I had my brain haemorrhage last January. I have no memory of the subsequent 3 weeks in hospital. My memory starts to come back for the last couple of weeks in the hospital, but it is patchy.
I had quite a severe bleed and during my time in the hospital the staff noticed that I was having issues with various things so I was sent for a range of neuro-psychological tests shortly before I left the hospital. I do not remember these very well but I remember finding them tricky.
Upon discharge from the hospital I was referred to a specialist brain rehabilitation centre near where I live. When I got through all the information I can remember reading and thinking 'this is not for me - I don't have any issues' - I told this to my husband and family at the time.
Anyway during those first few weeks out of the hospital I started to notice memory issues - forgetting if I had done a task, going into a room and forgetting why I went there, not being able to follow a TV program, losing the car in the car park, getting lost when returning from the bathroom in a new place and not being able to find the right word. I just dismissed most of these.
Prior to my haemorrhage I worked as a teacher. Last May I started trying to return to work - I was told this was not possible due to my issues from my haemorrhage as shown on the tests I sat coming out of the hospital. I went to resit those tests last May and they showed a had a range of issues - mainly in attentional memory and around executive dysfunction (issues with decision making, organising etc.). I was assessed by the rehab centre I was referred to upon discharge and started there in June - so much for not needing them.
I spent 10 months in rehab following this. I found it very useful as it allowed me to see my issues and then find ways to work around them. I was taught that following an SAH it is usually attentional memory that is damaged so it is not that we forget things, but rather that we do not form a memory of them in the first place as we are not paying 'attention' to them properly so no memory is made.
Through my rehab I came up with strategies to help me like lists, calendars, notebooks etc. My occupational therapist always encourages me to 'do' something with any information I wish to retain, such as repeat it back to myself or write it down. I wonder around my house looking like a madwoman, but it works.
In terms of returning to work, I had to sit an assessment to prove I could still teach. Following that I spent a term building up stamina in the work place. I began teaching again in January and I am currently doing 4 days a week (although none are full teaching days). I am on a phased return until the summer holiday, but imagine that I will remain at 4 days next year. The strategies I have learnt in rehab have been instrumental in me returning to the work-place.
The point of this long story (sorry) was to say that the issues you are experiencing are ones that I believe are quite common following a SAH. As others have said on here I always find them worse when I am stressed or fatigued. I imagine that your work place is quite a stressful fast paced one, which might not help.
You mention that you have had your MRI scan. I hope that comes back well for you. When you see your specialist you could mention the issues to them as potentially seeing a neuro-psychologist might be useful as they might be able to give you tips on how to deal with any issues, especially within the work place.
Keep us posted on how you are doing. I hope it all goes well for you and well done on returning to work so quickly - I worked in a kitchen prior to going to Uni and am not sure I could do that now!
Memory Problem
in Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Discussion
Posted
My gosh, my first 5 weeks were exactly as yours !
Xizzi.