MaryB

HI, I am 54 and work in a veterinary hospital, I am not sure what country you are from so that differs, as well as the damage if any etc.. I am 27 months out and have been working about 34 hours until recently when it all became too much. I was thinking I had it all under control but never really did anything but work and rest, work and rest. I had a phase back to work at 5-6 months. I only know how to work hard and had to learn to let others be in control etc,... but my point is I just now was suggested after 2 years that I apply medical disability by my Neuro Therapist and my GP.. It was after my 2 year neuro phyc elevation and me literally having moments of blacking out in afternoons on my long days. I think it is way too early for you or your medical professionals to know where your capabilities will be in the future. Are you back to work already? This is so early on in your recovery that it is hard to know when you would be able to even consider returning to work. You have been given great advice here and I think you need to take one day at a time and see how this works out. Take it slow is my best advice. I do not know how I could of started out so slow and ended up where I am! But those with that drive my best extra cautious to not over do it. Stop yourself with the slightest twinge of headache or fatigue because you already past your limit for the moment. Good Luck, Mary

I have read this thread a few times and the comments are always so well put like they always are. I have nothing to add as even though I was told I had anxiety I just do not think I do. How is that:lol:?? Maybe still in the denial state of all of this. I have anxiety from everyday life, money etc.. but I do not have panic attacks or go off and worry about it too much. But I think with the NASAH we do not have as much to concern ourselves with other than the headaches & fatigue as it would be really rare to have another bleed. So once that was said I was good with that and took that worry off my plate. I did however have a nerve face pain attack about 3 weeks ago and laying down made my pain so much worse I was considering possibly going to the hospital. I am reading a book called "Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual (2nd Edition)" IN this book it has such helpful tools to control chronic pain and daily stresses. It was almost everything my neuropsychologist told me to do when she went over my results of my cognitive testing. I am not by anyway saying that fibro and SAH are compared but the life style is similar where you have to adjust your sails many times during a day. It is a good coping tool. Someday hopefully in our lifetime we will have a "SAH Recovery Manual". We will probably have to write it ourselves. I was amazed at how much is the same such as "triggers, weather and all that jazz". It tells you coping strategies and even has chapters on head pain and trigger points for those areas AND what we may of done to cause pain in that area. It is pretty enlightening. I really like the chapter on pacing and having to write down what you need to do in a day for as simple as that sounds I still cannot get dinner on autopilot. If I do not write down my 3 or 4 things to do it will not get done. So as simple as this always sounds I am amazed when I read a book and it breaks it all down for me. The head pain chapter really has intrigued me as they talk about simple things like holding a phone with your head and shoulder how it can cause pain in a certain location. It was talking about if you had a problem in your brainstem how this could affect it. I think reading and comprehending this book someday will help with my overall health and other may check it out at the library and see if there are any helpful hints for you. So anyway Daff I am sorry you hit a slick spot in the road but know we all do and it is ok to come and talk about it. I find I have to find a solution to my problem.. when my brain won's turn off I literally say "Shut up!".. I quite smoking this way. When my mind would go crazy with wanting a cigarette I would tell it to shut up or later I could or after I do this or that. But I would put off that noise that was driving me crazy. Good Luck Darling! maryb

Oh you need to slow down! I too rushed back to work and it kicked my butt. I get the income thing but you need to take care of yourself first! Rest is so important. If you are tried and headaches come on your brain is over worked. I overworked mine to the point of having black outs thinking I could over come this with harder work and mind you I thought I was taking it easy! My thoughts are until you resume your everyday home activities at a good steady pace you are not fit to even think about working yet. This is hind site that I learned the hard way!! Let that head heal and you cannot hurry it up! It heals on it's on time. Good luck it will come in time. Maryb

Hi There and Welcome. I too had a bleed for unknown reason, followed by a stroke in my left occipital lobe with some damage. I have blind spots in both eyes at like 9:00 in left eye and 3:00 in right eye. I have gotten use to it for the most part. If I am tired it is much worse. I will get floaters and headaches etc. My biggest thing with the lose of vision is I hit the end of the isle with my shopping cart! I also think I am running into something out of the corner of my eye. It over time has come to be easier. You are so early on and things will get so much better. I am able to drive, I only took the seizure meds for about a week. They made me feel worse. I do however live in the US so it is a bit different here. But I know people with one eye that drive. I do not worry that it will happen again as it would be as rare as winning the lottery. I felt ill for months prior, did you feel not right? I know others with a NASAH that say the same thing. And they too were under a very stressful time. My advice is to rest as much as you can, get up and move a bit with a walk or two but never over do it so much you start to feel sick again. That is the common mistake in recovery that we over do and push ourselves too hard. You cannot rush a brain injury to heal faster. Good Luck, Maryb

My strong will, family, friends and BTG, and a new belief in a higher spiritual being. Believing it was not my time and I had work to be done. Whether it is only that my will to keep moving on was a lesson to others or more is yet to come. Somehow the strength you can give when you go through something is not wasted if a lesson is learned or someone is touched.

Oh boy Kris good thread! I am working on doing less work ( still need a paycheck though), enjoying myself more and taking care of my needs better. I feel self centered but it has been the only way I have been able survive the past few years but I need to rearrange my thinking yet again and look at the long term goals set before me. Setting goals of more peace and striving to have more of a life without working myself to death. But somehow needing an income. So I guess working on having to work my job less, find an income and a peaceful way to juggle this and have time in my life set aside daily to improve my overall health. Maryb

Take as much time as you need! I went back too soon as I felt I had to only to have rebounded at 26 months. I should of stayed home until I could take care of my household without much problem then return to work. I did not even "get" how to go into the kitchen and make a meal until about 20 months yet I was working 30 hours a week. Now that I am "waking up" a bit and able to do a bit more normal everyday stuff at home it seems to be taking my energy allowance out of my work. I hit the wall everyday at noon. I recently can add that I can most of the time make it through the grocery store without much problem as long as I have a list. Sometimes I just leave 1/2 way through but not as often as I use to. I think you need to be able to shop first then think about work! I believe 3 months is how long an incision needs to heal. But that is not how long it takes for your brain to heal. I think most of agree to take it very slow returning to work. I thought I was above that as my long memory and my work routine was pretty easy to ( well it was not easy but it was easier than cooking) get back into. I just say take as much time as you can and do not add more hours for like a year. Good luck. Maryb

Well done and well said Lin, Very proud of you and wish you the very best! Congrats!

Hi there. I am sorry that your brother and family are having to go through this. I know noise of any kind just made everything worse for me. I did not want to talk or listen yet I was too wiped out to concentrate on conversations. I would like to add maybe bring photos for him to see would be helpful. Good luck and please keep us informed. Maryb

Thanks Lin for sharing that useful information. It is so true that many of would not turn back the clocks because of the growth we have had. I will google now. Maryb

Bless you Dawn, I hope it makes all the difference in the world for you. Maryb

Thanks for that information Sandi I agree it is important to describe it all to your doctor and work place. I started to make a typed list of all of my issues when I go to the doctor so I can just hand it to his nurse when she checks me in. That way we do not waste time on other stuff and I am scooted out the door. And I do not get lost or stuck on one subject. It is not that you are just tired but you have hit the wall and cannot think at all. You could lay down anywhere quiet or for me just walk out the door without notice as I cannot even form the words or the desire to talk about it anymore. This happens out shopping and running errands as well I just need to stop what I am doing. Last week I found a link on Mental Fatigue after Brain Injury and it had a lot of information that I found to be useful and it is pretty much what I am feeling. I need to scale way back is what I learned about myself and job right now. Regroup and rethink where I am at now. I just assumed I would get better and better. But from what I read this is a normal thing that can happen when we are getting better our mind just needs to do less mental tasking to catch up ( I am hoping). We are thinking more and as we all know thinking is something we took for granted before our SAH. Maryb

Welcome Jac and once again so glad you found this site so soon! There is much information here. More than I got anywhere else during the last 2 years, I asked my therapist yesterday "What is up with these neurologists are they not suppose to help us recover?" As I had seen 2 and never have I been treated so poorly. I was so dismissed that I thought I must not have a problem, Therapist smiled and said that if you can walk in and talk that is good enough for a neurologist and I think she was right. I do not know anyone who has had a good one. Therapy or someone with some knowledge helps much, my GP is wonderful as is my neurosurgeon. But boy those neurologist could not get out of the room fast enough. First one never even sat down & the second never opened my chart or knew anything about me. I do not know where you live but my insurance Blue Cross Blue Shield did follow up phone calls monthly which was so odd. They did the same with an illness of my husbands. Take it slow and do not let anyone rush you. I rushed back too soon and it is easier to get your self in check before using all your energy to get back to work. I worked and slept for 18 months that was all I could do. I should of learn to handle home first. I was not even cooking yet when I returned to work. Good luck and take baby steps is my advice plus drink lots of water! Also may want to look up rebound headaches. I had that issue. I also had a NASAH. Maryb

Daff, I am having a longer version of the test I had at nine months out on Tuesday. I am seeing a therapist that specializes in brain injuries. Now it is count back from 100 by 7's? I need to practice that one! And say the alphabet backwards as well! I did a personality test yesterday and kept going back and forth with before SAH and after SAH person and it is going to be a mess. I realized about an hour ago one question was "I like children?" and I said "false" Oh my lord, I was thinking screaming kids in Walmart children! I keep telling myself I cannot call her today and explain myself I will look more neurotic! Maryb

No you are not being silly Dawn. What are you suppose to do make something up? You really have not other choice. I had a talk or a long text with my boss today and we will revisit that schedule again.

Hi Dawn, I have been wondering the past few days about where you were at. I am at the same place you are. I hate to have my co workers do more but on the other hand if I am too tired and making mistakes it does not help anyone. I did however get rid of that Monday afternoon day. Jeez, coming in at noon was awful. I was ready for bed at 10:00 am so I am glad I do not have to do that anymore. I do however have to pick up Wednesday morning instead which is better or we shall see. I just went to a new therapist today that specializes in brain issues. Next week I will have cognitive testing done. I had to do a personality test today that was over 500 questions long. Holy COW!. I am hoping this all will guide me into the right direction with work and my new life. I really thought I would be 100% by now or at least 85% ok more than 75%. I just cannot add another thing to my day and I am not happy where I am with that. I keep thinking I am one of the really lucky ones too! I just thought it would be easier. I feel like my brain is 1000 years old most days. I think Sandi needs to post and keep a log about her coping classes so we can all read it over and over again!! Really!! Take care all and good luck, Mary!

Nana, I also once had a very odd nerve thing similar when I had a too rough mammogram ( not on my lip!!) . I would ask your doctor but once I have had a nerve thing they are very weird and similar in many ways.

Welcome Julie, Glad you found this site so early it is so full of useful information. I hope you are doing well. Maryb

Congrats to you!

HI, Yes I have had a numb and tingle line from tip of my nose to lips. It is an odd feeling. I had it before NASAH and have it now again 2 years later. I am thinking more so where tired or stressed. I also developed face pain that may or may not be associated with that numb feeling. I "think" I read somewhere it was a nerve thing but I am not 100% sure that I am correct in repeating that.

"I have significantly less fear and anxiety now" me too. Boy the things you let slide off your back now are amazing. You sure do realize what is really important and what is not. If anything I let the important things go much longer than I should as I procrastinate or maybe am just less neurotic about getting things done in a timely manner. Except my bills I am still neurotic about paying them on time! I am happy for you Dawn! I know this has been a long time coming for you. MaryB

Daff, I have had tinted lenses before. I am not a fan but thinking if I had a money tree I would have a pair and a pair of prescription sunglasses as well One of my issue is I often feel as if I need to turn the lights on when they are already on. My house is pretty bright with a lot of windows. But I never want or can stand the light hitting me in the eye when reading or when I lay down I think I need a wide brim hat on to shield the brightness but when standing walking around house I need that brightness. It is a new weirdo thing I do trying to turn the light on that is already on. We also go new lightening at work and it was so nice and bright but now it does not seem so to me. Mary PS I am off to eye dr in 15 mintues for a follow up! PSS Back from eye appointment, she wants me to continue the cortisone eye drops for a week 3 times a day since my pain level is so much better in this eye. It may be due to inflammation. I was sure it was due to my brain tumor growing and putting pressure on the nerve in eye.

Thank you Momo, Good article. I have saved it in my favorites. I think I need to practice one thing at a time though. If I learn one thing something leaves my brain at this point. My boss seems to think I say inappropriate things but I tend to think I am only stating "facts" in a matter of fact kind of way with no sugar coating - cannot believe that could of gotten worse since SAH but apparently it has. But that I think goes with patience and I have very little anything left for whiners or self pity people that are not giving 100% all the time. Wonder how many have that issue now? Thanks again for the enlightening article. Maryb

Julie, I like the idea of sending an email or writing your questions down and so does my GP! I make a TYPED list of maybe 10 things that are bothering me and hand them to the nurse to give him before I see him. He loves it and I do to as I am not wasting my precious appointment time trying to explain something not important, or I cannot find the right words or I am just not "feeling it" that day or something he can just say "You will have to live with that issue" etc. This dose lead to more of a quality appointment time for both of us. Plus if I make a list and keep adding to it I tend to keep repeating myself! LOL. Imagine that! Maryb PS he also has a written copy for his record of my worries and concerns for the next visit or just to have in my permanent record.

I am now taking Adderall and am not doing as great as Sandi with it. It certainly keeps me awake but since I did everything backwards by returning to work too early I cannot still add my life to my day. Ritalin gave me a bad headache. I still get headaches but right now I am in a pretty good phase of not so much head pain. Four days and only one bad headache day. I think I need it to get through my day but I have an issue with it masking my fatigue and if I am fatigue maybe I should be resting. Although they tell me it is ok to take it I still "feel" it is maybe not the best thing. Mind you with that conflict I cannot go back to bed everyday at 9:00am either. It may be that with my other health issues it does not work as smoothly as I wish it would but better than sleeping literally all day. My what I call 2nd phase of deep fatigue happened at about 15 months. I see a fibro specialist the end of November and my neurosurgeon in December for another MRI. I am happy with my GP and nurse practitioner as they both "get me". I have had a lot of face pain that I addressed in another thread so maybe now I have that sorted out and the Adderall will be better?