Carole

Hi, I'm a new by to the site too. I had my SAH three years ago, and am almost back to normal, so try not to worry too much and don't rush your recovery - it takes time but you will get there! Anyway, welcome and take care. Carole

Hi Lynette, I am new to this site and just Read your message. Hope you've sorted out any problems with your GP now. There are all sorts of strange things you get after a SAH! I couldn't open my mouth much to eat or anything for a while. Brushing my teeth was very awkward! I have no problem now. It didn't last long. So take things easy and try not to worry too much, ok. We are two Welsh newbys so keep in touch!! Take care, Carole.

Hi Lynne, Thanks for making me feel welcome and yes, hopefully I too will help to make others feel a bit better. I have emailed Headway, (not had a reply yet), and may look into visiting patients. Sounds like a good idea. Sorry to hear that you had to give up your job, but who knows, in time, maybe you will be well enough to do the same type of thing again. I was a full time receptionist and animal carer before my SAH, now I work part time, at the same place, and co-ordinate and train volunteers at the Centre, and only cover reception when my replacement is off. I don't have the same concentration level that I had before, and prefer to do one thing at a time. Before, I used to multi task a lot and do a few things at once! I was usually rushing around arranging adoptions, (animals, that is), vaccinating, micro-chipping, dealing with upset/angry, usually lovely people on a day to day basis! By the end of the day, my head would be spinning, even though I got a lot of job satisfaction. This could not continue, obviously, when I made my gradual return to work. I have improved a lot in the three years since it happened, although I didn't always show how I was feeling and tried to cover it up a bit because I thought that was the best thing to do. Maybe I should't have, but I've got by ok and everyone says I look and seem fine. Hope you feel as good as you look good in your profile pic! Anyway, I'll keep a look out for newbys and try to help a bit. Thanks, Carole

Hi Michelle, I see you had your SAH a few months before I did, how are you now? I've just been babbling on about myself mostly, so far! I have been wowed by some of the stories from others that i've read, and am glad to feel that I'm not alone. I'm still getting used to finding my around this site, hope my messages are coming out ok now. Do I reply to each person individually, or just do one message and name people in paragraph form, sorry to be so thick, but this type of thing is new to me. Thanks Carole

Hi everyone, I think some of my replies went to the wrong place, sorry. Anyway, just to let you all know, I am grateful for your messages, and will be making a few enquiries with my doctor. I have made an almost total recovery and am now back in work part time. Just wish I could do more for others in our situation. It's a very scary time! Thanks again, Carole.

Hi Michelle, I think it's because I feel so much better now, that I am starting to question a few things. My family and myself found a lack of communication on the ward during the eight days before the op, and we were given no hope, only doom and gloom, from the doctor on his rounds. We are very grateful to the surgeon who operated and he did visit me a few days after it before I went home, but it was a brief visit, (understandably), and a lot of my questions went unanswered. At the time, I just wanted to go home and try to put life back together. Now, I wish there was more that could be done for people and their families, in this position, to help them understand things better, and their feelings taken more into account. I did a gradual return to work eight months after my surgery, and now work part time instead of full time but feel and look much the same as before, just a few minor differences. I feel very lucky and it has brought me and my husband even closer. I live for today now, and don't worry about little things so much! Thanks for your message, hope you are ok too. Carole.

Hi KelBel, Thanks for the encouragement, will let you know any news. Carole.

Hi Sandi, yes, it was very scary at the time. I've made a mostly complete recovery now, just a few memory blips and I get dates and numbers mixed up sometimes, but that could be partly due to age and being blonde! Thanks for your reply and sympathy, hope you're ok too. Carole.

Hi Louise, The neuro Ward was open for at least a year after my op, (I wasn't aware it had closed yet). My husband organised a charity event at our local club and we presented the ward with a cheque, that was about 9-12 months later. Hope you're ok, Carole.

Hi, thanks, the help and advise given is much appreciated.

Hi, thanks for the advice, I'll check with the doctor. Cute dogs by the way! Carole

Hi, Thanks for letting me know about Headway, I have emailed them for more info. I believe I was clipped as the surgery was through my skull, not via a vain in the groin. I'll let you know what happens. Not sure if I'm doing things correctly on this site - it's all new to me. I'm more used to emailing and buying and selling on eBay! Carole.

Hi everyone, I had an SAH just over three years ago now and have only just come across Behind the Gray. Mine happened whilst visiting my Dad in hospital. I just bent down to switch the tv off in the dayroom when I had, what I thought was a terrible headache coming on. I quickly realised it was not and the jarring pain in my head, shoulder and neck had me on the floor in seconds! Unfortunately, the hospital I was in was a geriatric altzheimers one and I had to have an ambulance to another one. Once they realised what it could be, I was transferred to yet another hospital (all in my home area). There I had a brain scan and the burst aneurism was discovered. For the next eight days, I was kept flat on my back in bed, with very little info given to my husband and family. My hearing was very sensitive, and every little noise was magnified. I was put on a fluid drip and encouraged to drink as much as possible, as this evidently helps. I was also light sensitive. The nursing staff and cleaners didn't seem very aware of my condition and if it wasn't for my husband and daughters taking it in turn to try to help and encourage me to eat, I wouldn't have had anything! On the seventh day, the consultant or surgeon came to see me and my husband at the bedside, and said an angiogram would be done and if I survived it, they would consider surgery. (all week doctors had been saying, "if she survives the next 24hours, we'll consider this, and if she survives after that, we'll do that"!!!) we had no encouragement or hope given, it was all very frightening and updating. After the surgery, it was obvious that it had worked, and although recovery seemed endless, I felt lightheaded with relief (as did my family and friends). I was sent home a week later, and although at that time, I could hardly walk and couldn't open my mouth more than about a quarter of an inch, I was very relieved! Since then, I have had no contact or check up from the hospital or doctor, and just had to get on with it myself. Sorry this is such a long first entry, but I felt I needed to get it off my chest! Thanks for listening and just being there. Carole.