Sandi K

Hi Fremen65, welcome to the site! So many of us arrive here not knowing what happened or what is going to happen. The people here are caring and supportive and some are new and some have been here for years so the shared experiences are very helpful. Take your time and read through the posts and ask any questions you have. What type of SAH did you have? I look forward to hearing more from you. Sandi K. Xo

I heard from the insurance company today. They have declined my claim advising that I should be able to perform my duties. I'm not too concerned because so many of you have said this has happened to the first time and you have to appeal. My Occ Health advisor said it might happen too and I may have to send them more info when I appeal. It just seems so crazy. It's a brain injury, a brain hemorrhage! How can we be turned down when it's so serious! It's insane to think we can work at our regular level so quickly. I know it's insane, because I tried it, and it was insane. Sandi K.

Good advice Momo. It's best to be prepared for the visit with consultants by having your list of questions ready. My Occupational Health advisor suggested I say 'I have this list of questions, may we please go through them together? It's important to my recovery that I understand what has happened to me'. Once I said that to the neurologist he relaxed and gave me a full hour. I had the impression prior that he was a busy man with his pager going off and I was going to be lucky to get 15 minutes. Sandi K.

Hi Nessie! How about a book? You are already writing a blog, perhaps it could become a book! Or you could start fresh and go on the same premise as your speech but expanded. And then you would have a book tour afterward! You could take your experience as a healthcare provider into account along with becoming a patient who is in charge of her own recovery to teach the medical community about us. It would bring so much awareness. Writing a book would give you the quiet you need now and then the venturing out for talks later when you have more energy! Sandi K.

I've only flown to Las Vegas and back which is not very far for me. About a 3 hour flight. The Victoria airport is quite small and not so noisy. The Las Vegas airport was loud and very busy both at arrivals and departures. I did ok, it was 3 months after my NASAH but needed a lay down upon arrival and it took over a week to recover when I got home. The actual flight was fine, no weird feelings in my head. I'm trying again at the 1 year mark. Flying to Cancun and that's more like an 8 - 10 hour flight. That will be a test! But I can lay on the beach and listen to the waves lap up. I think I'll be able to handle that!! Sandi K. Xox

I had no coiling or clipping and was told not to drive for 4 weeks. I'm in Canada, and I'm not sure what our regulations are but when I got double vision vision after returning to work too soon I chose not to drive. Driving after 8 weeks was too soon and I was making mistakes. Twice, driving to work early in the morning in the dark I was following another car and when they stopped at a red light I stopped behind them. The only problem was they weren't at a red light. They had parked!!!!! And I followed in behind. Only realized it when I began wondering why it was such a long red light. Twice! I still self monitor and the last couple of weeks have been fine but if I'm really dizzy or my vision is too blurry I'll not drive or I'll have a cup of tea and a rest before I carry on. Sandi K.

Anya and I shared your speech with Peter when he came home from work and he also teared up and slipped away to the 'loo' for some Kleenex. We are so very proud of you Nessie!!! It's ok to have rest and tears now. It's all part of healing isn't it. You have done a great thing and this shows that positive things will come from your SAH. You will make it that way. Sandi K. Xoxox

Nessie, your speech brought tears to my eyes and your courage is incredibly inspirational. To think you went from your bubble to stage and received a standing ovation. Sharing your story in public helps us all by bringing forth awareness. You were graceful on stage even though it must have taken all your courage and energy to be up there speaking for that length of time. Be proud, it's an amazing accomplishment. Sandi K. Xoxoxo

Hi Shelly, welcome to BTG. It is such a great place to share experience and find support from people who have been exactly where you are. It really is a godsend. Sandi K. Xo

Good news Kelvin, I may have to adopt your strategy! It must take an enormous amount of discipline to keep to the shorter hours and refrain from immediately stepping into your old routine. That's where I'll have trouble. After the first return to work being such a botch up for me I hope I've learned my lesson. I'm a slow learner though! Sandi K.

Hi Rampmama! I was like many others here, I had very sensitive hearing at first but it's already much better. However, just this weekend with many family members here I noticed the same phenomena that Kelbel describes. It's hard to hear the person in front of me when there are multiple people speaking in the background. For me, I don't think it's hearing though, I think is a concentration problem in my brain. Sandi K.

Thank you everyone, it's comforting to read your posts and see firstly that you understand whats happening and secondly your advice on how to cope. I will be rereading this thread frequently. Sandi K. Xo

Hi everyone, I'm off to a good start today. I'm very excited because a friend is coming to visit today for 10 days. This morning Peter has been explaining to me which password the friend needs to use if she's logging into her own laptop and which password she needs to use if she's using one of our devices and which network she needs to log into. Sounds pretty straight forward right? I don't understand. I can kick myself!! I'm an IT manager!! And I can't understand this!!!! It's so scary for me that I'm afraid to keep asking the same questions in different ways and when I do ask I still don't understand anyway. Peter got frustrated and left the room and I burst into tears. He's a saint, this isn't a complaint about him. He is amazingly patient usually. I think he's just as scared as I am. Or he thinks I'm not trying hard enough. It's like I have a block in my head. Usually I can fool everyone and they all think I'm fine. But get into the technical detail like going to the bank and sorting out accounts and cards, going to the accountants and sorting out the tax forms, asking the teller about exchange rates... My head freezes up and the other person may as well be speaking another language. The neurologist told me this will 'clear up' near the 6 month mark. I just can't see that happening. I'm at 4 and a half months now. Does this sound familiar? Does it get better? Sandi K.

Hi Rhiann, I haven't been given them yet but this is what my GP has mentioned I might try once I go back to work to help stop the spikes in my blood pressure. I did some reading on beta blockers and archers use them to keep themselves steady. They keep you calm, so I imagine that if I pop one before giving a presentation I'll come off looking like a pro instead of my usual red blotchy face and nervous laugh! My GP explained that it's not something I would take everyday but instead just when I had high stress meetings or situations. Sandi K.

Jen is right, the biggest lesson I've learned through this (still learning!) is to let myself heal. To take the time that my body needs - not what I think it needs. There is a big difference between wanting to be better and actually feeling better which is how another member worded it in a different thread this week. So take it easy, rest, find quiet time in your busy life, and heal. Sandi K. Xox

Hi Juliette! Welcome to BTG! Sandi K xox

Hi Kelvin, Ive seen you post welcomes to others today and it's nice to see you again! Ive been wondering how your return to work is going? Can you share with us? Sandi K. Xo

These are very powerful words. Thank you for sharing your story with us. It's amazing how you have chosen to take positive lessons from your SAH. You are an inspiration! Sandi K.

Karen, you came in just before me. Gee, it's hard not to believe there is a genetic connection when reading your history. I think there are others with similar stories. Sandi K. Xo

Nessie, I can't think of anyone in my family having one of these but I wasn't close to my biological dad's side so don't know much of their history. There are other threads on the forum where members have indicated an apparent genetic connection. Funny how you said 'no' and your sister said 'yes'!! I think I'm right all the time but since my NASAH I'm really mixed up but still think I'm right! Hahaha! Makes for some good laughs between my husband Peter and I!

Hi! There is no known cause for a perimesencephalic brain bleed. It is frustrating and scary to not know. Statistics show that it's not likely to happen again but it's hard to comprehend that concept when we don't know what caused the bleed in the first place. Im sure one day the researchers will figure it out but until then I'll just keep recovering and hoping that the statistics are right. Sandi K.

Hi Michelle, yes that's what the neurologist told me, BP doesn't cause non aneurysm SAH or perimesencephalic SAH. We didn't talk about anni SAH and I should have added that in my post. Thank you Goldfish Girl! Sandi K. Xo

Hi Sonia! Im not on BP meds now and never have been. A month after my NASAH the neurosurgeon advised to keep my bp down. So the family doctor and I took that to mean I needed to monitor my BP and perhaps take something if it was high. After a few weeks of multiple daily readings at home and 24 hour holster from hospital my BP came in at normal on average. It does peak high when I'm at work and stressed. 4 months after my NASAH a different neurologist advised that BP is fine and it had nothing to do with my brain bleed and don't change anything with my lifestyle. My family doctor and I talked about yesterday and decided to leave it alone. When I go back to work I might monitor again for a bit. Sandi K.

Good luck Michelle! I hope it works in your favor! Sandi K. Xo

I found an 'oldy but a goody'! This is a great thread and worth bringing forward for all of us newer members. I've said in a recent thread that my neurosurgeon very clearly said to me 'you did not have a stroke'. Those words confused me and I thought he meant 'what you had was not as bad as a stroke'. It wasn't until I joined this site and did some searching on the Internet that I realized the seriousness of my situation, how lucky I am to be alive, and that I had a type of stroke. If I had been told I had a stroke in the beginning (I'm starting to cry as I write this so it's very emotional for me) I would have given myself a break from the beginning. I wouldn't have pushed so hard and so fast. I would have let up and allowed my body and brain to rest. Yes Karen, psychologically it would have definitely made a difference for me. It would have helped my recovery, I wouldn't have tried going back to work only weeks afterward. Sandi K.