Karen

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

Hi Therese,

Your job sounds really interesting and rewarding. It's great to get paid for something that you enjoy as well.

Like you, I don't like driving at night with my dodgy eyesight....I find the headlight glare from other cars a real strain. My eyes were light sensitive before the bleed, but they're a lot worse now. How far away do you live from your work? At least there's a bus that you can catch.

I don't worry as much now as I did before the SAH...It's almost like my brain blocks the worry out now. I also don't feel as stressed as I used to .... like you I have hobbies to keep me busy, which is good ..... at the minute I'm making beady key/bag chains .... I have to work under a lamp and have a tendency to lose half my beads ... but it's quite enjoyable and keeps me out of mischief!

Nice speaking to you!

Love Karen x

Hi Girls,

Probably won't get much time on here today.....I'm paying for foostering around the last couple of days!

Sami, I also lost 1 stone after hospital ...... but have put it all back on ... mine is lack of being able to get out and about (+ chocolate + bacon sarnies = pig) ..... due to dizziness.....

Everything is breaking down at the minute ...... tumble drier ...... surround sound on tv is breaking up ...... Chris's car has just failed the mot big time ....... and I'm going now, to have a ****** nervous breakdown!

Will hopefully see you later ..... if not, will speak to you tomorrow..

lots of love,

K x

Hi Annie,

Nice to hear from you.....hope all is well

Lots of love,

Karen x

Hi Louise,

Glad that you're feeling better today It certainly helps if you've gotten a good sleep under your belt and seeing some sunshine out of the window.

I see what you mean about the sports drink and the vitamin problem...so no, it wouldnt't be a good combination for you.

I can understand what you mean about the upheaval of decorating etc. I used to be an avid DIY'er ..... but since I've had the SAH, I've gone to the opposite side and really can't be bothered with it!! There's quite a bit in the house now that needs to be done, but the bungalow that we live in is really tiny and it always causes problems as to where we put the furniture etc whilst it's being done. I think that it's going to be a while before you see me with a paint brush in my hand!

At the minute I'm trying to get the house clean......since Eric decided to have a dog 5 years ago, I think that it's tripled the cleaning. I do have a cat as well, but the cat doesn't make hardly any mess. I've got my Mum and Dad visiting today, so I have to make the effort and get the rubber gloves on......I wouldn't mind if it stayed looking clean for longer than five minutes.....but dog + fur + mud = ****** mess!!

Tumble drier has just decided to pack up ..... so more expense .... I could really do with having a job, but it's just not going to happen at this point in time. I just hope that nothing else is going to decide to break down!!

Anyway.....toilet cleaning time.....mmm... my favourite job!

Will be back later for a skive!

Love K x

Hi Keith,

Re: My nickname is a long story going back many years, but some would say I'm clean round the bend!

Aah! So you're a comedian as well as a musician!!

I have just had a look at you Web page ...... but my laptop is going in slow motion mode tonight and I'm still downloading the real player! I will have a listen a bit later ..... nice to put a face to your name and lovely to see a photo of Daniel.

Yep, the one step forward and one step backwards seems to be a common problem with most of us .... I've sort of got used to it now ... but it can be pretty frustrating.

Will speak to you soon,

Take care,

K x

Hi Ladies,

Very good Sami!

Re: "So we have Louise the Rambler, Karen the Foosterer and Sami the tattooed Granny!!!!! "

Sounds like we could be some sort of weird circus act?

Anyway, yes, I've been foostering around all morning ..... so nothing new there! My chocolate fix this morning is mini Jaffa Cakes ..... so me thinks I'm a bit tired today, when the jaffa's come out....I used to eat them (actually the whole pack ) when I was pregnant with Lauren, especially when I was tired ..... Lauren now loves them too....that's what comes of being overdosed by sugar when you're still in the womb!

Anyway, apart from feeling tired, I'm not doing too badly today .... Louise, have you tried the sports drinks......it does seem to help with the energy.......mind you girls, they do have quite a few calories in them....so I stick to one a day.....so that I can have some reserve calories for the chocolate!

Take care,

Lots of love,

K x

PS Louise - we must have been posting at the same time! Just came across your reply as I was submitting this one!

Hi Keith,

I love.... my V pillow.. It's good to cuddle as well! I can't lie completely flat since the SAH, as I find that I wake up with a pressure feeling in my head ..... I also lie on my side, but I just pull one end of the pillow slightly under my body as well.....but yep, the best thing since sliced bread!

Love K x

Hi Louise the Rambler!

This site is here for people to see a wide spectrum of experiences, including your own. It's good that you're so honest about it all and the many people that have read your story will thank their lucky stars and will be inspired by it. I know that I've been inspired by people like yourself that have struggled against the odds. When I've had a down day and can't be bothered to fight it, it's stories like yours that give me a kick up the bum.

So you just tell it how it is and don't apologise for doing so .... most people post SAH should realise that recovery is very much an individual thing ... we all vary as to the amount of damage that's been caused and we are all unique human beings.....some handle things better and have a better coping mechanism..... others struggle.

You've proved against the odds that you don't have to be a statistic and that you can sometimes open a "different door" you're a gutsy lady Louise and unfortunately there will always be ignorant people......it just makes it worse when they happen to be family.

I know what you mean about people asking how you are ...... I just say "not too bad, thanks" ..... I think that some people ask you, because they feel that they have to and not because they're really interested. Some are though and you normally know who those people are, that have genuine concern for you.

Sorry that you're having a lousy day though ....... but you are allowed to have the odd miserable day, especially if you've got things on your mind......you can't always be bright eyed and bushy tailed.

I hope that you're taking it easy and putting your feet up.

Speak to you later ..... I'm off to search for some chocolate in a minute!

Lots of love K x

Hiya Keith,

I will probably sit down tonight and write up some notes and view it again....my memory isn't what it used to be and I don't seem to be able to keep hold of much! But, yep, I'm glad that I did watch it, well worth it.

Keith, I can never remember your proper name......I can only seem to remember bogbrush!!! I didn't think men knew that toilet brushes existed!!!

I did wonder whether you were a musician by the photo that you use. Do you just play for fun or are you in a group? My brother Steve Elsworth is a jazz violinist, but he also plays a few other instruments as well, including the keyboard.....he used to play as a full time profession, but he also got a day job and so now only plays in the evening or weekends. One of his groups is The Morellos.

How are you feeling now you're 6 weeks into recovery? You always sound in good spirits.

Love K x

When I was in hospital recovering from the SAH, there was a lovely lady in the next bed to me, who had terminal cancer and had just undergone an op to have part of her brain tumour removed. She had obviously been in and out of hospital for quite a while and she had brought in this funny shaped V pillow. She told me that it was the best thing that she had ever bought and she took it everywhere with her.

Fed up myself with lumpy pillows, neckache, backache + raging headache and not being able to get comfortable, I asked my Husband to pick me one up. From that day forward I've used my V pillow for sleeping, propping me up, in the car if I'm on a long journey, on the settee, it goes everywhere and I haven't slept with a normal pillow since.

If you've recently had a SAH and you're having problems getting comfortable whether resting or sleeping, it's worth giving the pillow a try. I think that you can buy them from Argos and I've also seen them on ebay.

K x

Hi Sami,

I probably wouldn't have watched it at your stage either...I was in two minds myself...but glad I did.

I think that I might watch it again and take down some notes and write an article about it for the site. I certainly feel slightly more reassured. However, when I go back to hospital at some point, I might ask to have a look at my own angio pics.

Anyway, must go....I've got a date with my hoover......the weather is lousy down here today...it's tipping with rain and so gloomy....

Catch you later,

Love K xx

Hiya,

Well I finally watched the coiling video that Keith recommended. It was pretty good, quite a bit of info on it and it wasn't horrible to watch. I was a bit hesitant at first and wondered how I would feel. Anyway really glad that I did, as I have a little more info than I did previously, so thanks Keith for finding the link. I will probably put the link under useful sites, as it's well worth a watch.

Hope all you guys are having a good morning and will speak to you later.

Love K x