mshawx_head

Hi Sandi, Thanks for telling us your back to work story. This is really serving as a warning for me - that is not to try to do too much, too soon, and what it can feel like when you do get back to working. Its very early days for me, but I already identify wiith many of the things you're describing - and thinking "oh crikey, that could be me in a few months time" ! I don't suppose I am the first one on this forum who has had nagging worries about a drop off in income ? I know my health is far more important than that, but as the main breadwinner in our household, I can't help having that nagging worry "what happens if I can't cope to work full time like I used to ?" I work for a large multi national company who at this stage is being supportive, but I've seen colleagues who've had the misfortune to become very poorly, sidelined, and in some cases moved out altogether in a relatively short time after they returned to work. It will be interesting to see how my colleagues are with me when I do go back, but the longer I'm off the more likely I feel it is that management will consider I need to be treated gently on a "more permanent" basis. Is this something you felt, Sandi ? Sandi - hang on in there, and do as much as you feel able to. I'm so enjoying reading about your experiences - all part of that "I'm not alone" support ! You sound just like me. You pretty much are guaranteed to overdo it, because you sound like you're a quite a driven person (and I wouldn't mind betting patience isn't high on your best features list, either !). I think as long as you can accept that you're going to get tired and try and cut back a bit when its clear you pushed yourself too hard, then ultimately, you will find your new level, and continue to improve a little more every day. You may never be quite the same as before - but that might not be an altogether bad thing ! Warmest wishes, Mags

Hello fellow sufferers, Amazingly, I found this site really quickly after my SAH - so here is my introduction and the background to my "event". I live on the south coast in the UK at a place called Hayling Island. I'm a keen road cyclist and like to try and keep myself reasonably fit, at an age when too many give up. I work full time in the IT industry and have certainly struggled to balance the demands of my job, on my time, with the need to keep myself reasonably fit - which I know I need to function properly. I'm married to husband Neil, who 6 years ago contracted Meningitis, so I have a partner who understands (possibly better than I do at the moment !) what its like to go through a "head problem" and has been a great support. He also probably knows me better than I do myself ! I had a NASAH on 14th August 2011. I was out on my road bicycle, and I remember thinking just before it happened, how well I was going that afternoon, when - WHAM !! Suddenly I had the most intense headache, I'd ever had. My first thought was de-hydration. It was a warm day and I'd been active all morning in the sunshine. I stopped, drank some water, poured some over my head, but it made absolutely no difference. In fact I was feeling worse - this was not dehydration. I got back on my bike and started cycling back home. After 10 minutes or so, I thought, "I really can't do this", got off and sat by the side of the road. I phoned my hubby who came and picked me up and took me home. It was pretty clear that something was very wrong, my head hurt like heck and my neck was so painful. That was enough for the old man. After having meningitus himself he was ultra sensitive to the symptoms - some of you will know meningitis is often characterised by a painful and stiff neck. With some effort, I got changed out of the lycra (in hind sight that was quite some blessing, if not for me, then certainly for the medical staff !) into a t shirt and shorts and almost before I was aware, I was being driven by my hubby to our local A&E Department. The care at A&E was great, and within a couple of hours I was having my first ride in an ambulance to the Wessex Neurological Centre at Southampton General Hospital. The same place my hubby was six years earlier with meningitus. They looked after him so well, that I knew I was in safe hands. Throughout the whole episode I never lost consciousness, and was always aware of my surroundings. It was just my head and neck were so painful and lying flat was the only thing I felt capable of doing. (I'm sure some of you also have bed pan stories but am I the only one who finds it virtually impossible to "go" lying down ?) Another CT scan plus an angiogram scan followed, and finally the Doctor pronounced there to be no abnormality or aneurysm, and that what ever had caused the bleed had destroyed itself at the same time. So down to pain killers and time as treatment. On 19th August 2011 they discharged me from Wessex to go home and continue my recovery ....... which is where I am now. And no need for a follow up, they said. Whilst that's really good news, I do have that slight sense of having been "cut adrift" despite having access to Wessex Neurological's Support group. So as I post this, its now 2.5 weeks since and I can't believe that I am doing so well so soon BUT I do know that I need to take things much more slowly than my natural tendancies normally dictate. I can say that this site has helped me to realise that, as well as come to terms with taking things more slowly. Best wishes to fellow sufferers. Mags x

Hi Riane, I looked at those articles you mention in your post. They really are very helpful and made me stop and think, which as you'll have gathered is excellent - especially for people like me who are tempted to try to jump right back on where the SAH forced us to fall off ! Take Care, Mags

Thanks to everyone who has replied. Its a great comfort to know how others have faired - and I am coming to the conclusion that I've been a very lucky person. It's now just 2.5 weeks since it happened and I'm really astounded by what I can do, but realise that my biggest risk is trying to do too much, too soon. It's quite a struggle, trying to stop myself doing too much, because most of the time I'm feeling remarkably good despite the constant background headache. I do think that not being permitted to drive is having a positively restraining effect on me. Without that I would be tempted to take myself out and about far more, then get over tired. On Sunday my hubby and I took a walk up Butser Hill (you know, the big one on the left as you drive up to Petersfield on the A3 ?). I had been worried about what my head would feel like when I pushed my heart rate up a bit - walking along the seafront at Hayling is too flat to do that easily !). All went well, my headache didn't increase while I was walking up the hill and my efforts were rewarded by carrot cake and mint tea after we walked down again ! Later on, when we got home, I did need a little afternoon snooze, and I was certainly tired later on in the day, but otherwise much better than I could have hoped. The main thing is that I did it, I felt OK and that in itself has helped my confidence. I'm lucky in that I work for a big company. I had the Occupational Health nurse on the phone yesterday. It was really helpful. I can see that she is going to protect me from myself, and make sure that I don't start back to work, and take on too much, too soon ! Does anyone else have experience of working with Occupational Health ? TTFN, Mags

Sorry Gill, my response was directed to you as well as Lou and Karen. Its pretty clear that my brain is functioning every bit as poorly as it did before SAH ! M

Hi Karen and Louise, Thanks for your encouraging words. Its great to have some folks to compare notes with and feel I am not alone. Its pretty lonely this recovery, isn't it ? It is early days but I am pretty encouraged that each day I can see there is some improvement - and I haven't needed an afternoon nap for the last 2 days, although a lay down on the couch after my daily afternoon walk still feels like a wise thing to do. If I can get a lift, or I feel able to drive the hour journey there and back, then I will try to be at the Wessex meeting on 17th Sept. I've also got to have a gynae procedure soon for which I think they want to give me a general anaesthetic so that's a bit worrying. The proc isn't serious and the Doc & Specialist Nurse at Wessex said it would be fine, but you can't help but be nervous about being "knocked out", can you ? (Especially since I got through this NASAH without loosing consciousness.) Go well and thanks again, Mags

I had a NASAH on 14th August 2011. I was out on my road bicycle, thinking how well I was going that afternoon, when WHAM !! Suddenly I had the most intense headache, I'd ever had. My first thought was de-hydration - so I stopped, drank some water, poured some over my head but it made absolutely no difference. In fact I was feeling worse. So I got back on my bike and started cycling back home. After 10 minutes or so, I thought, I really can't do this and got off and sat by the side of the road. I phoned my hubby who came and picked me up and took me home. It was pretty clear that something was very wrong, my head hurt like heck and my neck was so painful. That was enough for the old man. Six years ago he had meningitus - which some of you will know is often characterised by painful and stiff neck. With some effort, I got changed out of the lycra (in hind sight that was quite some blessing !) into a t shirt and shorts and almost before I was aware I was in the car being driven by my hubby to our local A&E Department. The care there was great and within a couple of hours I was having my first ride in an ambulance to the Wessex Neurological Centre at Southampton General Hospital. This was where my hubby was six years earlier with meningitus. They looked after him so well that I knew I was in really safe hands. Throughout the whole episode I never lost consciousness, and was always aware of my surroundings. It was just my head and neck were so painful and lying flat was the only thing I felt capable of doing. (I'm sure some of you also have bed pan stories but am I the only one who can't "go" lying down ?) Another CT and angiogram scan followed and the Doctor pronounced there to be no abnormality and that what ever had caused the bleed had destroyed itself at the same time. Now it was all down to pain killers and time. On 19th August 2011 they discharged me from Wessex to go home and continue my recovery ....... which is where I am now. And no need for a follow up, they said. Whilst that's really good news, I do have that slight sense of having been "cut adrift" despite having access to Wessex Neurological's Support group. Most of my questions to those previously active people out there who have also had NASAH is regarding the pace and nature of recovery. I am keen to get better but don't want to push too much, too soon. I know that's what we active types are in real danger of doing. I already found I have to be careful not to do too much concentrating because it tires me and then the headache gets worse. I'm doing a short walk each day, although I still walk with a sense of being a bit "remote" from others I may pass - oddly like a sense of being wrapped in cotton wool and not quite in the world. I assume this is quite normal at this early stage, but hope at some point that goes ? Any words of wisdom that any of you can offer are very welcome ! Mags