JayKay

Good luck with everything! Hope the doc can put your mind at rest.

I'm so sorry I hope it all gets sorted soon and that it's nothing to worry about. I know several people who've had TIAs and they are fine, but after an SAH I suppose it must feel more worrying. Take care.

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear what you've been through. I seem to be in the minority: I was very emotional before the SAH, cried at everything and anything. Since, though, I've hardly shed a tear! I seem to have become very hard-hearted! I'm sure that anything is "normal" - we all react differently. Good luck on your recovery

Welcome to BTG. My mum had a massive stroke 4 years ago, aged 74. It was awful seeing her so helpless and struggling to breathe. The great news is that she has made a brilliant recovery - she still has problems with her speech and her right side is still weak, but she is living independently again, with the help of a cleaner and home-help. Please keep positive! Where there is life there is hope, as they say. I myself had an SAH in February and am getting stronger by the day. You have come to the right place for support and understanding I hope everything continues to go well with mum. Don't hesitate to come here and lean on us! Take care.

A huge THANK YOU to the founders and mods of this wonderful place. It's been SO helpful to me, and I enjoy being given the chance to reassure the people who have gone through this after me I'm still on benefits and money is horrifically tight, but I hope to be doing some typing work soon and as soon as I do, I'll be sending some your way. Is there an info page on how to do so? Happy Christmas and may 2011 bring you all health and happiness!!

Glad that's all over Kel!! Hopefully you'll get good news about it soon. Take care.

Very good advice Lynne! I was devastated when I got a big fat ZERO points, even though I'd been warned I'd probably fail. I took it really personally, especially as at the time I was still getting very angry and emotional at things. I did my own appeal but what I did is go through the points one by one and reiterate what I'd put on the form, and then put in brackets how many points I thought I should have got. I got a return letter saying they upheld the doctor's decision so we are proceeding to the Tribunal. Since then I've talked to a lady at the CAB and she has been very helpful but she did say that my appeal was exactly how they would have done it and they had nothing to add. She also said they can't represent anyone at the Tribunal, which I think they might have done in the past. I will take my other half with me and that's the best I can expect.... In the meantime, you might remember that I wrote to my MP on the recommendation of the Stroke Association. He wrote to DWP and I actually got an apology from Atos. I'm now waiting to see if that affects my claim as they admitted my medical didn't take all my issues into account. Good luck to anyone doing this!

Ann! How fantastic to hear from you - I just mentioned you to someone the other day and was wondering how you were It's great to hear how well you are doing. Personally, I have felt a HUGE difference since I hit the 9-month mark. I'm not fully there yet, but the fatigue is easing, which is a massive relief. I hope to be doing some part-time work at the hospital soon..... Occy health have cleared me to do some typing, as long as I "don't overdo it". Keep smiling!

I can heartily recommend a mobility scooter! I thought it was a bit OTT to sign up for it, but the first time I was able to wander round the shops with my daughter I felt so FREE I used to get so tired I would cry... but this way you get to wander at a leisurely pace.

Let's keep raising awareness! See here for article.

Oh definitely Gill! I didn't have my assessment finished by the time of the medical, but I told them it was coming, and have since sent it to the Tribunal. Fingers crossed!!

Keep smiling Zoe! At least Rich will be home for Christmas, eh? I remember the first year of my mum's stroke and we all had Christmas together because we found a gîte (in France where she lives) that had disabled access and bathroom. It was so wonderful - and she's living independently again now, so you see, things DO get better. Do get help with any forms you do and don't take it personally if they are refused first time (although I would hope they wouldn't be!!) - it's a struggle a lot of us are facing. Take care!!

Hi all. I was contacted by the Brain & Spine Foundation website as they were writing guides to surviving Christmas and wanted to quote me. They have done several pages, but this is the one about surviving the shopping where they quoted me. I hope you might find it of some use.

Gosh, this is exciting! I have sent off further documents to the Tribunal, with my psychologist's assessment that clearly lays out in detail what my problems are. You never know, eh?! I'm so happy for you though. You can treat your granddaughter for Christmas

Fantastic news John! I am waiting for my Tribunal date, which they say could be in February (i.e. one year after my SAH). As I have now had an apology from Atos and they agree that the medical was flawed, I wonder what's in it for me? You SO deserve it

I'm now nine months on from my SAH and craniotomy and the fatigue got a lot worse after the first 3 months because I started doing more! The pacing was a mystery to me until recently, when I had my Fatigue Management session and had an epiphany lol! I think I posted it somewhere else, but maybe the mods can put a link in the help section. My OT explained to me that, although the papers she gave me were based on MS sufferers, the actual theory is the same for all of us. I came home and googled it and found this, which is exactly what she gave me. HERE It was such a revelation to me to chunk down tasks. I would do an hour or two full tilt and then have to sleep for the rest of the day, or the next day. Now, I break things down into small chunks and rest between them and I had a brilliant week. Ok, so I was shattered yesterday, but it's a huge improvement from being shattered every day! ETA: PDF of "living with fatigue" can be found here. Just ignore the references to MS - it all applies to us!

Hello Jane and welcome! Gosh, poor you - what a way to start married life! Like the others have said, it's very early days indeed: I was still in hospital at 4 weeks! The others have also been very eloquent in their posts, so I'll just say "I second that" to each and every one. Take care of yourself, and make sure you get all the help you need, be it from Headway or the Stroke Association or Different Strokes - they are all there to help. Good luck!

Hi Phil and welcome to BTG. 8 weeks is very early days (oh how I used to hate hearing that lol). I was in such denial at first - like, "I've survived this, I'm fine". It took about 3 or more months to realise that actually, I wasn't ok. I've just passed the 9 month mark and every time I think I've got a handle on this fatigue, memory problems etc, I get a down day. But they are getting further apart which is wonderful. Take it easy, my friend. Don't be in too much of a rush to "get back to normal".

You poor thing - nothing worse than nausea I had it in hospital after my op but it's gone now. If you are worried about anything, you really should see your GP as every case is different. I hope you can get it sorted soon. Take care!

Terribly sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with your friend.

Oh Sally, it sucks doesn't it!!?? I know exactly what you are feeling. You might have seen my thread saying I got an apology from Atos Healthcare. I'm still on lower component ESA pending the appeal and life is TOUGH. We got help from the debt counsellor at the Council. Apparently lots of councils have them now. Maybe that's a route you could go down? Our guy told us all the benefits and other schemes we needed to know about. Good luck!!

Well done John!! You have written that so eloquently and it echoes my feelings entirely (it was my 9 month anni-versary yesterday). I wish you all the best with the ESA. You might have seen my thread about actually getting an apology from them for not completing my assessment appropriately! Who knows where it will lead but I'm hoping it won't go to appeal, as I keep reading on the Consumer Action group forum that people are getting results just prior to the appeal date. So glad you are one of the lucky ones. Enjoy being a grandad, and take it easy on yourself.

Aw Zoe, it all sounds lovely on paper, but like Paul, I don't want to be a party pooper but you definitely need to have respite time built in, and help if it goes pear-shaped. I really hope you don't hate me for it, because I'm rooting for you, really I am!! I am crossing everything for you. Take care!

That's really horrible I thought maybe the Shaw Trust could help? I thought that was what they were there for, but I could be mistaken. Good luck!

Hi there and welcome! Gosh, what a start to life in a new country! Take it easy and REST, but come on here when you can - everyone's so friendly Take care!