choccibicci

Before my SAH, almost 3 and a half years ago, I played for a local pool team (and had done for 15 years to that point); suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee I would somtimes turn up with crutches, however I still managed to play and won a good 90% of my games. When my SAH happened and I was in hospital my wife informed the team captain (a good friend) and initially I was flooded with support. Following surgery I returned to work much sooner than I returned to pool, but when I did I found I was no longer a 'cert' to feature in the team and most often than not was only picked if other players didnt show up. This was hard to acept so I confronted the team before a game only to be met be a wall of silence. The captain took me aside and explained that the other players 'didnt understand' but felt such a 'brain injury' wouldnt be good for the team so I should only be played when the result wasn't that important. I quit that very night and soon after signed for a rival team. We won the league that season and the following season I picked up the trophy for most wins winning 37 out of 40 racks over the season. To this day I feel that in many games when the opponent knows of me, treats me with a handicap, but in the end its their loss and they usally do!

Hi People, My name is Steven and I live in a suburb of London in the UK. I'm married and have 6 kids and am/was an I.T consultant. I suffered my SAH on the morning of Sunday 18th May just after awaking and getting out of bed. It felt like being slapped in the back of the head and then several feelings of rushing up the spine. I fell back on the bed and broke out in a cold sweat. There was no one else in the house so I knew I had to try to remain concious if I could. The wife and kids were at a car boot sale and wouldnt be back for hours. The first hour lasted what seemed like a lifetime. I just lay there knowing something serious had happend but wasnt sure what. Staying awake was so hard but the thought of my familty coming back to find me unconcious or even worse made me determined. I remember my wife coming into the room, I was very dozey. She asked what was wrong and I cant remember my response but it had something to do with hospital. I think I past out at that point which was about 5 hours after the SAH. I awoke at about 4pm that afternoon, still at home. Felling better but with a headache and such a stiff neck. My family had a history of migraine which I hadnt experienced to that point so that was my thoughts of what had happened. I survived the next week on my back and dosed up with paracetamol / ibroprufen still not having gone to hospital. After day 8 I went to the GP who diagnosed a panic attack and put me on an ECG. Day 10 came and showing no improvement I went to A&E. After a few tests and a CAT scan I was told about my SAH. The local hospital was not equiped to deal with it so I was transferred to the Atkinson Morley hospital by ambulance. Coiling was not an option so the next evening I was taken to theatre for clipping. Surgery was not without complication as it was day 12 since the SAH and vasospasm occured during the operation. I had to be resuscitated twice and it was 50/50 that I survived the night. I did, and although I dont remember much about the 72 hours spent in ICU, I remember being back on the ward feeling like i'd been hit by a train. To cut it short, amazing as it was that i'd survived after not seeking medical help for 10 days after the SAH, i was back at work within 2 weeks of the operation. To this day, aside from almost no sense of smell, I have no adverse effects from the SAH or the surgery. My brother was treated at the same hospital when hit by a drink driver some 17 years previously, to me they're all heroes! TC Steven