diane rhedey

Thank you Karen and Caroline for your response to my question re the shunt I will certainly fly with ease now, thanks to everyone and yes I will post a picture on my return. This is a great occasion for me My son although it is his second marriage is marrying a very nice lady who I knew very well when she was a young child, she used to be my daughters best friend at school and spent many a sleepover at my house many moons ago. I used to call her my second daughter back then and now she will be my daughter in law I couldn't be happier. Life is good, and we are all so lucky to be here to enjoy it. Take care everyone. lots of love from down under. Diane xxx

Hi Perry, This is all good news to me, thank you for responding. Yes NZ is a lovely country I always look forward to going back. Diane

Excellent news thank you Penny, I am so looking forward to the trip (it's to attend my son's wedding) I feel very confidant now and very grateful you responded so quickly. Thank you again Diane

Hello Karen and all at BTG, It's been awhile I know but time moves pretty quickly these days, already I have just passed my 2nd yr anniversary and I am pleased to say I am doing so well. I keep looking in and reading all your news and I take my hat off to all of you that take the time to help others especially the newies going through this terrible thing. I have a question that I'd like some help with if you don't mind it's to do with my trip back home to NZ over Easter. I will be flying for the first time since my non anyeurism SAH and would like to know from others how they handle it. Scott, you may be able to help me here as you also have a shunt in place. Does the flying experience bother you at all or affect your balance etc. I look forward to any response you can give me on this. Thank you. Diane Rhedey

Hi Shiree, So nice to hear back from you.. to answer your question I was living in Auckland but my family, my daughter and son with their children all live in Wanganui. My last visit home was in 2006 before SAH to tell you the truth I'm a bit nervous about flying but I will drum up the courage sometime soon, my daughter and her family did come over for a visit once I returned home from hospital and so did my son, we are in contact every day thanks to txt messaging. I came to Australia on a working holiday 19years ago during that time I met and married my husband George(my 2nd marriage) we then went to Auckland where he opened a NZ branch of the company he works for and we stayed there for 10 years then his company wanted him back in head office which is in Sydney and he drives back and forth everyday from the coast its mainly freeway so the traffic isn't too much of a problem. we both love it here I like the climate its much warmer, I don't handle the cold very well. As far as my health is I'm doing very well I started getting back into things that I was used to doing before SAH but it was too much and I had to take a good hard look at what I was asking of my body and make the necessary changes. I was a very fit keen bushwalker, cyclist, bowler and kayaker before this happened I think this played a major role in my survival, anyhow I thought (as you do) I was 10foot high and bulletproof when I left hospital and tried to go on as I had before but then I crashed it was too much too soon, now I'm learning to accept what I can do and feel satisfied with it, mind you I still have to have my rest days in between and at the moment I'm playing Lawn bowls twice a week and a bushwalk or cycle with my husband on a weekend (weather permitting) and neither of those involve long distance at this stage. I found this site BTG probably like you did in desperation searching for some sort of guidance and they have all been wonderful, I have also managed to get a copy of Jane Lapotaire TIME OUT OF MIND and A DENTED IMAGE Alison Wertheimer the latter especially I found very helpful in the way it described the way others were recovering after their SAH I think it put my mind at ease in the way others were experiencing much the same as I am. It was mainly fatigue that bothers us the most, how about you, how are you doing? I would be very interested in hearing your story, have posted it on the BTG website? I will give you my email address in case you would like to make contact. dianerhedey@yahoo.com.au please feel free to email me anytime my very best to you Diane

Hi Shiree, Thanks for getting back to me so promptly. I am a kiwi living in Australia when I had my SAH 20th March 2007 I am very grateful to doctors and nursing staff here for the wonderful care and attention I received while in hospital but like you once I left that invironment there was absolutley nothing out there in the way of support so this site has been a such a godsend. I look forward to hearing more from you. Regards Diane

Hi Karen, No Unfortunately there isn't anything over here that I can see and I have searched that was how I came upon your site, and thank goodness I did it can be such a lonely situation to be in when you first leave the hospital if I can help others the way you have helped and supported me, I will. lots of love Diane xxx

Hi Karen, I thought I'd run this by your members to see how many Aussies out there have experienced a SAH and have found this wonderful site as helpful as I have, it really is a tremendous thing to be able to make contact with other survivors and receive so much information and help. I have just finished reading "A Dented Image" and found it to be a very good read. I live on the Central Coast NSW Australia and would dearly like to hear from any Australians or New Zealanders who have had this happen to them or their loved ones. Thanks Karen you are a real treasure. lots of love Diane

Memory isn't the only thing that changed in my life I never had a sweet tooth in my life before this but now oh boy I have to have my peice of cake or sweet biscuit with my cuppa every day it's really strange has anyone else noticed this? Diane xxx

Hi there, Yes your memory does improve over time but does tend to slip back when you get tired. I bought a Nintendo DS with the Brain game and found this to be an excellent tool for training the brain and helping with the memory problem. Concentration levels are another area affected by tiredness so it's best to listen to your body and take time out to rest and recharge the batteries. Have a great day everybody Regards Diane

Gidday! Cyberhorse Mel, I am from the Central Coast NSW and 18months Post SAH. Like you I am very gratefull to Karen and the fabulous people on this site that take the time to share their experiences and offer so much support. it's nice to have another Aussie on the site. Take care. regards Diane

Thank you Louise you have been most helpful. Have a great day. Diane xx

Thanks Karen and everybody who replied re my querie regarding the shunt you have all been most helpful I have googled Australian sites and come up with two options the USB or Medic Alert so I will go ahead and order one or the other. I think I prefer the Medic Alert for the fact that it is recognised anywhere in the world. Anyhow thanks you have given me a starting point. I wish you and your families all the very best. Take care lots of love Diane xx

Hello Marie, This is a fantastic site I'm so glad you found it I did and have received a lot of help and support, You will feel better, but it will take time. keep your chin up. All the best. lots of love Diane

Hello all, I'ts me again and I'm not bragging this time I've had a little set back yes I did overdo it but luckily I got warning signals early and have slowed down the pace, it's funny that you feel so good you must be doing everything right, but no it's too early 1 year on I've got a lot to learn, I fully intend to get back on this horse but slower this time. Now what I'd like to ask is, if anyone here has experience with shunts and do they carry anything to identify that they have one? in case something goes wrong and you are unable to communicate at the time. Any help here I would be most grateful for, thanks. All the very best to you all. lots of love Diane xxx

Hi Matthew, So glad you have found this site, it has been a godsend to me. I've also had a non Aneurysm SAH 12 months ago and I'm pleased to say I've made a very good recovery. I live in Australia and although I've searched I cannot find anything Like this site, we are so lucky first, that we survived and second, we get to share our highs and lows with such wonderful friends. I wish you all the best and hope you make a speedy recovery. Listen to your body and rest when you need too. Take care Diane

Hi, I live in Australia and this site has been wonderful I don't know how I would have coped without it, the reassurance and confidence I've gained from just reading how everyone else has managed after their SAH has been a tremendous help to me and my recovery. I owe you all big time.

Hello and a very Happy New Year, I hope 2008 will be a good year for you all. This is such a wonderful site, full of very valuable information I know I have benifited so much from your experiences thank you. I'ts been 10 months for me now and everything is going well, My biggest lesson so far has been to accept and be happy doing what I can today rather than what I could before SAH. Make every day count and enjoy it thats my motto. I hope you all have a great day and you keep on getting better. lots of love from Australia. Diane

Hi Karen, Thank you for getting back to me so quickly wow it must me pretty late over there, I feel more confident after reading your message a big thanks yes I know what you mean I get dizzy also when I try that exercise and my physio said the very same thing to me. I will get it checked out but knowing you have experienced the same helps me understand it's all part of this SAH recovery. Kindest regards Diane xxx

Hello to all, I have found your site such a big help, thank you for being there for all of us out here floundering. for me especially its wonderful as there doesn't seem to be a site anywhere in Australia I've googled but have found nothing. I have a question I'd really like your help with if you can, it relates to exercise and and neck stiffness. My husband and I have recently bought kayaks, not your streamline racer but the safe pleasure craft for cruising our vast waterways here on the coast It's a wonderful sport we were out yesterday the sun was shining, water blue and calm, life don't get much better than this! anyhow my big question is my neck it really bothers me I feel like there is a build up of pressure at the back of my head mainly at night which frightens me a bit, I find if i sit up I get some relief, this happens not only after rowing but walking, cycling and exercise in general all stuff I love doing, is this normal after SAH it's been 7 1/2 months now, do any of you have the same or similar? I would dearly like to hear any suggestions you might have re this. Thanks so much for listening. regards Diane xx

Hello first of all its so good to be able to share all your stories thanks for having me. There is a question thats been bothering me for some time and until now I haven't had anyone to ask. In most of the articles I've read the majority of SAH's are caused by aneurysms but they couldn't find the cause of mine even after 3 seperate angiograms, and untold ct scans they put the second bleed down to a weakness caused after the 2nd angiogram and vomiting when my gall bladder got inflamed, at the time they thought I'd require further surgery thinking the shunt wouldn't be able to cope but thankfully it did, it's all pretty hairy as I was not really with it in those early days, Has anyone had the same or similar that can point me in the right direction and set my mind at rest. ie could it happen again?? as there wasn't anything to fix although I do have a nice hole in the side of my skull where the drain was and this bumpy thing in the back of my head that drains into my tummy (shunt) I'm amazed at technology today. Thanks for listening. Diane xx

Hello Mollie, I too am a newie and like you came searching for knowledge this site is fantastic just reading what others have to say and the advice they give is awesome. I read Jane Lapotaire's book " Time Out Of Mind" it was a good read. All the best. Diane xx

Thank you all, Andy you are so right I am a survivor I was also diagnosed with breast cancer 18months ago and I've come through that very well I believe its because I have a wonderful family lovely friends and of course my beautiful little dog (Shana) shitzu x maltese I knew I had to get better for her she was really missing me, you should have seen the welcome home I received from her, so lucky I was sitting down. My heart goes out to you all and your families. Stay well and keep smiling.

Hello to all.My name is Diane I'm 61 years of age a bushwalker, cyclist and keen bowler I was very active (and will be again) until my SAH March 2007. It all started when I carried several bags of shopping up my flight of stairs 45 in total to my unit which is on the 3rd and top floor of our building I have to admit I should have made two trips out of this lot but being in a hurry to get back out I did it in one, as I arrived at my door I had this pain in my head like no other I'd ever experienced and knew something wasn’t right I literally crawled into my kitchen, put down the bags and found my cell phone, called my husband (George) who works in Sydney 1hr 30min away Luckily he answered on the first ring I asked him to call an ambulance saying something bad was happening and that’s the last thing I remember for over a week so he has had to fill me in on the details that followed. Apparently they came and took me to our local hospital ( Gosford) where the doctors immediately had a ct scan taken of my head and found I’d suffered a SAH by this time George had been home and discovered I had gone and straight away went to the hospital where they were preparing to put me in a helicopter and fly me to a special Neurological Unit in Sydney (Dalcross Private) To the team there I owe a great depth of gratitude, they were marvellous. Anyhow once there I was taken into surgery and a drain placed in my head to relieve the pressure, at one point George tells me he counted 14 different tubes drains etc. man that must have been scary. It was several days later though before I awoke and recognised my daughter who had arrived from New Zealand, I do know one thing the pain was terrible I’ll never forget it. I remained in Intensive Care for 3 weeks then as things started to settle down I was taken into surgery again this time to have a shunt inserted into my scull for permanent drainage, this went well and I was transferred out of ICU and into the ward until my gall bladder played up and set me off causing another bleed, so back into ICU but thankfully the shunt coped and my stay there was only a few days. The care and attention I received from my family and hospital staff I will never forget and the fact that I’m here telling you all this is a miracle and I’m so grateful. My overall stay in hospital was 12 weeks 2 of which was rehabilitation getting these chicken legs to work again; I am one of the lucky ones indeed.