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Karen

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Posts posted by Karen

  1. Congratulations lovely on your 12th Anni-versary!.... :)

     

    As Macca has already said....you're an example and an inspiration.

     

    You've turned a negative situation into something positive and where you still find much joy in life and I know travel is one of those pleasures and that it brings you much happiness.

     

     

    My motto now is "Live life to the full to the best of your ability, blow tomorrow, it may never happen"

     

    I agree and it's pretty much my mantra too post SAH .... you can't change what's happened in the past and you can't alter what the future holds ... the SAH has taught me one valuable lesson and that's to live for today.

     

    Thank you so much for all of the help and support that you continue to give myself and all at BTG ....Hope that you're celebrating this evening!

     

    Hugs and love xx

    • Like 7
  2. Hi Tricia,

     

    It sounds as though he knows what he's doing and is in denial or doesn't want to face up to the problems he's causing himself and the family.

     

    He could well be depressed and using the alcohol as a means of coping .... however, we know that alcohol is a depressant and will make a situation worse with feelings and actions and I can see how it's affecting you and your family.

     

    If he's drinking excessively, then he may not remember in detail, how he acted towards you, the night before. He sounds as though he's in denial and if he won't listen to the recording then it would make me think that he has some recall and knows he's got a problem and probably feels bad for it, but then goes to the pub to take those feelings away again ....a vicious circle really.

     

    Your husband probably doesn't feel physically great, the morning after either! I know that some of us on here, can't tolerate a lot of alcohol because of the headaches etc. 

     

    I was on anti seizure meds for some months post SAH and the withdrawal wasn't easy physically or emotionally. I was so worried about the seizures returning and it was a very rough patch for me. I am actually quite surprised that your husband is drinking heavily whilst still on the meds as I was told by my GP that alcohol can interfere with the action of the meds.

     

    I wasn't on Keppra - I was on Phenytoin and had regular blood tests to check for levels, which included a liver function test for tor any Phenytoin toxicity. 

     

    I can't really suggest anything, apart from go back to the GP if need be. I would also try to have a conversation with your husband, not about the drink but try to get him to open up emotionally. You've said that he's normally a loving and sweet man, so you will have to pick a quiet moment and have a calm conversation with him as to his worries.

     

    I know of a few BTG male members, not dissimilar to your husband who struggled emotionally and who were depressed, suffering anxiety etc post SAH, but they did eventually seek help....some with counselling, others anti depressants and in some cases both.

     

    Sadly, it's not seen in society as a manly thing to admit to feelings of helplessness and where most of us women natter away about our worries and share it, I think that it's much harder for a man to feel that he can or should seek help.

     

    I wish you the very best of luck.  xx

    • Like 5
  3. Gilly, I take Propranolol ... my dose is 40mg x 1 .....it used to be 40mg x 2 in my earlier days post SAH, which would be more than yours. I was prescribed it for a number of reasons - anxiety, classic migraines with aura and an irregular heart beat....like palpitations.

     

    I find the dose okay for me now .... I also have low/average blood pressure.

     

    If your Doc thinks that the dose is good for you and for the symptoms that you have, I would say, just run with it. It's not caused me any problems. xx

  4. Gilly, try sleeping in a more upright position, rather than laying too flat. I still use a V pillow to sleep with, as I sometimes still experience head pressure and dizziness and laying flat seems to exacerbate it .... but that's just my experience.

     

    If you're worried about the pressure feeling and dizziness, go and get yourself checked out, as it will give you peace of mind.

    xx

  5. I've got an infundibulum on the opposite side to the original aneursym that bled  ....  I'm alive and kicking 10 years on ... I believe that its funnel shaped...  I'm still being monitored, brain wise and haven't had any significant changes. 

     

    Ask your Consultant or ask your GP to contact them. xx

  6. Louise my friend, it's a complete pleasure to know you and congratulations on reaching your 16th year :) ... I know what a tough journey it's been for you, but I can also see how far you've come along.... :)

     

    I know that this time of year is always a tough one for you ..... keep your chin up my lovely and thank you for posting. Love and hugs xx

    • Like 5
  7. 10 years on for me and any association with the SAH really does and will get better ...  :)

     

    Sleep can be pretty tough post SAH as it is, for a lot of reasons and your body clock can be thrown out....I also had nightmares and sometimes I would still be awake at 4am and only just going off to sleep when the family were getting up and going off to work .. it will and does get better....xx 

    • Like 4
  8. Hi Claudette,

     

    I'm glad that you're finding some comfort from the site.  :) Feeling scared is only natural and I don't know one of us survivors that didn't feel scared, it would perhaps be abnormal not to have those feelings? 

     

    Time is a great healer and bit by bit, your confidence will return .... you can't put a time limit on it and it won't happen overnight as we're all individuals and some of us take longer than others with the healing process, both physically and mentally.

     

    In my 9 years of running this site, I've seen people move on and move forward with their lives in a very positive way. When they first came to behind the gray, they were just like you and needed the support and comfort of knowing that they weren't alone. As time passes, their confidence returns and they need the site less and less, but in return they become the members who give advice and support, as they know how valuable that support is in the early months and years.

     

    In my long winded way, what I'm trying to say, is that you will get there too Claudette :)  ... I wish you well. xx

    • Like 4
  9. Hi Davie,

     

    Hope that you go and see your GP. I would imagine that everyone here can empathise with you ... we've all pretty much had the same feelings and also coping with the shock of the SAH too.

     

    It does and will get better .... but my advice would be, don't struggle and do seek help. The sooner that you do seek help, the better you'll feel and be completely honest with your GP regarding how you feel. I spent far too long thinking that I could do it all by myself, struggling and I was a mess. The brain is a complex organ and there's a huge amount that it controls, including your emotions.

     

    Be kind to yourself and book an appointment.... I wish you the very best of luck in your recovery. x

    • Like 6
  10. Hi, you could try the Citizens Advice Bureau for free, practical help? .... they might be able to point you in the right direction.

     

    Don't give up, Insurance companies seem to be notorious for not wanting to pay out for any type of policy.

     

    I've had a SAH and would I say that I've had permanent neurological deficit? I would say that yes I have in layman's terms ... I haven't been able to return to work. I'm still having a lot of problems that I would rather not have to deal with. Luckily, I wasn't the major wage earner in the household.

     

    A SAH is a type of haemorrhagic stroke ... I would advise you to do some research on the subject of SAH/stroke if you haven't already done so and also may be find other online forums that can specifically help you with your Insurance claim? .... they may have professional people on there that will help you out or point you in the right direction as what you need to do next.

     

    Don't give up and become such a pain in the backside to the Insurance company that they will be sick of hearing your name .... it shouldn't have to be that way, but unfortunately it seems to be a battle of wills.  

     

    Wishing your Wife well again ... and the very best of luck. I would definitely contact the Citizens Advice Bureau as your first port of call.... https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

     

    xx

    • Like 3
  11. Davis, I still have weird head pain and ear stuff .... I get white noise in my ears and the frequency changes....I get weird throbbing and pain that I can pinpoint on my head at times .... 10 years on, I'm still alive and kicking!  :)

     

    I also get similar to you and that's probably a sensation of dizziness and my brain kicking in with some anxiety too...I know what you mean with lifts and I've only recently started to do escalators and moving walkways .... my brain is okay when everything is moving, it's when it stops and I seem to lag behind with my head... and body is a couple of seconds behind....I can't really describe it, but it's not nice.

     

    I had my aneurysm on the post right communicating artery, which I believe affects visual and balance .... do you know which artery you had your bleed from?

     

    xx

  12. I still get weird sensations in my head .... 10 years on and also had a sentinel bleed a few years prior to the big one....still alive and kicking!

     

    Change of pressure in my ears, white noise and just stuff that I can't describe that used to really freak me out. Nothing bad has happened to me and it does take time to restore confidence, that your body won't let you down again.

     

    Guy's, we haven't lost anybody on BTG since it was started and who've been treated .... I spent too many years being worried and not living those years ... 

     

    Davis, how long ago did you have the SAH? If in doubt go and get yourself checked out, it will give you peace of mind. xx

    • Like 4
  13. Posted by Admin on behalf of - Sammy - http://web.behindthegray.net/index.php?/user/1794-sammy/

     

    Hey ..... im back, had a few issues I had to sort out, but getting to the end of my therapy. I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and have had many weeks of therapy which is now coming to an end.

     

    I'm feeling a lot more confident and less anxious. We are looking at going abroad in October, it will be the first time I've been abroad since my SAH and I'm feeling a little anxious and concerned as I have a VP shunt fitted as well has having my aneurysm coiled.

     

    I could just do with some more reassurance from any of you who have had a shunt fitted and flown.

     

    Although I have already gained some info from people on here I just feel that I need a little more assurance from you

    Many Thanks Sammy. 

  14. Les, wishing you a very happy 5th SAH Anniversary!  :) xx

     

    Your contributions to this forum are always very gentle, heartfelt and honest and you have a lovely gift for comforting others.  :)

     

    Thank you so much for the help that you give to me and this site .... you're much loved and appreciated. xxx

    • Like 4
  15. Sami, bless you and you've re-paid me and this site, tenfold and more! ....  :) It's people like yourself, who've kept me going...you're much loved  ....  and I hope that you're having a fabulous evening and celebrating, as it's much deserved!.... xx 

    • Like 3
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