SarahLou

My dear, dear Zoe, I wish I could be there to give you a big hug. Silence with a big hug can help so much. I cried reading your post, as I'm sure many have. I'm trying hard to find the right words in this reply. I can understand all that you've said, I have empathy for you. I know that it's a completely different situation but I do have some understanding from when my husband got ill. I saw him change from the man I fell in love with to a man I hardly knew, he was at times very very hurtful with things he said. I worried too for mine and our daughters safety. I faught really hard to keep the man I loved and our family together. We have been through so much together but it's made all of us stronger. We are lucky to have great family and friends around us. I'm not sure we would have made it through without them. We also have had great help from our gp and hospital staff. Do you have people around you to help? Have you explained to your family and gp how things are? If there is a glimmer of hope that you want to hold on to, then do. Don't look back and wish you'd held on tighter. Yes, your children come first. Don't be so hard on yourself. I hope nothing I've said has offended you. Don't bottle up your feelings, you've every right to rant and feel cheated. It's like a bereavement, you need to grieve for what you once had. That's what we were told to do over my husbands illness. Trust your gut feelings. Heal the past, live the present, dream the future. You're all in my thoughts and prayers. SarahLou Xx

Be proud of yourself Sandi, you're doing really well. Don't be too hard on yourself though, let your body and brain have the rest it needs, when it needs it. SL Xx

Hi James, Welcome to BTG. Your 'story' made such an interesting read, you certainly seem to have a great attitude towards life. Yes, as Gill has said I'm someone else who's been fixed by the Wessex Neuro. It's just over a year since my SAH and the journey to recovery has at times been very dark and lonely but the support I've received from this site has been a massive strength to me. Take your recovery slowly, listen to your body and brain. Oh, and drink plenty of water, and then some more water, oh and then a bit more water! I wish you well in your recovery and hope to hear more from you soon. SarahLou Xx

Hi Samantha, I bet you're glad that's all over with. I didn't have MRI with my SAH, I had CTs, angiogram, clipping and then more CTs and a lumber puncture. However I did have an MRI about five and a half yrs ago pre transplant and I remember it very clearly. Very noisy, felt like it took forever. It must be so mush worse coping with that after SAH. I hope that your results are back quickly. How are you coping with things now, are you doing ok? Take care, SarahLou Xx

Hi Mags, Welcome to BTG. I had my SAH a yr ago and was treated at Wessex Neuro. I remember feeling totally exhausted even after simple tasks. Taking a shower would really tire me out, especially lifting my arms to wash my hair. I learnt the hard way to take things very slowly and listen to your brain and body when it tells you it's had enough and its time to rest. I remember feeling very nervous about going out anywhere alone, it took me a long time to build confidence up, I still struggle now and again, especially crossing roads, in busy shops, crowds etc. I started off with walks down the garden, then to the end of my road, then a bit further. Built it up like that really. I've always made sure I go out everyday. The neuro nurse specialist at the Wessex has been totally brilliant, I've had to call her quite a few times and she'salways helped me and calmed me down. This site has been a godsend to me, your'll gain lots of advice and support from here. I'll be at the Wessex meeting so hopefully see you there. I wish you well with your recovery. SarahLou Xx

Hi Juliette, Congrats on your happy news. I can imagine you must feel a bit apprehensive about things. I think they advise to wait 6 months at least. It's something my doc has asked me, would we be trying for a baby again as we were trying before my SAH. I hope that your nurse or gp calls you soon to put your mind at rest. SarahLou Xx

Hello Elaine, Welcome to BTG. You've done so well to be on this site so early in your recovery, it took me nearly a yr! You need to give yourself time to heal, rest lots and drink lots of water, as everyone will tell you!! As I always rave on about, read ' a letter from your brain' in inspiration on the home page. That bit of writing made me view things very differently. We all heal at different rates, it's taken me a year to get to feeling ok, but I do still have good days and bad days. I think I always will. Your'll gain lots of advice from this site, it's been a god send to me. I wish you well in your recovery. SarahLou Xx

Hello Victoria, Welcome to BTG, you've done well to get on this site so soon in your recovery. If you go into 'inspiration' on the home page there is 'a letter from your brain', well worth the read. As Louise says, take things very easy and slowly. You will gain a lot of advice from this site. Rest lots and drink lots of water. I wish you well with your recovery. SarahLou Xx

Thank you Sandi for starting this thread. I see my gp tomorrow about starting back to work. I know I'll have to ease back in very slowly. I also spoke to the Job Cenrte Plus about things yesterday regards going back to work and getting help from benefits still as it will be such a low wage only a couple hrs per wk. I feel now ready to give work a try. I still have quite a mix of good days and bad. I've been off work now nearly for a yr and do worry how long will my company keep my job open for me. My new store manager does seem very understanding though. So fingers crossed it works out, I don't want to let the company or myself down. I'll let you know how I get on at my doctors tomorrow. Thanks again for staring this thread. SarahLou Xx

Hi Fancydancer, Welcome to BTG. You've done really well to get on this site so quickly. This site is a wealth of info and advice, it's great to talk to people who know what you're going through. It's been a godsend to me. It's such early days in your recovery yet. The best bit of advice a got from this site was to not compare myself to how I was before SAH but to how I am since being in hospital and early recovery. I am almost a year into recovery, I struggle with my words,short term memory is rubbish and I have vision problems. But hey, I cherish every day. Also some good advice is rest,rest and more rest. And drink water, water and then some more water! Did you have coiling or clipping, I wish you well in your recovery. SarahLou Xx

Hi Laura, Good luck with your doctors appointment on Monday. I hope things get sorted and you get referred to an eye hospital specialist. I've worked in optics for 20 yrs and am very surprised nothing was said earlier, or indeed that the optom there didnt refer you straight to an eye hospital unit. Please keep us informed of how you get on. SarahLou Xx

Hi Mollynjosie, I'm finding it hard to get these words out but wanted to reply to your message. I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend, you must have a rage of anger in you, they gave thieir life while you fight so hard for yours. I can totally understand your 'why me' feelings, that's natural. My family have been through so much over the yrs. After going to the docs with headaches and tiredness my hub was diagnosed with complete kidney failure. He got very illl very quickly, we were told at the hospital to say our goodbyes as all his major organs went into failure. But he found the strength and will to pull through. I always asked 'why us'?? I hated the whole world and everyone in it. He never complained once, through everything, not once and still never has. His attitude was 'why not me?' and he always thought of young children with illnesses with no chance. We've had some very rough journeys since then, including my SAH nearly a yr ago. I know that broke my hub just like his illness broke me. But you get through things, you find the strength and will to fight because every day is precious. Yes, theres lots of hurdles,yes it's harder than anyone can imagine. Those around you will give you strength, their strength will become yours. Please take a big deep breath, take a step back and cherish what you do have. You have your life, a second chance. You will make it. Stay strong, yet break your heart crying when you need to. I'm sending you big hugs. SarahLou Xx

Hi Katie, I have put weight on since SAH but it didn't go on that quickly. Actually lost weight in hospital, oh the joys oh having an upset belly and having to lay flat!! Could your weight gain be extra fluid due to drinking more water? Or anything to do with medication? I hope neuro call back soon. Please let us know how you get on. Stay positive, sending big hugs. SarahLou xx

Hi Robert, Welcome to BTG. Gosh,you and your family have been through so much. SAH does not run through my family (that I know of yet, fingers crossed, I pray it doesn't ) so sorry, can't help with that question but wanted to welcome you to this wonderful site. It's been a godsend to me. I wish you well with your recovery. SarahLou Xx

Hi Laura, I can understand a bit of what you're going through as since my SAH I have problem with my long distance, a previous lazy eye/ squint has been made worse by SAH. My gp referred me to a specialist at the eye hospital. I'm very surprised your optician hasn't done this. I am also very light sensitive now, wear my sunglasses a lot but I will be looking into getting Transitions lenses, they go light and dark with the sun, reacted by the uv, they give 100 percent uv protection. I really think you should be seen by a specialist at an eye hospital. SarahLou Xx

Hi Kate, Welcome to BTG. Your dad had been through some very rough times. I was recommended to this site months before I found the strength to join. Sometimes I wish I'd found the strength earlier because this site really has been a godsend but I guess I just wasn't ready until recently. Your dad has come a long way, and he has a long journey ahead, sounds like your'll give him lots of strength. My daughter has given me more strength than realises, even though I often tell her. The best bit of advice I was given from here that you could maybe pass on to your dad was to stop comparing my life to before my SAH but to compare things now to how I was in hospital and when I first came home. Your dad, you and all your family will get strength from this site. SarahLou Xx

Hi Jess, I agree, aftercare following clipping does seem poor. I honestly felt like it was a case of ' we've fixed you, off you go'. Don't get me wrong, I owe the specialists for my life, can't express my gratitude enough. I had my op at end august, had a check up end November and that would have been it but I ended up being referred back for a check up due to having whooshing noises in my ear and I was still in a lot of pain. At that appointment they explained more about my surgery, where my clip is etc, so I had a lot more understanding of why I felt such discomfort still. More awareness is needed. It's so frightening going through the unknown. Thank heavens for this site. I really hope your future appointments go well and that you get some answers. SarahLou Xx

Hi Traci, Did your gp check your blood pressure? I had my SAH nearly a yr ago, six months ago I started suffering from tinnitus and I also get a whooshing / pulsing type thing in my right ear, only really notice it when moving when laying down. I spoke to the neuro nurse specialist at the hospital and she told me to get my gp to refer me for a check up at neuro out patients. Which I had, all is ok. I learned from this site when I've asked questions that all this seems pretty normal and a lot of people go through it. It's the same with sleep, a common problem too so I've found out. Maybe you should chat to your gp again. SarahLou Xx

Wow Katie, sounds like you are trying to be SuperWoman.... Please, please slow down and give yourself time to heal, mentally and physically. Raine gives some excellent advice, she has some wise words. The last thing your'll want is to over do things as your'll probably end up finding your brain will go into shut down. Please take care. And I hope you've not taken offence to anything I've said, it's because I care. SarahLou Xx

Hello Katie, Welcome to BTG. You're doing really well to be on this site so soon. I'm sure it must have been traumatic for your young girls and hub to watch you go through. Your'll find lots of support and advice here. Wishing you well with your recovery. SarahLou Xx

Hi Karen, wow you've had tinnitus for 6 yrs post SAH, here was me on the faint glimmer of hope this won't be permanent! I also get a whooshing, pulse type noise in my right ear. Neuro have checked, listened to my head with a stethoscope for any 'unusual' sounds but they said it all seemed ok. Yes I will do a list for my gp, I'll have a few things to ask. My hub wonders can I even have another op being put to sleep(if I have hernia repair) when I've had an SAH ?? Sorry if I've gone off track again. It's been a long emotional day. I hope that you're feeling a lot better now. I'm sending big hugs, thanks again for your advise. SarahLou Xx

Hi Karen, thank you for the link, I've had a look, yes that could be possible. Seeing as I've got to see my gp about the hernia diagnosed today I shall mention this too. I just feel so awful that there's always something wrong! I also wondered if this could have anything to do with the tinnitus I get?? Maybe I should mention it at my next ENT appointment. Thanks again for advise given. SarahLou Xx

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone else has found that since having SAH they are sneezing alot more and have a runny nose pretty much all day. I have noticed this since a couple of months after the op, at first I just thought I had a winter cold starting. It feels exactly like I'm coming down with a cold but never do. When I blow my nose my left ear always crackles alot, it's the left side I was operated on. It's like this all day every day.I don't have sinus pain. It's not hayfever, I've not changed any cleaning products at home, no new pets either. I know I should mention it to my doc but keep forgetting when I'm there talking about more important things and I sometimes feel is it just me worrying too much. I never had this before SAH and wondered if anyone else has this too?? SarahLou Xx

Hello Elaine, Welcome to BTG. I had my SAH nearly a yr ago,clipped. I remember being at about your stage in recovery, thought I felt ok, thought I'd fold the laundry.literally that's all I did,fold laundry. Luckily my hub phoned and knew something was wrong as I couldn't put a sentence together. He came straight home from work to find me totally out of it,screaming in pain that my head hurt and that I couldnt see properly. He called the neuro ward straight away and talked things through with them. I had done too much and my brain had gone into shut down. I was in a lot of pain and literally had to sleep it off. I learnt then that I had to take things slowly. I still get very drained when I do too much. you really do need to listen to your body. I also suffered, and still do sometimes in supermarkets. I only go early in the mornings. Crowds and lots of noise are also a problem. I don't drive so can't comment on that! Have you read 'a letter from your brain' ? It's in inspiration on the home page, ive recommended people read it a few times and your'll understand why when you read it. Wishing you all the best in your recovery. Take things slow and don't be so hard on yourself. SarahLou Xx

Hello Janet, Sorry to hear you're feeling so rough, as everyone else has said, time really is a healer. You are still in such early days. When I came home from hospital I was pretty much in my bedroom for about a month, then with time each day I would go out for a walk, firstly around the garden, then down to the end of the road etc. It took me a long time to feel confident just to walk to the end of my road on my own. I still get nervous sometimes now, crossing roads is the worst. I'd also like to say that I too used to have a problem getting a gp appointment. As others have said, phone them again, maybe speak to the practice manager. I put in a complaint and my gp was not happy with the way reception dealt with things so she put info on my records that I'm not to wait so long to be seen. I hope you're feeling better soon and get the treatment needed from your gp asap. I'm sending a big hug. SarahLou Xx