tennissmithy

Hi Steve, Welcometo BTG, a great place for advice and support. Sorry to hear about your wife's SAH, hope she is on the road to recovery. I still over 2 years on have slight issues with short term memory and unfortunately/ fortunately probably don't remember too much about my time in hospital. Its hard to say professionals wise as I seem to get all I needed in hospital it was the aftercare I had issues with! Keep asking questions, someone will have an idea on the answer! Take care and look after yourself too Laura xx

Hi Angie, What sort of job with kids have you got? I used to be a primary school teacher until my consultant made me leave! Hope to return soon though Love and hugs Laura

Mine was the left! It would be interesting to know what the carotid artery controls? I've no idea! Laura xx

Hi Michelle, Mine was the carotid artery too! Love and hugs Laura xx

Hi Angie, Welcome to this wonderful family of people who know exactly how we are feeling! This website offers the best support, advice and good friends, Take care and talk lots- it seems to help Love and hugs Laura xx

Hi Terry, Welcome to BTG, a fabulous support network! I've made loads of friends too and love knowing people really understand! Take care and keep on that road to recovery Laura xx

Hi Jan, Welcome to BTG! this is such a fab support network. You will gain many friends very quickly! You have been though the mill lately but thankfully we are all here to tell the story. I agree with you about how views on life change, mine have changed loads too! I think there are a couple of people that were treated at the QMC and that live in Nottingham. I'm taking it that you live in Nottingham? I'm not too far away, i'm in Coventry. Stay in touch. we are all here to listen. Love and hugs Laura xx

Hi Kaantay, Welcome to BTG, a fabulous support network. Sorry to hear about your mum, Unfortunately we can't offer medical advice but we can be here as a friendly ear to offload on. Remember to look after yourself as well, Take care Love and hugs Laura xx

Hi all, Slightly changing the subject but not really...... On Wednesday evening both Simon and I did an interview for the BBC for about 2 hours! They interviewed Simon from 5p.m. until 5:40 ish from the carers perspective on looking after something who had had an SAH. They then interviewed me and videoed me telling the story of my SAH and the recovery ( not like Emmerdale etc) and about how fab my family and BTG have been. Simon sent the BBC an email 3-4 months ago saying how BTG had kept me sane and given me a fantastic support network. The BBC researcher had then had a look round the site and thought it was excellent so rang Simon to ask to meet. I nearly ran a mile when I got to Simon's work and I could see her interviewing Simon with a video camera on him but with the help of Sami (Skippy) and my sister (Clare) I stayed put and thought I could be strong we need SAH and BTG promoting! They plan on putting it on file and getting it out if they decide to do more work coming up to Brain injury week/ stroke week etc. She says if and when they do she will reinterview me and Simon and get in touch with Karen about BTG. By the way yes, I cried through lots of the interview! Especially when saying about the 'dreaded week', the loss of good friends supposedly and then silly I know but the love and support that you lot all offer me. I owe so much to my dear friends on here and that is reported in my tape recording especially the people who I have met because it was so good to know we all were the same. Anyway will let you know more when I know more- aren't I a brave soldier!! We only left to go and the football which kicked off at 7:45- we lost- I should have stopped at the interview!!!! Love and hugs Laura xx

Ok Keith- will send them to you. Mine cost £40- £25 admin charge and £15 for my scans on CD and p&p! Myra- I rang QE hospital and they sent me a form to request what I wanted, then time I sent that back, a couple of weeks later I recieved an invoice to pay and then a couple of weeks later I got my CD of scans. They are very interesting but don't understand them really which is why I wished I'd got my notes to go with them! As my sister is a student nurse and her friend is a doctor I could have got them in plain speak if I didn't understand them! All in all it probably took about 6 weeks. Pretty quick I thought, I expected it to take longer Love and hugs Laura xx

Hi Phil, What fantastic news- its made me have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I'm so thrilled for you both. Long may it continue Love and hugs Laura xx

Hi Karen, Once again sorry for the late reply! Age: 27 Date of SAH: September 2006 Artery: Left carotid artery that was coiled. I have asked how many but just told loads! On another note Sas and others, I have my scans from the hospital but so wish I had my notes to read alongside. Might request them but begrudge paying the £25 admin charge again when not long ago paid it paid it for my scans! Karen- do you want me to send copies for the photo album? Hope this helps Laura xx

Hi Karen and all Sorry for the late reply been so busy this week and tired and headachey..... Antway when I came out of hospital I slept alot, most of the time in fact. The only thing that kind of woke me, was the alarm to take tablets every 4 hours!! After a couple of months, I then had a sleep in the afternoon and went to bed about 10ish. Since being back at work full time, I find I go to bed between 10 and 11 and get up about 7. At the weekends I tend to stay in bed till about midday and then often have an afternoon nap for a couple of hours on a Sunday if not both days. I find that if I don't do that then I have the most horrendous headaches for the next week and feel really awful (the problem this week and porb next week too as no lie ins this weekend because away with friends) My dreams are much more vivid and nightmares are horrible and give me headaches for example instead of before I would just dream a fight and 'see' it happening, now I 'hear' all the argueing as well. It often makes me cry Hope this helps Karen Laura xx

Hi, Like Janet I don't have any taste problems but again I eat more varieties of curries and spicier food (so Simon is in his element as he loves spices) I know this doesn't help much but thought i'd reply anyway! Love and hugs Laura xx

Hi Vaughan Welcome to this wonderful family where we all understand Love and hugs Laura xx

Hi Sharon, At last you have finally got the news for your mum that you needed And hope the holiday in Oz did you the world of good Love and hugs Laura xx

Donna- Good luck- I'm the same with fruit too, eat the very odd apple and thats it! I also said I was going swimming every Friday with my sister, didn't make it there once. Hope you do much better than me Love Laura xx

Hi Joanne, Welcome to this wonderful family and this wonderful website You are certainly no fraud- you have suffered a brain injury the same as anyone else and its a long recovery process. I was pushed back into work far too early and did about 8 weeks part time before returning full time as a teacher. I lasted a few months and then was back off sick for 5 months, probably feeling worse than straight after SAH and then went back for 3 weeks part time and was off again for 3 months. Everyone is different but you sound like you know really that you are not ready. Your health is more important than a job. Stay positive and it will all come right in time. Love and hugs Laura xx

Hi Donna I've also put on 2 stone since SAH. Iknow most say its unnoticeable but again I know and I want to lose it. It makes me look pregnant as it all round my stomach. I've tried eating healthier but the only thing i'm really succeeding in is a 20 mins walk at lunchtime, more to get out of work than to exercise but at least i kind of feel a bit healthier! I need to do Sami's tidying but can never be bothered. I never really thought about weight gain as I'd never had an issue before but now its quite annoying. I do need to get thinking and beome active and eat healthier- gosh its making me tired thinking about it Love and hugs Laura xx

Happy anniversary Lucie and John- apologies for the late reply- been in Leeds with work! Love and hugs Laura xx

I got told that at the time Karen too and so I kind of thought it was that, then went I went again to the doctor he thought it was from the lumber puncture. I think I will make an appointment as the pain it is starting to grind me to the spot and then I have to grab Simon to support me and then somehow stoop and then straighten for it to go off. It is definitely getting worse. Thanks Karen for making me see sense! Love and hugs Laura xx

Your journey with the DVLA was the same as mine then Karen- I wouldn't have felt safe either, driving any ealier. I only drove a couple of times really short distances and struggled with that! Am better now but still won't go far or in the dark. Love and hugs Laura xx

Good point Karen, as it goes they sent me to the hospital for blood tests and put me on some really high multi-vitamin tablets afterwards but they made me sick so came off them. I have to go back in April for another blood test so will wait and see! Love and hugs Laura xx

Hi all, Meant to ask this a few weeks ago but keep forgetting until it happens again Does anyone else get severe nerve shooting pain at the bottom of their back when they stand for longish periods of time. Simon loves looking at CDs etc in say HMV and when I stand next to him it starts and then when I try to walk it really hurts and I end up hunched up to combat the pain! This also happens a lot if I can't get a seat on a train etc with work. Anyone any ideas? They did perform my lumber puncture incorrectly and my doc said when I first come out of hospital that back ache could be that but it has got considerably worse over last 6 months. Love and hugs Laura xx

Hi Caroline, I'm just over two years now and my energy levels dip and then peak again but never to the level that I was at before SAH. I think it depends on stress at work, tiredness and generally how i feel to how my energy fluctuates. I've tried energy drinks etc but they don't seem to make any difference and now i'm on decaff coffee, i've got no chance It does get easier though Love and hugs Laura P.S. We need to sort out a time to meet too. Have you stopped work already?