Sharlua

Hi Welcome to BTG, I had SAH in January and had aneurysm coiled, I sent in form given to me at hospital to inform DVLA who sent me letter to say they would contact the consultant But it would take up to 6 weeks before they could respond. I then got letter to say they had got info back from consultant and that they would be making their assessment but due to delays this could take some time. After a few weeks I rang them and spoke to someone who told me I could drive as long as a doctor declared me fit to drive but that if the assessment carried out by DVLA felt I was not fit they could then ask me to surrender my licence. My GP agreed I was fit to drive, so I spoke to my insurance company who were happy for me to drive given I had a doctors clearance. I received letter from DVLA about three weeks later who said they were happy for me to continue driving. The GP was helpful and did explain that some treatments can bar you from driving for 6 months But luckily I did not fall into this, maybe worth having a chat with your GP. Regards Sharon

Hi Sarah I am so sorry to hear your loss and can guess what a terrible time you and children are experiencing my father died at 45 and was sudden so I have some appreciation of how your world feels blown apart. Whilst my father died of a heart attack, his sister died at 35 with a burst aneurysm, my younger sister has four aneurysms and I had SAH in January. I asked my GP about my children who are in 30's now with such a terrible family history, my GP did refer daughter for MRI (son lives in America - so he had decided against seeking advice) and she was seen by consultant first, he explained that her chances were not high of having this and felt the MRI would not be helpful. I think it is natural for you to worry I have had to put it aside and like my sister said to me there are so many things that can happen the best you can do is ensure they are as healthy and loved as possible. I do hope you can find some support where you live, people on here are a friendly bunch and will listen as well, it is very soon and you and your kids will still be reeling so please be kind to yourself as that roller coaster of emotions has to normal. Take care x Sharon

Warm welcome I had aneurysm SAH in January this year which was coiled. I am back to full time in a very busy and stressful job now, not going to tell you it has been easy because some days I get so tired and do struggle but I'm getting there! I had my 6 month check a few weeks back and aneurysm nearly occluded apart from tiny section, they will monitor for next year. My sister has four aneurysm's all small and they have been monitoring for a year so far none are giving concern. Whilst 27 is very young there was a girl of 16 at my support group who had suffered SAH, hopefully your youth will help you in your recovery. It is hard not to focus on and worry about risk from aneurysm but probably you are a lot safer now with them being monitored. I hope you get as much help, support and friendship from this site to help you on the journey ahead. Regards Sharon

Hi Clare & Janey I am exactly the same I start a sentence and then the essence of what I want to say just drifts, can be embarrassing! I also have some definite short term memory issues getting out in the morning to work is an exercise in itself as I have to go back so many times for things I forget. I do get frustrated but thankful that I have come off so lightly. Everything takes a bit longer but I laughed yesterday when I got in car to go to work and glanced at feet to see odd shoes on - would have looked good at my meeting. May have to follow your idea of lists, I leave notes for my mother who has Alzheimer's every day perhaps I need one myself! Sharon x

Welcome I am sure you will find lots of support and understanding was very helpful when I had my SAH in January. Helped just to know that someone can understand x

Hi Mandie Sounds like you have had a real tough time and it is very early days for such a significant bleed. Everyone on here knows that each person who has SAH has different recovery journey however I think the majority of us have experienced some emotional response after it. My SAH in January which luckily did not have a significant bleed, caused by a large aneurysm which was coiled, has taken me on a emotional roller coaster, feeling pleased to be alive, angry, frustrated and shell shocked. My doctor did suggest that I maybe suffering some post traumatic shock and I know I feel nervous about it happening again. I don't know if I will ever return to the illusion that I am immortal. I am however much better now and my mood swings are less. I do think sometimes people feel that trying to push you is in your best interests to help and as Daffodil has said your parents must have had a massive shock, however I agree that this is one where you have to give yourself time and space to recover at what feels right for you, it may seem slow but better this than to rush and have a massive set back. I am sure your in expert hands and that the surgery planned will be less traumatic than what you have been through. I wish you well with your recovery and please seek support from people on this site as I have found it really helpful. Regards Sharon x

Hi Clare yes doing 4 hours over four days (I usually work 37 hours over 4 days) had real bad headache today so struggled with my hours and had lots of meetings which did not help! Hopefully meeting tomorrow with manager and going to see if I can take my holidays in hours so I just work 30 hours over the four days for a few weeks next month. I am dreading my long days and then returning home to help care for my mum. I am beginning to think whatever the financial impact I may never do these hours again and might have to give some serious thought. I hope your return goes well x

Four hours this week Clare and still forgetting my water and to take my Gabapentin which helps with my headaches and leg pain. My GP said 4 week phased but think I may negotiate using some holidays as I just cannot see me doing 9.15 hours in another week, still waiting for my referral to occupational health not sure what is happening with this. Win will heed your advice head will be held high and ready to get em ha x

Nice to hear you were treated very well despite the language barrier and hope your scan went well. Sharon

Thanks Debbie, Dawn and Macca some good advice, I think this week will be a bit of a test as doing more hours and getting more involved my deputy who has been acting up is passing more things my way now. I am so conscious that life has gone on as normal at work and it is hard to reconcile that with leaving work one Friday and not returning for six months. My perspective is different since SAH , I just don't have the energy to work at the pace I did but I am my own worst enemy and I do need to realise this and not think I can go back to working up to 40+ hours per week like I used to. Wise words about others seeing your illness as a way to aid their advancement and will be watching this as just some instinctive feelings about this with one colleague, but hopefully my radar is wrong! Well better prepare myself for tomorrow with an early night, will keep you all posted.

Clare my hours increase by an hour per week but go up towards end of four week period, think I will need to use some holiday in the following month as definitely not ready to do the 9 hours over four days I did before SAH. I think will get MRI results in couple of weeks as that is when my appointment is. My second week has been much harder still finding my way back around things so much to catch up on and feels a bit overwhelming at times. It is lovely to see work colleagues but it feels like we are on different pages, my poor team leader must be fed up of me saying "remind me of how we do this"! I hope Carina that your return goes well when the time is right for you and agree with Greg that it is lucky to have a job that allows this and feel for people who don't. I agree that everyone is an individual and as SAH has such differing implications for people, it is right to follow what feels correct for you in returning to work.

Excellent that you have made it and appreciate everything so positively, I too have only praise for the RVI in Newcastle who also treated me. Some fab posts and poetry and may life get better for all x

Thanks Coleen nice of you to share your experiences, I know when I attended my first meeting last week I did have a strange sense of can I do this and do I want to! Sadly I do need to work and giving up work is not an option but whether I remain in my current post only time will tell. I think my perspective on life has changed since SAH have stopped having terrible dreams which doctor felt were post traumatic stress, but I be a liar if I said I am not anxious particularly about my ability to handle the level of decisions I have to make and that these are about people's lives. I guess I will just have to take it slowly. Take care Regards Sharon

MRI scan today, now just to wait for results to ensure that coiling has been successful, once I know this I think I can concentrate on return to work. I think it is always sitting there in my mind that the coiling has not worked and may need further treatment, fingers crossed it's been a success. Greg that advice seems sensible as not sure increasing hours the way I am doing is the best way, have review next week with manager and might look at this. Sharon

I have just gone on a phased return this week after SAH on 12th Jan this year, I have been doing two hours per day (although with travel probably more). So far been ok but think this is honeymoon week as just really been catching up on last six months with colleagues, I have been shattered when I get home. I did ask GP prior to re turn about any support around concentration and getting words stuck in head which don't seem to make it out, which can be embarrassing but she said things would improve with time. Getting back to using works IT system has been a bit of a laugh could not remember password or my security questions to get it reset! I think Daffodil's post says it all really and I hope you are successful in getting OT support perhaps your employer maybe able to get you some support through occupational health if they use such schemes. Wishing you a good recovery and do pace yourself as better to be a couple of more months off than to have a relapse once back and lose confidence Regards Sharon

Thanks Claire and will have to try and remember the water as I am terrible for not drinking enough. I have excellent relationship with my boss but unfortunately she is on sick leave hence a bit of my anxiety. My mum lives with us and in all fairness she has good and bad days but I'd be a liar if I didn't say it is hard especially when your not feeling well. My GP is saying two hours a day the first week, I have my scan to see if coiling was successful next Saturday so that will be a weight off my shoulder. Will keep you posted and hope your journey back at work goes well . Win wise words as I did often miss lunch (not that you'd guess that from my ever expanding waist line) or eat rubbish due to time restrictions. Regards Sharon x

Well GP finally agreed I can return to work and whilst I think this is a huge milestone, I am a bit nervous and anxious on how I am going to manage. Since SAH in January I have went from working long hours in a pretty stressful job as social work manager for a large charity, having home caring responsibilities and a full social calendar to a person who has struggled to do be motivated to do anything other than the caring for mother with Alzheimer's which I have no real choice about. If you had told me I would just sit and day dream before my SAH I would have laughed. Admittedly the first month or two after SAH I felt so ill, I never believedI would ever return to my job so I am relieved I can work. I am doing a phased return but wonder if any one has any tips as meeting with employer on Monday and any advice would be welcome.

Wishing you a warm welcome, they are a very friendly bunch and although sometimes I don't post as much as I would like just hearing people's journeys and picking up tips has been very helpful on my journey since SAH in January.

Great posts cheered me up no end and love Win's positivity and sense of humour x

Hi Carly A big welcome, pleased you found this site. just like you I had a small bleed and aneurysm coiled in January I have to wait until June for MRI to see if it needs anything further. I know you must be very nervous about another operation but I guess they are experts in this field and must feel it is your best interest. I personally would prefer this to wondering if it will bleed again and the devastation that can bring. I have had terrible trouble since SAH with legs and feet and have MRI scheduled in May to check spine as they are not sure if related to SAH, I'm keeping fingers crossed i won't need anything further as hoping to return to work next month, GP won't sign me fit yet! Good Luck I am sure it will go well x

Just read all your posts and it has been a very hard journey both for yourself and your very brave wife. It is an amazing chronicle of this and so pleased to hear the excellent news. As a person who had SAH in January these stories are so helpful to understand some shared experiences and to know how well people who were so poorly do get back to some sort of quality of life. I laugh at some of your comments around wife questioning your driving my husband has also had to suffer my criticism and irritability since my aneurysm was coiled. Thank you for sharing and I wish you lots of happiness for the future. Regards Sharon

Hi Debbie I am pleased that you got some answers at your appointment and it is so good you have a positive outlook as it appears you have a hard time. I had a SAH in January and also had coils, I have found myself to be quickly irritated by things that before would have gone over my head. Not sure it's as a result of SAH or frustration at this happening to me. I wish you lots of luck for next appointments and hope they resolve things for you. Regards Sharon

A very warm welcome and feel this site has helped me enormously just knowing others understand, I has SAH in January and just about ready to return to work very nervous about how I will cope mentally with work pressure. I think you have done so well to get back to work so soon and admire you. The new you is just part of the journey after such a life changing events and you will as others have mentioned learn to adapt, look forward to hearing more about your journey Regards Sharon x

Hi Sam welcome, I have found this site extremely helpful and friendly, I had my SAH on 12th January 2015 (no shunt) and just knowing people understand has been both supportive and informative. Like yourself I still struggle with sleep and headaches but I feel extremely lucky that I survived. Whilst I had excellent care in hospital I did feel a bit abandoned when I came home after having such intensive monitoring. My family have been great but sometimes it is very hard because physically you look the same but you are not the same. I am thinking too about returning to work soon and I am anxious if that I will be able to cope. As Michelle mentions Win's singing helps to bring some smiles and is a great tonic.

Great to hear the good news about your sight and understand your concerns about returning to work, a decision that I'm sure I will be thinking about soon. My GP has indicated she thinks it is too soon as had my SAH on 12/01/15 and wants me to have at least month or two. I agree weeks seem to be flying by although due to struggling with sleep and headaches some nights seem very long! I hope your phased return goes well and that you do pace yourself.