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In the UK you have to by law inform the DVLA of a SAH. This pdf might help.... http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/medical/aagv1.pdf .... You have to "surrender" your license for quite a few things. Although it might vary from country to country the standards for "fit to drive" are I believe not that different. The EU certainly have a view on it! Hope this helps. Scott

If you are a member of the union ask the rep about the insurance schemes that they offer and see if you can claim loss of earnings or medical retirement under those policies. Scott

It can be quite a stigma (as I'm currently finding out) to be even remotely linked with a mental illness of any sort. I am not ashamed to say that I had some issues with my mental state and still do but until those that try and tar people because of it learn a new lesson it's a fight worth fighting. What is happening now to me is that people are questioning not my ability to do the job but my mental fitness to do it. Suffice to say that these people are not arguing on the same side as I am but those people that know me are amazed that it should be an issue, many more didn't know about my SAH until it was bought up via a "my story" piece I wrote on the Different Strokes website some three years ago which reappeared in an edited format recently. I know that I was helped a huge amount by those professionals working in mental health and I will never forget that. Scott

Hiya, As a governor of a local primary school (I help out during the week as well) I can understand how hard it must be for you, In other jobs the people around you will be able to "cut you some slack" but in teaching the people around you are as demanding as they come. I hope you have an understanding Head who is in a position to give you time in which to recover. Quite a few teachers "job share" in our school which still gives the children the stability of regularly seeing the same people and knowing who is in front of them, is this a possibility with you? Scott

When I went back for my first check CT the radiographer went and got my consultant rather than wait for my appointment. She had seen signs that all was not well and said that whenever there was an abnormal scan it was common procedure to get an immediate second opinion. Turns out I had hydrocephalus and needed to have further tests. She was talking to my wife and apparently they NEVER disclose "good" news as they are not "qualified"to diagnose scans just to take them. If it had been a standard scan she would of told me to wait until I saw my consultant and not attempted to reassure me as giving false good news is seen as bad as giving false bad news. So not necessarily bad news on your scan but I can fully understand your worry about the lack of communication. Scott

How arrogant is that GP? He knows better than an organisation that is set up for the benefit of acquired brain injury (ABI)? Of course anti-depressants are the answer! Why doesn't everyone take them? Sorry but it does really annoy me. Scott

Strange how hearing what under different circumstances would be awful news (I'm sorry, you have a genetic malformation of the arteries in your brain that may lead to haemorraghing) can turn out to be more of a relief than anything. When I went back and saw my Consultant (Neuro Specialist) he was telling me all about the "event" and then about the treatment. He mentioned the word stroke and things clicked in my brain (not literally ). It was a relief to be able to descibe what I'd gone through and understand in a way what I could expect in the future. So far from "Mr Naylor you've had a stroke" being bad news it was conversely GOOD NEWS. Well it was to me in the strange convoluted word that best describes my thought processes at the moment! Scott

It's only natural to try and restart what you thought of as a "normal" life when you get home..... Some people can do just that, others can't...... Each and everyone of us is different and her path to recovery is her's alone and only she can dictate the pace that she wants to go at. Her body and brain may have to overule want she wants to do, in fact she may recover quicker by going slower! Scott

Hi Peggy, I've got a shunt and when I get overtired I have problems with my gait. I have a constant pain in my right hip which gets worse with fatigue, also I have the same symptons you describe in regards to head pain. I've been lucky in terms of my shunt working and touch wood it's been OK in the three years I've had it. Scott

As Karen says the site and severity of the bleed will dictate the outcome and recovery, age also plays a part but not as much as the first two. It's like comparing a broken metarsal with a broken neck, both bone breaks but radically differing effects. All of us have suffered a major illness and one that many do not survive at all. I consider myself back to 75% four years on but I know that I will never be the person I was pre SAH, although that doesn't mean that I begrudge others their recovery. It does bug me though that we are still hearing horror stories of Doctors not even sure of whether a SAH is a stroke or not. Insurance companies whether like mine where a claims clerk decided that I couldn't of had a brain haemorrhage because I wouldn't be alive to claim or the other extreme where they don't pay out on critical illness cover! I've been lucky with all the stages of my SAH story, from being diagnosed straight away and sent to a specialist Neuro centre where I received excellent care. To my GP who was honest enough to say I was his first post SAH patient but that we would learn what to do together. The aftercare from my local NHS trust included Headway and a raft of specialist Neuro care profesionals. I know that many of you haven't been so lucky, but it really shouldn't come down to "luck" in the 21st century. Scott

I'd go along with Andy and say get yourself along to your local Headway. When I went I was quickly bumped up the waiting list and found myself with my own "Clinical NeuroPsychologist"! She helped me work through the way I felt as well dealing with coping methods. They opened the door to aftercare in a way that the Wessex Neuro couldn't. Headway should be a first port of call for both carers and survivors of SAH, after all we have all suffered a major head injury. (something else that is over looked IMO). Cheer Scott

If you've had a change of symptons then your Neurologist should be seeing you sooner than January. Sorry Scott

Speak to your neurologist NOW. Could be nothing but those are very similar symptons to those I had with hydrocephalus, even if it's only to discount it you should get to your doctor asap. Leaving it medium to long term can be dangerous but don't worry can treated with a shunt in worse case senarios. Again don't panic but get medical advice soon. Scott

I know that this particular part of the forum is supposed to be for personal relationships but...... I know I have had to relearn lots of things post SAH and one of the major things is drinking. Social drinking used to be important to me, a pint after work or after football maybe on a Sunday lunchtime. Now after one bad experience I don't drink socially anymore. I might have a glass of wine at home but in company I don't feel I can trust my reactions any more. One pint or even one glass of wine now is worth at least six to eight prior to my SAH. Not only that my reaction to alchol is totally different, I used to be a boring drunk talk for my country on any subject I knew nothing about! Now it makes me feel on edge not relaxed at all, so as I said I've given up on drink! Everyone is different, but as a post on a different thread mentioned some of us are the same! Scott

Not at all, I do voluntary work. For a few hours a day but have not as yet been able to return to work. I am in the minority tho, I have more "issues" than most. I have accepted my own limitations but even four years on I am making progress and do hope to return to paid employment. Scott

either will do!

I had a small stroke (Ischemic) whilst being coiled which left me with a right sided weakness. Also it left me with a constant pain in my right hip which I'm now told is purely neuropathic. Telling the difference between symptons and aftereffects and which "event" they are related to is a fun game to play! Still shouldn't grumble too much as after all I am here to grumble...... Cheers Scott

The angio suite is a very cold place indeed.

From a male point of view...... My SAH didn't occur during sex so I really don't have an issue from that area but I will say that the "normal" times for having sex were a no no because of being overtired. Apart from the physical side (stroke effect) it wasn't really problematical (is that a word?) for me but it can differ from person to person.

My inlaws had the kids full time so my wife could be with me. My sister stayed full time for the first week, and then made the trip down from B'stoke to Southampton for every evening visiting session (whether I was concious or not). So I was very lucky with the support that my family gave to me. My brother on the other hand I have seen twice since my SAH (four years) and was told that I made him feel uncomfortable!! My father died at 38 and it seems my brother was reminded too much of that! Don't feel guilty about taking time out for yourself. Scott

When we spoke last night I kind of got the feeling that you are in need of more TLC than Micheal at the moment. You don't have to be superwoman but you will be of more help to Micheal if you are getting enough sleep, eating well, feeling happy that your children are being looked after and as you said he's not aware of time at the moment so take some time out for yourself and the kids. Get some photos of you and the kids and put them by his bed and if possible get a photo taken of you and him together where he is now and smile in that picture. If he's anything like me he needs to be reminded almost constantly that he's not alone but you can't be there 24/7 but a picture can be a trigger to remind him of that fact. I know I'm rambling at the moment so I'll delete the other paragraph I'd written and leave it at one. Just remember one thing..... You'll be no use to him or your kids if you try and do everything all the time. This is the start of a long journey so it's important to pace yourself. Scott

Yep Keith the North Hants, or Basingstoke Hospital to everyone else. The first mention apparently of SAH was by the paramedic who attended but the first Dr was more interested in my history of drug use (asked my wife the same question over and over "what has he taken?"). The consultant saw me for five minutes and ordered the CT scan.

Like Blondie say's don't beat yourself up if you miss one or two visits, if Micheal is anything like I was he won't have a firm grasp on time at all at the moment. It's important for you to keep looking after yourself as you will be the rock that he rebuilds his life on. As for the kids personally I didn't want mine to see me when I was first recovering, apparently I was lucid on that quite early on. Even now I feel that for my sons to see me so near to the checkout would of had a greater impact than not seeing me at all. Don't worry about what final recovery he'll make you've just started on the road and there is no SatNav for stuff like this. Good luck to you all. Scott

I was "lucky" and was in a specialist unit within hours of my SAH. I had a CT scan at my local hospital, as ordered by the consultant in A&E. That showed a bleed. If it is just a matter of being scaned or a lumbar puncture then EVERYONE who presents at a hospital with the classic symptons should receive one or both. I have been told that time isn't important in terms of hours but days without treatment can be fatal (don't know how true that is because I don't know what to believe). I do know that they do leave a period of time from the initial bleed before attempting a coiling but I'm not sure why.

I also have "increased intra-ocular pressure" which when combined with the "fragments" left by the SAH mean I have to have quarterly check up at the hospital. These aren't that bad but the dye they put into the eyes can sting a little. Scott