JayKay

Oh, also, when I was in hospital the volunteers from the Stroke Association came to see me. They have been very helpful, even though it's mostly geared towards ischaemic stroke sufferers. SAH is a haemorrhagic stroke.

Ditto! That's the beauty of this place - everyone is so helpful

Hi Lisa and welcome to BTG! Glad you have found us. I would like to echo what John and Karen and the others have said. You need to think about you! As for money, I was a temp when this happened, and my partner (who is a contractor) had no work so we've been through the mill financially. I claimed ESA when I was in hospital: my partner filled in most of the form with the lady at the Job Centre. Luckily (for us) her husband is disabled so she kind of knew what to put. I've just claimed DLA with the help of someone from Age Concern (I'm only 50 but I volunteered with them so they said they'd help). No idea if I'll get it but she did say to put down how I was on my worst days.... and to appeal if I get turned down. As for the ESA, I have to send in regular "fit notes" from my GP, but I have still just been called to a medical. I definitely can't work right now as I get flustered for little things, have memory loss, lack of concentration, divided attention etc. How can I hope to work as a PA like that? Also, I need to SLEEEEEEEP all the time!! Finally, I'm seeing the neuropsychologist at the local neuro-rehab place, which is proving invaluable. If you aren't seeing anyone, ask to be referred. She has yet to test my cognitive function, which I have problems with, because I'm so tired and the tests themselves are apparently very tiring. She says it's early days (I'm 3 1/2 months post SAH). Take care, and ask if you want to know anything.

Hello and happy birthday!! Welcome to BTG, where the people are wonderful and supportive (I've had such a lovely welcome myself). I'm sorry you are still having headaches, but it is very early on for you - I was in hospital 6 weeks and I had them all the time then. Since I've been home I don't remember having that many so at some point it eased off.... but I've forgotten when! Take it easy, listen to your body, rest up and enjoy life. Take care !!

That's good Anne - it doesn't hurt to rule out hypothyroidism, anaemia, diabetes....! Let us know how you get on

I saw this on my Facebook page. Don't know anything about it but it might be worth looking into for those who have problems with movement: Conductive Education for stroke rehabilitation Open Day

I found it extremely sad that she had such a catalogue of errors/misdiagnoses. She sounds rather bitter - I hope she has found peace of mind since.... No one deserves to have to live through all that

Fascinating! I have always been intrigued by the brain and how complex it is, and now I've had an SAH I am even more interested! Thank you for sharing that - I've posted it on my facebook

Hi Blueday! I was wondering where you were I'm off to read that article now. See ya!

Hi Haydn and welcome. I'm sorry you are feeling so awful. I'm only 3 1/2 months post SAH so I keep getting told to "pace myself". As I haven't been that physically active for donkeys years I never saw myself as an active person, although I did hold down two jobs so I was always on the go. However I too am finding this enforced inactivity very hard to accept so I can only imagine how hard it must be for you. I do hope the ME clinic can help. I feel in your case no one has taken into account your SAH. You might have gone back to work too early. I believe treatment for ME revolves around "a graded exercise programme" and cognitive behavioural therapy but don't quote me on that! As a medical secretary I used to be quite dismissive of people with ME (not to their face I hasten to add!) and now I feel like oops, this is payback cos I feel so drained all the time! Good luck!!

Hi Katie, glad you found us! My SAH was 3 1/2 months ago, and I can't remember much about the first week or so in hospital, but now that I'm home and looking fine (apart from a fast fading scar), it's hard to come to terms with the fact that I have cognitive difficulties. Luckily, unlike a lot of people I am getting good support from the hospital and from the neuropsychologist. Even my GP seems to understand that "it's early days yet" as I keep being told! Take care

Hi Laanka. I wasn't here when you had your letter and your treatment, but I just wanted to say good luck going back to work! Make sure you rest lots

I wonder why he's not keen for you to have the coil. I have a Mirena Coil, had it for about 4 years now. I hesitated for 2 years because I'd heard you can have more bleeding at first, and people say they've gained weight. I must say it's been brilliant! I never have periods, which is bliss as I used to have horrendous pain both at my period and at ovulation. If the doctor is suggesting hysterectomy, I don't know how hold you are, but all the women I know who've had one say they feel 10 years younger, so it might not be so terrible, although i see you are upset other people are having babies so maybe you are a bit young for such a final treatment. I'm sorry you are feeling low. Have you talked to your GP? I have had reactive depression in the past and as my SAH is so recent both the GP and neuropsychologist are keeping a close eye on me. Take care and don't hesitate to PM me if you want more info.

Great photos! I can't imagine the stress of travelling abroad yet, and it's 3 1/2 months since my SAH!! Glad you were able to go, I bet it did you a power of good.

It's great to have you here John. You have definitely been through a lot and I can totally empathise with everything you say! It's 3 1/2 months for me, and I don't have any physical problems either. I too worry that people think I'm ok but I'm not in my head (if you get my drift!!). My neuropsychologist has put off doing the tests because she says they in themselves are very tiring and it wouldn't be useful to do them and just have me exhausted at the end of it. Also, she doesn't want to do them in one go.... And like you I worry that if I get too much right then she'll say I'm ok and can go back to work. Just thinking about going back to be a PA/secretary makes me break out in hives!! Good luck for the future John

Gosh sounds awful. But at least it's over and you can breathe now. I feel awful about thenotes fiasco. As a medical secretary I know how many hands sets of notes go through, and how many opportunities there are to lose them. At my hospital some bright spark decided to combine the notes from the three hospitals in the Trust, without doing a feasibility study first - there isn't enough room so notes go mIssing all the time now. It's a flipping joke! And who suffers? The patients Hugs!

Sorry to hear about your wife. I truly hope the insurance pays out: I had taken out critical illness cover a couple of weeks before my SAH and they got out of it because they hadn't received the form back from my GP! talk about bad luck!! Take care and welcome to the forum!

I bet you're glad the waiting's over! You should insure your head - there's a lot of money in there Glad you are home again. Take your time recovering ok?

Zoe, I think I've said this before, but it's very early days yet for Richard. I know that's hard to hear (mine was in February and they tell me it's early days!). All I can do is reiterate to you that my mum was practically a vegetable after her stroke, and she's living independently now, at age 78, even with weakness on her right side and persisting aphasia. Rich has youth on his side, I'm sure he'll go from strength to strength in rehab. It's just a long, long process. I hope he enjoys the weather! I remember when we were first able to take my mum out in the gardens of the rehab hospital, it was such a joy to see her! Take care, and keep smiling xx

I'm not surprised the GP didn't know - they don't see many SAH in their career, apparently. The Neuro people give the Nimodipine as it is recognised as the treatment to avoid vasospasm. Personally, I think if the Stroke Association can call SAH a "haemorrhagic stroke", then it must be a stroke!! Their literature says 80% of strokes are ischaemic and 20% haemorrhagic, so they definitely classify it as a stroke.

Hello. I'm sorry to hear your mum is still poorly. I had dreadful nausea and sickness in hospital, which is why I was in Queen Square for a month before spending another 2 weeks in my local hospital. They gave me regular anti-emetics, and bit by bit I got my appetite back... It's early days for your mum yet, and she needs to take baby steps. If she can make sure she drinks 3 litres of fluids a day and maybe the doctor gives her some anti-emetics, then hopefully she'll be able to avoid rehospitalisation... Fingers crossed for you all!

Hello Jan I agree with all the above! You should stay off until you have something in writing. We all know what bosses are like - their word is not their bond... not until it's in writing! I'm sure your GP will be understanding if you say how worried you are etc. I don't have any personal experience to share with you re return to work as I was temping when my SAH happened and I'm now on ESA as I'm unable to work. I don't know how long it will take, but I am due to have about 6 to 8 sessions with the neuropsychologist to help with memory and concentration problems etc, so I definitely won't be working until that's all sorted. I hope you get the support you need!!

Morning Maggie! Glad you felt able to post. Everyone's lovely here, and they are indeed a huge comfort. take care!

Thank you for that - yes I've used them too. Very helpful!!

Yep, I think it was the best hospital! I don't know about a ramp to the basement; I think it's on the ground floor, but then I can't remember much about Queen Square...! As for after care, maybe we should somehow petition the powers that be for more information on SAH and its after care... It doesn't seem right that some people are left in the dark. I am SO grateful for such great aftercare; as I said somewhere else, I've had the OT at home, I am followed up by Queen Square, and today I had my first meeting at the Rehab place, where the neuropsychologist explained what we are going to do and put me on the waiting list for physio so that we can work out how to pace my exercise regime to get back to "normal". I also have a bright red folder called "Personal Held Record", where every person I come into contact with can enter details etc. It's really good!