Chris G

Welcome! You and I are similar in several ways. I am mostly fully recovered, but eyesight, fatigue and memory problems are still around a bit. They do get better as time goes by, so be patient and listen to your body as it tries to heal. I send prayers and best wishes. Chris

JM, Welcome. The members of this site are extremely helpful and caring. They also provide sunshine, in just day to day comments, jokes, songs, games, etc. I, too, often feel unqualified to post here, as I suffered a NASAH and have mostly fully recovered, other than some occasional headaches and some slight memory problems. I often forget how much others on this site have overcome, and how many still struggle day-to-day from the effects of their injury. Then someone will post something that reminds me how easy I got off compared to the lot. No matter the severity, all members on here have been so friendly and helpful that they are now a part of my life. So no worries about the severity of the injury, you are in the club easily as much as I am, and everyone is very inviting and nice. There is a whole thread about whether a NASAH or a SAH is indeed a Stroke. I think it depends on the definition of stoke, as it is a more layman generic term than a medical one. As I understand it at least. I find it much easier when it comes up to tell people I had a "slight stroke" than to try to explain NASAH. Prayers for your continued recovery. Chris

Hi Gemma I will send prayers for you and your mum. My experience was much milder so I cant offer much advice. I will say it sounds like she is already doing very well and with time will hopefully continue to improve. My injury was only a NASAH but it did leave me with some short term memory problems. Though I think it is also improving with time. Welcome. Others on here can give you more specific advice on what to expect. I again send prayers and best wishes Chris

Welcome. I am less than 2 years from my NASAH. Great advice above. Please be patient and give yourself time to heal. It takes time and is not visible so others may not fully appreciate what you are going through. But we do and are here for you. Sending prayers Chris

Hi Karen i am sure some members will offer you some great advice to help you out. My experience was not that similar so I will offer prayers and best wishes for improvement for your Mum. Sounds like she is a fighter! Chris

Welcome Phil. You have some great answers above so I will just welcome you to our BTG family. Chris

Hi again. I want to add another comment. If you are like me you will ask "How can they tell me it won't happen again if they don't know why it happened?" Sounds illogical. The answer is while they don't know why it happened to you specifically, they do have statistics from thousands of people who have suffered NASAHs in the past. And based on those statistics the chance of it happening to you again is no greater than it happening the first time. My doctor said it would be like being struck by lightening twice. So hopefully that will give you some comfort.

Welcome, I suffered a NASAH while out running. I was told that it is usually the result of injury, but can be just something that was going to happen at some point. I had ridden roller coasters the day before too. Basically, I was told that the cause is usually unknown and the chance of re-occurrence is remote. Unless there is some specific cause, I was told to resume my normal life. I have done so for the most part, though I will not ride rollercoasters or other rides that jar my head around again. Check with and listen to your doctors. But unless they give you reason otherwise, try to get past the fear of it happening again. It took some time for me, but I now run just as much as I did before. Other than some slight memory problems, and some weird (as in they feel different than headaches before) headaches, I don't seem to have any other problems as a result of the NASAH. I will add that it does mess with your emotions some; I have days where I am gloomy and some days where I am tired. But that is all part of finding your course as a survivor. And that is what you are...a survivor! Best wishes, Chris

Ah the work stress. I also had an EVD. I was actually making work phone calls from the ICU with a tube in my head. Of course, I don't remember all of them. I went back to work quickly as well, but I just learned to take breaks and listen to my body. As for the bald spot, some of us didn't need much shaving! My EVD went in on my upper forehead, where nature and age had already cleared the ground for it. So at least you have hair to grow back! Keep up the great attitude and heal quickly! Chris

Welcome! Chris

Welcome to the BTG! Sounds like you are doing really well so far, all things considered. Time is a great healer, but you will have some dips and valleys too no doubt. Just hang in there. The first advice we usually give (non-medical advice) is drink plenty of water, listen to your body and be patient. I will send a prayer up for you. Chris

Welcome Cat, I wish you the best on your recovery. Great advice up above. I think all of us have low moments, but mine have gotten better with time. I have to work on my perception often. When a hurdle comes my way, I think, at least I am here to face it. Memory and time are familiar too. I have no doubt my short-term memory has been affected. But now I just joke about it with my family, and try to take better notes for myself at work. The time thing with me is more of a reality experience. I can spend all day doing something, and the next day it may feel like it was a week ago, or in a dream. I can live in the moment easily, but the effects don't seem to linger with the "tangible" feel that I would like. So now, I just view myself as a day-to-day type of person and make do. Please be patient with yourself. Healing takes time. Adjustments take time, The farther out you get from your bleed, the more others around you will discount it. So you have to be prepared to deal more and more with it yourself. I pray for your inter-strength, patience, and wellbeing. Welcome to the BTG! Chris

Welcome, And also welcome to the "runners" group. I also suffered my NASAH while running. Each of our journeys are different, so be patient and listen to your body as you heal. I was treated with an EVD, had to take 3 months off of exercise until a follow up scan could be done, and then carefully phased my running back in. I am hopeful you will be able to resume your healthy exercise as well when the time is right. Until then, expect weird headaches, some anxiety, sleep problems, mood swings, memory problems, and possible some poor or inconsistent vision. At least those were my top items. You may also have people tell you that you repeat things you have already told them. If so, don't worry, this should get better with time. Also be careful with alcohol. I am 16 months out now and it still affects me differently. I read somewhere that alcohol after a bleed can be twice as effective and I believe it. I hope you will, like me, recognize that even though this thing attacked you, you survived and are one of the lucky ones. I am humbled often on this site by the struggles of those who did not fare as well. I am also often inspired by their courage and resilience. I will send a prayer for a speedy recover for you. Chris

Tim, I am sending a prayer for you. I am sorry to hear of the depression. I only suffered a NASAH, but I do seem to have low periods occasionally, though not constant. I don't have a fear of death so much as just a black cloud that attacks me from time to time. So I can't offer much advice. I am glad you talked to your doctor as you should. We all have things we have to overcome and I wish you strength, resolve, patience and ultimately triumph over the sad feelings. Chris

Hi Mindy and welcome. I had the twitch myself awake thing even before my injury. Usually when I'm trying to kick a ball or yell at someone. When in ICU I watched a football game on TV and it seemed to be in slow motion. I then made a note to ask my doctor if I might be getting superpowers. While healing we go through strange things. I wish you all the best in your recovery.

Congrats Claire! You seem at peace with the new you and can properly temper the regrets. I wish you continued success as you go forward. You are special to me as you are my fellow runner (though I pale in comparison to you as you run much longer distances). I appreciate your friendship from afar and pray that the "new you" will continue to flourish with all that is important in your life. Let's just keep putting one foot in front of the other! Chris

Congrats SM! What a wonderful outlook you have on it. I like to think we can all find some positive things from our injuries to help mitigate the negatives. You set the example! Chris

Sending prayers and best wishes for you. I hope they can find out what is causing this and it is nothing critical. Chris

Welcome to the forum. I am also saddened by your struggles and send you prayers. As has been said above, one of the things you quickly learn to do is to listen to your body. Headaches, fatigue, moods are all symptoms you need to slow down and heal. I was pleased to see your family is being supportive. But don't be surprised if even they, later, start to move on and expect you to as well. As Macca mentioned, since your injury is internal, people cannot see it , and thus can't appreciate it. Yes, there will be a "new" you, but there are good things that come with that too. Some of us have a different perspective on life, love and faith since our bleeds. I suspect as you continue to heal, you will find some inter peace that you may not have even had before. But as of now, it is very early. Please go slow and rest often. Chris

Welcome Sally, I am sending you prayers and good wishes. Listen and trust your doctors. It's new to you, but they see it all the time. So hopefully, you can find some peace in that. I hope it all works out well and you make it over here to the US at some time in the future. Chris

Welcome. I will send prayers your way. I also welcome you to the "runners" club. I also had a bleed while running. I had to take 3 months off until a follow up CT could be done. I walked a lot. But now I run as much as I did before. Just rest and take your time. Patience as your body heals is key. Chris

The very first symptom I experienced when I had my NASAH was weird eyesight. My eyes have been getting worse with age from before, mostly at dusk and dawn. But since the bleed, they are frustrating because they are inconsistent. Sometimes they are ok, but sometimes, mostly my right eye, is blurry or doublevisioned, or shadowed. I really think the bleed somehow put pressure on the optic nerve and did some damage. I have an older brother with macular degeneration, so I worry about that too. I haven't been back to the eye doctor since the bleed. I probably need a check up.

Sending prayers. Keep us posted.

Hi Robert, I enjoy reading your posts as they seem to indicate you are feeling better and adjusting. I will continue to send you prayers. I keep waiting on someone to send me paid plane tickets and a place to stay for my family so I can visit, but no takers so far. I am in the US, as are a few others, but most seem to be on your side of the pond. Keep us posted. Chris

I have some bad discs in my back that make my back "go out" about one a year, but I usually am better in about a week. Interestingly, I just spoke with a guy yesterday who has a bad back. He has been to the hospital many times and usually just gets pills and PT. However, he told me he tried a chiropractor and within a week he is pain free. I have never been to one, so I can't recommend one personally, but I have heard this a couple of other people say a good one who knows what he is doing can do wonders. Of course this would assume the pain is from something related to alignment. If it is a direct result of the SAH, this may not apply.