Janet

Hi Yes I was clipped as well had my follow up appointment the end of February last year and was discharged there and then. The reason given was that I had my only angiogram after the operation so it showed no further abnormalities so needed no further observation. Janet x

Hi Everyone I suffered terribly from dizziness in the first few months after my sah and like Karen I put it down to the third nerve palsy and lack of sight before I regained vision in my left eye. I only occassionally get the dizziness now more so if I'm extremely tired but the one thing I do find hard is if I have to stand still for any length of time as my head doesn't like that and it brings on balance issues. These are made worse as I broke my right foot in Oct 2005 and have tendonitis in my right ankle. Victoria welcome to the site you are still early on in your recovery if you feel that you have to return to work try to do it in small stages. I went back to work in the June after my SAH about seven months but had a phased return. I started back at 20 hours and have gradually increased to 30 but I know that at the moment I would be unable to manage any more. I think one of the hardest parts of having an SAH besides the physical symptoms is mentally being able to come to terms with the person you are now. This site and the people on it have helped me to come to terms with and accept that fact. I hope that we can also help you so any questions just ask. Janet x

Hi Cal/Jim I used to feel the same large stores are certainly the worse and even now I find it difficult to cope with supermarkets/superstores being the worse. I also find that if I'm on my own its much worse so hardly ever go any type of shopping on my own I always make sure Morris or one of my daughters are available. Glad to hear that Jim is doing so well. Janet x

I also looked at Guarana along with Green Tea both have high levels of caffiene content. Thought that my be interesting to those of us who try to limit the intake of caffeine. Janet x

Hi Everyone Was looking into herbal remedies which boost weight loss and found an A-Z of medicines with some herbal remedies that interact with different medicines. Anyone who like myself take Tricyclic meds anti-depressants might find it useful. Green Tea in large quantities can apparently decrease the absorpion of drugs into the system and they recommend a two hour period of ingestion. Can also cause iron deficiency. Also St Johns Wort can have an undesirable effect (not specified) if taken with Tricyclic medication. Heres' the link for anyone interested. http://www.baldwins.co.uk/perl/go.pl/he ... ID=1529009 Janet x

Hi Laurie Thanks for letting us know the date of the wedding. If you pm me your address I would like to send you a card. Congratulations to you both. Janet x

Hi John Welcome great to hear that you are doing so well. Look forward to getting to know more about you. Janet x

Laura I work in a call centre for DWP (Child Support Agency) since returning to work last June I gradually increased the hours I do. I started at 20 have made it to 30 but am quite happy to remain at that as I know that any more would be too much for me now. Janet x

Hi Karen and Welcome I was also treated at Walton and agree the job they do is wonderful its just a shame that they have no real support for after discharge. I had my clipping nearly 15 months ago and still suffer a lot of head pain thankfully the dizziness and tiredness only occurs if I do too much. Like you I have very understanding employers but haven't managed to go back to my full time hours yet. Look forward to hearing more from you soon. Janet x

Laura I actually celebrate the day of my operation not the first day I was ill. I don't think I could bear to go out then as it was the 2nd of November and I still hate the noise of fireworks after flinching in pain whenever one went off between the 2nd and 4th of November. Also the biggest bleed I had was on on the morning of the operation I think before that between the 2nd and the 10th I just had several small leaks. Janet x

I think its important also to pass on family medical history. The girls are very aware that coronary heart disease is prevalent on both sides of Morris's family and that my father died of emphysema and that I myself suffer from COPD. I try my best to get them to consider the harm/risks that smoking could mean to them but like most of us they always assume it wont happen to them. I am also without much success trying to persaude the girls to get checked for possible aneurysms the two youngest both suffer from head pain. Sarah had been prone to migraines since she was about 9 and Wendy has really bad head pains but not migraine. I honestly believe that I may have suffered a bleed in my late twenties as I had severe head pain that lasted for about 2 months and no amount of painkillers shifted it. At the time our Doctor was a forces Doctor and put the pain down to cluster headaches caused by smoking without even examining me... Janet x

For my 1st anniversary in November took the day off work to spend with Morris then went to our favorite Italian restaurant fora meal in the evening. Morris marked the occassion by buying me a lovely silver necklace and bracelet set it made the day that little bit special and like Karen I will certainly be celebrating the occassion every year. To me it is a much more special event than my birthday cos without the emergency surgery I might not have been here. Janet x

Hi Laurie Its good to hear that Michael is doing so well it must be great seeing each small improvement he makes. Don't apologise for not coming on very often we all realise that you have so much to do. Its nice to hear that you are manging to get some work done now as well it must be very hard for you caring for Michael looking after the children and trying to find time for yourself I'm just glad that you seem to be managing it. You said that you're making your wedding dress whens the big day going to be I know that whenever it is it will be really special for you both even though it may not be what you first planned. Don't forget to post some photos on site for us to see. Take care speak soon Janet x

Hi Lesley (Shanti) Welcome to our virtual family. Like yourself I also suffered a Third Nerve Palsy but mine was o the left side my story is further down on this thread. I now have near enough perfect vision in my left eye and just suffer with double vision if I bend down to quickly and I get pain around my eye if I'm over tired. I was originaly told that because four of the six nerves were damaged that I would never get the sight back and given the name of a consultant who is the best in the country for correcting squints as my eye was stuck down in the right corner. The worst thing for me was the thought of never being able to use my eye again. I had what I call a miracle as my eye started to open and vision return on Christmas Day. The fatigue in the first few months does get better but its a hard process learning to listen to your body and rest when you need to. Like you too much noise is a problem and the short term memory is a vey real problem gets worse the more tired you are. Good Luck with your appointment on the 30th remember to write down the questions you need answers to. Look forward to hearing more about you. Janet x

Hi Laura If he's worried you that much contact the Neuro's secretary and let her know that the radiographer told you to try for an earlier appointment. You would however imagine that if it was really serious they would contact your Neurosurgeon direct themselves. Let us know how you get on and I know it must be hard but try not to stress out too much. Sending you a big virtual hug. Janet x

Hi Samantha Brilliant news that you've been given a reason for whats causing the problems it sometimes makes it easier when you can understand why its happening. Just remember to take it easy now you're back at work and make sure you still get plenty of rest. Janet x

Hi Laura Good news that you'll get the MRI so soon just a shame you have to wait so many weeks for the results. With regards to returning to work you may be best to wait until you get the results as it will only be a few weeks longer. Janet x

Hi Bernard and Welcome Sorry to hear about Isoken it must be quite hard for you at the moment especially as you have a toddler as well. Do you have plenty of friends and family to help out in the next couple of months. Isoken will need lots of rest at first as she will tire very easily. Recovery from an SAH is very individual to each of us and the severity of the bleed probably plays a part in that. As Keith has already said we are a friendly bunch on here so any questions just ask. Give Isoken my best wishes and hope that you soon have her home with you. Take Care Janet x

Hi Laura Your experience is fairly similar to my own except I got kept in when I went to hospital, but even then it took almost a week before they realised what it was and hotfooted me over to Walton the nearest Neuro unit. I then had an emergency craniotomy to clip it as Walton don't have staff to do angiograms at the weekend and my Neurosurgeon didn't think I would last til the Monday. As Karen has said we all feel able to return to work at different times I went back on a phased return after 7 months. I started working 20 hours a week and have slowly increased that to 30. But I know that at the moment I couldn't consider any more as I find it quite tiring. I also have been unable to even contemplate starting my M.A I was supposed to start January 07 but know that the amount of work and concentration involved is still completely beyond me yet. Janet x

Hi Linda I never suffered with too many headaches prior to my SAH but have found since that even when I don't have actual headaches I always have a vice like grip feeling on the left side of my head. Like Louise I think the weather has a lot to do with the severity of headaches I suffer from. I found the humid weather in summer caused really severe headaches and the same is proving true of the extreme cold this winter. Janet x

Hi Peggy and Welcome Sorry can't be of any help regarding shunts as I don't have any there are a few members who do so they might be able to tell you about theirs. Look forward to hearing more from you soon Janet x

Hi Samantha Welcome can only echo what the others have already said and hope that your new Consultant can give you the answer you so desperately need. Look forward to hearing more from you. Janet x

Hi Jan and welcome I think the thought of the MRI scanners are off putting enough without being claustrophobic as well. I was quite ill when I had too have mine and the only way I coped was by imagining myself somewhere else. Try not to stress out too much about it if you discuss it with your Neuro he may be able to arrange for you to take something to calm you down a bit before you go in. Anyway look forward to hearing more from you soon. Take care Janet x

Hi Robert and welcome I'm just over a year into recovery and suffer quite a lot of headaches, nausea and dizzyness still. My Neuro told me that if I looked back in twelve months from when he operated that I would be nearly back to normal. I have had to accept that I may never get back to 100%. This site has helped me to understand and make sense of what happened. The friendship and support I have received from everyone on here has helped me to come to terms with my limitations. As Karen says these message boards are a lifeline to all of us who use them it really is a great place to be. Look forward to hearing more from you. Janet x

Hi Snowbunny Welcome and look forward to hearing more from you. Janet x