ClareM

Caroline Tell them they are all deluded and are possibly suffering from the after effects of dealing with a family member after sah! Clare xx p.s. I have no idea what I am talking about and don't want to remember either! lol! (the benefits of sah!)

I used to have difficulty getting comfortable in bed, I bought a memory foam pillow and it worked a treat. Gave me that extra bit of support. With regard to the pressure feeling you really need to speak to someone and get reassurance whether it is normal or not. Everyone is different after a SAH. I still get weird feelings in my head and neck now. It's early days for you, not even a month yet so keep strong, plenty of rest and LOTs of water, it does help. Clare xx

Greg just checked that link you gave me, totally ruined my weekend! (Only joking!). This is what it said; Driving status You do not have any current driving entitlement

That's a thought Greg! All I want for Christmas is my licence back! Isn't there a song like that?

Hi Mistina Your NASAH sounds almost copybook to mine other than I was running when mine happened. Mine was in Feb 2015 so we are around the same recovery time too. Like you my fatigue is no where near as bad as it was though I do still get tired. My physical fitness is good but my memory drives me mad! I too think I suffer from a bit of PTSD, every time I hear an ambulance it reminds me of my event and yes, I do worry too if it could happen again. However I am nearly 10 months on and thank my lucky stars that I survived. Like you I blacked out in hospital and came to a few days later in the Neuro unit and like you I have thought what if? But I am positive, my life has changed in small ways but I actually quite like it. I don't get so stressed and have much more of a 'so be it' attitude to life. Things will get better, keep coming to BTG for support. We've all been there and understand. Clare xx

That gives me hope Greg, I must be a few weeks behind you in the DVLA queue. Just a bit worried with Christmas coming up that there may be a bit more of a delay. I know they have all the documents they need but every time I ring they just tell me I have to wait. Will be more of a problem for me in a couple of weeks when my daughter leaves the UK, no lifts! I have emailed via the website but got the same reply as I get on the phone! Keeping my fingers crossed, seems so long since I've driven may have forgotten how to! Clare xx

Hi Gilly Warm welcome to BTG glad you have posted as you obviously need answers. I can only ditto what Macca and Tina have said, the only people who can answer your questions are the medics. Is there a Nurse Specialist at Kings you could speak to?I know it has been said that Neuro surgeons are quite unapproachable. At Wessex where I was treated there is a wonderful Nurse Specialist who is happy to answer any questions even though I have now been discharged. How have things been for you since your SAH? Are you back at work or is life very different now? I have decided that my life is a bit different now, things that used to worry me don't now. I do worry about having another SAH even though the chances of it happening are very slim but I thank my lucky stars that I am still here. Let us know how you get on asking those questions! Take care Clare xx

Happy Anni-versary Sarah. You certainly have had a lot to contend with in your life but you are here and strong, I admire you for coping with everything life has thrown at you. I am sure you will cope with whatever it throws at you in the next few months and hope you will allow all your BTG friends to support you. Clare xx

The letter you received stating 9 weeks is out of date. When I phoned them they told me it was now 15 weeks, they just hadn't got round to changing the wording of the letter yet! Or maybe their delays change so often they don't even bother! Clare xx

Dvla are currently taking 15 weeks for the medical advisors to make a decision. I rang them yesterday to chase up my reapplication from end of May and this is what I was told. Unless your job is at threat through not being able to drive you have to wait . I was supposed to have a 6 month ban which now looks like it will turn into a year mainly through the DVLAs inefficiency. My daughter has been using my car but is leaving the country at the end of this month. Looks like I will be selling my car then as no point in it sitting rotting in the street until the DVLA grants me my licence. Anyone want a lovely blue Micra - very low mileage! It is so unfair but nothing I can do about it but wait, luckily I have great friends, a bike and a lovely free bus pass. Good luck! Clare xx

Ditto Sarah, Louise. You are a great example to all of us and have done so well. Clare xx

Hi Sharon , glad you found us. I too had my SAH in February and am just completing a very long phased return to work. I too work in the health industry and find it incredible that your work have not been more sympathetic. 12.5 hour shifts are hard work. I do 9.5 hour shifts and struggle the day after. I hope you can get something resolved in the time you are off to try and change your punishing hours. Do you have an occupational health advisor you can go to. Keep strong you have done really well with the smoking - I gave up 2 years before my SAH and know how hard it is. Keep exercising and hopefully things will improve. Look forward to hearing more from you Clare xx

Hi Davie I'm not afraid to sleep but my sleep is very disturbed. I am often awake at 4am and find it difficult to get off again until my husband brings me a cup of tea at 6.40am then I am soundo until the tea is cold! My sah happened when I was running and although I do worry, I am back running again and so far so good. You are doing well, keep smiling and singing! Clare xx

Davie Sooooooooooo glad you have found us - even Win! lol! She's the life and soul with all her singing. We're all here alive and kicking, or in my case back running! It may take me an age to type my posts as I have to keep going back and correcting my missing letters - lo...ll - but I am soooooooo glad I have BTG. Clare xx p.s. got a bargain on wine in a closing co-op today, can you tell???

Hi Dave, Welcome to BTG glad you have found us and now realise that you are not alone. You are only 3 months down the line, early days and the emotional bit is quite normal. I used to cry a lot to start with but now only dissolve when I am tired ( I am 8 months post bleed). My memory is still pretty poor, but I have devised methods to help myself and they do help. I went back to work after 3 months but on a phased return and am still not full time. I am hoping to achieve my my intended hours by the beginning of November, albeit slightly less hours than I did before the SAH (41 hours a week). Sah is serious full stop, it is a medical emergency. I read recently that only 4% of people ever get back to total full functioning after such an event. How true that is I don't know, but I know I was lucky to survive, so if I end up with a few minor problems I will be very happy.I did not have any coiling but had Hydrocephalus and and an EVD fitted for a week, consequently no driving me for yet. Keep drinking plenty of fluids and get lots of rest, things will get better! Clare xx

Nasonex is the trade name. The drug name is Mometasone. It's a steroid nasal spray.

Hi Just thought I would ask if anyone else has had a long delay on getting their driving licence back? I had my surgery on 10 Feb 2015 when an EVD was placed due to Hydrocephalus. The drain was removed on 17 February and I was discharged a week later. I believe through reading the DVLA website that there is an automatic 6 month ban after an EVD. I reapplied for my licence at the end of May as advised by the Nurse Specialist at Wessex Neuro. They wrote to me in July and said they had written to the hospital and were awaiting a reply. I did not contact the DVLA again until the end of September as I had been on holiday and did not need to drive. When I rang them they told me they had heard from the hospital and that they were unable to make a decision and that the case had been passed to the Medical Advisor. Then they told me that the wait could be at least 9 weeks, and it was taking that amount of time at present! I have no residual problems since discharge and wondered what the delay could be for. My worry is that they will ask me to take another test of some kind. Has anyone else had a similar problem? Clare xx (On a brighter note, my husband has promised me a new car when I get my licence back, will I remember how to drive though?)

Hi Claudette, welcome to BTG. Sounds like you had an awful time having to wait so long with that pain for a diagnosis. Makes me realise how lucky I am that I was taken straight to hospital and that the doctor there recognised the signs. It is early days for you still but well done for taking the step to join this community, I would be lost without it, BTG has helped me immensely with my recovery. There is always someone who will listen and won't complain if you rant - and I've had a few rants! Keep drinking plenty of water, rest and eventually you will start to feel better emotionally and physically. Look forward to hearing more from you. Clare xx

Hi Luke That's a good idea, I always had pen and paper handy in the early days. I still write notes now and often scribble stuff on my hand to remind me, then forget what it means! Lol! It is frustrating but hopefully will get better with time. Hope Mum has stopped being sick now and is getting more sleep. Things will get better! Clare xx

Hi Luke Sorry to hear that Mum is not feeling so good. She probably did do too much on her return home and it's now catching up with her. She will be incredibly tired and that will last quite some time, hopefully the vomiting will stop, if not you need to seek advice. Mum will probably realise she did too much to soon and now start taking it easier. Don't do it all for her but help. For example when I first started cooking my husband or children helped by peeling onions and such like and by washing up. I still remember my first effort at making a Chilli post SAH. Boy was it hot! I couldn't remember if I had put the chilli in or not so kept adding more! That's another thing, her memory will probably be poor so gentle reminders will help but don't berate her for not remembering things! Good luck Luke, patience and water! Clare xx

So well put Daffs. After 8 months I think I am coming to terms with my new brain. The mornings are the same for me, gone are the days when I was up at 6.30am all times of year, off and out running with my dog. Hopefully I may get back to that even if only once or twice a week. I too get stuck with words, those who know me well help out with a reminder of the conversation. I too can't bear those who say- 'I'm just like that' or 'I do that all the time'. It doesn't make me feel any better just makes me angry because I didn't use to do it. Went to my nieces wedding at the weekend and had to have a 2 hour sleep during the evening. My daughter said I was no fun anymore, I used to be the life and soul - not nowadays, or yet anyway! Told her she would have to take my place and learn to dance madly! At least I was here for the wedding and hopefully hers in years to come. Thank God for Karen and this site. If not for BTG I would have no one to talk to and compare life post SAH. Experiential consumers - I love that expression, but it is what we are and at least we have each other to share our experiences with. Clare xx

Hi Geoff Sounds like you are doing really well but take it easy. You will have good and bad days, I'm still having them nearly 8 months on. As Macca says don't beat yourself up about setbacks, just treat them as experience. Work definitely takes more out of you than you think so do take it slowly. I had an NASAH like you in February and am still phasing back now, it's hard a lot harder than you think it will be! Drink plenty of water and take things slowly, good luck. Clare xx

Hi Gemma The hospital told me that my 6 months was from the date the EVD was removed which should have been 17th August. I reapplied at the end of May and here we are nearly October! I am lucky unlike you in that I live in the city and have access to public transport with my free bus pass. I also ride my bike a lot, my husband has now got me some lights seeing as I will be riding a bit longer I will just wait and see, my daughter is happy anyway as it means she gets my car until she goes away in November! Clare xx

Good news on this thread while I was away in Spain. I have been told that I can work the hours I suggested including the 4 hour Saturday morning. Not sure what made the Area Manager capitulate, may have been HR at Head Office having a word with him. Anyway I now have to work up to those hours and intend starting next week. I will attempt 9.5 hours on Monday and 6 hours the other 3 days and see how it goes. Will have an hours lunch break and hopefully be able to get some peace during that. Used to always go and sit in my car as our staff room is non-existent but as I am still without a licence I may have to sit in a friends! On the licence matter I rang DVLA medical department on my return from holiday. They say they have heard from the hospital but are unable to make a decision so have passed it on to their medical advisor. Could be 9 weeks! At this rate I'll be lucky to drive before Christmas! Anyone else who had an EVD have this problem? Clare xx

Hi Luke Welcome to BTG and well done for taking the time to help your mum. My kids are early twenties and helped hugely when I had my sah. They gave me time and helped out around the house cooking and cleaning - for a while anyway! They also fielded phone calls as I often just did not want to talk to anyone, that helped a lot. Also it was good for my husband that they took their turn looking after me. One thing one if my sons did was bring me a cup of tea before he left for work. He knew it would be left to go cold so used to bring it with a little foil lid. Little things like that meant a lot to me. Hope gets discharged soon and good luck. You sound like a lovely caring son Clare xx