Hi All
Where to start.......
I had a non-aneurysm SAH on the 21st of January, 2015 while I was training in the gym. All the standard symptoms that folks have described here. Luckily after being brought home my wife managed to get the NHS direct to understand there was a real problem that probably shouldn't wait till the next morning and an ambulance arrived.
After a miss-diagnosis of heart issues I got transferred to a neuro specialist unit and when I came round 36 hours later I had an EVD inserted and a thumping headache! Unfortunately the EVD introduced an infection into my brain and a rough few days followed while the antibiotics did their stuff. The drain was removed after two weeks and the antibiotics stopped a week later at which point I came home.
I've been home about two and half months now, and I know I am probably just being incredibly impatient but recovery seems to be taking for ever. Just when I think I am turning a corner, gaining a bit more strength or not needing so many painkillers and then "bam" back come the strong headaches and all the other associated issues of tiredness, nausea etc.
My acute care in hospital was second to none, and I am eternally grateful to everyone that looked after me, there are some real saints in that hospital, some amazing people who fixed me up and got me on the road to recovery. Where I am really struggling is with recovery, I know from everything I read on these forums it is such an individual thing. I have (luckily) never experienced anything like this before.
With a cold, flu, a broken bone, every day it gets a little better, it's a linear thing, but with SAH some days I can feel absolutely fine and then the next headaches, head spinning and it feels like I am back to square one. I want to get back to work, but I can't even manage to see my colleagues for lunch (in the pub) without my head doing loop the loop and headaches for the next couple of days.
I was discharged with only a three month follow up and told take it as life as usual just in moderation (which I have). I have very gradually tried to get on top of the physical lack of stamina and I know how to get fit again but my mental stamina isn't improving and I don't know how to help myself build my strength up in this respect. Have other people had similar experiences? How have any of you dealt with this?
As always I have waffled on, apologies, a bad headache day compounded with a fair amount of cabin fever, it helps to get it out there, so thanks for reading this far!
Any thoughts, advice or just pull yourself together man will be much appreciated!
Cheers
greg.