kelvz48

Hi, it will pass in time, how much time is different for everyone. I am coming up to 1 year post SAH and I can honestly say it took 10 months before I started to feel a little better. I still get bad days, stiff necks and extreme fatigue but the good days are starting to outnumber the bad days. Take your time, don't push yourself, don't over do things, and don't expect to see big improvements in the early days. Start to do things a little at a time and get plenty of rest. Look after yourself, Kelvin.

This article explains a lot and has answered some of my lingering questions with regard to fatigue. Thanks for posting it, I will in future, try and keep a spoon in reserve. Kelvin.

john, I know wxactly what you are saying I am approaching the 1 year mark after my SAH and have recently returned to my stressful job full time following a phased return. At first everyone was very understanding but that soon ended and now when I tell my colleagues that I refuse to put myself in any over stressful situations I get the impression they think I am pulling a fast one which makes me feel that I am letting them down. They cannot begin to understand just how exhausted and mentally fatigued I sometimes get. My family who on the whole have been fantastic sometimes forget that it was only last August that we went through an absolute nightmare because of my SAH and often I feel that I am being patronised when I complain of tiredness or pains in my head which is often replied with "we all get tired", which then frustrates me and makes me angry. Very often I have to make an extra effort just to go for a meal because I never really feel up to going and always return home early in the evening. In general, social events are a no go and when invites are politely declined I often get questioned on why (sometimes even by my wife). I strongly agree with you that there should be more awareness on the effects of SAH. Best Regards, Kelvin.

Cheers Tina.

Hi Sandi, with regard to my phased return to work I am now on 5 hours a day and my company has a very good HR department which has been really supportive in as much as I have been able to reduce my usual duties. (The fact that the husband of the HR manager suffered a SAH 2 years ago may be a contributing factor) This week I have basicly just sorted out the holiday rota for 60 employees and done a full driver licence audit for all the drivers. I still have good days and bad days but the good days are starting to outnumber the bad days and most evenings I am totally exhausted but hopefully this will improve in time as I find that I still push myself extra hard on the good days. Many people told me I was returning to work too soon after just six months but I think that with the support I am getting I will get there slowly. If anyone is contemplating a return to work, make sure it is on a phased return and that your employer fully understands what your needs are and that it has to be a gradual increase in hours and duties. Cheers all.

Hi and welcome. I,m sure you will get all the support and sound advice you need from all these wonderful members.

Welcome to the site Ian. You will find loads of support and good advice here, I know I did when I needed it most. Good luck.

Lynne, well done, you certainly seem to have a viable game plan and are focused in moving in the right direction. I'm sure you will be a huge asset to the Shaw Trust. I myself am planning a phased return to work next Thursday (4 hours a day) and am feeling anxious about it already. Although my employer has said they will support me in whatever I need, the reality is an extremely stressful and pressured environment where the muck hits the fan regularly and so I am a bit concerned that all that support will go out the window. Anyway, good luck to you, keep us posted.

Hi Chris and welcome. Glad you found this site, loads of help, support and good advice from these guys.

Hi Harry. YES, it does get easier but it's different for everyone. Had my sah just 6 months ago and in the early days of recovery I thought I was going insane with terrible mood swings, intense fatigue and some particularly worrying anger issues. Luckily for me I have a very understanding wife. These problems have now passed and although I will never be 100% fit again, I am very close to it (99.5% maybe). The trouble is that when you leave hospital you are not warned about the after effects of such a traumatic and life changing experiance so when you get all these different emotions going off you dont know how to deal with them and you end up thinking there is something wrong with you. Harry, the timescale for recovery is different for everyone. Just dont push yourself to hard, take your time and remember it will get easier. There are plenty of sah survivors leading a perfectly full and normal life. Good luck mate.

Hi Vicky and welcome. So glad you found this site as it helps in so many ways just to talk to someone and express how you are feeling and get understanding replies from people who have gone through the same thing. I had my sah 6 months ago and am now preparing to return to work and resume an almost normal life. You are about 20 yaers younger than me and probably a lot fitter and healthier so I'm sure you will do just fine. Good luck.

Hi Anna, I will just say welcome to the site and really hope everything works out for you, your mum and your family.

Thanks for the messages. This site has helped me get through the last six months especially in the early days and I know that sometimes reading a positive post can be reassuring.

Thanks all. Sonia, he is hoping to get into Cardiff Atrium and get a degree in music tech (producing, recording studios etc).

Hi and welcome. I am sure you will find all the help, support and advise you need from all the wonderful members of this site.