ClareM

Hi Clara glad you spoke to someone and got some answers. At least now you know you can go back should things not get better. Hope the head head pain stops soon though. Take care drink lots of water and rest. Keep us posted. Clare xx

Hi Clara welcome to BTG glad you have found us. We all suffer lots of different aches and pains after our bleeds. Most of the time it is normal but if you are unsure please ring the hospital and ask. They won't think you are wasting their time and I am sure will be able to help you. Don't wait and let yourself stress about it as that won't help your recovery at all. You are really early days and need all the reassurance you can get. Please make that call and let us know how you get on. Clare xx

Welcome Taka, hope you are feeling a bit better today and you are managing with the breast feeding with out anymore headaches. Must be such hard work with 2 very young children, you need to make sure you get to rest yourself as you will need it. I think we all worry that we will have another bleed but have to believe the advice of the doctors that it is highly unlikely. Mine was a NASAH too and I will never know what caused it something you learn to live with eventually. Make sure you drink plenty, rest, rest, rest and do try and avoid overchecking your blood pressure, it will only cause you more stress! Take care and let us know how you get on. Clare xx

Hi Julie As Tina says, a warm welcome to BTG sounds like you have been led a merry dance to get a diagnosis. Drink plenty of water and rest, they are the best things for you. That and get on to the hospital about that group meeting. It really helps to speak to others in the same boat - as we are on BTG. Makes you feel less isolated and helps to make sense of all the problems. Come back and let us know how you are getting on. Clare xx

Hi Kathie If you are in the U.K. You need to take advice re your work. Your employer has to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to return to your job and refusing to alter hours is not reasonable considering what you have been through. Speak to citizens advice as they should be able to help. However as Macca says a change of job is not a bad thing. I have changed twice since my SAH something I never thought I would do at my age but it has been necessary. Don't discount any options but definitely take advice. Keep us posted. Clare xx

Great to hear things are going well at present. Hope you get the dates sorted out for October. Sounds like you are being well taken care of. As it is a planned procedure the recovery should be a lot quicker than having a bleed. Hopefully life will settle down for you after this. Good luck, you sound very positive though obviously apprehensive. ? Keep us posted on your progress. Clare xx

I was wearing contacts when I had my bleed and went back to them some time after. My vision had changed and I now have differnt strength lenses in each eye. If they are not right go back, there may be something else they can do. It could be that the 'best' brand is not best for you. Clare xx

Glad to hear you got things cleared up Sonia xx Clare

Hi Mandie Sorry to hear you are feeling so down. Ithink we all grieve for what we have lost, I know I do. I miss my old life, friends and job but as Tina says I try to concentrate of the positive. You can't go back, things will never be same but they can be better even if different. It just takes time to accept the new normal and start bulding new ways of living our lives. I think it really helps to talk to someone who is not emotionally attached to you. I myself have a wonderful neuro-psychologist who has helped me through my recovery. I can discuss anything with her without judgement and she has helped me accept the new normal and suggested ways of doing that. Try the neuro department where you were treated to see if you can get a referral or alternatively ask for counselling through your GP. Things do get better, I can cook now without losing ingredients but I ALWAYS use a timer when putting things in the oven. It's almost as soon as that door is shut it's gone from my memory! Many a burnt offering Take care and remember you can always come here and offload, we don't judge each other, we just try and help. Clare xx

Hi Maeve I'd just like to echo all that the others have said before me. I suspect it is highly unlikely your mum even knew about the bleed and would have passed quite peacefully in her sleep. When I had mine after being taken to hosptial and scanned whilst waiting to be transferred to the Neuro unit I fell into a coma and felt nothing. I often think if I had not survived then I would not have know anything about it - just not woken up. Stress is often blamed as a reason and although I had a fairly stressful life, I was out running while it happened, something that always helped my stress levels, so who knows. I Hope you and your sister can come to terms with your loss, it must be so hard and I hope we here on BTG have answered some of your questions. Clare xx

Hi Elaine sorry to hear you still aren't feeling as well as you hoped. Maybe it it would be worthwhile giving the hospital where you are going for follow up a ring and ask them about your symptoms. At least it would put your mind at rest. 4 months is still early days though so try not to stress too much. Make sure you get plenty of rest and keep drinking lots of water. Good luck Clare xx

Hey Kathie Welcome to BTG, glad you have found us. I too had a NASAH back in Feb 2015 together with Hydrocephalus. I went back to work on a phased return after 3-4 months though to start it was for 2 hours a day and the increase in hours was slow. Pre SAH I worked 41 hours a week in a very stressful environment. I have never been able to go back to that. I eventually settled for 4 long days with Wednesdays off in the middle. However due to other problems at work including stress I eventually changed jobs. I then reduced to 34 hours over 4 days (still having Weds off) in a less stressful job and was happy for a while. Unfortunately due to poor management and staff shortages that job also became very stressful and I had a major meltdown resulting in me being signed off sick. I have just started in another new role, less hours, only 30 per week now and still with Wednesdays off. It's early days but so far so good - and I love the hours All the symptoms you mention are fairly par for the course post SAH, especially when tired. I still suffer now and have had to adjust how I do things. It is a case of finding a new normal and you will eventually find that. What do you do as a job? 12 hour shifts seem very punishing, how many days do you do them for? It is worth having a sit down talk with your employer and seeing how they can help you get back to working. Don't let them push you and if you have an Occupational Health dept make sure they are involved too. You may be physically fit enough to go back to work but emotionally is a different matter. A SAH is a life changing event that cannot be ignored and you cannot push too hard as it will trun back and bite you! Take care and let us know how you get on. Clare xx

POSTED ON BEHALF OF KATHIE Hey I had a NASAH on last new years eve. To cut a long story rather short, there was no cause found, no significant treatment required etc. I feel better with each month that passes but am now at 9 months and still feel unable to return to work which is starting to bother me. I struggle with fatigue, feeling off balance, headache and neck ache, irritability when tired. My job is 12 hour shifts and is really stressful and I'm so worried that I'm not ready but at the same time feel like I should be as it has been 9 months.... surely I should be fit to go back by now? Kathie POSTED ON BEHALF OF KATHIE

Hi welcome to BTG glad you have found us. We are unable to give medical advice as we aren't trained but I am sure there are many others here who have experienced the same problem and can share with you. Have you spoken to the neuro department where you were treated? They will be the best people to speak to. If you can't reach them maybe your GP or even an optician as your eye is painful. Let us know how you get on and maybe a bit more about yourself and your bleed. Take care clare xx

Hi Linda welcome to BTG. It is so common to be discharged without any information not really sure why this happens. I was lucky that there was a nurse specialist and her assistant where I was treated and they gave me a booklet and phone numbers to ring if I was unsure about anything. I did ring a couple of times but wish I had used them more in the first few months. My bleed was non-anuerysmal too but I had the complication of hydrocephallus so needed an evd for a week or so which has left me with my tell tale dent in my temple. As others hae said take things slowly. It is really early days for you and your body and brain need time to recover. Don't rush to get things done be kind to yourself and have pleny of rests. Sounds like you have the perfect recovery pal in your little dog. I'd love to see a photo, maybe later you could post one in the gallery. Drink plenty of water, rest and come back to this site for advice and friendship! Take care Clare xx

Hi sounds like you are doing a perfect job on your work return. Wish I had done it your way! It makes all the difference when you are kind to yourself and make time to step back and take stock. Hopefully your return will carry on being so successful, well done and glad that BTG has been here to help. I know it has helped me immensely. Clare xx

Good luck Carly, hope all goes well on Wednesday. Clare xx

Hi Kris my vision changed after my SAH but not to a major extent. I wore my contact lenses soon after coming out of hospital and wear them all the time now. My prescription has changed but that was partly to do with my job and their computers. Sometimes these things are just due to ageing but make sure you get it checked out. Let us know how it goes clare xx

Hi Lauren Welcome to BTG glad to hear you are recovering after your SAH. Hope you are finding the site helpful, always someone here to listen and offer advice on any issues you may have. I had a NASAH in Feb 2015 and flew at the end of May 2015 with no problems. I had my follow up MRI before the flight so knew all was ok. My nurse specialist arranged that so I could be cleared to travel. I have since flown many times including long haul to Vietnam. The only problem I did have was fatigue and I still suffer that now when travelling. I factor in time for recovery, always have an extra day off work on return and try not to have too early flights. Have a chat with your nurse specialist or neuro team just to make sure you are ok to fly then go for it. The holiday will probably do you and the family the world of good. ? I'm sure others will join this thread with advice and tips. Let us know how you get on. Clare

Hi From what I can gather a stent is the same as coiling which is what I believe they did to your other aneurysm. As this is a planned procedure you do not experience the same problems as when the aneurysm bursts. There are many on this site who have had subsequent aneurysms coiled. Hopefully they will come on and give their experiences. I hope you are recovering well from your initial bleed. It must have been hard recovering while dealing with a new born baby Try not to stress as it will not do you any good. Once this procedure is done you should not have the worry of another bleed. Keep us posted. Xx

So glad to hear your mum is making steps in her recovery. All seems very positive. Hope she continues to improve Clare xx

Hi Vermont Girl, I do not understand why your doctor has given you an anti-inflammatory pain killer, was this for your mood or because you have pain? I checked with my Nurse Specialist about taking Ibuprofen which is a similar drug and was told it was ok for me as my bleed had no cause. However I think you should discuss with your doctor tomorrow why she is prescribing this and whether the neuro docs have said it is ok. It is common to feel frustrated after a SAH, I still have times now. Try to use all those tools you mention and take you time organising you return to work. Ideally it should be a phased return. Have you spoken to your employers yet? I hope you get on with your doctor tomorrow and get some answers. Clare xx

Hi Yoyo I am sure things will get better with time. Your partner is probably scared. Scared that any intimate activity will be too much for you. Have you tried talking to him about this aspect of your recovery? It is known that some people suffer a SAH whilst having sex. With the advent of the internet and access for all to any information you want in an instant, maybe your partner has read this fact and is worried. My husband really looked after me after my bleed and I feel the event has actually brought us closer. But it is a traumatic event for them that takes time to get over. We were lying in a hospital bed oblivious to everything while they were having to deal with the emotional fall out. I always think that at the time it must have been much worse for the family. Hang in there and yes, join that support group. Talking is the best healer and if it's only once a month come here and talk too, we're here all the time. Clare xx

Hi Mrs M, that's my name at work as well! ? Your symptoms sound very similar to many of us but to be safe you should get it checked. Is is there a nurse specialist at the hospital you were treated who you can contact? My last MRI as the same is yours, no reason and nothing to show so we are the lucky ones. However if doesn't stop you worrying not knowing what caused it in the first place. You are still early days so take things slowly, plenty of rest and water. Don't rush back to work or do too much. Let us know how you get on. Clare xx

Hi Kathie sorry you still seem to be suffering from headaches , mine had settled by this point. Are you taking regular pain relief to help deal with them? Sometimes it helps to take meds regularly to get the pain under control and then come off when they are settled. However I am not a doctor and am not qualified to give medical advice. Have you tried speaking to a nurse specialist at the Neuro unit you were treated? They can often be really great with advice. See if you can get in touch with one and let us know how you get on. Hope things improve. Clare xx