Tina60

Hi Ian, I'd appeal if I were you. I got my insurers to pay out under the grounds that a SAH is a form of stroke. The fact that the coils are in my head permenantly and i would probably die if they weren't there was also part of my arguement. Don't take it lying down! Good luck Tina:-D

Hi, Welcome to the group. I had my SAH last July, but only made a claim for the critical illness cover a few weeks ago. Two reasons for this - the doctors never called my SAH a stroke, i only found out after joining this site. When I mentioned this to my consultant he said that SAH wasn't a stroke!! Second reason was my employers never told me I could claim even though t;-)hey knew what had happened. Anyway, I heard back from the Insurers this week and they are going to pay - I'm just waiting for the money to come through. So I would advise you to make a claim - the worse that could happen is they'll say no! Take care, Tina

Diane, I would get a claim form and fill it in, especially if you have problems talking to people. I'm the same. I had my SAH in July last year, but didn't think to make my insurance claim til March this year. I was able to download my claim form from my employers website, filled it in and faxed it back. I didn't have to speak to anyone on the phone, did it all through emails. They let me know a few days ago that it has been allowed and wanting my bank details so they can pay it. Just waiting for the money to go in so I can celebrate. I didn't have to tell my gp or consultant, just signed a consent form saying the insurance people could contact them if they need to. I don't think they actually contacted them though. I sent in my hospital discharge letter with my claim form, and that spelled out what I'd had and how it was treated, which seems to be all they needed. Hope you have a good response, Take care Tina

DVLA contacted my consultant, were happy with what he told them and let me drive after about 8 weeks. Important thing to remeber is to tell your insurance company as well, because if you have an accident and they weren't aware of your SAH then they can refuse to pay out

Policy is with Saint John’s Insurance Limited, and the wording is as follows: Stroke * Diagnosis of a cerebrovascular incident resulting in permanent neurological damage. Transient Ischaemic Attacks are specifically excluded I'm wondering if they may try and refuse it because we can't prove that there has been permanent neuroligical damage? - plus my consultant reckons SAH aren't strokes so if they get a report from him I'll have no chance! I really need the money as I work in a Children's Centre and have had my hours cut in April from 22.5 down to 7.5 cos of the budget cuts

No-one ever mentioned stroke to me, just kept calling it a SAH. I had a followup hosptal appointment 8 months after my SAH. Because I'd read that SAH was a form of stroke I asked him and he was adamant that SAH wasn't a stroke! Not sure what to think now. I have a claim in with my insurance company for critical illness cover as stroke is one of the listed illnesses. Hope they don't contact my consultant as I'll never get it

Hi, I have claimed for critical illness and am still waiting for an answer. I'll post here again when I hear something x:-D

I had my SAH during sex with my boyfriend. I chucked the boyfriend a few weeks later (he was cheating on me while I was in hospital) and I must admit it's totally put me off sex lol

Hi Karen, I wouldn't worry about the appointment letter. I saw my consultant in September, and then another follwo up appointment was made in December (which I couldn't attend as I had the flu lol) so it has been rebooked end of january. I think it is just common procedure to keep an eye on you and to make sure your recovery is going ok. I returned to work about 10 weeks after my SAH. Work were very understanding, letting me leave early if i felt unwell. Unfortunately i am an agency worker and get paid for the hours i work, so i probably pushed myself too much at the beginning because I am the only wage earner. Things aren't too bad now, though the tiredness seems to be getting worse. I think this is just the after effects of the flu, leaving me run down. I hope things go well for you. Don't be afraid to tell people whats happened to you - the majority of people are sympathetic and will be more considerate when they know what you've been through Tina x

Thanks everyone, I'm seeing gp next week so if I have any more I'll mention it to her X

Just a quicky - in the last week I have had 3 or 4 dizzy spells, each one while I was sitting down, not moving around. I had to sit still with my eyes closed and it has gone away after a minute or two. Is this normal, or should I be worried?:confused:

Hi, I also find it harder to lift my feet up when I'm tired, and can only describe it as feeling a little bit drunk and my legs not doing what my head tells them too - very strange feeling. Take care, Tina:oops:

Hi, and thanks to everyone for your lovely posts. Must admit being back at work is harder then I thought. I felt exhausted yesterday by the time I got home. Could hardly do anything today on my day off. Think I might do a shorter day tomorrow, as finding it hard to look after my little girl when I am so tired - I'm lucky that she isn't very demanding and is happy to entertain herself most of the time! Any way. I'm off to bed as I have to be up early for work Bye bye XX:sleep:

Hi all, I wanted to tell my story as I think I have been very lucky and hopefully it may help someone feel a bit more positive! I had my SAH on 30th July 2010, my daughters 6th birthday. We had been out to Alton Towers for her birthday - I only went on kiddy rides with her, nothing too exciting! We got home and I put her to bed. Later on that night I suddenly felt like I was being hit around the head and had to rush to the loo to be sick. My neck was also killing me. I thought it was a really bad migraine so took some Ibuprofen and went back to bed. I don't remember the next 36 hours. My boyfriend at the time (now my ex but thats another story!) couldn't get any sense out of me in the morning so got me to walk downstairs and sat me on the sofa. My poor little girl was there, trying to give me a drink of water and saying it would make me feel better if I drink it, bless her. An ambulance was called and the paramedics took me to A & E. First they thought I might have meningitus, but a C/T scan showed the bleed due to an anurism bursting. I came to in the neuro SCU, where a nurse was telling me I was off to theatre. I had no idea what was going on. Next thing I remember was coming round in the ward and being told I had been 'coiled' and it was successful. Next day I ws moved onto a ward and allowed up to have my first shower in days. Still a bit headachey but lots better. I was dischared after 8 days and went to stay with my Mum, who had been looking after my little girl. I stayed at hers for 3 weeks then went home with daughter. 8 Weeks after my SAH i was declared fit to drive and return to work part-time. I went back to work 3 weeks later. I find my self getting tired very easily, and my memory isn't brilliant but work are being very understanding. This is my second week back and am really glad I went back. I am suffering from depression since the SAH, but have started anti-depressants and will be going to counselling in a couple of weeks which is helping. I still don't feel myself, but considering how bad it could have been I do consider myself lucky to have escaped any major ill-effects. I have read a lot of survivors stories on this site, and feel so blessed that I have been lucky enough not to have suffered some of the awful side effects that some of the poor people have. I don't think I am explaining myself very well - Most of the stories I have read have been heart-breaking when you consider how much the person has suffered, and I wanted to put my story forward as I feel I have been very lucky in not having many side-effects, and am back at work and driving in such a sort period of time.

My headache started in the middle of the night while in bed - i thought it was a bad migraine, took some ibuprofen and lay down on the bed. Next thing I know it was 48 hours later and a nurse was telling me they were taking me up to be coiled as I had had a bleed in my head. From what I have gathered from family, my boyfriend at the time couldn't get any sense out of me in the morning - I was responding to commands so he got me downstairs and called an ambulance. I gather I looked like I'd had a stroke as one side of my body was dropping. The ambulance men took one look at me and whisked me to A & E where a CT scan was done and the SAH diagnosed. I agree that something should be done to raise awareness in the NHS - then maybe that 50% figure would be a lot lower