Misty

Thanks Daffodil

Happy Anniversary Super Mario, it is reassuring for us newbies to hear that you are still doing well 13 years on, as it helps us to be less fearful and anxious and more positive about eventual outcomes. Also great to hear that you are able to get away several times a year and make the most of life.

Hi Daffodil, You mentioned clipping or EVD but do you know about clipping and further aneurysm's that haven't bled but need monitoring? Do you think that would be 6 months and surrounding of licence?

To clear things up further, I have just spoken to the DVLA and explained to them what my specialist nurse told me, and they said that you do still have to notify the DVLA whether or not you are driving or intend to drive, but once you have been given the all clear then you will be able to drive without waiting for the DVLA to complete their paperwork. I have therefore informed them today of my condition and they will be sending out a form for me to complete and return. I guess the complication will come if they revoke my driving licence in the meantime.

Hi Smeg, I also received varied information, and spoke to the specialist nurse while I was in hospital. I told her that I didn't want to inform the DVLA but wouldn't drive until I had the all clear. I had SAH and two coils with a further 3 aneurisms of which I don't yet know what they plan to do with. My specialist nurse told me that I didn't have to inform the DVLA if I didn't intend to drive, and once given the all clear can then drive. I have looked on the DVLA site and it states the following:- You must tell DVLA if you have suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result. Now my take on this is that IF YOU DRIVE before you get the all clear then yes, you should inform the DVLA and you are liable for a fine and may be prosecuted if you're involved in a an accident as a result - however, IF YOU DON"T DRIVE until the go-ahead then how can you be fined? So, therefore, in my view, there is no reason to inform the DVLA if you don't intend to drive. Doing it this way will result in less hassle as the DVLA have to correspond with consultants etc which can delay everything. I'm not saying I'm right here, but to me it makes sense and the specialist nurse was clear to me that I didn't necessarily have to inform the DVLA. Don't take my word for it, but ask your specialist nurse and see what she/he says and let us know, as my SAH was just 4 weeks ago and I am keen to find out when I will be able to drive. As in your case, the bleeding stopped and you had no surgery I would imagine that they would give you the all clear much sooner than I.

Thank you so much for your replies Macca and Michelle. I have much to be thankful for, and you are right Macca, in that I should congratulate my surgeon at Salford Royal for a very successful outcome, and be grateful for the fact that I was sent to such a wonderful hospital. I have no behavioural problems, no memory issues, no personality changes, and no physical issues other than the normal head pain and fatigue. I have also had 4 or 5 days since returning home without any headache at all, so all in all, I am recovering very well indeed. I went to a computer course on Monday as I was feeling good, but I think it was too much too soon, the concentrating gave me the worst headache ever, so I think I will leave that alone for the time being. Your replies have helped me to look at the positives rather than to worry about possibilities, and I already feel so much better for reading your comments. This site is a marvel, I think we all stumbled upon it after trying desperately to find answers, and what a gem it is. I will keep you posted on my progress. Thank you so much X

I am also just 4 weeks after a ruptured aneurism and can sympathise and relate to how you are feeling right now. I am shocked to hear that you are back at work and like others have recommended, I would say that it's far too soon to be returning to work, I couldn't imagine being able to do that with the way I am feeling right now. Ask your Doctor for a sick note and stay off work for as long as you need. I went to a computer course last Mon thinking I was ready to return, but the concentration made my headache even worse, and has been intolerable since. I realise that I am just not ready for that level of concentration so have decided to put it on hold for the time being. It could be that work is actually making your headache even worse. You need to be home and resting as much as you can for as long as you can. All the best with your recovery.

How comforting it is to find a site where everyone understands your predicament. This is my story. On New Years Eve 2016 while many were out celebrating the New Year, I was feeling unwell, I had a headache which was nothing unusual for me as I have been suffering with them for quite some time. I had an upset stomach and went to the loo when I noticed that my stools were black. I immediately knew that something was wrong, but had no clue as to what was really happening. I remember little after this point, but apparently I went back downstairs to the loo again and when I didn't return my husband came looking for me and found me collapsed on the basement floor, hitting my head in the process on the tiled floor and suffered a nose bleed. I told him to put me back on the toilet as I had an upset stomach. He helped me upstairs and I apparently told him to call an ambulance. They were here within mins and took me to the local hospital where I was violently sick. They took me for a CT Scan where they confirmed that I had a a ruptured aneurism - the technical terms are as follows as some of you may be able to help me understand more about what it means - CTA: Left PCOMM Artery Aneurysm. ACOMM Artery Aneurysm. Right PCOMM and Left ICA. Fisher Grade 4 - intraventricular haemorrhage. GCS 14 WFNS grade 2 GCS 13 - 14. There were other complications on first arrival at the hospital which were Pulmonary oedema and Myocardial stunning with Diffuse SAH with early hydrocephalus. I was then transferred to Salford Royal Hospital for treatment. I arrived on Sunday evening and I don't know whether it was because of the bank holiday or because I needed to be more stable but I was not operated on until the Wednesday. I remember very little of these first few days. They coiled the ruptured aneurysm and another one close by and told me that I have another 3 aneurysms that they will deal with once I have recovered from the coiling of the previous two. I was in the HDU for 4 days and two weeks in hospital in total. I have now been home for almost 3 weeks. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions since coming home, fear, anxiety, and sadness because like others have said, one minute I was planning a holiday without a care in the world, to then wondering how long I have left to live. It's quite difficult to deal with emotionally I have to say. I am having terrible headaches and lower back pain, but at least I can take pain killers for that, the emotional pain is the most difficult thing to deal with because of the unknown. I don't know what they plan to do with my other 3 aneurysm, I worry about a re-bleed of the coiled aneurysm and I worry about having these terrible headaches for months and years to come. I should be feeling lucky to have survived, I was initially feeling that way, until I learned that re-bleeds are a possibility with dire consequences. I am trying my best to remain positive but it's not that easy. I guess it's early days and have my first appointment at the hospital 22 March where hopefully the Doctors can explain what their plans are regarding my 3 aneurysm. It will either ease my concerns or scare me to death, lets hope it's good news. Thank you for listening and any advice would be very welcome.