robertpowrie

Hi Mark, and welcome to BTG. That's great that you have managed to recover from the original SAH and the subsequent coilings so quickly. Remember your body has been through so much recently so please take things easy and don't rush back into things as if nothing has happened. I found I probably returned to work too quickly after my SAH and regret that now. Drink plenty of water as that seemed to help me. Kind regards and take it easy Robert

Hi Everyone, Thought I had better put on a post to let everyone know how I am. Had my elective coiling done on 24th November and it all seems to have gone very well. Booked into Ward 33 of the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh on the 23rd, talked to the neuroradiologist who was great, got the procedure done on the 24th and got home on the 26th. The procedure took a bit longer than planned, approx 4 hours instead of 2, but they managed to get another 2 coils put into the aneurysm and had to put a permanent stent in place to keep the coils in place. Because of the stent, I had to get an infusion of the anticoagulant heparin which did make me bleed quite a bit and needed to get an arterial plug into my femoral artery, but the surgeons seemed very happy with the whole procedure and are happy that the aneurysm in now fully filled and not a risk for the future. I'm still recovering, emotionally, from having to go through the whole thing again, and haven't quite reached the euphoric state of hopefully coming to the end of my SAH nightmare. I'm not sure if there will ever be an end to it, but spending some time in the neurosurgery ward and the patients in there, and being able to walk out with my wife and see the look on my kids faces that their dad is okay. Makes me appreciate life all the more. Anyway, enough of a rant. I'm okay and recovering well. Went for a brain operation and the sorest thing after it is my groin. Don't they know where my brain is!!! Robert P

Hi Mike, Welcome to the site. I thought your post was terrific and it sums up everything you feel when you have an SAH and the feelings we go through after it all. It gives you a whole new outlook on life and hopefully makes us better people. I have found that people think we are over it all because we do not have any scars or any obvious signs, but it is how we feel inside that takes alot longer to heal. Hope to speak to you again Robert P.

Hi Bill, Thanks for your post. I'm sorry to hear that you have been through a very similar experience to myself. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. How did you have your 1st SAH treated? Was it coiled or clipped? I'm sure there are definite genetic links in some families. Your right about the success rate of elective coiling. Very high success rate which is very promising. I'm sure I will be okay. It's good to see that you are a fellow guitar player. I bought a new acoustic while I was off work after my recent SAH and playing it really helped me get through the tough times. Now play in the local pub every Thursday night with a bunch of friends. Joining Behind the Gray has also really helped and it makes me appreciate life all the more. Thanks again and I;ll let you know how I get on. Robert P.

Dear Anne here is a link to the article you have seen http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/real-life/2011/11/03/woman-devastated-by-stroke-at-28-tells-of-her-determination-to-walk-again-86908-23534319/ Thanks Robert P.

Hi Louise, Thanks for the comments. You are right. We don't really want to know the statistics. Read you're post earlier on today and you should be so proud of yourself for all that you have been through over the last 12 years. Although you maybe don't always feel it, you are such a strong person and still seem to have a good sense of humour after it all. Be proud of yourself. xxx Thanks Robert P. PS - There seems to be an awful lot of Scottish people on Behind the Grey.

Hi Karen, Thanks for the best wishes. I'm sure it will all be okay. When I was talking to the neurosurgeon he said the aneurysm is fine at the moment, but because I seem to have a tendancy to haemorrhage he just wants it sorted for the future. I did have to laugh at the neuroradiologist from Edinburgh who said and I quote "It looks a bit challenging, but I think I can do it!" I'll let everyone know how it goes Thanks again Robert P.

Hi Michelle, Thanks for the good advice. You're right I should concentrate more on the positive outcome. Will be good not to have to worry about another SAH. Thanks again I'll let you know how it goes Robert P

Finally got a date for more endovascular coiling. I have been booked into the Western General in Edinburgh for the 23rd November. They are wanting to try and insert at least one more coil into the aneurysm to fully block it off. From my last angiogram they could see that the coils they had put in in February have compacted a bit and have left a little space at the neck of the aneurysm. This could maybe swell again in the future so they want to totally fill the aneurysm. May require a stent to be put in as well. Not really looking forward to it, especially when they go on about the percentage risks involved. But would rather go through with it so I don't have to worry about having another SAH in the future. I will let everyone know how it goes. Again thanks to everyone for their kind words and support. xxx

Hi everyone, Just wondering which is the best way to reply to the kind people who have sent really nice replies to my post. Is it better to reply to thread or to send seperate messages. If I reply through the thread do the members get a notice that I've replied to them or do they have to go back into the post to see? Just want to reply individually to so many kind remarks and questions Thanks Robert Powrie

Dear Everyone, Thanks so much for your kind and caring replies so far. Will be in touch with so many people after their caring replies. Had an appointment with the neurosurgeon on Thursday and it has been agreed that I will go to get more coil(s) inserted into the aneurysm in the near future. May have to get a stent inserted before they do the coiling. Got the choice whether I want to go through with it or not but have decided to go with it. Don't want a 3rd SAH. The risks of the operation outweighs the risks of not having it done. Just waiting to hear from the Western General in Edinburgh when I will be booked in.

Hi Louise, Thanks for your reply and yeah I did mean Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Can't really remember which ward I was in. I've edited my post and corrected it now. I'm now living in Blairgowrie and am an outpatient with the neurosurgery department at Ninewell's Hospital. Thanks again and take care yourself

Hi all, I came across the Behind the Gray website by accident when I was googling endovascular coiling. It's great that there is a support group for SAH sufferers. I am still recovering from an SAH which happened in February this year and have recently returned to work full-time. This was my second SAH. My history is - In April 1994 one of my three sisters died of an SAH aged 32. At the time I was working in Oxford and I suffered my first SAH in October 1994. This required intracranial surgery and the aneurysm was clipped. The rest of my family all had angiograms and one of my other sisters was found to have an aneurysm as well. She had this coiled which was still in the clinical trail phase at the time. My other sister was clear. All has been well since then until February 2011. My youngest son aged 9 (bless him) found me unconcious in the toilet after I had suffered another SAH. No warning at all. My wife and other son were out at the time so my youngest ran to the next door neighbours who came and phoned for an amulance. I was taken through to the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh where I had the aneurysm coiled. Great hospital and great staff who really looked after me. Took me a few weeks to get back on feet but hopefully everything is okay now. I have had an angiogram recently which showed some slight compaction of the coils and I may have to get more coils put in. I should find out this week if this is the case. Still get very emotional at times thinking about it all. I was wondering if anyone else has had such a family experience of aneurysms? To me it looks as if it was a genetic cause. Three out of four of my family all have had aneurysms. It has been suggested by the neurosurgeons that my children should get scanned when they are older and nearer adulthood. Thanks for listening Robert Powrie