Karen

Hi Ember, Welcome to the site! Hope that you're taking it easy! Sounds as though you're doing pretty well, considering what's happened to you. Please do take it easy though, sounds as though you have been blessed....but listen to your body and rest up....even though you're a Nurse! Hope that you find the site helpful.....lots of us just look in to have a chat ...we all have good days and bad days ... so hope that you will let us know how you are getting on. Take care and rest up! Love Karen x

Hi Sami, Just caught your post...we must have been posting at the same time. Brandy glasses + tray and yet no brandy...... one of my fav tipples! So you've been xmas pressie shopping....you're obviously one very organised lady! I use a Goldfish credit card for all of my shopping, as does Eric for his business use.....we save up the points during the year and redeem them for vouchers, for shops such as Next, M & S...it's handy to buy a few pressies and some yummy M & S xmas food! I've just been online now to redeem them.....as xmas is starting to get quite close! But I love xmas...always will do I hope! Siobahn sounds like she's going to be one lucky little girl! I must admit that I miss the buzz of xmas, with my two being grown up....used to love all of the Father Christmas stuff....great fun! No problems about Friday Sami, I know that you don't come online in the evening....but just thought that I would let you know. Anyway, must go......have a good evening all, Love Karen x

Hi Louise, Champagne sounds nice and a silver picture also sounds good ..... if somebody else gets them a frame, at least you can group them together. The hot choccy drink sounds good, it's also got quite cold down south .... think that we've been spoilt by the recent warm weather, so the fire has been stoked up! Don't worry if you don't want to come onto "chat" ... no probs ... just thought that I would let you know. Just been writing out cheques for some bills .... think that I will buy a Lotto ticket this week!! Going to prepare some dinner ..... haven't got a clue what to do... Catch you later, Love K x

Hi Louise, There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason why I get these weird bouts of sleep, they just seem to crop up...but it's so annoying....hopefully they will go as quickly as they came! Do you know what you're going to get for the Silver Wedding Anni? I know that it should be something silver..but I suppose that it doesn't have to be. Eric and I, inherited some silver....tea set, golfing cups, sweet dishes, salt and pepper pots etc....but they've ended up in the loft, as I'm too lazy to keep cleaning it!! If you fancy a natter on "chat" Friday evening @8.30pm....myself and Therese will be online......we're all a bit slow with the typing etc....but, hey, who cares!! Arranging washing on airers and radiators at the minute.....it will surely be luxury when my dryer is fixed.....there's more to life than this!! Catch you later, Love K x

Hi Sami, Glad that your night was a good one. I think that the vivid dreams are causing me to wake up, almost like I have to respond to them.....it's weird...not sure whether I'm dreaming or its reality.....it's very strange...must be some sort of brain activity going on! I've written Gingko on my list....so will pop out tomorrow and pick some up. Actually, I quite fancy a Bounty to nibble! I feel quite tired today, even though I've done nothing! I don't often shop at Tesco, but might try some of their energy drinks, just for a change. Eric's in Northern Ireland today, doing a bit of troubleshooting ..... I love Southern Ireland, but the pics that I've seen of Northern Ireland always look very depressing, but he's back tomorrow night. I shall think of Paul tonight if I'm up at the same time ...... we'll probably be munching in unison! Glad that you liked the attachment that I sent via e-mail.....it came from where I used to work...I miss that sort of thing now, even though it's all a bit silly....but it makes the day go a little easier.....it's been great teasing the dog with it!! (Might try it out on our cat later!!) Speak to you later, Love K x

Hiya, I had another night of weird sleep....woke up a 3.00am...starving again, but managed to get back off to sleep and overslept this morning. My dreams have also been very vivid again. Had coffee and cake with my friend Dee this morning.....had a good natter....I still find it quite hard work and tiring, holding a conversation for than a couple of hours..... I used to be able to gas on for hours and hours, but now, I seem to run out of steam. The board seems quiet this morning ..... It's a grotty day down south, grey and raining ...... away to do some chores now and make up for my late start this morning! Hope all is well with everyone. Love K x

Hi Barney, Great to hear from you and all the way from New Zealand. ... it's probably evening time with you now? Sounds like you're doing pretty well with your recovery .... there are a couple of other Guys on this site that have had a bleed similar to yours. My warning bleed 4 years prior to this one, started like yours ... with neck stiffness....I was using a computer at the time, so at first I thought that it was just aches and pains....then "Wham"! It was interesting reading your story about the Dentist, as I've read a few articles where people have had a SAH after visiting the haidressers ...... where they've had their hair washed in a back facing sink. Think that they call it "Beauty Parlour Syndrome" .... but don't quote me! Something to do with the neck/head being put into such a position that it affects the blood vessels. I will have to read up on it again, as my short term memory isn't good! Can I be cheeky and ask how old you are Barney? It's good that you've managed to get back to working part time, but yep, the fatigue seems to be a major issue with everybody here. Anyway, must go .... it's good to talk to you... Love Karen x

Hi Therese, Just to send you best wishes for your angio, this Thursday, Therese. I know that you must be feeling pretty worried about having to have the coiling re-done. It was lovely to speak to you on "chat" Saturday night ..... even though, you must have read the loony conversation going on between myself, Hubbie and Daughter! My excuse is, that I have to test the site now and again!! I shall try to be on "chat" this Friday at about 8.30pm ..... I've written it down, so hopefully won't forget!! Really hope that all goes okay and I will be thinking of you.... Lots of Love, Karen xx

Hiya, Sami, I happened to be watching and listening to the racing yesterday afternoon.........whilst ironing......now I know why you call yourself RossiGirl!! Glad that your weekend was a good one! I didn't realise that Home and Away was still on..... When the series was first on my Australian Brother-In-Law was one of the lifeguards running on the beach during the intro .... haven't seen it for donkeys years. Had my food delivered today......tonight it's going to be left over chicken casserole with a few sausages bunged in.....can't really be bothered to be honest! My mate is over tomorrow for coffee (Dee of the big cake/pastry variety) so need to get going with my cleaning ...... too much to do today, but hopefully, I can get rid of some of those extra calories! Have a nice evening all, Take care and hopefully sweet dreams!! Love K x

Hi Louise, The colour scheme sounds lovely......wish I had a big bedroom.....ours, well, you just bang into everything.... we've got a wrought iron/wood bed..we even cut the end of the bedposts off so we stopped banging into them!! Talking about bedrooms......just been hoovering up my sons......no wonder that he's got a dust allergy......I have to go in there armed with tissues as it makes my nose run like a tap! I thought that kids would get better as they got older! My daughters is just as bad .... you need a garden rake rather than a hoover and probably a skip to chuck the rubbish in! Still, looks like rain so going to go and get the washing in.......can't wait for the tumble dryer to be fixed up. A bit boring at home today ..... haven't got much done, the house always looks like a tip after the weekend.....so nice excuse to come on here and have a chat....anyway, must go! Love K x

Hi Keith, I didn't have my follow up angio until about 7 months post SAH. I was a bit worried about having it done, so they agreed to give me a light sedative when I went to the pre-assessment. It all went fine though and wasn't as bad as I thought that it was going to be. The pre-assessment is nothing to worry about ..... they have a chat with you, do a blood test and test your reflexes, heart, lungs with their stethescope etc. I can't remember them doing anything else......but it was all okay and like I say, nothing to worry about (even though I was at first!!). I think it only took about 1 hour, but I was first on the list ..... most of it was waiting around for the Doc and then the nurse for the bloods. When I went, there was another 3 people having the same.....it's done on a day ward, with 4 beds. I wouldn't imagine that you would be there for longer than a couple of hours? Sorry, though that you're having a bad week ...... perhaps you have been doing too much ..... you're still very early into your recovery and the fatigue can kick back in with a vengeance, along with the headaches. So take it easy Keith and rest up. Hope that it all goes well tomorrow and Friday.....will be thinking of you.. Take care, Love K x

Hiya, Love your Smiley Face, Louise!! Hope that your weekend was a good one as well. You've obviously been working hard.....still, just think about that lovely bedroom that you will eventually have! what colour have you chosen? I know what you mean about clutter ..... but I've always been like it!! I suppose that living in a small place doesn't help either, so I have to clear out quite regularly. Eric took most of Saturday to strip down the washer.....it was gunked up with washing powder residue and limescale ..... so it's all been cleaned up and now its working, thanking goodness. House looked like a chinese laundry at the weekend......washing drying everywhere. Just waiting for the parts to be delivered for the dryer now. I don't like shopping either (apart from Ikea!) ...... I've never been in to clothes shopping anyway .... I use mail order quite a bit, especially "Next". Anyway, must go and have some lunch ..... just bought a new sandwich toaster this morning...going to try it out and have a cheese toasty. Be back later, Love K x

Hi Guys, Hope everybody is well this morning. Why is it that nearly every weekend, my sleep pattern is awful?? Late getting up this morning, due to being wide awake and starving hungry at 3.30am. Managed to get back to sleep at about 5.30am and steal a couple more broken hours. Think that I'm going to have to have a snack before I hit the sack tonight....just can't understand why I feel so hungry if I wake up during the night. The worse thing about having to enter the kitchen at that time of night to pinch a biscuit, is that the cat and dog who sleep in there, think that it's their brekkie time! Catch you later, Love K x

Hi Varun. It seems to be quite common to be a bit "spaced out" after the SAH. There are bits of my hospital time that I just can't remember. When you think about the cocktail of drugs that you're given as well...it's probably no wonder. Sometimes, I didn't know what time of day it was when I woke up from one of my very frequent sleeps.....I didn't no whether I'd had visitors etc.... when I did have visitors, the sheer effort of trying to stay awake, let alone hold a conversation was phenomenal....all I wanted to do was sleep... I suppose if your Mom's suffering spasms as well, it's something extra that she's having to cope with. I didn't have any brain spasms.....not that I can remember anyway! I did have a seizure in hospital after my coiling, but that was down to low sodium levels......but boy, did I feel poorly at that stage. It didn't take much to upset the apple cart and set back my recovery. Sometimes, I've wondered whether the brain just shuts off a little, in order to recover .... I still have short term memory problems....it's much better now and I've learned to adapt.....but for the first 3 months post SAH, it was awful ...... My Husband had to deal with making Doctors appointments, form filling, I couldn't even hold a telephone conversation where it involved giving any information......my brain was muddled and I would forget my telephone number, address, my age etc. It's almost like you have to re-learn all of these things. Take care, Love Karen x

Hi Annie, I've never managed to set off any metal detectors at the airport, with my undies!......but they always frisk me.....don't know why.......must have that sort of face! Anyway, the washer is fixed.....took Eric most of Saturday......it was just clogged up with powder and limescale etc. Just waiting for the parts to come through for the dryer.....my house looked like a chinese laundry over the weekend! Mum has just been diagnosed with colon cancer...she's having some more tests today, to see if it's spread anywhere else...so I shall know the outcome tomorrow. Emotionally, my brain seems to have shut off .... I shall just try to deal with it all as it happens and take it day by day. I used to be such a worrier ..... but since the SAH, I've changed ..... suppose that I realise that I have little or no control over my own life, let alone other peoples. It will probably hit me harder later on, but I will just have to deal with it, if it does. Hope all is well with yourself and take care, Love Karen xx

Hi Barney, A warm welcome to the site.....look forward to hearing from you. Karen x

Hi Sami, I shall definetly pick up the Boots mag and have a search for your hard work! If you win the lottery Sami, will you pack me in your suitcase.....as would quite enjoy the "good life" in Cornwall.......I wouldn't take up too much room!! Lots of love, Karen x PS. ****** dog has just been gnawing on my sewing ..... last night I made a dangly heart hanger....with beading....not sure how to describe it really.... so just been chasing him around the room with a tea towel in hand....It was also packaged in cellophane, as making them for xmas pressies.....If you ever visit a dogs home/RSPA you might understand why a lot of the dogs are Springer Spaniels.......Bailey is 5 and he's still horrendous....if he's not careful he might end up there!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Louise, I'm going to have to go.....dinner is burning! Just to wish you a lovely weekend....I normally look at the site over the weekend and do a bit of admin....so will catch you later. It's been good talking to you! Love K x

Hi Sami, Lovely to hear the story about you and Paul! Do you have any of your mock ups in the Boots catalogue? I will see if I can pick one up anyway!! Actually, Christmas isn't too far away.....scary!! Funny to hear about the DHL man.....bet he felt silly!! Would love to see your article ..... I'll PM you with my address in a sec, just in case you want to send it by "snail mail" ...... It would be nice to swap addresses anyway, for Chrissie Cards! Hope that your weekend is a good one! Lots of Love, Karen x

Hi Louise The Rambler Well Happy Anniversary to you and Ronnie .... I can't remember the exact day I met Eric....but we were 15, both at school. Such a long time ago. Lovely to hear that you and Ronnie are so close ..... you are both lucky to have each other. I'm sure that you would have looked after him beautifully, if the shoe had been on the other foot. Yep, you're right, it's a good job we don't know what life has in store for us, but you've been blessed with a good, happy relationship that's seen you through some very rough times. That's not a bad price for decorating the bedroom ...... now you can start choosing colours etc ! I would love to have high ceilings (not to paint them though!....you must live in an older property? I've always fancied a Victorian type of house with some character ....... I live in 70's bungalow, with a postage stamp size garden, with no character at all! Oh, one day maybe my dream will come true!! My favourite type of shopping heaven isat Ikea.........but we haven't got a local one and we have to travel to Bristol, which is a good couple of hours away. Who's rambling now!! Anyway, going to make a Shepherds Pie for tonights dinner ...... in need of some comfort food which normally involves mashed potato! catch you later, Love K x

Hiya, Well, I've just finished emptying the water from the washer....thought that I was on a roll as managed to get the filter out......nothing foreign in there..after spending about 1 hour on my knees and looking in the bowels of the machine and mopping up water ...I've given up.....just tried to switch it on and nothing. Hubbie wasn't at all happy when I phoned him (that was even before I told him).....so I'm also going to have to contend with a "grumpy old man" coming through the door later on! Joy of joys! I've now lost all momentum to do anything at all and have wandered aimlessly around the house, whilst listening to Loose Women on the tv. Going to go out and get some fresh air and pick up a nice bottle of wine for later on, as don't think that even chocolate is going to cut the mustard today. Any of you guys doing anything nice this weekend? I'm going to try to spend some time out in the garden and have a tidy up before winter sets in and it's too cold to do anything. Catch you later. Love K x

Hi Girls, Decided to bring my laptop into the kitchen ... have managed to get the machine door open and hand ball most of the water out, just waiting for the rest to drain out from a tube.... can't get the filter open at the bottom of the machine, as I reckon it's clogged up.... last time it was the underwire from a bra that came loose and did the damage ...... apparently bra's are one of the main wreckers of tumble driers and washers. Hopefully, Eric will be able to fix it again ..... he's quite handy in that way. Perhaps, I should change the choice of my undies and go for the floppy look?? Catch you later......touch wood! Love K x

I've obviously tempted fate by writing the words "friday 13th"..... my washing machine has decided to pack in and it's full of water......after my tumble drier packed up .... I said it could be worse and could be the washing machine.......why did I open my big mouth??????? I can feel a headache coming on. I'm going about doing a Victor Meldrew ... "I don't believe it!" Not sure I'm gong to bother getting my sewing machine out, in case that blows up....... At least my self assessment tax calculation has come in and I don't owe any money to the taxman.......mind you I did spend about 5 mins just looking at the envelope before I could open it up. Anyway, hopefully the day will get better. Love K x

Hi Louise, Must have been posting at the same time as you .... I started a new topic... "Friday 13th".... Re: Passport - Some people seem to be on automatic pilot when they speak to you and I don't think that they are listening to what you say. I think that when you tell people that you have brain damage or a brain anything......they don't know how to react to it or you. Next time you have a call like it and they don't respond, just put the phone down on them and don't feel guilty for doing it. My short term memory is still pretty bad......I can remember stupid stuff from about 20 years ago......but ask me anything about last week, I'm hopeless, unless I have it written down somewhere and I can refer back. My Doctor is great.....he knows what I'm like and when he's asking me to make appointments for blood tests, follow up's etc .... he writes it all down for me in list form........as he knows that my head is like a sieve and if it's not written down, I will forget as soon as I walk out of the room. Sometimes, I've even forgotten to pick up the list when I leave! He probably thinks that I'm a right dingbat! Anyway, must go and do some work, will be back later. Love K x

Hiya, Just realised it's Friday 13th today ... well, yesterday wasn't a good day ... health wise it was fine, just everything else going wrong ... so hoping today will be a better one. Sorry, Sami and Louise for not getting back to you, but I did read your postings. Sami, good to hear that your follow up appointment has come through and you can ask all of your questions and hopefully get some reassurance. I saw my Mum yesterday. I haven't seen her for a couple of weeks, but I was quite taken aback by how frail she looked .... but she seemed in good spirits .... just hope that after next monday, once she's had her final scan, that they will start the treatment. Anyway, going to busy myself with some sewing today and keep my mind off everything! Speak to you later, Love K x