JayKay

Oh blueday, you do make me laugh!! Thank you for the link: that last guy in the relay race was good wasn't he?!

Hi Ash! Lovely to hear that mum has been moved closer - it will be easier to visit, no doubt. And to hear that she's smiling too, that's great! I'm glad the forum has been helpful to you. I know how scary it is to have a loved one lying in a hospital bed, but you are coping fantastically well. Take care and I hope mum continues to improve beyond all your expectations!!

Hello and welcome! I'm sorry you were messed about like that I know not everyone gets the right treatment, and I suppose not everyone has the right symptoms, but still..... Anyway, you're over that bit now, so it's time to look after yourself and look to the future. My aneurysm was behind my right eye too, and I am obese, but I was so unwell the junior doctor requested a CT right away so I was lucky. Mine was clipped too. After the op I had double vision while I was in hospital and they took me round to the ophthalmology dept to get the optic nerve checked out, which was interesting because I was working in that department when I had my SAH! Everyone was so lovely and keen to get me sorted. I didn't need a prism in the end because the double vision wasn't that bad, and the optic nerve wasn't swollen so I was told to "wait and see". My eyesight is fine now although I think it has deteriorated a bit but then I hit 50 when I had the SAH so maybe that's why!!! It's just my age So, the main thing you'll realise chatting to people here and reading their stories is that you are NOT ALONE! Take care and be gentle with yourself.

Crossing everything for you Ash. Like you say, there have been some brilliant recoveries on here, so don't lose heart. And you're right, each case is different. Good luck!!

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Like the others have said, the only person who can give you answers is the consultant in charge, and you are definitely entitled to make an appointment to discuss your questions with them. Having grown up in France, I know I used to think that "everything in France is done better" but now I realise that every medical case is different and it doesn't matter where you are, doctors everywhere work with what they have in front of them and have to make decisions based on clinical diagnosis. I am not trying to belittle in any way what your dad is going through and I understand that people grieve differently and sometimes grab on to anything rather than accept that their loved one has died. I hope you can both write down some questions and get an appointment with the consultant who I'm sure will be able to give you all the answers. Personally, I didn't have a shunt. I was told there "was so much blood" they couldn't see where to coil, so they had to go in and do a craniotomy to see what they were dealing with. I think it's the luck of the draw that I have not suffered more complications. I'm glad you found us - this place is great because everyone is so helpful and positive, and there is usually at least one person who has been through the same as you. Take care.

Oh Blueday - such a long time to wait Good luck with the callipers!! I went looking online and came across this website that looks interesting, it's called Stroke Rehab online. Interestingly, Tai Chi is supposed to be good: Any type of activitity that stimulates or activites the brain can play a role in stroke recovery. Physical activities such as Tai Chi can help speed recovery time for some stroke victims. The slow controlled use of sequential movements can help with reactivating areas of the nervous system associated with motor (movement) skills. The added benefit of improving memory is achieved through the learning of the Tai Chi routines. A lot of the actions of Tai Chi are also great for improving balance, which is a vital skill to help with gait and mobility for stroke recovery. Research has also shown some added bonuses for the mind with improvements in concentration and calmness with regular practice.

Oh Leonie that sounds hard to deal with Pain is very debilitating. Good luck with the treatment!

Sounds promising Ash! Yes it will be a long haul, and I'm sure it'll not be easy for you all, but there is hope, even when things look dire, people can make miraculous recoveries. Chin up, as my grandma would say. Take care!

Aww! I second what momo said. That was lovely. Take care!!

Sending positive vibes Richard's way. Hope everything goes swimmingly!!

Hola Denisse! Bienvenido a BTG. Don't worry about asking any questions, that is what we are here for. It is a very stressful thing we've all been through, and yes, we have survived, we are the lucky ones. I found the leaflet from the Brain and Spine Foundation invaluable! You can browse it online here. Take care and don't worry - all the things you are feeling, we have all felt!!

Hello Ben - my gosh you are going through it! I'm glad you found us. Everyone on here is so lovely and everyone has experience of SAH and/or stroke. 5 weeks is nothing, as I'm sure you'll get tired of hearing!! But it's true, it's very early days. I've been on both sides as 4 years ago my mum had a severe stroke. When I think back, it was awful - she got all the complications and infections you can imagine, couldn't speak or move etc. But now she is living alone again (has been for a couple of years) with just the help from a cleaner and a home help. My sister just commented this week on how much my mum is using her right arm compared to before, so you see, improvements continue for a long time! Wishing you all the best. Make sure you get lots of rest, and accept help from family and friends where little 'un is concerned, or hot meals, or what have you. Take care!

Can the Shaw Trust help? Check out this link.... Good luck!! It makes me so cross that people who want to work can be penalised, but if you claim benefits (like I have had to do) you are made to feel like a scrounger. Grrrr!

Gosh Penny! Poor you I was having a very stressful time at work (read V.E.R.Y.!) - my neuro nurse said that is a common theme amongst SAH sufferers..... Thanks for the link!

I had a craniotomy and was due to be seen 2 weeks after surgery but this turned into 4 months!! (due to no space in clinic). The surgeon said that was ok, though, and indeed everything has been fine. I don't need a f/up CT because I was clipped but I believe if you had coiling they do closer follow-ups. Can you ask your surgeon's secretary?

I'm so sorry to hear about the added stroke. I hear you when you say you feel sick to think she'll never be the same. My mum had a severe stroke 4 years ago and I was exactly in your position - however, she has made incredible progress and she is still HER, even though it's a slightly different her, if you know what I mean. Take each day as it comes. No one can tell you how much she'll improve, how long it will take etc, but that's normal. And remind yourself (and others) that improvements continue to happen over a long period of time. Take care, and come here when you need support.

Welcome to BTG! I'll repeat what everyone else has said - it's such early days!! Take it easy, treat yourself kindly. My SAH was in February and I keep thinking "now I'm better", but then something will happen to remind me I'm not. I overdid it last week and ended up 2 1/2 days in bed and very tired since then... maybe NOW I'll realise I have to take it easy. Doh!!! So, keep smiling (through the tears) and you'll get there. Take care.

Way to go Lynz!! That's wonderful

I'm sorry you've had such a delayed shock/reaction. Sounds quite normal to me - you were very poorly. Glad you don't have to go back though, so take care and be KIND to yourself!

Good luck! I have no knowledge of seizures, however my partner shakes and twitches something awful during the night. I always put it down to him having bad dreams.... You might not be having seizures as such, it might be those side-effects mentioned above. Hope you get a nice new doctor!

Ah, that's a Continental education for you. I went to school in France and I speak English, French, German, Spanish and some Italian. I understand a bit of Dutch too There are similarities in English/German/Dutch and French/Spanish/Italian so it's easy to guess sometimes. Good news about the trial. Hope she gets some speech therapy. I'm afraid I don't really know how they did it with my mum. They gave her speech therapy in French but as it went along her English came back too, funnily enough. At first she had help with actual speech and placing the tongue etc (as well as learning to swallow again) but as it went on it was more like "language" therapy. She had homework like kids at school - sentences with blanks in them that she had to fill in. Sometimes she had lists of words that she had to use, sometimes just the blanks themselves.... Hopefully you can get a private speech therapist to give her a head start while she is on the NHS waiting list? And ask that person to give you ideas of how to help? Good luck!!

Gosh Kate! That would have been interesting, although maybe if your stepdad is Belgian he is French-speaking not Flemish-speaking?! Good luck and you know where to come if you need any support

Very interesting - luckily I worked for 3 years with a Spaniard and a Chilean with very strong accents so his was easy for me I've just signed up for the free e-book called "The power of self caring". I shall read it with an open mind....

Hello there - keep your chin up! I know how hard it is to see your mum like that (I've been on both sides!!), but keep talking to her, holding her hand, that kind of thing. And make sure you get some rest too. Take care.

Hi there and welcome (sorry, I thought I'd welcomed you before!!). I know what you mean about learning about your limitations. It's the hardest part, I feel, especially when one looks "normal" to others. Very hard indeed. So be kind to yourself, and come here often - there is lots of support to be found here. Take care.