Chris G

Sophie,

I know it is unsettling, but until we know more about your diagnosis, it is difficult to provide much advice.  Plus, we are not qualified and cannot give medical advice.  Each instance is different, though similar.  Depending on the details of your bleed, it may be just a "time will heal' thing, or it could require one or more of several medical procedures.  Then, depending on what you go through, the journey to recovery can take a variety of paths.

Many on this site have been through difficult journeys and continue to deal with recovery daily.  Others are more lucky, like myself, who after having a NASAH, and then a EVD procedure (drain tube), recovered in about 6 months to mostly being as healthy as before, with just a few small occasional headaches and other occasional lingering effects.

I know you will worry until you know more.  Please know that I will pray for your health and your peace.  As you go through this, we will be here for you and offer as much help and support as we can.

Chris

Robert

Welcome to BTG!  You have already received such great advice that I will keep it simple and offer my prayers and best wishes for you and your family. 

Chris

Helen,

Happy 4th.  I wish you the very best as you continue on this journey.

Chris

Myra

i was given instruction not to exert myself for 4 months from the date of my NASAH until a follow up scan could be done. They wanted to wait until all the blood cleared to be sure it wasn't hiding any issues. So I just did some walking. I "jogged" a little until my daughter found out and yelled at me so then just absolute walking.

After the follow up scan I was told to resume normal activity slowly as my body allowed. It then took about a month to get back to my usual distances and times. I only run about 12 to 15 miles a week.  

Clare is a runner too so she may want to give you her experience in recovery to running. 

Chris

14 minutes ago, Daffodil said:

 I also self massage my shoulders before sleeping just to signify to myself that now it's time to settle and slow m it can h lol the brain stop racing. 

 

 

 

 

This is what happens when you self massage while typing a post.  She almost went to sleep before the sentence was finished!

Hi Myra

Welcome to BTG, I am glad you found us.  We have a lot of things in common.  I am also in Georgia and experienced my NASAH while running though I was in a park and not on a treadmill.  Mine was in October of 2015.

I hope the following helps....I had bad to severe headaches for several months.  They eventually subsided and were replaced with short but acute headaches (like brain freezes).  Now those are less common too, so I would hope yours will get better as well with time.

Short-term memory loss is common and I still struggle with it a bit.  I do believe it is getting better as well, in fact I know it is.  But I don't think it is to where it was before the NASAH.  I jokingly offer to use it to your advantage.  (I forgot to do the laundry, oh must be my NASAH memory loss!).

Fatigue is common and stress is harder to manage at first.  But as you continue to heal, these get better.

My daughter takes Melatonin to help her sleep and it helps.  As you know, we don't give medical advice on here because we are not qualified.  As a RN, you know a lot more than I do.  I will say that while in the hospital and since, the one thing that helps me sleep best is Benadryl.  I have some pills from a prescription, but often I just take Advil PM which has Benadryl in it.  Again, not suggesting you try this as I have no idea of any side effects it has on short-term memory. 

Please be patient and listen to your body.  It will tell you when you are doing too much in many ways, headaches, tiredness, sadness, impatience, etc.  Go slow, drink a lot of water, and be patience with yourself.

Prayers for your recovery.

Chris

The way I look at it, as we get older and start to go "downhill" at least we have something to blame it on!

I hope you continue to have better and better days.  Maybe the improvements come in spurts with breaks in between?

As always, I will send a prayer for you to have more peace and less worry.

Chris

Welcome Reinfield,

Sounds like you are still adjusting to the new you, which is normal.  I can only somewhat speak to your experience, as I had a NASAH which required no surgery, just an EVD.  I do remember vividly after my first scan when they came in and told me I would have to have brain surgery. 

The panic inside while I tried to remain calm outside for my wife was scary.  Fortunately, it only lasted about 10 minutes before they came back in and said maybe not as it did not appear to be an artery that ruptured, but maybe was just a vein.  I felt relieved and then remember nothing of the next 2 days.

Funny how people are different.  I was a model patient.  I felt so thankful for the people who fed me, watched me, cleaned me, emptied my urinal, gave me medicine.  While I was "trapped" in the hospital, I was also freed from the pressure of being able to do anything else.  Just like I always get relaxed and sleepy in a dentist chair, because I have no choice of doing anything else, my days in the hospital were relaxing in a way.  My retired Mother-in-law came and sat with me every day for hours.  She was so nice to me.

As I only had an EVD, my scar is hardly noticeable.  However, I hope that in time yours become a scar of pride as you defeated this condition, rather than something to hide under a hat.  You have joined a group of people that have had their lives shaken quickly, without warning, and who are not fully understood by the general public.  But it is a great group of survivors!  Some have a much harder road than others from what I have read, but we all support each other and look forward to supporting you as you heal.

Prayers,

Chris

Welcome.  You do have an inspiring story.  Have you ever thought of writing into a book?  I could see a market for a first-hand experience coupled with the feats and courage you have shown.

Glad to have you join us.

Chris

I am sending many prayers for you and your daughter.  I hope things improve daily for you both.

Chris

Hi Graham,

I experienced my NASAH in October of 2015.  So am just over my first year anniversary.  I think it differs for everyone, but there are certainly commonalities.  Initial fatigue and anxiety.  Some fear at first.  I was actually on conference calls working while in the hospital with the EVD in my head.  Not smart, but I had nothing else to do.  Once out, fatigue was heavy for a while.  I also developed a nice case of the Shingles on my butt, so that slowed me down too. 

Now with a year gone by, the most residual effects are short-term memory loss, occasional sadness, and periodic sharp pains in my head that only last for a few seconds, but always concern me.  They started out just under the eyebrow, but now can happen in other parts.  I just keep telling myself it's normal pains, but for the few seconds they occur, they can be scary.

Over all I am back to my normal, or as we call it "new normal" self.  I don't think the experience will ever leave me.  I will always be different, in both good and bad ways.  But one good thing that came of it is my friendships I have on the BTG. 

I wish you continued improvements and acceptance of the new normal for you.

Chris

Welcome,

I am also a NASAH survivor.  Please go slow, take it easy and listen to your body.  Headaches, vision, memory, fatigue are all going to plague for a while.  You may also experience some anxiety and sadness.  Time will heal.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Chris

Heather,

Welcome and best wishes for you and your husband.  Mine was minor and I am only a year out, but I can tell you that things get better with time.  This site has many people who can relate to what you are going through and provide advice, support and love.

I am glad you found us.

Chris

More belated wishes!

I wish you a speedy recovery and some peace. 

Thanks all! 

Clare, I slept til 8, but still got a 2 mile run in.  I just had to run past the spot today, smile and keep on going.  When I was finally put on my knees last year, I ended up right under this little tree, so I know the exact spot and run by it almost every day.  I will probably do it again this evening with my daughter when she gets home from school.  Now that the weather is a bit cooler, she is starting to run around the park again instead of going to the treadmill.

One year today.  Thanks to all of you on the BTG for your support and continued friendship!

Chris

Hi Chris,

And welcome.  I am also a Chris.

As all have said above, try to be patience and let time do it's thing.  Mine was just a NASAH, but I still had to recover mentally and physically.  It takes time and it is not always a steady curve up.  It's up and down.

As mentioned, we can't give medical advice, nor should you take it from us.  I also struggled with not being able to sleep, but found a solution that helped me.  I now sleep as well as I ever did without any medication.  Again, time will help you.

I wish you a speedy recovery and some peace while it occurs.

Chris

Welcome Brian,

Wishing you the best for a speedy recovery.  Mine was a NASAH, so my recovery experience would probably not be that similar to yours.  I ditto the above, everyone is different.  Listen to your doctors and listen to your body.  Get well soon!

Chris

So glad to hear. Some things just take time. Best wishes!

Julie and Andy,

I continue to send my thoughts and prayers.

Chris

I am sorry that I don't have much advice to give.  But I offer my thoughts and prayers.  I hope she improves.  I write myself notes most mornings of things I need to do that day and for the rest of the week and mark them off as I go.  It helps me avoid that feeling of forgetting to do something.  My favorite thing lately is to put my glasses in my shirt collar and then freak out because I can't find them.  My wife thinks this is really funny.

Thanks.  Glad to hear I am not alone.  It's has seemed steady over the months since I got out of the hospital.  So I guess its just my new norm.

Sorry to hear of his anxiety and restlessness.  I had anxiety too, but was able to rest ok.  I guess being in the hospital bed for so long got me used to sleeping.  If they don't want to give him any prescription, I would suggest distraction.  Being a typical man, I always showered.  Now I take a couple of hot baths a week to relax.  Perhaps a book or get him to binge watch a good Netflix show?  Maybe a video game or some other hobby to get his mind occupied and give his energy some direction?

I hope he feels better soon.

Chris

Ian,

Thinking of you.

Chris