Karen

Interesting to hear that you're currently experiencing the same Daff. I was lucky to be self employed and I could dictate my hours to a degree and would work around the company's needs too. I did sometimes push it to 6 hours approximately 4/5 years post SAH and I managed it, but didn't quite know how I got home and to be honest I didn't feel that safe either when driving, even though it was only a couple of miles home.... It was a massive relief to get inside the house though and just to shut off for a while. To be honest, I don't think that I could increase those working hours even now with more recovery behind me .... however, I'm 53 this year and may be age also has a part to play and combined with the effects of the menopause that mimic the SAH fallout in quite a few ways too. xx

Dawn, strangely enough when I was temping many years after the SAH, the maximum amount of hours that I could work for was also 5 hours per day.... 9am-2pm and just grabbing the odd tea break (I was still self employed at this point) I never managed to go over that amount as by the time I drove home or picked up a bit of food shopping on the way, I could feel that I was shutting down and starting to feel uncomfortable. I'm glad that you've found what's good for you to work with and wish you well. xx

Hi, I think that it also probably depends on how poorly the patient is before they carry out the operation as would imagine that they would want to make sure that the patient is in a stable condition and strong enough to physically cope, rather than put them at risk. x

Hi Sharon and welcome.... Which support group are you attending? I only know of about 3 hospitals that have support groups so that's fabulous .... it does really help to meet others in the same position. Wishing you well .... early days for you post SAH, but it will get better. Take care xx

Jill, I know that you're terrified of losing your license but you must really go and get yourself checked over by the GP.... any tightness across the chest along with your other symptoms needs to be investigated. Please don't take any risks Jill. xx

Sounds as though you might need to have a chat to her GP to get the pain relief sorted out if the current meds aren't helping.

I had 14 days in bed and lost about 1 stone in hospital ... muscle wasting and was as weak as a kitten.... a lot of us experienced the same. It's probably a combination of both. I personally think that it's too early to consider Physio for her....have a chat with her GP, he/she sound as though they know what they're doing and you can try a different route re: painkiller. I actually found taking Paracetamol had more of an impact than the Codeine based drugs.... but taking them regularly rather than waiting for the pain to kick back in. I was also told by my Consultant that blood can show up in the CSF 3 months after the event ... but it obviously gets less and less ... and the pain less and less.

Yes, I did .... I was told that it was the blood dissipating down the spinal chord and irritating the nerve endings. The 2nd week of my SAH was absolutely hell on earth due to the back and leg pain and I was on liquid morphine for it whilst in hospital, but that barely took the edge of it .... I do feel for her, as the pain was worse than the head pain. 17 days in bed wouldn't have helped her either .... make sure that she does drink enough water with her painkillers as they will get into her system faster and to keep hydrated generally by drinking water as that helps the headache. It honestly does and will get better. You can also try a packet of frozen peas wrapped in a towel on her lower back if cooling it down helps or the alternative of a wrapped hot water bottle behind her back....either hot or cold depending on her preference. If you haven't got one already, I recommend a V pillow .... it helps support the back and neck, especially when resting up on a sofa etc. If all else fails, go back to her GP and see if they can recommend a different painkiller.... one size doesn't fit all. I really feel for her, as I know what it's like ... I can remember once saying that the pain was worse than giving birth.

Thanks Liz for clarifying, very much appreciated. xx

Elizabeth, sometimes people say inappropriate things to make "light" of a situation... such as Men are Men ... the alpha male .. they don't want to admit any weakness or feel vulnerable. I don't think that your Husbands profession actually comes in to play post SAH. If you're the major wage earner, it's bound to have some effect. I've seen a fair amount of Men on this site who were the major wage earner having difficulties with many aspects of their life.....including work and having to make decisions in that area as they weren't coping. If your Husbands SAH happened after having sex, then yes, he will probably be finding that this area of his life is difficult at the minute ... there's not many of us in the early weeks, months etc that don't experience a bit of post traumatic stress or flashbacks ... perhaps you need to talk to him about it and tell him that it's okay if he doesn't feel like sex at the minute ... you can still both be intimate in other ways. Your Husband will eventually realise what he can and what he can't do, as in energy levels ... he will work that one out for himself ... you will have to pick up the pieces in the meantime... no, you're not his Mom, but he's had a brain injury ... love, guidance and telling him that it's okay for a while .... he will find his own level over the next few months .... be patient with him and work it through......xx

Hi Mandy, If you manage the Wessex meet you will find the support helpful and meeting others in the same position as yourself is pretty comforting too. Re: Eye patching - I was told to patch alternative eyes, as it can make the muscles lazy in your bad eye and told that it's these muscles that need to be strengthened to bring the bad eye eventually back in line with the good one. I used to patch the bad eye when I was out and about, but patch over the good eye when I was in the house. xx

Admin Note to Members: It is an offence not to declare a medical condition to the DVLA that would affect a persons ability to drive safely. You also could be fined up to £1,000 if you don't tell the DVLA about your condition and you could also be prosecuted if you have an accident. If you have an accident or injured a third party and your medical condition which you knowingly witheld came to light, you would not be insured as you would be driving illegally. From my own experience with the DVLA I was allowed to hold onto my licence as long as the double vision was corrected to single vision. I was allowed to drive using either an eye patch or glasses with the lens taped over. I also informed my car insurance company who were absolutely fine. As frustrating as the process is with the DVLA the rules are there for very good reason and that's to keep all road users safe.

Wishing you well Liz and for tomorrow too ...xx

Elizabeth, I can't advise you what to do ... but from your post it seems like your Husband is looking for you to give him an answer or to tell him that it's okay? It's not just his decision, but yours too to some degree. A SAH is not an excuse ... it's a medical condition and a brain injury. It took me six months to get my Husband to have some sort of understanding as to why I was going to have to quit my job. I wanted to get back to "normal", but I couldn't ... I was too ill and it wasn't for the lack of trying to work. I put myself through hell and at that point I still didn't understand it all myself. I was waiting for him to tell me that it was "okay" to quit and he was waiting for me to tell him that I wasn't "okay" ... lack of communication and non acceptance... trying to make it all okay for the other person... It was me that had to tell him in the end and I felt like a complete failure, but I couldn't continue feeling like I did and the pressure had become huge ... trying to cope with feeling so unwell and trying to look and continue as if all was normal, when it was far from it. Financially, it was difficult and a worry... I was self employed, earning pretty good money pre-SAH and my Husband had just taken another job that was salaried rather than hourly paid and we needed two wages in at that point to pay the bills or so we thought. However, we had no choice and I had to stop working .... we looked at all of the bills, the two cars and where we could reduce our finances. Our lifestyle altered, it had to ... but you know what? .... we did it. I'm not saying that it's easy .... it wasn't....but life has worked out pretty okay. I have gone back to work on occasions ... but only on a temporary basis. May be have a look at the alternatives and see what you can do financially..... neither of you are happy at the moment and it sounds as though you're not talking because you don't want to upset each other. It's not about fixing each other, but communicating and being realistic as to what adjustments can or need to be made. I wish you both well .... life does and will work out..... sending hugs and love. xx

Elizabeth, I think that it's going to be up to your Husband as in finding "his new normal" post SAH ... my advice has always been, especially in the early months, not to compare yourself (in recovery terms) as to what you were like before the SAH, but judge your recovery against the day that you left hospital and see the improvements. I think that it takes time to find acceptance and get into that mindset. If you pit yourself up against your pre-SAH normal and start failing to achieve, then you feel like a failure and this starts to lead to feeling very frustrated and in some cases depression. Life does and will get better and good improvement is seen by most people on here. This does not just happen over the early weeks or months, but we experience it over many years. It really isn't all doom and gloom and the brain will take time to heal .... it also learns new pathways and we also learn ways to cope and to try manage and get the balance right with our life. Whether your Husband will achieve all of the activities that you've listed ... I can't tell you. He may or may not .... but if he doesn't, he needs to cut himself some slack, as it is possible that next year, he will achieve it and if he doesn't, may be the year after ... recovery from brain injury is an unknown quantity and individual to us all. Your support and understanding is the most important aspect .... make sure that he does rest up/take a break .... if you see him struggling with fatigue or isn't coping with any aspect of life .... talk to him and keep the lines of communication open. What you see now, is not necessarily how it's going to be, this time next year ... or the year after ... it will get better but he needs time to recover and his brain to heal. I was told that it takes 3 months for the blood from a bleed to fully dissipate down the spinal chord. A minimum of 3 - 6 months in return to work and that obviously depends on how severe the bleed was and damage etc. I've never managed to return to work, but I'm going to be 10 years post this SAH this year and I can promise you, that I can do stuff now, that I couldn't do 5 years ago ... it does get better and knowing when to rest up and knowing your limitations is key ... however, you do have to find those limitations yourself and discover what does and doesn't work for you. Did you show him the video? Three of those guys were early members of Behind the Gray and we were treated in the same Neuro Hospital .... When I was sent one of the first copies from them in my early years, it was very emotional.... It was the first time that I'd really had a decent cry and could say that I wasn't abnormal as to how I was feeling .... I suppose that it was acknowledgement as to what had happened to me and probably to be a lot kinder to myself. I did watch it in private though, before showing my Husband and children. You've described yourself as feeling "helpless" .... it sounds to me as though you're being thoroughly pro-active .... it's as much a learning curve for you, as it will be for your Husband. You're doing great and you're on here looking for help and recovery information .... don't see yourself as being helpless ... we're all here if you need anything. xx

Hi Elizabeth, The following link to a video may be of help to you... http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/OurServices/Brainspineandneuromuscular/Neurovascularservice/Neurovascularconditions/SubArachnoidHaemorrhage/PersonalExperiences/Videopatientexperiencesofsubarachnoidhaemorrhage.aspx I can only say that what you've written about your Husbands problems post SAH, doesn't sound that uncommon to me. From my own experience and with running this site for 9 years, I would say that what he's experiencing are pretty common recovery problems in the early months and even the first year, but every recovery is individual re: time scale. Returning to work at 3 weeks must have been absolutely hellish and I feel for him. xx

Admin test move this thread to advice and tips and leave a re-direct.

Hi Sara and welcome to BTG .... some lovely replies to you and all I can say, is that you're early days post SAH and life will get better given time ....don't rush it and be kind to yourself. xx Jill, without going too much off topic ... I can see that you've done wonderfully well since you first tried to post on Behind the Gray and the amount of help that you needed in your early days on here ... I know that there have been quite a few members on here, who also had never used a computer until after they had their SAH.... but all have made so much improvement and being 70+ years? .... well, you are a complete star in my eyes and driving a pony too! Be proud of yourself Jill .. and if your family forget that you are over 70 and recovering from a SAH .... I don't ... you're an inspiration to all of us. Happy New Year to you too and wishing you all good things. xx

You will get a fair amount of water from other sources such as food....vegetables, salad, milk ... etc I would also say, that with any tablets that you take, drink a good glass of water with them and from what I've been told, it gets into the system quicker .... especially with painkillers. I have a Husband that still swallows them dry and then wonders why they're not getting into his system faster and taking the pain away. Carolyn, unfortunately Coffee can dehydrate you .. it probably depends on how much of it you drink .... there seems to be mixed opinion on the effect of caffeine. I've only just started back on coffee, just one a day and it gives me a bit of a kick start. I have found that drinking a glass of water before bed time does help. It's a bit of a fine balancing act, as too much water can also affect your sodium levels .... so, you need to be careful and just make sure that you're hydrated.

Admin note: Due to the nature of this thread and possible legal implications would any member who wishes to reply to Lauren, please contact her via Private Message. Thank you.

Hi Julian, there are a few Neuro Hospitals who do use this site for information and also refer people who are struggling with their recovery. Lack of recovery info and support is the main reason why this site was set up and the need to talk to others in the same boat to share experiences .... wish that somebody had done something similar before I had my own SAH. x

I don't think that Win's post was intended to make you feel upset or to make you feel personally offended. Nobody is telling you that you can't have a bad day.....we all have those. The above comment from Win was well intentioned and I think that you've perhaps misread it or taken it out of context, as Win always ends her posts on a positive and light hearted note as that's how she deals with life. Win's had it tougher than most of us on here physically and it's a miracle that she can even type a response on this forum from the early days of her daughter posting on here when Win was in hospital and the outcome sounded extremely bleak. I've seen Win's progress since she first came on to the site with her typing and posts ... and it's been personally uplifting to see her positivity after such a traumatic brain injury and to see the kindness that she's offered to others with her support, even though her own life isn't at all easy.

Hi Oliver, I think that Tina means did you have any surgery. I'm presuming that you hit your head when you fell and that caused the bleed? Very scary experience for you and would imagine that it's probably put you off of the drink too. I was told by my Consultant that it can take up to 3 months for the blood to fully dissipate down the spinal cord. Many of us have had sleep problems after the initial trauma of a bleed. I used to be awake often until 4 am in the morning and it was like torture. Plus you've probably given yourself a bit of a shock with your experience. Fatigue is extremely common especially in the first few weeks/ months as the brain is trying to heal. As Tina has said, keep yourself hydrated as it does help with headaches etc. I'm presuming that you're not working at the minute since your injury? If you feel that you need help with sleeping, go and have a chat with your GP, I know that some members on here did have something prescribed to help them get back into a sleeping pattern. It does honestly get better.

I was out with my friends for a night out in leeds. Somehow I ended up separated from everyone else and outside the club that everyone else was in. I realise that it was my fault and I should never have been as drunk as I was. But either way I ended up on my own and fell against the curb and had my haemmorhage. I woke up in hospital and it was probably the most terrifying experience of my life. Waking up and having absolutely no idea what had happened was awful and I would not wish it upon anybody. I got out of hospital quick enough though and assumed that that meant I would be okay. Turns out I have massive problems sleeping and incredible tiredness throughout the day though if I dont get about 10-12 hours sleep. So I know this is a common problem after SAH and I was just wondering if anybody has found a way to conquer it and if so I would greatly appreciate any advice you could give. Thanks, Oliver

Oh Janet, I am so very sorry to hear your news. What a tough year you and your lovely family have had. I'm so glad to hear that little Freddie is doing well. Have you tried the E-Cigs? I know that Keith (Bogbrush) was using them at one point to quit. Good to hear that you've finally won your pension ... the struggle that you've had with work hasn't probably helped your stress levels or health. Would love to be able to give you a massive hug right now .... know that I'm thinking of you .... Love to you and Morris and I hope that he's keeping well. xxx