Anne Fleming

Hi Thanks for your comments. Yes I was more relaxed about it all when I wasn't given the option of having treatment. Now that I have the option and have to make a decision, it's on my mind a lot more. I think I will wait and see. If it grows bigger it will be apparently easier to treat with less risks. Also things seem to be moving fast in this area of surgery so maybe in a couple of years' time, things might be a bit less risky, who knows. Warm wishes Anne xxx

Hi My large aneurysm burst in Nov 07 and was coiled. They discovered a second small aneurysm at that time but said it was too small to treat - it's 2mm - as they didn't have coils small enough to treat it. I had a follow up MRI recently and saw the consultant yesterday who said that the second anni has stayed the same size, but they now have smaller coils so it would be treatable. However he said that treating a small aneurysm is more dangerous than treating a larger one and particularly where this one is situated. The statistics he quoted me were 1 in 200 chance of it bursting if left untreated and if I had the op, a 6-10% chance of it resulting in my having a stroke or death during the op. Apparently if an artery bursts where there is just a small anni, it is more likely to cause a stroke (I took it he meant ischaemic stroke but maybe not) as well as a bleed. Anyway, I've decided to do nothing and see what happens. I will be scanned again in 2 years time. I was just wondering if anyone else has been in this situation? It was one of those situations where the consultant seemed to hint that I would be better to do nothing but didn't seem to want to commit to advising me directly. Any thoughts on this? Warm wishes Anne

Hi Brenda I was a bit of a crier before my SAH and I think even more so since then but it has got better. However about a month ago I had an enormous bout of crying at work (I'm 3 years post SAH). I think crying is probably very good for us though I wish it were a bit more socially acceptable! Before my SAH if I felt like crying I would be able to hold off a bit but now I can't seem to. Warm wishes Anne

Hi Wendy I'm sorry to read about your mum. I'm an only child too and I was really close to my mum. She had a SAH in 2001 and unfortunately did not survive. I think it was harder being an only child as I felt I didn't have anyone to share the worry and pain with but then I suppose some siblings don't get on so you're not always better off having siblings. Maybe if you feel you need someone outwith your family and friends to chat to, you could arrange to see a social worker at the hospital or even a hospital chaplain (you don't have to be particularly religious for them to see you, from what I can gather), even for a one-off appointment/chat. There shouldn't be a waiting list for either of these (I hope) so you could maybe get some immediate release for your thoughts and worries. Thinking of you and your mum. With love Anne

Hi I just wanted to let you know that Sandra's partner Rab has passed away. His aneurysm burst and although he was quickly admitted to the hospital and taken on to the specialist hospital, he did not recover and passed away the following day. When I wrote on the site on behalf of Sandra a few months ago, she was very grateful and really appreciated all your replies and kind words. Anne

Hi everyone I just wanted to ask if anyone else has felt like this? I spent most of today at work in tears. I've not been feeling depressed but more very emotional lately. It's coming up to the anniversary of my SAH, also a friend's partner died suddenly from a SAH last week. Then today a couple of more minor things happened - the laundry where I had put in a big service wash had a fire and I'm not sure if my washing survived and then on top of that I had computer/printer difficulties at work. It's quite a new job and I've just been there for a couple of months. My colleagues are really nice but when everyone was being so helpful today, it started me into floods of tears and it went on all day. I really don't know what it was all about but I couldn't stop crying. People at work must think I am on the verge of a breakdown but I don't feel like that and in fact feel a lot better after my cry. I am now totally embarrassed. I don't know if this relates solely to SAH but I was wondering if any (more likely to be women?) have ever cried at work or in public place and any tips for keeping emotions in check? Sorry for going on. Warm wishes Anne

Hi Goldfish Girl Yes your boss sounds unpleasant and not fit to manage people. I have found ACAS very good - they have a helpline which you can ring up for advice on employment issues and they are impartial. I went back to work 6 months after my SAH but was made redundant 18 months later (nothing to do with my illness; the organisation lost its funding). I was frightened by the prospect of finding a new job and learning new things and so I wrote to the Occupational Therapist I saw after my SAH and she put me in touch with a wonderful organisation called IntoWork (based in Edinburgh) which has helped me to keep positive, find a new job and settle in. You may be able to find additional support with your current situation. With best wishes Anne

Hi Lin-lin I didn't have insomnia after my SAH. However I am trying to lose weight at the moment and with eating less, I tend to get insomnia. I remember I had it the last time I tried to lose weight. I have to save up quite a few calories to eat before bedtime to see if it helps me to sleep. with warm wishes Anne x

Hi Laura That is worrying re your doctor's assumption that SAH=fits. My GP sometimes says to me that she doesn't know the answer and that gives me a lot more confidence in her. Also she says that if in doubt (eg if I ever have a really sore head) call an ambulance. I hope your head improves. Love Anne x

Hi Janevo I think one of the reasons I found it all so upsetting with my taste buds was that when I came round in hospital, I was determined to look after myself, eat really well and cook from scratch etc (I have never been a fan of cooking!) once I got home. That didn't happen because of the bad taste/smell problem. Instead I was sitting down to bowls of vanilla ice-cream, porridge, mashed potato and not much else. It seemed a very unbalanced diet but my GP told me not to worry and gave me a drink with vitamins and minerals in it. Yes people used to look a bit alarmed when I described smells and taste like sewage. I would also notice the smell of people's hair on the bus and once someone took off their shoes and it nearly knocked me out. Also I did notice very bad smells in the garden too but I am not certain whether they were real or phantom. A lot of my distress came from it being a very odd problem which I couldn't have in any way imagined before I had it. But you're definitely not alone in this as I'm sure that while it's not that common after SAH it must happen to a fair few people. Best wishes Anne x

Hi Janevo Yes I can sympathise on the taste bud problem. I had a very distorted sense of taste and smell post my SAH and could only eat bland food such as porridge, mashed potato and ice-cream plus a special drink my GP gave me. I was very distressed about the whole situation as most things tasted and smelled like sewage. My GP had never had a patient with this particular problem before and my neurologists had heard of it but had not encountered it in such an extreme form as mine. They couldn't tell me whether it would get better or not. It's now more than 2 and a half years since my SAH. I can now eat most things. The improvement has been very gradual. I remember being with family for Xmas 13 months after my SAH and everything tasted horrid and I was so upset but when I went back to visit them 12 months later I could eat and even enjoy the food. I would be hopeful that you will be able to enjoy food again but it could take time and maybe between 2 and 3 years, as it has done in my case. Any progress may well be very slow. I saw a neurpsychologist who gave me a few sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which helped me to accept the problem as I was very depressed with it and thought that I would never be able to eat food again or even be able to endure going into a restaurant as the smell was so awful. I think in my case my taste buds were distorted and my sense of taste and smell both heightened. In my case I think 2 things happened - my taste buds improved and also I came to accept mentally that my taste wouldn't be 100% and I have accepted it as it now is which is fine. I think you should perhaps not focus on it too much just now (I tortured myself by trying foods every week to see if they tasted less horrid and they never seemed too!) I hope this helpful. But do PM or write again if I can be of any further help to you. With best wishes Anne

Hi John I'm not sure I have more bugs etc than before (maybe) but when I do take the cold or virus it takes far more out of me and much longer to recover. It makes my fatigue much worse. I'm hoping this will improve in time. Take care Best wishes Anne

Hi Luisa I went back to work 6 months after my SAH starting with 4 hours on Mon, Wed and Fri afternoons. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever done. After my first afternoon I went home, collapsed into bed fully clothed and didn't get up until Wednesday morning. My second afternoon back at work was even worse, I felt so tired, very disorientated and thought my head might explode. I was ready to throw in the towel but went to see my GP the next day and she encouraged me to try to stick at it. It did get better in time. After 6 weeks I was back full time but for the first 6 months I struggled on with a lot of fatigue. It's very early days for you and you may have gone back a wee bit too early. I would say don't expect it to be easy at first but it will get better in time. With warm wishes Anne x

Welcome Georgina Yes I still have periods of fatigue. Mine seems to come and go - for a few months I have a lot of fatigue and then it goes away (though maybe never completely) for a few months and then comes back again. I'm beginning to think in my case it's linked to stress as I don't think I cope with stress so well since my SAH. It makes me tired and so it's a vicious circle. I'm definitely much better when I pace myself. Best wishes Anne

Hi Karen, Myra, John Thank you for your replies. Karen - I was trying to help Sandra register today (I never have much luck with these things!) but we did send you a message through the Home page link with Sandra'a email address so hopefully you will have received it and Sandra will get on herself. Yes it is a very difficult decision. I think just hearing about other people's experiences on BTG will help Sandra and her partner during this time. Thanks again Anne x

Hi I am writing on behalf of a friend whose partner has an untreated aneursym. I have recommended she join Behind the Gray but she has had difficulty registering just now. My friend Sandra's partner has an untreated giant middle cerebral artery aneurysm. It was discovered due to his having tests/scans to investigate epilepsy. He is 47 years old. The neurosurgery team considering the case has said that the risk of the aneursym bursting is 3-5% per annum and if this happened, there would be a high risk of permanent morbidity or mortality. The aneurysm is not suitable for coiling so clipping is the only possibility. However the surgeon estimates that the clipping operation risk is not insignificant - and the surgeon estimates that the possibility of either a major permanent stroke causing left sided hemiplegia or death is in the region of 20%. Sandra and her partner see the consultant again in July and are having to think about whether he should go ahead with the operation. We were wondering if anyone has been in the same position or has any advice they could give about this. I hope Sandra will be registered soon on Behind the Gray herself so she can post directly. With warm wishes Anne

Hi Caroline Happy second Anni-versary for yesterday. It sounds as if you have a lot to look forward to with a new grandbaby on its way. Love Anne x

Hi everyone Thank you all so much for your help and advice. I've put on an appointment to see my GP next week. I will mention diabetes to her as it's something that quite a few of my cousins suffer from. However I've also noticed since my SAH that I hardly ever need to go to the loo (I think I mentioned this on the forum before but it didn't ring a bell with anyone). It is very handy as before my SAH I always seemed to need the loo. I did mention this symptom to my GP and she said "what goes in must come out" so thought the most likely explanation was that I wasn't drinking as much but I don't think this is the case. I think the nerves communicating with my bladder aren't as sensitive as they used to be, if you see what I mean and so I don't get the message until I really need to go to the loo. It's a bit of a mystery to me. I also think there is a link between fatigue and stress (I would say am under more stress than usual just now as am looking for employment) so it could be down to that but it's hard to separate things out. Will let you know how I get on. I do think unfortunately that this fatigue thing is a long-term after effect of SAH though someone I spoke to whose brother had a SAH said after 10 years he was more or less back to normal re stamina levels so there may be hope yet. With warm wishes Anne

Hi I know this is an old chestnut but thought I'd ask. I'm now 2 and a half years post SAH and would say I had extremely bad fatigue for 6 months post my rupture, then very bad fatigue for 6 months after that, then 6 months of feeling better and 6 months of little fatigue and then over the past 6 months my fatigue has returned quite badly. I'm beginning to think there is something else wrong with me. Has anyone else had these cycles of fatigue? I thought I would have stabilised a bit by now. best wishes Anne x

Hi Laura I don't know the answer as I have only used the pill and was taken off it by my GP a few months after my SAH as my blood pressure was a wee bit high and I have another small aneurysm. Perhaps you could consult the Family Planning Clinic or similar for their opinion as they will have more direct experience of giving advice on choice of contraceptives? I'm of the impression that GPs in general practice tend to stick to recommending the pill or implant as both are believed to be more reliable. Best wishes Anne

Hi John Congratulations on reaching the 6 month mark post SAH. I think you're doing really well after all you've come through recently. I too had lots of tests with a neuropsychologist post-SAH and found them very tiring at the time and think I still would. These tests are set up so that people fail them in one way or another ie they are to find what is wrong rather than what is right (according to my OT, at the time). I do think the brain does rewire itself. I am not sure how this happens but the neurologist I saw said it goes on happening long after an SAH. I think you should now just concentrate on the present and how well you've done so far. And don't rule anything out or in for the future as it's still very early days for you. Best wishes Anne

Hi Maggie Yes I am not on the "at risk" category for the ordinary flu jab but I was for swine flu as I had a SAH. I went and got the swine flu jab though swine flu is another thing that's a bit of a mystery to me! It seems now that a lot of vaccination was bought for it but never used (here in Scotland at least). Best wishes Anne

Hi Karen When I was in hospital the staff referred to my SAH as a brain haemorrhage, I don't remember anyone calling it a stroke except when the Specialist Nurse chatted to me and informed me it was also a type of stroke. As I might have said before on this forum, it didn't feel like a stroke to me. Mine was a sudden extreme pain in my head, being sick and confused but no loss of feeling/movement on one side or things which I would usually associate with a stroke. After my op I had 2 vasospasms and they certainly felt like strokes with the side of my mouth drooping and losing power on one side and difficultly speaking. Is a vasospasm a type of stroke? A friend said to me when I came out of hospital that it was amazing that I had survived 3 strokes within 10 days (one SAH and 2 vasospasms). This alarmed me as I didn't really think I had any strokes but maybe she was right. Another thing which puzzles me is that I'm sure I've read that you can have a SAH but it doesn't always cause a stroke. I can't see how this could happen. Does anyone know of this? If I meet anyone nowadays and it comes up in conversation I say I had a brain haemorrhage rather than a stroke. For me brain haemorrhage reflects the sudden intensity of the event, like being hit over the head with a hammer. Best wishes Anne

Hi Lynz The only thing I can think of is that I've heard the pill can sometimes put bloodpressure up (in people who are susceptible to high blood pressure and not all types of the pill will do this) so this could be linked to a greater chance of a SAH in people who already have an aneursym. I was taking the pill for years and a few months after my SAH my GP decided I should come off it to help with keeping my BP low as it was a bit high. However she certainly didn't suggest that it caused the SAH in the first place. Best wishes Anne

Hi Momo I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling so great right now. After my SAH in November 2007, in Jan 2008 I had 6 months' rehab as day patient at local hospital, Astley Ainslie in Edinburgh. I was very upset about many things including what the future would hold for me/ would symptoms ever get better etc? None of the professionals could really answer me on how much my symptoms would improve but one thing which I found very useful was a few sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy with a neuropsychologist which I got through the rehab hospital. It helped me not to see things in black and white quite so much. I'm not sure how much help and support you got after your SAH but it's not too late to request it now and I'm a firm believer you can never get too much help with things. Let us know how things go. With best wishes Anne