tennissmithy

I know I’ve been using the site for a bit now and know lots of you to write to! I today feel strong enough to tell my SAH story. I started back at school for the autumn term as a year 1 teacher. The first week was lovely and my new class were a charming, sweet bunch. It got to the Friday night and I was really looking forward to a big relaxing evening. It was always going to have a tinge to it though as my husband Simon was flying to Greece for a week. Simon left at about 7 o’clock for Luton airport, I got really upset as he left but thought I can be braver! Came back in, switched on my computer and thought I’d get on with some school work ready for Monday. After about half hour, I started to feel dizzy. I went upstairs and lay on the bed, that’s when the sickness started. I couldn’t even get to the bathroom so rang my mum and dad who luckily only live 100 yards down the road. They came straight away and eventually when I had stopped being sick took me to their house to stop overnight. On the Saturday evening, I was no better so went to see the emergency doctor who said it was an infection and gave me antibiotics. On the Sunday morning, I was much worse so went to A&E, after the day of doing nothing they said it was a tension headache and sent me home with codeine. What made it worse was my dad had gone to move the car as I couldn’t walk because of the back spasm. The nurse came and told me that my dad was going to be in reception even though he had told me not to go anywhere he would come back for me. She then said straight down corridor, turn left and down lift that is where your dad is. I left and crashed into 3 walls with the nurses that had been ‘observing’ me saying oops don’t crash into the wall, even though it was the fact I couldn’t see. On the Tuesday, I was no better so went to see a GP at my surgery. He said it was a migraine and gave me paramax. On the Thursday, I was obviously no better and was fading in and out of consciousness. My mum rang NHS direct and they spoke to me ha ha and said they were sending an ambulance. The ambulance turned up and said if your dad is going to follow in the car you can go in there too. Put your sunglasses on, here’s a sick bowl and by the way we travelled from Rugby to get you what a waste of time! Thursday/ Friday- doctors in and out more interested in treating pain than finding cause. Then Friday about lunch an Australian doctor came and said I’m finding the cause, not treating the pain! A CT scan later and then an incorrectly performed lumber puncture, I was told it was meningitis. All hooked up and treated for that. A few hours later, they said they couldn’t work out why blood in spine on lumber punch. Sent me then for a MRI and CT angiograph and found out then what it was. They explained the options and said they were sending me to a different hospital because they had no beds and I had to be treated on within 24 hours otherwise would probably die because of how things had gone. ‘Blue lighted’ to arrive in the middle of the night. Simon arrived back from Greece just as I was signing consent form to go to theatre. Then the theatre was used for an even bigger emergency so I was told it would be 1st thing Sunday morning. 9a.m. in theatre, 4 hours later and came round (vaguely!) after a successful coiling to my own personal medical team and my husband dressed in lovely hospital clothing!!! 2 weeks later and still high temperature and double vision, they let me come home providing I had 24 hour care. After 8 weeks I went back to school part time and then started back full time in January 2007. Everything ok ish until this November as you know from my other posts. This SAH as definitely changed me as a person and I must say it has changed Simon as well for the better. I have also become much closer to my sister so some good things have happened. I try to stay positive and am just glad to be alive. Think I’ve gone on for long enough now! Laura xx

I've just got my husband Simon to download the form. Firstly, just how long is it and secondly, I can't remember all the dates etc. Going to have to really think, it's going to take a long while to complete! Anyone any tips for filling in the form. Laura xx

Chris, Thanks for your help. I rang my insurance company yesterday to start the claim for my mortgage. I'm not holding out much hope but will all your steps you never know. My second policy- Can my husband claim because he didn't lose any earnings. His compant were really good and paid him even when he was off looking after me. The 3rd policy- I did actually go and see my GP yesterday and he did mention the fatigue/deperssion so I might go back and see him again. Thanks Laura xx

Linda- yeah same for me. I had m SAH in september 2006, the headaches got gradually better but I was still getting them occassionally. Although in November 2007, I have had really bad headaches, fatigue and many other symptoms and am still off work now. I am now waiting a scan but have been told by my doctor that if it comes back fine we will just have to keep trying different headaches treatments until we find the best one to help with the symptoms that could possibly never go away. Laura xx

I had my SAH in September 2006, went back to work part time in the November building it up each week. Then I did the last week of term in December full time and started back after christmas full time. It was really hard work and I didn't really settle back in/ cope until about July. then of course it was the summer holiday so had chance to recover! then in September I went back to school full time and feeling great but think I overdone it come start of November and been off ever since. Will look into the occupational health. I didn't have one before and nobody has mentioned it. I will try and find out and let you all know. Laura xx

I've put Joan but now I'm thinking I don't think it was. Sorry- someone asked where this post was so I moved it up but can't remember who I was to let them know and when tring to read the postings, the words are blurring into one! Sorry again but hope it helps Laura xx

Joan- Here is the posting Laura

Aine- no haven't had an occupational health assessment. I've never heard of it not alone had one. Are they worth having then and how do I go about it? Trouble is with teaching, is as much as its a fab job, i'm in the classroom at 7.30 in the morning, most evenings leave at 6 and then mark and plan in te evenings. Most evenings not turning off the computer till 10ish. I don't even think I would be able to do my planning on the computer at this present time. Karen- I thought I was starting to tell the difference between the fatigue and depression but obviously not. I was putting it down to tiredness but maybe it is depression as well. I don't know :? My trouble was that I went back to school at the strat o 2007 full time and it took me till July to gain stamina. Then when I came back in September feeling great and I think pushed myself far too much. Then hit all these problems come November. On the plus side it has meant that i've missed two inspections one LEA and one OFSTED, which i was pleased about because I think I would have toppled over but I just want some form of normality. Maybe I need to learn how to understand my body a bit better. Laura

Karen- Thanks, yeah I have got a good GP. he is one of those honest doctors that would tell you if he thought you were messing around! I plucked up the courage to ring my headteacher, but she was unavailable- typical hey! Am just going to suggest that I go in when I feel up to it. Been for a work round the block too and its raining! Do feel better for it! Don't know whether can ever see myself full time at school as its not just 9-5 its all marking and planning as well but will see what happens. If I can't sort finances I won't have a choice to work full time! Laura xx

I've seen my GP and I must say I do feel a bit better. He said unfortunately there was nothing he could do until I'd had the scan but as he is a neurology doctor anyway, he told me to ask for a copy of the scan and take it back to him as well as wait for my consultant. He then said not to wait for a consultantancy appt and ring and ask for results. He said if they come back fine then we will go down migraine route again and try other meication. I've already tried paramax and they didn't work for long. On the emotional side, he said that was the problem when virtually stuck in four walls and suggested that whilst I wait for te scan to try and build myself up a bit and go out when I can. Then go back to work gradually even of no answers to see how it goes. I kind of feel etter knowing that my GP thinks I could go back eventually. I am going to ring my headteacher and ask if could do part time, maybe starting in a month Hopefully then by that time I'll have had the scan and feel stronger to cope with my class again. Has anyone any ideas/ suggestions/ advice? Thanks Laura xx

Well I keep saying consultant, I should say registrar I suppose!

Quick update- Gp appointment at 10 a.m. will let you all know what he says about consultant and what advice he gives Have a good day everyone. Laura xx

Just a quick update for everyone, I couldn't see my GP today so going to ring again in the morning. they said they would try and get me in as an emergency tomorrow morning. I hope they do because they are closed on a Thursday afternoon and I want the advice. I've just rang to speak to my optician who knew about the headaches etc. She was great and said that she didn't think the problems were vision related and thought they were brain related. She said if I wanted to have another site test she would be willing to do one but didn't see the need yet unless I have vision problems. I told her about the 'spots' in front of my eyes but again she thought the problems were from the visual cortex in my brain rather than my eyes. So all I can say is thank you to her at least she listened to me and didn't have several interruptions! The waiting game is still on... Laura xx

I've decided after many hours of worry, upset ande tears tomake an appt with my GP tomorrow. He worked in neurology so hopefully will be able to advise me. Last time I went to see him he wanted me to go t a+e but I wouldn't go because couldn't trust hospital (as didn't diagnose 1st time) now i'm losing faith in 2nd hospital. will see what he says but sure won't sleep tonight thinking about it! Hope everyone else has a good evening xx Will report more tomorrow- I am trying to be positive just finding it very difficult! Thanks for all your support- i now its wrong to say but nice to know people in same/ similar situations xx Laura

I will be honest so so that if I got the job I strted on a complete clean slate. Then the company can't come back on you. Hope this helps Laura xx

Thanks Keith- its nice to hear that i'm not going mad! I also thought that a SAH was a stroke but then started to doubt myself because of him! I've been advised to go and see my doctor and tell him as well to see what he suggests. Might ring in the morning when I feel braver!

Louise- Thanks for your reply- Yeah obviously I wouldn't have minded if they were emergencies but they weren't. he just kept saying ok i'll ring/ write that down. The secretary came in 3 times as well whilst I was there for no reason connected to me either - one was to pickup some paperwork, one to drop off some paperwork and just a random visit!

Hi all, I was 26 too when I had my ruptured aneurysm and was coiled. I felt on the up for a year but now have took a big leap backwards and am not at work at all at the minute and haven't been for 12 weeks ish. I wish her all the best and just wish I could feel the same. I am desperate to get back to work as a primary school teacher! Laura xx

Went for my consultant appointment today. Firstl I walked in and sat down and the registrar (not consultant as I thought) asked why I was there. I told him about all the physical and emotional symptoms that I have been experiencing in the last 12 ish weeks. I explained that after my SAH in sept 2006, things did get better but come Sept 2007, I started having different symptoms such as headaches, tenderness/ pain to back of head, dizziness, bluriness, shakes/ shaky legs, sickness/nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, bright lights/ sudden light/noise problems, tenderness/ pain at bottom of spine, emotional, frustration etc. that have got worse. The registrar said he had not heard of some of the symptoms and went to ask the consultant. He came back saying neither had the consultant and that they would scan within the next 6 months hopefully! I said this wasn't good enough as I couldn't carry on like this. He went back to the consultant and said they woud try within 1-3 weeks cos I wasn't happy. The symptoms that he hadn't heard of he just said maybe they are psychological. I am furious because I know that I am not making them up! He said don't worry and just see what happens. I've been doing that for the last 12 weeks!! Also is a SAH a stroke or not? I thought I'd read several times that it ws but he said no then said oh I don't know you'd need to ask the consultant! He then said look i've got other patients to see and I am running behind and asked us to leave. I wouldn't mind if we'd been in there a long time! Also to add insult to injury he answered his bleep about 15 times and made several phonecalls, then throwing his chain of thought when he came back to me. Has anyone had a similar experience or got any advice on what to do next? Thanks Laura xx Trying to be positive xx

Thanks Karen I'll give them a try xx

I'm becoming extremely furious with the way my insurance policy are going. I rang my insurance company that I took out for payment protection against a loan. They have said they won't pay out because it is symptoms from my SAH so therefore a pre-existing condition. I am thinking of cancelling the policy because that prob means they won't pay out for anything because will blame that. My second insurance company that I rang said I'm the second name on the policy so i'm not covered for sickness only death! The third insurance company said they don't cover SAH/aneurysm but I may be able to claim under stroke- a cerebrovasular incident resulting in permanent neurological damage. I will check with my consultant tomorrow but for sure but am hoping I can I am having a lot of physical problems still. Has anyone else been in similar situations? As if I haven't got enough to worry about at the minute! Sorry to rant! Laura

Holly, Thanks, I recovered well as well but it seems since I have passed my one year anniversary that I have started getting headaches and other symptoms, so thats why I'm unsure. Have been to America and really loved it so very undecided!! Your holliday sounds fab, was it already planned or was it decided after you had been so poorly?

Scott, Thanks for reply, I have seen my doctor 3 times who have been in touch with my neurosurgeon/ consultant. He said that they only had one outpatients clinic before Christmas and was fully booked thats why I had to wait till January. I do have better days though as well a rough days. I have a bad 3 weeks but then last couple of weeks have been up and down!

I had a SAH last September (15 months ago). This July we flew to Greece and I felt fuzzy when I got there but not really many symptoms. My hubby wants to go to America next August but I am apprehensive because I am getting lots of headaches. Any advice?

Hi, i'm new to this forum and thought you'd be well qualified enough to give me some advice. Last September, I had a SAH, after having 3 months off I went back to work as a primary school teacher full time (after phased return). I felt much beter but was just getting occasional headaches. Reached my one year anniversary feeling great but then coming up to the start of November, I started getting headaches that didn't really seem to go whether I took paramax or any tablets. I went to my doctors who referred me back to the hospital. Since then I have been off of work and have suffered with headaches, tenderness around my head, shaky legs, dizziness, blurriness in front of my eyes, nausea, sometimes loss of appetite, exhaustion, light hurts if sudden, tenderness at bottom at spine, runny nose/ sneezing and paleness. I have got a consultants appointment for the 8th Jan and have been told to go to A&E if I feel I need to (trouble is I don't trust my local hosp as they didn't diagnose my SAH for a week!). Doe anyone else get these symptoms? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance