Tina

HI Suzy Goodness me you were brave !!!! I could not bare loud noise for a long time after my SAH. I certainly could not have gone to a concert as also struggle with crowds. Things did gradually improve over time though. One thing i could suggest if you have not already, is get some ear plugs. They really helped me . As Win has said maybe avoid Concerts for a while you are still very early in your recovery. Take care Tina xx

Hi Boozysuzi A very warm welcome to BTG. You have come to the right place for lots of helpful information and friendly support. So sorry you are having to go through this bless you, a very scary time for you and family xx I agree with all that Paul has said, it is a very good thing your Neurosurgeon is going to operate and prevent a bleed. Also wishing you well for next Wednesday and for a speedy recovery. Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing, we are here for you. Take care Tina xx

Hi Evelyn Good to hear you are feeling better, but do feel for you with your bone broth and steamed vegetable diet, bless you. Really hope all goes well with your biopsies. Sending lots of positive vibes your way. When you feel up to it, please us know how you are doing. Take care Tina xx

To help me read, because of my double vision, like you everything seems to blur and jump all over the place. I sometimes use a ruler to break down paragraphs to no more than 4 lines. I have also used a sheet of paper to block the rest out and work my way down. Hope this may help. Chris, here is the link below to 'A Letter From Your Brain' that the lovely Win was mentioning : Just click on the bold print at the top.

Chris just take your time and as said before be kind to yourself. Its good that you have your dog to walk each day, as some kind of routine is a good thing. What is your dogs name? I used to set myself a small goal each day and it felt good that i had achieved something. I used to run my own business from home, i tried to get back, but it was just too much. With the short term memory, to help, i always use post it notes or put reminders on my phone. I have to do this daily. Maybe put a post it note in your wallet when you go shopping so you wont forget what you were going for. The fatigue is a horrible thing....if you push too hard, your body tells you to slow down. I have learnt to pace myself, does not always work though lol ! Maybe we should leave the singing to our lovely Win ha ha Take care Tina xx

Hi Luke Thank you for updating us on your Mum's progress. Great news that all your efforts and thoughtfulness has helped your Mum to feel a lot happier So pleased that life is finally starting to look up. Wishing you all well and look forward to hearing how you are all getting on. Take care Tina xx

Hi Chris A very warm welcome to BTG, glad you found us. I agree with Super Mario, a very harsh statement from your neurologist. When i had my SAH i was all over the place in the early stages, physically, mentally and emotionally. It turned my whole world upside down. I also could not sleep very well at all, in fact i still have problems with sleeping now, nearly 8 years on, but it has improved. Its not surprising you are short tempered at the moment, with lack of sleep and also you are in the very early stages of recovery. Your brain has had a major trauma and is trying to repair and continue to work as normal at the same time. Can you try and rest up during the day at all ? If you are thinking of going back to work, a phased return is always a good idea to consider. Go steady and be kind to yourself, things will get better. Look forward to hearing more from you and as the others have said you have found the right place for lots of helpful information and friendly support. As Michelle has mentioned above, feel free to ask any questions and join in the daily banter in the Green Room . Take care Tina xx

Great news Ian really pleased for you ! Wishing you well. Take care Tina xx

Hi Georgia gal a very warm welcome to BTG! Thank you for sharing your story. So sorry to read you have had a grand mal seizure after your SAH. Really hope that you will start to feel a little better and wish you well with your on going recovery. You have come to the right place for lots of helpful information and some great friendly support. Glad you found us and look forward to hearing more from you. Take care Tina xx

Hi Julie Thinking of you and hope all is going well. Take care Love Tina xx

Happy 2 year anni-versary Rob hope you have a great day xx

Hi Jan Here is a link you may find helpful xx http://web.behindthegray.net/index.php?/topic/1798-back-to-work/&page=1

Hi Nicky A very warm welcome to BTG, so glad you found us. You are still in the very early stages of recovery, everything you have mentioned i can relate to feeling. It does take time to adjust to the new you and can be very frustrating at times. Karen, our founder once said to me 'be kind to yourself and listen to your body'....very wise words So pleased you made it through to press your reset button with the support of your lovely wife, family & friends, a very scary worrying time for them too. As Subs has already said so well, feel free to ask any questions and join in the Green Room banter. Win will sing to you We are a friendly bunch. Wishing you well with your on going recovery and look forward to hearing more from you. Take care Tina xx

Unbelievable Julie !!! Really feel for you. Also have everything crossed for next Wednesday xx Take care Love Tina xx

Hi Ian So sorry you have been back in hospital and your tests showed an increase in the 'focal expansion' of the frontal lobe. I really hope the increase of medication will help with your head pains. Really pleased your Consultant is arranging for one to one counselling to help you cope and prepare. It is so important to talk about things. I hope you wont have to wait too long for this to be put in place. Remember we are always here for you too....good days and bad ! Yes the weather is lovely enjoy your walking and getting a nice tan Take care and keep in touch. Tina xx P.s. one ice cream wont hurt

Jan, try this link to a thread by Daff...... it may help you and others with pain threshold/management : http://web.behindthegray.net/index.php?/topic/2645-useful-simple-pain-management-booklet/

Hi Jan Sorry to read you are in so much pain, bless you, hugs xx Horrible when you cant sleep with the pain too. Roll on Wednesday for your appointment with your Doctor and hope they can get to the bottom of it and help with your pain. I have not noticed any difference personally, but then i am told i have a high pain threshold so probably not the best one to answer you I do know that if i am tired and not sleeping everything seems a lot worse and much harder to cope with. Especially if you are in the early days of recovery from your SAH, which you are, first 2 years i found the hardest xx Take care and really hope you can rest and the pain eases up for you. Love Tina xx

Hi Lyn A very warm welcome to BTG, so glad you found us I had to have my ears sorted after my craniotomy because they were blocked with blood etc from my operation . Not very nice at all for you as ear infections are very painful, so is sinus, I have a ringing in my ears, but its not as loud as it used to be thank goodness. It did improve over time. In the early stages it is normal to get weird head feelings, it is your brain mending and settling back after a major trauma. It is still very early days for you in your recovery. As you have found, there is a wealth of information on the forum, so please ask if you have any questions. Also feel free to join in the daily banter in The Green Room, we are a friendly bunch Good luck for starting back to work in September. Just take it slowly and pace yourself, particularly as yours is such a full on job. Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. Take care Love Tina xx

Happy 1st anni-versary Claudette Here is to you and your resilience Have a fabulous holiday ! Take care Love Tina xx

Julie, bless your heart, i really feel for you xx What an absolute nightmare for you and your husband to go through and to be messed about so badly! Let alone the added extra stress and anxiety it has caused you.... it's just not acceptable! I have just been through something similar with ops being cancelled. No phone calls back when they said they would, loads of chasing, phone calls, emails to get another date through. So very frustrating ! As Macca, Sami & Win have already said, please try and relax now you have a date...easy to say i know xx When it's all over and you feel up to it, as Macca & Sami have suggested complain in writing. Wishing you all the very best for your surgery next Thursday. Thoughts are with you, Take care Love Tina xx

Hi Nicola My heart goes out to you as i know just how you are feeling. I was really scared of being left alone and also could not go outside my front door. I tried a few times and just went to pieces, complete blind panic and tears, but i did not give up. I used a walking stick as my balance was all over the place, i also had double vision. First i left the front door wide open....i just stepped out and stood there for a few seconds, then went back in. I always had my mobile phone in my pocket. I did this as often as i could on my good days. Eventually i would say to myself...ok,a few steps forward. I could see my front wall to my drive and the front door was wide open. After a few weeks i got to the wall and back it took me a few months before i could walk up the road a few yards to the post box at the top of my road. I could see it from my front door. Nicola you will get there, it just takes time and patience and perseverance. I would get so frustrated and cross at myself. In fact i am feeling very emotional as i type this remembering. From someone that ran their own business and was outgoing and a go getter, miss independent. I felt like a total waste of space and failure. Felt i was letting everyone down. My whole life was turned upside down after my SAH. Things do get better, i wont lie and say i don't get panic attacks and anxiety now. I have good days and bad. I think going to CBT is a great idea, i wish i had been referred. As Sami said above, talking to someone you don't know away from family and friends can really help. I had counselling much later on and found it helped me just to offload without feeling guilty. Plus coming on this site was an absolute Godsend I wish you well, you can do this please let us know how you get on. Take care Tina xx

Posted on behalf of Subhem63 Hi Susan, Yes I was at The RVI, but I had a SAH, coil and shunt fitted, 20th May 2016, my story (I know where tomorrow is...) I have to agree they were great, but I really like to know what I can expect and when to expect it., thus the query. I think one of the biggest problems about our illness is the not knowing what to expect. This is one of the reasons I like this site, because of all the people like you on it, who can help each other with all the questions that go through your mind. Thanks again , be well. Subhem63 SAH 20/5/16

Posted on behalf of Subhem63 Hi Louise Thanks for that, that was one of the reasons also that I asked, I received a letter from the DVLA saying they had not heard from my consultant regarding my driving licence, paperwork was apparently sitting on his desk. Guess what , he was on holiday as well., so I thought if I could get an idea when the check ups would be I could tackle him about my DVLA form as well. Method in my madness, you never know it might work., worth a try don't you think. Thanks for replying. Be Well. Subhem63 SAH 25/5/16

Posted on behalf of Subhem63 Hi Kempse, Thanks for that, yes indeed a day I hope I'll never forget, at least that way I know the brain cells are working, which won't be too bad , they never worked before, so I'm improving already. I hope the two lads enjoyed the 49 balls, I'll have to try and find out who they are when I get back to managing to hit a golf ball again. Thanks again. Be Well. Subhem63

Posted on behalf of Subhem63 Hi Sharlua, Thanks for your reply, Like you say it seems to be relative to the individual and their recovery, regarding the follow up, everyone seems to have a different time spell, but they are all with a few months of each other. At least I have a reasonable idea when to expect it. It's handy that others on the site have been to the RVI, chances are we have all been under the same people so will know how they work. Thanks again. Be Well Subhem63 SAH 20/5/16