ClareM

Hi and welcome to BTG. 8 weeks post bleed is still really early days. When are you planning on returning to work as you need to give this some careful though especially as you have a job that requires so much concentration. I don’t mean to sound negative but it may be a case of having to redress your work and hours for a while. Concentration and retention is still a problem for me now. I’m not saying you won’t be able to do it but you may find it takes more effort and that will cause fatigue. You don’t say where you are from is it the UK? If possible have a chat to the Nurse Specialist where you were treated for advice and ask what your expectations should be. Good luck with your MRI today, they never found where my bleed came from but it was reassuring to know there were no more problems. Keep us posted and most of all take it slow! Clare xx

Dan, ESA stands for Employment and Support Allowance. Are you intending to go back to work when you are able? Or do you think that will not be possible? Clare

Sami I was really interested in this figure, where did this info come from as I never realised it was such a low rate? Makes me all the more grateful for my life now I stopped smoking 2 years before my bleed so have no idea if it had any part in it. I do know now that it is recommended that you don't smoke post so I am glad I gave up before. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done but so worthwhile. (ps I am talking normal not herb ) I do still drink but have to admit it has a far greater effect on me now - my husband says I am a cheap date! Glad you have found a use for the fireplace Daniel! Clare

RIP Winnie, hope you are enjoying your choir practice with the angels xx

Hi Daniel As Sami says it sounds like you have done too much. Period. Post SAH either with or without aneurysm the recovery is slow, slow, slow I was a very high functioning, fit individual pre SAH. Post, I am still fit having got back to running (what I was doing when it happened) and back to work, but by no means at the level I was. I work half the hours and am still floored at the end of the week. My bleed was 6 long years ago and I have gone through many changes since, mainly due to my resistance to change. If you push too hard your body, and brain, will misbehave causing you all sorts of problems. It's a hard lesson to learn but eventually you will get the message! My advice is take your time. Consider each strenuous activity and decide is it worth the pain after? Most importantly, be kind - to yourself! Be good to hear more from you Clare xx

Hi and sorry you didn’t get any reply to your first posting. I think you hit the nail on the head when you say He also said if it was urgent they would not have let me out of the room. No doctor likes to take risks with their patients, it not only affects the patient but their reputation too. I am sure if it was that urgent you would have had the surgery already. I work in the NHS and know Covid has delayed a lot but I am also aware that if a procedure is important it goes ahead. Also from what I understand, (though I’m not medically trained) a coiling when the aneurysm has not yet ruptured is usually a simpler procedure than when it has. You have an appointment in April so get lots of questions written down ready to ask. Hopefully you will get some answers then. In the meantime try not to stress ( hard I am sure) and relax in the knowledge that if your life was at risk they would have acted faster- Covid or not. Many people have had bleeds during this time and all been treated despite the virus. Good luck, keep us posted. Clare xx

Hi, I started exercising by taking short walks about 4 weeks after my bleed. I progressed onto longer walks and eventually back to running which is what I was doing when I had my SAH. I now run 3 times a weeks, about 4-5 miles each time. My Neurovascular Nurse specialist encouraged exercise but you should check that it is ok for you. You are still early days so take it slowly Clare xx

Hi Rory welcome to BTG glad you found us and are finding the site useful. Sounds like you are making a good recovery after your NASAH glad your MRI didn’t show any other problems. Fatigue is a very common after effect of a bleed and even after 6 years I still suffer if I push too hard. You will learn when you can and can’t do things and when to take it easy. It is fortunate that you can manage your work time at home. Work was and still can be an issue for me. I struggle with concentration and have attention deficits which in turn affects my memory. It’s a case of finding your new normal and acceptance. With regard to physical fitness, like you I was exercising when I had my bleed - I was running. Since then I have got back to regular exercise and now run 5 miles at least 3 times a week with no problems. In fact running is my saviour when it comes to mental health - particularly at present with Covid! I wish you all the best with your recovery, just remember to be kind to yourself. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions too, there are plenty on here who understand 🙂 Clare xx

Hi Shazza I echo all that the others have said earlier. You really need to take a little more time off to help your recovery. I too like a glass of wine but whilst it isn't a no, no, you need to be aware that it will affect you more post bleed. I was told that it has double the effect and I certainly don't need much now before I feel it! I also find alcohol affects my memory much more than before so be careful. Keep taking it slowly - that's your recovery and the wine! Clare xx

A truly wonderful legacy from an equally wonderful man xxx

A beautiful fitting tribute 💕 xx

So so sad to hear of the passing of the amazing Win. Always had a cheery tale to tell and positive words for newcomers. Our loss and a new angel for heaven xxx RIP Win xxx

Me too Karen xx

A monthly donation is worth it to keep this great site running. I don't drink coffee so the money I'd spend on one if I did can go to BTG Keep up the sterling work Karen and hope others can help out too. Clare xx

Welcome to BTG Janet glad you have found us. I have replied to you re work in another thread you posted in so won’t repeat myself. You are very very early days in your recovery and should take a step back and reevaluate I too was a very busy person who was always on the go working long hours in a stressful job. What this his event has taught me is that I now have to slow up. I still do lots and my physical activity is probably more than pre bleed. But it the mental side that still gets me 3 years later. I’ve just been on a weeks skiing holiday and suffered minimal fatigue. Back home and at work for 2 days and I’m suffering again. It’s because of the concentration needed to do my job, so I’m glad for my mid week day off. You hopefully will will get more energy back. I remember at 2 months I struggled to walk far or do anything that required concentration for any period. Be kind to yourself and slow up - you will get there in time. Feel free to ask any questions. Clare xx

Hi Julian Very challenging reading, must admit I have read a lot of this before as I too suffered a NASAH. Mine was non-perimesencephalic and had an aneurysmal pattern. I have been told it was a large bleed which they were convinced was caused but an aneurysm but none was found. From what I can gather the perimesencephalic bleeds are usually associated with a better outcome. With regard to your increasing headaches are you possibly doing too much? I know if I try to stretch things that I get strange headaches, particularly at the base of my skull. Hope you get some answers if you are referred for investigation. Take care Clare xx

I know exactly how that must have been Julian - terrible. I always avoid place with loud noises now, babies crying is another big no no for me, luckily I haven't any grandchildren yet! Glad to hear you are well. Clare xx

Hi Lynn Welcome to BTG, glad you have found us and hope you are finding the site useful. Your progress sounds very like mine at the a similar stage. How are your 4 working days split? I work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with Weds off. I found this the best working pattern for me and still do that now just over 3 years from my bleed. I work 7.5 hours a day now and manage. It's the day off in the middle that helps as it's my day to rest and recuperate and that's what I mainly do - rest. At 10 months you probably will still be experiencing quite a lot of fatigue this could be caused by stress of working too. Stress = fatigue and then anger. I can totally empathise with you there. You just feel that you can't cope anymore and then erupt! Maybe try changing your work pattern or even drop an hour a day if you can. Are you still drinking plenty of water? This really helps with the headaches. But I will say that stress and fatigue will also cause headaches so maybe it's just time to re-evaluate. My re-evaluation eventually caused a whole new career change. If the migraine meds aren't helping, go back to your neurologist and tell him, no point in taking medication if it's not doing it's job. I used to get pain at the back of my head but it has eased with time. I hope you start to feel much better soon, keep us posted on your progress and remember - it's still early days, most SAH recoveries are measured in years. Clare xx

Congratulations on 9 years Colleen. You certainly seem to have a busy life now with work and your dog. Hope you have celebrated with a rest of some kind. Well done to have achieved such a great recovery. Clare xx

Hi Peter Welcome to BTG, glad you have found us. As Louise says, must be nice to have the sun most of the time. 4 months is very early days, I was just about returning to work at that stage on a very slow phased return. Still had periods of being absolutely floored and unable to anything but just sit! I too had a non aneursymal bleed and like you often thing 'why and will it happen again?' don't think that feeling will ever go completely. I am 2 and a half years out now and think I have reached the point I am likely to stay at. I've had plenty of ups and downs, career change and plenty more. Try taking some outdoor exercise gentle walks or maybe cycling. I find running therapeutic and a stress buster. I gradually built up my fitness after the bleed and now run 2-3 times a week plus I do classes at the gym. Take it easy, drink plenty and don't expect too much too soon. Keep us posted on your recovery. Clare xx

Hi Ann Welcome to BTG glad you have found us. I remember arriving at the hospital after collapsing on a run and being told I had had a bleed. I was given painkillers and then remember next to nothing for 3 days. I was awake and speaking in that time but have little recollection. My daughter likes to amuse me by telling tales of things I said. Very early days for you, rest and drink plenty of water. Take your time to look around the site there is a wealth of useful information here. Take care and keep us posted on your recovery. Clare xx

Great new Shobs, hope Sandeep recovers well. Take care of yourself too! Clare xx

Hi Clara So glad you feel like you have found a new home with us on BTG. We. are all here to listen and understand. At the stage you are now I too was struggling. My husband had to field telephone calls and people were told I could only talk for a short time. Words got muddled and things got forgotten but as time has gone on it's got better. I still forget, I still repeat and I still get lost in a sentence. But no where near as often as those early days. Be kind to yourself and don't expect too much. Relax, your friends if they are true friends, will understand and wait for you to be ready for longer chats. And they will come! Take care and keep us posted. Clare xx

Hi Taka my NASAH was over 2.5 years ago. I feel I have recovered well and am about 90% back to what I was. I am a changed person with different views and feelings. Along the way I have lost friends but made new ones. I have changed jobs and now even my career due to stress. I know now that I need to make myself number one because nobody else will. I still get get odd pains in my head but don't worry unduly. Yes I read lots of journals and articles on SAH in the early days and some were helpful. However the most helpful things have been BTG and my neuro psychologist. Keep resting and and drinking water. Hope you are coping with your young family. Clare xx

Chris congratulations on your 2 year anniversary from one of your fellow runners. Our stories have so many similarities starting from when our bleeds happened and since then you have followed me on a similar path. I hope your latest quest for new employment works in your favour and that you find happiness in your job. . Our injuries were anything but minor and our recoveries have been major. It's not what caused the bleed but the damge that it caused. We have both overome many difficulties and got back to our love of running, something you should be immensely proud of! Lets keep knocking out those miles/kilometers on either side of the 'pond' and raise a glass to each other. Well done my fellow Georgian runner xx Clare xx