ClareM

Hi Like you I never had time off sick and the thought of 3 months scared me to death. However I am now nearly 6 months down the line and still struggling to get back full time. During my first 3 months I rested a lot but also tried to rebuild my physical fitness. I took walks and joined the local gym mainly for swimming. I gradually built up what I was doing and after 3 months joined the C25k running group. (I was running when I had my bleed). I ran 5k three weeks ago and am now working towards 10k. The physical side is easier than the mental side, I can run but find work tough, mainly because I have to use my brain and it keeps telling me it doesn't want to play! I will also say that having so long off work does give you time to think. I have decided to give up work one day a week as I can't ever see myself getting back and actually I don't know if I really want to, life is too short! What was your job and did you work full-time? Clare xx

Hi Fay Can't help you much with aneurysms as mine was a NASAH (non-aneurysm SAH) with hydrocephalus. However there are plenty of people on BTG who will have a wealth of information and advice for you. You do seem fairly young at 27 but my brother had one at 14, he recovered fully! Keep resting and drinking water, I am sure others will have more advice for you. Sorry not much help but keep strong! Clare

Hi Sammy Welcome to BTG you will find lots of help and advice here. I agree with Tina and Karen re the pains you are experiencing in your back and legs. I too had this, it gradually stopped but I still get pain in my coccyx even now when I stand for a long time. However if you are thinking of travelling best to get it checked out. Re your holiday, I had my NASAH on 9 Feb 2015, I travelled to Menorca on holiday on 8th May 2015 after receiving the all clear from Wessex neuro. I managed the journey, my husband did the driving, lifting etc and we had a lovely time. However I found I was very tired, didn't get up until past 10am every day and was in bed by 10pm most nights. However it didn't matter as we were on holiday! If you do travel, make sure you have plenty of water and rest as much as possible. If you have family support it will help immeasurably, just make sure they all know what you have been through! Keep us posted on your progress, I take it you live in France, whereabouts and for how long? Clare xx

Hi Issy My first shopping trip was to lidl too! I sat in the car and said I couldn't go in. However husband persuaded me to and I managed a 10 min shop hanging onto him for grim death! Was very nervous going out on own, had a friend come and walk me to her house for lunch - next road! You are doing well, keep walking and smiling! I am 5 months down the road and still learning about my limits. Clare xx

Hi Issy Early days for you but everything you are experiencing sounds normal. I too had the dizziness and wobbly legs for a while, going out walking helped so sounds like you are doing the right thing. Noise still bothers me, especially if lots of people talking at the same time but it's better than the early days when I couldn't bear the TV. Look forward to hearing more from you, I am off to work now not looking forward to it, the sun is out and I have the end of week tiredness. Clare xx

Hi Janey, yes almost same day mine was 9th Feb in the eve but wasn't treated until early hours of the 10th. We will have to have a joint anniversary next year!! At least we will be cheap dates!! Lol. Our memory problems sound very similar which I find reassuring! At least it's not just old age! I have lists everywhere and use my phone a lot for notes , it does help, if I can remember I made the note! Clare xx

Hi Greg and anyone else reading I do still have memory problems, I hope they are going to get better but if not well hey ho at least I survived! I have found recently that I get lost in sentences. I start to talk about something then half way through forget what I am talking about! Ok if with my family but a bit annoying if at work. I can usually recall what the topic was after a while or sooner if prompted. The most annoying thing is people saying - 'Oh I do that all the time'. Yes they may do it all the time but I didn't before my SAH and its darned frustrating! The times that my memory is worst is when I have had a drink! I was always fairly bad before the bleed but now give me 2 wines and I will become a total amnesiac! I have to ask my husband or friends what I said or did, luckily so far nothing too bad. I also have to check my phone as I often find messages I have no recollection of sending until I see them! Got to laugh! Or smile! Clare xx

Hi Issy Sorry to hear about your SAH. Most people here have suffered the same, mine was in February. You will find lots of help, advice and friendship here. Look forward to hearing more about you. Clare xx

I am so sorry for your loss, I don't know what answers you are hoping to find but here is my experience. My NASAH was 9 Feb this year. I was taken to A&E at my local hospital around 8pm. Was scanned fairly quickly and diagnosed with SAH. I was told they needed to transfer me to Wessex Neuro in Southampton but there were no beds. However the doctor on duty told my husband we would be on our way by 10 pm. I was then moved as major trauma was needed for an RTA that was coming in. At 4.30 am the following morning my husband started to ask why I had not yet been transferred. Things then happened very quickly and I was in Southampton by about 6 am. When I got there I was in a coma and had worsening hydrocephalus, was operated on within an hour. I had an EVD inserted and received excellent care at Wessex where I stayed for 2 weeks. I have recovered well and now suffer only from poor memory and fatigue. I hope you find the answers you are looking for and wish you well Clare

Mandie Like Daffs I have had 2 agios. One awake and 1 know nothing about. I will say the one I was awake for was fine, went really quickly. My only complaint was that I could not see the screen properly and that the person doing it was speaking so quietly I could not hear him. I had no pain and my only concern was someone pressing on my groin for 15 mins after to stop the bleeding - I wondered what they were up to. Good luck, you will be fine xx

Thanks for the explanation and advice Daffs, makes sense! I also have trouble clothes shopping now probably for the reasons you describe. I used to love spending time browsing but now I like the idea but when I get in the shops it's all too much and I can't be bothered. Made my husband happy lol! Doing 2 consecutive half days at work this week, hoping it will be ok. Will make sure I take breaks!

Can anyone tell me why I can run for 28 mins without stopping and recover quite quickly but when I work in a job I know inside out for 5 hours I am absolutely exhausted? I have been trying to keep physically fit during my recovery and have joined and nearly completed a c25k group which runs for 9 weeks. I run twice a week gradually building up the amount of time running. I love the sessions and feel quite exhilarated after and even ride my bike home afterwards - another mile. However I am also phasing back to work, currently 5 hours three days a week. I work as a pharmacy technician in a busy community pharmacy and pre NASAH worked 41 hours per week. While I am at work I feel ok, maybe a little tired towards the end, but when I get home I am absolutely floored. Why is this and will it ever get any better?

Welcome to BTG Rachel you will find lots of info and support here. Sounds like you have had a rough time and are lucky with your fiancé. You are still early days and hopefully you will regain what you have lost. Just take things slowly. I am still suffering fatigue and headaches 4 months post my NASAH but am slowly returning to work. If its poetry you are good at then hopefully Subzero will join this thread as he is an avid poet! We have all experienced a lifetime event - life is short - enjoy it! Clare xx

Hi Julian Just a quick question. Do you have any problems with your short term memory? You and I had similar events, I am 4 months post bleed and am still forgetting things. Congratulations on your recovery though! Clare

Hi Julian Reading your posts with great interest. I too had a NASAH with EVD and had my licence revoked. I believe it will be for just 6 months and that is from the date the EVD was removed - 17 Feb in my case. On the advice of the SAH Nurse Specialist at the Wessex Neuro I reapplied for my licence at the end of May, 3 months before due back, as she said it can take a long time and not to wait until 2 months before which is DVLAs advice. Hoping I will clear to drive again by the end of August, however I have no car now as I gave it to my daughter when I had the bleed! However I will be able to drive my husbands. I have quite got used to riding my bike now and enjoy it, also I have my free bus pass so I am not going to stress. I am lucky that my work is fairly close by and appreciate is must be very frustrating for those who have to travel a long way. Keep us posted on your battle, I will be interested to hear why after 6 months they have not re-instated your licence, seems unfair to me. Clare xx

Sharon That seems like a very fast phased return. Is that 4 hours for 5 days? I am only up to 5 hours 3 days a week. Having a holiday part of next week then going to try 4 days of 4 hours alternating morning and afternoon and not working weds. Must admit while at work I am mostly fine it's when I get home I realise how tired I am. Take it slow and take your holiday! Clare xx

Good luck this week Sharon how many hours/ days are you doing now? I agree that it is hard to reconcile that one day you were there 100%, then out for so long with everything carrying on without you. My perspective has changed too and I am already planning reducing my hours eventually if only by 4 hours per week. You will find that after our 'events' work is not the number one thing in life, living is and enjoying what could so easily have been curtailed. Keep an eye on that colleague and keep drinking plenty - I still keep forgetting! Clare xx

Well done Sub, another literary masterpiece - simply brilliant! Clare xx

Happy 1st Anni-versary Michelle, You have done so well in a year you should be proud. Ditto your comments about BTG team and members, so glad to have them around. Hope you have had a lovely day and enjoyed your cake. Clare xx

Sharon Gregs advice on the increase is spot on. I have not actually got a formal phase plan. I work as many hours as I did the previous session and then add on an hour if I feel ok. My boss is fine with that and checks if I wanted to stick or increase on my next day. So far it's working ok but next week I am hoping to do 3 x five hour days(with short break). May struggle so keeping an open mind - my mind is open most of the time nowadays lol - and reduce to 4 hours if necessary. When do you get the results of your MRI and how does your phasing increase? Clare x

Sharon I am terrible for not drinking enough too! Funny thing, went to work yesterday, in staff room thought to myself must get water, Popped into the loo and when I came out I thought what was it I was going to get? Could not remember for the life of me. Gave up and went in to work. Two hours later suddenly remembered! Water that's what I was going to get, I must drink more! My short term memory is so so bad! I get fed up with people saying to me -'I do that all the time.' Yes so do I but I never used to before my bleed so it's very frustrating. Good luck Monday, don't be pressured in to more than you feel you can cope with. Clare x

Hi I had my NASAH a month after you, no coiling or clipping but I had an EVD as I had hydrocephalus. I started my phased return to work last week. Did a 3 hour shift last week and just finished my 2nd 3 hour shift this week. The first two shifts absolutely floored me but today has not been so bad. Probably because I deliberately did next to nothing yesterday in preparation for work today. My job is very pressured and we are always busy, however I am lucky in that my boss is my best friend and was with me when I had my bleed. Consequently she is very protective over me and makes sure I do not feel pressured. My advice would be to sit down with your employers and make sure they understand what has actually happened to you. You may look fine but we all know that looks can't be trusted with someone who has had a SAH. Then make sure that the phased hours are not too much. Split the days so you have a break in between, i.e work tues and thurs so plenty of time for rest. You have done well to keep looking after your mother, I did that a few years ago when I was well so know how hard that is! Make sure you rest in between work and when you are there drink plenty of water! Good luck, keep us posted Clare xx

Hi Managed the 3 hours, wasn't a full day Mandy - that would have been impossible! Had to do a full CD (controlled drug) balance a job that has to be accurate and everyone hates! Still not done it for 3 months so it was my turn! Managed it fairly easily and did some other bits then back on my trusty steed - alias my 2 wheeled transport- and home. Been on my bum practically all the time since! Felt exhausted, but what it has taught me is that I need to do less the day before work. God only knows if I will ever get back full time! How us your weeks break going? Hope you are relaxing. Sub I will be taking your advice- rest rest.

Hi Sub Yes 2 day shift starts today. After having 2 brilliant days with no fatigue or headaches, I have had a bad nights sleep. I have been awake since 5am and now have a headache extreme tiredness and the prospect of work. Still these days are sent to try us, don't start till 10am so may try and nap for a bit. Will keep you posted zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Clare

Lisa I think we all try to return to normal asap, takes a while to realise that normal may never be the same again. I understand the feeling of vulnerability, I am just starting to feel less so, am coming up to 4 months post bleed. I have returned to work all be it only for 3 hours! Don't go back too soon especially if you have a busy job. My first 3 hours were fine, I just felt it when I got home and am a little worried about 2 x 3 hour shifts this week. One common thread on this site is that other people look at us and think we look fine. Yes we look fine but it's what's going 'behind the grey' that counts to us. Take it slow, drink plenty and be thankful for the family support you have - also a common thread - wonderful supportive families. Clare xx