amazing; like Lynz said, there is always a story or a post that you can relate to and at times it can be like a lightbulb being turned on as it can help you understand why you feel the way you do...and that it is okay and normal to feel that way - happy, sad, mad, confused, upset, angry, happy to be alive, etc etc... the ups and downs of an sah survivor in recovery... I hope you find great comfort, support and understanding, and I hope to hear more from you soon. (And yes, it does get addictive as you want to keep reading and keep up with what everyone has been up to! ) Take care Kel x

Saffy, sorry to hear you are being messed around, but it could be that they have had an emergency, although I too would be sceptical about it...as you say there was no answer. I do hope it happens on Tuesday for you, the waiting game is not a nice one. Take care over the weekend and try to think positive and remain as calm as you can, Kel x

Hi Saffy Congratulations on giving up smoking! Best thing I done 3 yrs ago, and yes very good with the worry about your upcoming op, but stay strong. Hope that bed is there for you. Kel x

Karen - I also walked over pot-holey land last week and had to take it easy and really watch what I was doing, it certainly does seem that the brain gets more tired than the legs! Louise - hopefully you will learn now, after being bruised and battered! Kel x

Hi Bessie Good luck for your mums appointment tomorrow Take care Kel x

Hi Blueday Welcome to the site! Now that you mention the numerous times you feel your body was telling you there was a problem, I too can relate to that. All through my secondary school I had chronic headaches and neck pain, and for the past 8 years I have suffered from migraines, where the pain would last an hour or so but the aftereffects (grogginess & hangover-like symptoms) would last 24-48 hours. In the past year I have suffered with nosebleeds on a regular basis. The nosebleeds are still happening now, although I have been told that is nothing to do with the aneurysm...so am awaiting referall to ear, nose & throat. I find I have difficulty at times with immediately working out what someone is saying to me and forming a reply to it. Kel x

I only found out just how life-threatening SAH was after coming out of hospital and getting on the internet! Upon discharge I was told to rest and drink 2-3 litres of fluid a day and take my tablets as prescribed. Nothing more, nothing less... until I asked about going back to work, and about driving. I think that was one of the worst things for me as I like to be well prepared! I would certainly have welcomed a booklet. The Brain & Spine Foundation have a good booklet on SAH which would have been great had I had that to refer to upon discharge. There is definitely a need to raise awareness, as it can have a devastating effect if the diagnosis is late. I know now that having been misdiagnosed and not getting my op till a week after SAH that the severe vasospasm I suffered during the op may have been prevented had I been diagnosed correctly initially. Kel x

Hi Lynz I did initially suffer with 'cotton wool head' although it seems to have got better over the past few months. I do still have trouble with taking in information and making sense of it all. It can take me time to assimilate all the information provided, to make a clear judgement on it. My speech seems to be perfectly okay, and no-one has said otherwise. I have on occassions suffered with trying to find the right word I want to say...which can be a little frustrating...but it does not usually last too long, and I might say a word at first that doesn't really work in the sentence I am trying to create...then the right word will come to me after a few minutes. It is usually if I am tired or feeling a little worried/anxious about something that I experience this. I also have a continual tingling/pins & needles sensation in 2 fingers on my left hand. I am constantly rubbing my fingers to try to 'get rid of it' which of course doesn't work (altho I still try...). I have had an MRi to check this out (to check for TIAs) but it proved to be okay, so I guess it is just something I have to put up with. Or I suppose I could challenge it again... I have found my confidence is growing as time goes on. I keep tackling different things and overcoming any anxiety about going to new places or places I haven't been to since the SAH. I managed to drive to Bicester shopping village on my own today, to meet a friend halfway, as she was driving down from Rugby. It is the furthest I have driven since SAH and I am really pleased I was okay there and back! It is just a case of getting over the initial fear. I think we all have a varying degree of the symptoms you have mentioned, however as others have said; you should talk through all your worries with your GP as they may be able to refer you for further investigation and possible treatment. Good luck & take care kel x

Hi Dougie Welcome to the site. Sorry I am unable to help with the symptoms you have been experiencing. I can only suggest that you make contact with the hospital who completed your CT scan, via PALS (Patient Advisory Liaison Service) and try to get a second opinion? (Although I don't know how easy it is to get a second opinion). I can imagine it is difficult for you, not getting a diagnosis of some description, and if you are still experiencing symptoms now then you need to keep on at the medical profession to get to the bottom of it. Take care Kel x

Hi Zoe It sounds like Richard is now in the best place, and they sound great. It must feel such a relief for you to be able to visit him and feel reassured when you leave again that they are treating him well and doing all they can. I hope you have a good afternoon with Richard, and I am glad to hear he is doing well and wolfing down some food! That must be a good sign that he is in a better place and on the mend. And that will be so lovely for John to visit and offer both of you even more reassurance and understanding too. So glad for you, take care Kel x

Ahh Phil, that is so lovely xxx Belated Happy birthday to you x

Hi Saffy I had my emrgency coiling op back in december following SAH, but I am panicking about the follow-up angiogram I will have to have in December this year (no date as yet) ...so I can sympathise a little with you being anxious about your coiling op coming up. The unknown is scary. It is hard for anyone to understand how you feel, if they have not been through anything like this before. Just keep chatting to everyone on here, and hopefully you will gain some comfort from our messages. Maybe you could show your family this site and ask that they try to empathise with your anxiety and fears. Like John has said, it is not normal to not be scared about having an operation. Take care kel x

Hi John I am not able to relate entirely to your situation, although I can empathise with the fact that it must be very hard for you not to be able to recall or piece together everything that happened to you. I can recall quite a lot of what happened to me, however I had a grade 1 bleed so was not in such a severe situation as you were. I can also empathise with the fact of not having been left with prominent side effects - which is a blessing of course, as that would make life a little harder too. I hope you manage to sit down with your family and fill in a timeline of events to aid your emotional recovery - did anyone keep a diary that they could share with you?? That would be great if they did. This is an amazing site and we are so lucky that it has been created; for us to be able to relate to each other, help each other, and get to know each other is so helpful to our healing process. There are wonderful people here, on hand (or online...) to help when needed (I think only amazingly wonderful people are allowed to be here actually ) You have done remarkably well, and it is a pleasure to know you! Take care Kel xxx

Janet - sounds good to me!! (See KeithB - I didn't even mention peanut butter....oops, now I have!! )

Hi Zoe, that is fantastic news. I am so glad you had such a positive meeting and Richard is recovering so well. It will be great once he is moved nearer to home. Take care, Kel x

Ooh Crunchy or smooth peanut butter for me yummy-yum-yum! But it's a no-go on the healthy eating plan now Kel x

I think I will just stick with the eggy bread and tommy sauce!

Hello Zoe So sorry to hear about Richards current situation and I do hope it is a very short-term situation for you all, and he gets back to some sort of normality again soon. I hope you get answers to all your questions tomorrow at your meeting with the neurosurgeon, and like Sarah(kempse) said; do try to take someone with you, to maybe take notes for you or just to be there for support. I took a whole list of questions with me to my follow-up appointment, and ticked off questions & made notes as we were talking. Take care of yourself Kel x

Congratulations on your 2nd annie-versary Caz!! Take care Kel x

Hi John Glad you have finally got some apologies for lack of communication, which doesn't make up for a whole year of worry and anxiety on your part, but will hopefully highlight the issues so that no-one else has to suffer in the same way. Take care Kel x

Hi Lynz Welcome to the site. Your daughter is such a star!! Bless her for looking after and comforting her baby sister and staying with you all night. Glad you are have been able to share your story. Kel x

Ewww no no no, I can't stand marmite! Maybe I could add it to sauces, but I could not have the marmite tea or sandwiches or on toast! not nice... Kel x

Welcome to the site Zoe I hope your husband continues to make progress in his recovery, and that you manage to take time for rest too. It must be incredibly emotionally draining for you and you need to take care of yourself as well. Best wishes for continued recovery Kel x

Congratulations Caz! Glad you are doing so well Kel x