JayKay

That's such a shame, Kel I am sure that I've come through it so well because I just KNEW something had "gone" in my brain, and made sure I got to A&E quickly. The fact they gave me a CT that same night and transferred me to Queen Sq is means I was lucky. If I had listened to the paramedics and "slept it off" it might have been a different story.... That's the booklet I got and it was very helpful, especially for the family to read because it explains what we go through. You can find it online too, if anyone wants it, on the Brain & Spine Foundation website.

I got a booklet too, which was actually really helpful, and all the healthcare professionals telling me I'd had a life threatening event.... The guys from the Stroke Association came round the ward and I was asked if I wanted to meet with them. I did and they were very helpful. SAH comes under the heading of stroke - it's a haemorrhagic stroke! I definitely want to help raise awareness; that and setting up a local help group are my goals for when I am more able to put some energy into it. I think just talking to people and telling them our story, we are helping raise awareness. Maybe that's why we survived this, so we can tell other people and warn them of the symptoms that are not to be missed. Wishing you well

Hmmm this is an interesting thread. I'm not sure about making right or wrong decisions: I don't seem to have made any since I came home from hospital apart from do I want to watch TV or read a book....! John's post was very good and I can identify with it totally. I think I'm in denial about how serious my SAH and craniotomy were - it's only when people like my GP or the two consultants I work for say "gosh we were so worried about you" that I realise it was serious. I mean, they see life and death every day so for them to worry is quite something. I don't feel any different to before, really, although there is a running joke in our house that I repeat myself, that I talk rubbish sometimes. In fact last night I had said I felt I had recovered totally and then a bit later on I said something silly and my partner said "you've recovered totally" in an ironic voice. You had to be there - it was funny at the time! I also jokily accuse my daughter and partner of "messing with my head" because they say I've said or done something that I don't remember - as long as we can laugh it off, we'll be ok.... Congrats on becoming a grandma

Hi Lynz and welcome (if I haven't said it before...). Like you, I had only heard of people dying of a bleed, I didn't know anyone who'd survived one until I had mine! Mine is quite recent, February this year, but I have recovered really well. However, I do have the problems with concentration - following conversations are ok but anything more complicated is frustrating. I repeat myself constantly, can't remember who I've had conversations with, and I sometimes have trouble finding the right word - I usually find it after a while! Oh, and I do start conversations and then peter out mid sentence because I can't remember what I wanted to say. None of these things are extremely bothersome, and lots of people my age (50) tell me "oh I do that too" so maybe it's just me getting old! The brilliant thing about this place is you don't ever feel alone. Someone has always been there, done that. And everyone is so friendly and supportive.

Hi and welcome. As a medical secretary I would agree that you should be able to push your GP for referral so that you can find out what is wrong. The fact that you've been prescribed blood thinning tablets makes me think they could suspect TIAs but it would be nice to know, right? (remember, I'm not a doctor, I'm just voicing an opinion!) Take care.

Oh that's great! I hope he continues to do well and that all the nursing staff are as nice.!

That's brilliant news! Wishing you guys all the best

Hugs Saffy! When I had my bleed in February and was taken to Queen Square, they said they would do the cerebral angio while I was awake but I told them how nervous I was and they said "we need you to keep still for this, so we'll do an anaesthetic". Bliss! I just had to lie back and let them get on with it Like Liz, I was so unwell I would have let them do anything to me, but I'm terrible when I have time to ponder an upcoming treatment, so I completely sympathise. Take care and keep talking to us!

Oh Lynz, what a hoot! I remember thinking (but don't know if I said anything) "you can talk to me in jargon, I'm a medical secretary, I understand!".... Sarah - I'm so sorry you didn't get a diagnosis for 5 days! I am so grateful that I realised it was serious and TOLD the paramedics to take me to hospital. My daughter says the F2 who was looking after me seemed puzzled by what was wrong with me, so I am so glad she (or someone) asked for a CT scan. I remember them saying if the scan doesn't show anything we'll have to do a lumbar puncture and I was absolutely dreading that! Thank goodness, my scan showed the SAH so no need for LP. <shiver> John - I always thought of myself as pretty relaxed, but definitely since the SAH I cannot see the point in some of the things people get agitated about. Life's too short - chill, man

That programme was on yesterday again - Sky2 I think. It was ok I suppose. The local PCT that turned him down for surgery is just up the road from us, St Albans I think. Their letter stated that it was the opinion of the local neurology specialists that an operation wasn't viable. I know for a fact that this trust only has a couple of neurologists, but not neurosurgeons, so I'm a bit taken aback by their decision. Anyway, the guy had his op and seemed fighting fit after it....

Thank you Luisa, and you take care!!

Oh Luisa, I'm so sorry you feel that way. I have no advice, I'm afraid, as I'm not a gran, but I wanted to send you a virtual hug!! I do understand a bit how you feel, however, when you say you feel you won't be able to help your daughter: my 19 yr old daughter is due to have an op to correct a squint on 4th May and I just can't help her - we don't have a car, so I can't drive her there, and as a mother I would want to be there as she goes in for her anaesthetic and be there when she comes round, but I don't know how I'm going to do that. We're hoping her dad will step up to the plate, but he's been notorious for letting her down in the past... Take care and BIG HUGS! I hope when the news has had time to sink in, you'll feel happier about it.

Thank you all for your warm welcome

Hi John. I'm sure it must feel strange to not remember anything - however, sometimes I think you're better off!! Although I told my story in detail in that other thread, the truth is the first few days are quite hazy and there are big blanks. In fact, yesterday a friend came to visit, and my daughter kept coming out with more stuff that I didn't remember AT. ALL ! Apparently, I appeared totally awake and oriented, and answered questions correctly etc, but I don't remember all that. On another note, my mother had a stroke 4 years ago and was in hospital 6 weeks before she got a place in a rehab hospital (this was in France, and the rehab place was amazing!). She doesn't remember the hospital at all, even though she seemed to recognise us and "communicated" with us. Her first memory is of the day she was taken from the hospital to rehab. I think she's made her peace with that, especially when we tell her she was in nappies and had c.diff etc. It was an awful time, and I'm glad she doesn't remember it. I hope you get more answers, but I hope even more that you will be able to make your peace with what happened to you. We must remember we've been through life-changing events and anyone who hasn't been there can't understand. Luckily, we have BTG, right??! Take care.

Hello - I'm new here. Had my SAH 2 months ago, whilst working "on the bank" for my local hospital, which is basically a temp job. I have no income at all, and my partner is out of work too. He got told about the Employment Support Allowance (used to be called incapacity benefit), which you claim if you would be signing on but can't due to health reasons. It's a huge booklet of an application form: my partner filled it in with the lady at the Job Centre and brought it to me in hospital to sign. I took one look at it and my brain froze! It was too soon after my SAH to even try and do something like that. We still haven't heard back, but on the phone they have told us we should know by Tuesday. I hope so! Good luck!

Hi there, and am I glad to have found this place! My name is Jen and I just turned 50. My SAH was just 2 months ago - I have typed up my story (took me several days) and posted it, so it should appear shortly on the "Your Story" bit of the forum. I live in Watford, so if anyone is local to me, maybe we could get in touch and have a coffee or something?

Hi I'm new here but so happy to have found you! Me, I'm female. My SAH was 3 days before my 50th birthday , 2 months ago. It was the ACA and it was clipped. I had my daughter in 1990 but didn't go through labour as I had a caesarean for foetal distress 10 days early. I did however have a fractured skull aged 3 and was injured in a car accident at 16... Who knows if they are factors!