Karen
-
Posts
14,577 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
540
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Articles
Events
Downloads
Blogs
Everything posted by Karen
-
Hi Jenni, don't be embarrassed as you'll probably be surprised as to how many people have had a SAH after being intimate. It's any spike in blood pressure....you could have been sitting on the loo and straining, in the gym, gardening ... etc. If you've got an aneurysm lurking and about to rupture, it will do it with any spike in blood pressure....whatever you're doing at the time ... lots of people on here that have had the SAH with different circumstances and post sex is one of them and you're not alone. I've been running this site for many years and we've heard everything, so there's no need to be embarrassed...we're here to help! So, go to the Introduce Yourself forum or the SAH forum if you want help and support with a specific problem. And no, your outcome wouldn't have been any different if you had revealed to the Doc that you were intimate before the SAH ... It's as simple as that.... having a blood pressure spike could have happened whatever you were doing at the time, as the aneurysm was there ... don't feel guilty. We've had the fittest of people on here, who were in the gym, bike riding or the same as you, or on the toilet and many other examples. It honestly does and will get better for you ..... xx
-
With many thanks to Katow for her very kind donation today! x
-
With many thanks to Subzero for his very kind donation today! And also many thanks to those BTG members who make a monthly contribution to keep the site up and running. Your support and kindness is very much appreciated. x
-
Thank you so much CharlieD! Donation received and it will help take Behind the Gray forward for another 3 months! Thank you for your kindness and I'm so glad that the site has helped you. x
-
Thank you Sallios, that's very kind of you and donation received. x
-
Thanks Sami. xx
-
Many thanks to those members who've made a donation towards the running costs of Behind the Gray in September! It's kept the site ticking over! 😘 x
-
With many thanks to those members who are making a monthly donation towards BTG funds.....It's very much appreciated.xx
-
Thanks Sami! x
-
With many thanks to all of those members who make a monthly donation to Behind the Gray! x I'm a little bit late with the "thank you's" but it's so much appreciated and it helps us to budget for the normal bits and pieces and the unforseen stuff that arrives at BTG's door .... Thank you so much. xx
-
Sources of support Subarachnoid haemorrhage is a serious illness and can leave you feeling isolated. Any concerns about your illness should be discussed with your doctor or with the hospital where you were treated. Most hospitals have specialist teams who can advise and support you. Attending a support group or joining an online support group where you can communicate with fellow sufferers can be very beneficial. Sharing experiences can help you feel less isolated and can help you to come to terms with what has happened. Support from family and friends is very important and can help with your recovery. It’s sometimes difficult for those who are close to you to understand what you have been through and how you are feeling. Try to help them too by showing them this website or some of the booklets from the links below. Joan from London says: Everyone rallied round and remained caring and concerned for my welfare. But of course, the bedrock of my life, Robert, has helped me come to terms with all that has happened and were it not for his dear love I don't know what would have happened. I sometimes think that I don't appreciate how traumatic it was for him to contemplate losing me, or imagining a future very different to what worked out. Vic from Frimley says: I have been with my partner for 14 years and he was and still is a great support. He has also had to change his life somewhat and accept my new foibles! Which he seems to have done pretty effortlessly! I'm sure there will be hard times ahead for the both of us and decisions to make but I couldn't have got this far without him. Our friends and our parents have been a great support also for us both. Karen from Dorset says: I have found this website to have been a Godsend. I really feel that you need to be able to talk to fellow sufferers and share experiences. When I have had down days, there's always been somebody to share it with and vice-versa, there's always somebody worse off than you. Sami from Nottinghamshire says: If it wasn't for talking to people in the same situation as me here at behindthegray, then I doubt very much that my recovery would have been as good as it has been.My close family and friends have been a huge support and helped me through the most difficult times. My husband has been an absolute star. He may not be able to know or understand how this feels but he has always been there for me with kind words, strong arms and plenty of tissues. Keith from Hampshire says: My wife and two sons were all very supportive, although it was difficult for my boys to understand what I was going through – my youngest is only eight! It was a great relief to find this site and to talk to others who understand exactly how I was feeling. It's understandably difficult for others who haven't been through this to comprehend how you feel and it helps a great deal to talk to others sufferers who have been through the same thing. Further Information The following booklets are available from the Brain and Spine Foundation: Subarachnoid Haemorrhage http://www.brainandspine.org.uk/subarachnoid-haemorrhage -
We're looking to raise at least £800+ per year to keep this site running.... Hosting alone and part management with Invision, is now costing us £600 per year, so that doesn't include any extras that we may need to put into place ... such as paying for up to date software upgrades every couple of years and new themes/skins that support the new software. Information technology changes like the wind and in order for this site to work properly and without any glitches, we have to move with it. If we don't, it results in areas of the website becoming "broken" and the website and forums would eventually fall into decay and not usable. Everything, that is carried out on this site is voluntary and carried out to a high standard and would cost us significantly more, if we had to employ people in a professional capacity to do the same. Therefore, we rely on the goodwill of volunteers to keep this website running at the high standard that it is, for the minimum of costs. If anybody would like to give a donation to help keep us running there is a Donate button on the site .... if you would prefer to send a personal cheque, then please contact me via Private Message or the website via email. With many thanks to all who've set up a regular monthly donation with the website and you know who you are! x A regular monthy donation helps the site to budget for the following year/s and to be honest, it's a bit of a relief and less stress for me when working out our finances or if we need to consider fundraising. I'm not good or at all comfortable with asking for money to keep this site funded and it goes against the grain for me, but I can see that it's often down to some individuals who donate the one off larger amount who've floated the site funds to take BTG forward for another year, after I've appealed on the website and without these members, BTG wouldn't be here. So, it's also with many thanks to those of you, who've donated a yearly donation over the years and you also know who you are ...x Thank you all for your kindness and giving support to future survivors.
-
Reapplying for license with exceptional circumstances-UK only
Karen replied to Daffodil's topic in Driving After SAH
Finollie, I don't know of anyone that's had their insurance premium increased because of the SAH. I believe that insurance companies cannot increase your premium, if the DVLA has said and given the okay, that you're fit to drive ... Your insurance company may want to see the copy of the letter from the DVLA, telliing you, that you are fit to drive. It's much better to declare your situation, rather than having an insurance company not paying out, when you need it ...I would always advise for anybody to declare their medical history to their insurance company, irrespecive of having your licence revoked, as they would perhaps refuse to pay out. I never had my driving licence revoked and declared my problems voluntary to both the DVLA and Insurance company. At the time of my SAH, I had a work colleague, who unfortunately had a brain tumour, but gave sage advice. I had a third nerve palsy to my right eye and seizures during my spell in hospital...some of those seizures were the hospitals fault with their lack of due care and attention. A third nerve palsy meant that I had double vision. The DVLA were happy for me to drive, as long as I corrected the double vision with either an eye patch or glasses fitted with a prism, when driving. I believe that if you've been declared fit to drive and it's been confirmed by the DVLA and you have evidence as such, that insurance companies can't discriminate and up your premium. -
Families and friends: How did you cope?
Karen replied to Lauren's topic in Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Discussion
Win, I think that I was still doolally when my kids thought that this site was a good idea at 12 months post SAH! Little did I realise, that it would still be running in 2018! Think that I would have run a mile to be honest! It's been run on a wing and a prayer and when I was still recovering myself and still going through all of the issues that I see from members now. It's been a combination of good, sometimes not so good lol and steep learning curves with running the site... but it's been great therapy for me, to see how each of us, have passed on our own experiences, info, support and love for our fellow SAH'ers and their carers and family. That's why I continue with it. xx -
Families and friends: How did you cope?
Karen replied to Lauren's topic in Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Discussion
Bless you Win! Wow! I was only one year into my recovery when Lauren started this thread....it's brought back memories of how my SAH impacted on the whole family. I'm glad to say that we've all come a long way since 2006! xx -
Win, funny that you say that about ear piercing .... my Doc did my ear piercing when I was 16, as I had an allergy to certain metals. Unfortunately, he pierced the left lobe too far down, which is the one with the crease and I reckon that the weight of some of the earrings that I used to wear, has also added to the crease.....in fact it's now a V shape!
- 12 replies
-
- 3
-
-
- franks sign
- ear
- (and 5 more)
-
Yes, I've had one for years on my left ear lobe and was aware that it's a potential indicator. However, I've a tendency to sleep mainly on my left side, so I'm a bit more wrinkly on that side of my face! x
- 12 replies
-
- 3
-
-
- franks sign
- ear
- (and 5 more)
-
Admin note: In order to stay on topic in the medical forums this thread has been edited and artwork and replies can be found on the following thread started in the Green Room....just click your mouse on the title below. x
-
Ask your Doc for a blood test to see if you're deficient in any vitamins or minerals .... it could be a simple fix. I was found to be lacking in iron, calcium/vit D post SAH. x
-
Jan, I can only say that this year, I'll be 12 years on, post SAH. I shall also be 55 in August. Every year, since the SAH, I've experienced better recovery .... I've been going through the menopause as well...and still having the drop in hormones. It's a tough road to travel, but I've done more this year, than I've ever done post SAH, so take heart! 2 years ago, I finally went to the Docs and got anti-depressants for my anxiety (I'm still on them) ... I also had stuff going on in my personal life. I struggled. I just wish that I had accepted help earlier and life since, has been a lot better and on a much more even keel.... I've also had balance problems and still do at certain times .... go and speak to your GP and be honest with him/her ... I've always felt that for me, the two year stage, was the starting point in my recovery.... figuring it out and discovering that I was living in a body and brain, that didn't feel like me. I rarely post on the site now, but I know how important mental health is ... please go and see your GP.... I wish that I hadn't been quite so stubborn, there's help out there and I hope that you guys won't leave it as long as me, to seek it. xx
-
Great to see you Laura. x
-
Hi from Keith (aka bogbrush) - lapsed member!
Karen replied to bogbrush's topic in Introduce Yourself
Great to see you back Keith! x -
Kelley, I have an infundibula on the left hand side of my brain. I believe that it's an abnormal shaped artery. It hasn't caused me any problems. Ask your Doc the questions that you need to ask. xx
-
Congratulations Clare on reaching your two year anni-versary. I've always felt that the first couple of years are perhaps the hardest with the many changes that we have to make. Hope that you enjoy your day and celebrate how much you've achieved. Sending a big hug to you. xx
-
I had my SAH on the 2/7/16 coiled 4/7/16. I was driving back from shopping with my partner and 3 year old daughter we had a heated discussion that's when it happened the worse pain I've ever felt my neck went stiff head was banging and felt very sick. I had been suffering funny headaches since April and been given migrealeve,cocodamol and told numerous times by GP I was suffering with migraines. My partner drive us home and I went to bed and slept for 12 hours he woke me and I couldn't lift my head so he rang the hospital and no ambulances were available so we went waited 3 hours in A&E to see a doctor who ordered a ct scan. They said I had a bleed and would be transferred to Salford Royal for more test it was there they found the aneurysm 11mm x 6mm had this coiled. I also have another which is 4 mm and they decided to watch this one. I find it hard to switch off at night although I'm very tired still ...I'm taking paracetamol and ibuprofen most days and feel hungover every morning.... very fatigued after the smallest tasks but I am improving. Luckily I have no memory problems just get very irritated and don't have the patience I had previous. I was back driving after my 3 month check up with consultant. I've not felt like going back to work just yet ....my 3 year old keeps me very busy..
