Joan

What have people been told about driving? The same embryo doctor who was prepared to let me return to the gym the day of my release from hospital (presumably because those weights would really test the strength of the coiling) was most insistent I could not drive for a year. Have no desire to, but wanted to check what other people have been told. Cheers Joanxx

Dear Keith -- Thank you, because I think that you just answered something that has been bothering me. Since I have been home from hospital, I have avoided working in or even going into my home office (ah, the joys of the laptop) where, of course, our dormer windows provided a perfect smoke vent and many happy hours of solitary sinning. Maybe, subconsciously, I am staying away as I know it is associated with The Habit? In any event, Keith, am sure you have the right perspective on the situation. As I said in another posting, there is little now that frightens me anymore. Having been told you were one of a handful of people to have survivef (had a particularly bad SAH) has given me a different take on things. Also, as other posters said, the fact that smoking is taken on slightly less seriously than Murder One in terms of social accepability just makes it all so much easier to forget one did... Have a wonderful weekend. Jxx

Sami -- I am living for the day when I can switch from socks and tights to sandals and naked tootsies. All the best, J

keith -- looking at the various ways we have spoken about our personalities and some of our good/bad habits, it is interesting that there are so many points in common. Sorry to ask you something you've probably covered on another posting, but when did you have your SAH? How soon after that did you find the nictoine rearing its siren call? Am wondering if, after a time, the old habits re-emerge and try to reclaim their stake on you.... Cheers J

While I've been on this rigid diet for the past 5 weeks, it works well with the stuff I fell out of love with post-SAH. Like a lot of other people, I can't bear coffee and now just drink v. light, black tea when I want a lift. Robert and I used to polish off a bottle of wine maybe once or twice a week at home and if we went out, we'd easily sink a bottle. Have to confess I now find alcohol unappealing, and not just from a diet perspective. It scares me for reasons I can't put my finger on, despite having indulged at new year's with no ill-effects (I did drink water like a fountain in reverse, though). Maybe its also that since SAH I learned there is nothing more to be scared of, so the social interactions I used alcohol to ease don't hold any more fears. Joanxx

The post-release materials BASIC sent me from Salford NHS said "no swimming unaccompanied" for a year because of the risk of seizures....

Being half-Italian and fully mediterranean, I am ALWAYS cold. It seems to have gotten worse with the SAH and I now look like Sweater Lady when working at home. Can't wait for the warmer weather, in short. J

Smoked since I was a teenager, gave up several times, averaged 8-10 a day (but also could go for weeks without as I was a secret smoker, eg, didn't smoke in front of my partner) but also could up it to 20 under pressure. I regret every single one. Smoke free, hooray, but I still miss the damn things from time to time.

My short term memory is terrible. I think about something I am meant to do, then forget it -- EVEN after writing it down!! The neurologist recommended crosswords and we also now do that Dr Kawashim brain gym which has helped enormously. But I still feel less in control of my short term memory, despite the improvement. Cheers J

Once again, I think Sami and I must be clones; I also find I feel more balanced about things that used to bug me (eg, the pots can go to hell) and to take more real pleasure in the miracle of every day. I was always a bit emotional but this has exacerbated it. Saw the movie "Bobby" about the assassination of Robert Kennedy. There is a speech at the end about tolerance in society that left me in tears. So I guess I responsd to things more spontaneously. Thanks, though, Sami for expressing it better....

Therese - I was older than you, and old enough to know better than to burn the candle at both ends and several points along the middle....have learned a BIG lesson Cheers Joan

Sami and I are clearly clones, as I could have written what she wrote, although I think I drank more often (3-4 times a week), sometimes heavily and smoked a lot less. I could get v. hyper, was a reallly hard worker and tended to live life full tilt. Was also well overweight. Since SAH I've been alcohol and tobacco free as well as on a diet. Jesus, its boring. But today I tried on a pair of size 10 trousers and they nearly fit.....

Its been nearly three months since my SAH; although I have periods of fatigue, what I find more (from a personal standpoint) is that I have periods where I am totally without energy or inspiration, something that bothers me a lot. Sometimes I can spend an afternoon just "zoned out" and not focused on a single thing. This is a danger when I am meant to be working, and I'm working hard to control it....but it has never happened to me before the SAH and so I feel instinctively it must be related.

Codeine phosphate continues to work for me, together with the heavy duty T-L (can't put it in) if a bad headache ever threatens. Doctor gave me beta blockers to keep my blood pressure down and that helps with headaches as well.

The first month post-SAH I seemed to sleep a lot during the day, and had several broken nights in consequence. I'd get suddenly tired and there was nothing I could do but close my eyes. Since January, and month two, I rarely sleep during the daytime and find I sleep much better, and much later, than i have ever done before. Used to suffer terrible insomnia, but although Robert's snoring wakes me, for the first time in my life I drop off again without too much trouble. If I try to force myself to wake up early, I just can't....

I raised this on my introductory blog, which a number of people think would be a good general discussion, and that is whether you feel it safe to put a mobile directly to your ear. The mobile has been a real lifeline, but my partner is concerned that some of the research on the impact of mobile phone use expressed concern about useage by people who'd experienced SAH-type conditions. Like others, it has been a lifeline for me but of course I'd have to reeducate myself if there was a direct connection... Cheers Joan

Neither the hair nor nail treatment appear to have had any ill effect. What I did notice first time out amongst the masses is that I tend to scamble syllables on long words and the physical coordination is so-so at times. But at least I feel more human - or at least, viewable. Guys, I am sorry to raise yet another question, but I wanted to find out from people whether they have stopped using mobiles or if they continued to use them, are using the bluetooth earpieces. My partner, who is fairly savvy medically (he works as a consultant to the pharma industry) is very uncomfortable with me using a mobile. Sadly Motorola don't do a wired earpiece (I guess that is now dinasaur technology) and only offer the bluetooth earpiece. Don't want to microwave my poor old brain....

Keith - thanks very much 4 your answers. In the interest of sharing knowledge, I will share any generic advice I get from the neurologist when I see him on Tuesday. All the best. Joan

thank you all for making me feel so welcome. I am really grateful for having found this site, and have a couple more questions on which I'd appreciate your advice/guidance. How important is a full night's sleep, versus a bitty night's sleep and much napping? I've always been a pretty poor sleeper - not in falling asleep but in staying asleep. Once I am up, that's pretty much it. When i first came home 5 days ago I'd no problem sleeping through the night, including after waking at 3 and 6 for medication. But now i appear to be reverting, darn it -- although napping at the drop of a pillow, quite blissfully. Do you all think I should just fall in with my old sleep pattern with its periods of wakefulness, or seek some type pf sleep aid from the doctor/ chemist/ health food store? Are massages harmful? Was considering a massage to help with the relaxation process but shocked when the salon told the friend who attempted to book for me that people who had SAH had to wait a year (and have a doctor's release) before getting a massage. Is this familiar to anyone or do you think they were just being cautious/paranoid? How ready is ready? Several people on the site have underlined the importance of listening to your body in determining level of appropriate activity. I acknowledge that my sleep has not been helped by the fact I've barely been out of bed since coming home, as the answer from said body about its enthusism for getting up has been "not very much" and "I LIKE being horizontal, lady! Chill!!". Today am going for my first walk since my SAH on 17 November as well as a visit to hairdressers (at the mo, my hair looks like I've been wearing a helmet for 5 months). Have other people found it hard to get motivated and mobile? I genuinely feel like someone has taken my battery out and that physically, I am operating on "standby". Should I be more proactive about just getting up, out and walking or is the message about, and love of, laying in bed normal? Last question - I promise - is about appetite. Low levels of physical activity doubtless account for the fact I don't feel terribly hungry and often feel a bit queasy. Anyone else find that? I am sincerely not complaining because the doctor has advised I need to achieve a much lower body weight as part of the lonterm management of SAH.... muchas gracias Joan[/b]

and I had to laugh at one post i found complaining about the quality of daytime TV. When my mother, at a very advanced age (OK, she was as old as the earth, and I was born when she was 86) was on bed rest after hospitalization and watched daytime TV for the first time. She was of the generation that regarded anything other than the News Hour or business reports viewed after 6PM as tools of the devil. After 3 or 4 days of Sally-Jesse Raphael, Jerry Springer et alia she was convinced the participants were mental patients hand-picked for extra-high levels of deviancy. Watching Jeremy Kyle has, for me, been...well...revelatory and not ina good way. I am sure may SAH sufferers feel like me as if you have been given a second chance, and don't want to waste it. This feeds my type A demon ("have you cracked the atomic code seeing as you've been laying on your Italian butt all day" goes the inner voice) and so I am working hard to re-programme that message to say that this episode a second chance to improve my quality of life, not quantity of hours worked.Frankly I've done enuf hard work in my life to justify a LOT of duvet days, advanced sloth and online clothes gazing (having been told I have lots to lose am dreaming of my new incarnation).... Many thanks for all the kind words of wisdom. I will listen to my body and swap the woes of J. Kyle for the soothing strings of Mozart. All the best, Joan

I guess the main thing is to get a sense of the road ahead -- which I am sure has as many detours as there are pebbles -- it had been really useful to read about other people's experiences. Would love find another "hypermobile" SAH - because it seemed such a whacky causative factor. And equally would love to find a London-based support group. Will contribute cookies with enthusiasm. And please reassure me that someday I can re-acquaint myself with the odd glass or two of red wine....

Had my SAH on 17 November and was only found next morning. It was not until I came around after a 5-hour operation to insert the coiling that I discovered what had happened - and only since I've been out of hospital that I've begun to learn about SAHs. At Charing Cross, the emergency treatment was world class but there was no follow up or support - I was told I could "resume normal life" when I was released on Monday (eg 8 days after my attack) which surprised me, given I have been largely bed-bound with exhaustion (not helped by the post-op routine at the hospital of waking you every hour on the hour to check mental awareness and eye reflexes ...ah, those little flashlights in the eye routine). Currently am coming back to health, but still feel like my battery has been removed. Am on Nimodipine, Dihydrocodeine for the bad headaches and paracetamol for the minor ones. Had period of really bad depression but that has passed. Am doing lots of crosswords (US style ones) to re-energize the brain and also started back with my work (I do business analysis for a big law firm and am fortunate to be able to work at home). The work bit went better than expected but 5 hours on the computer wiped me out. Next week am seeing the surgeon who trearted me for cluster migraines 18 months ago to discuss whether there might be any relaionships between those and my SAH. Also read that people who have hypermobility are also more prone to SAH - and I certainly have hypermobility as a pre-existing condition. Sorry to go on at length, but having received next to no information in the hospital and feeling too physically drained to venture far you all are my first external contacts (apart from am army of wonderful friends) and it is unbelievable to kmow there are a whole group of people that have been through this. Welcome all advice on what to expect in these early days, and keen to hook up with any support groups in the London area.