cathmat

Hi everyone thought id comment let you know where I am in work , im currently working 30 hours a week which adds up to 35 really because I rely on my generous amazing friends in work for lifts. (no licence since shunt op).

Prior to the shunt op I was struggling with work ,in bed early every night I know realise the hydrocephalus was causing more problems than I realised. Since ive been back in work im like a different person. Though im not back on the ward im doing admin it gives me real motivation and focus. Feel more like myself .I think you are all amazing and should be so proud of what you are all achieving x

Hi everyone i have to agree i have no energy it has been 16 months since sah but only 4 weeks since ive had a placement of shunt . i called into work yesterday to see everyone then went shopping , got home had a headache , nausea and exhausted was in bed by 8.30. Im going back to work in 2 weeks just hope i ll be able to manage was doing 4 days before placement of shunt , i feel i need to get my life back now am i being too optimistic ? x

Hi Cath,thank you for posting and telling me your experience of the Heath. I am taking both you and Lin-lins advice and going for my surgery there if I don't get the funding. It's made me feel much better knowing you both had your surgery there. Could you tell the name of the neurosurgeon who did your surgery please? Just incase Lin-lins surgeon won't be available,if I can recognise a name I will feel better. I haven't had time to think too much about the surgery. I have been so busy trying to get everything sent off to the NHS board for their meeting.

I realise I'm wasting time and just want this surgery over with now, because It's terrifying knowing this aneurysm is there x

Hi Scarlett hope you are ok my surgeon is mr Goetz but i saw a lot of the registrar cant remember his name but he was excellant . keep us informed take care x

Hi Scarlett im Cath ive been reading your thread and can empathise , i had a sah nov 2011, i was treated at the heath in cardiff and there is no doubt they saved my life , it has left me with hydrocephalus and i have since been back in to the heath for placement of shunt feb of this year , the treatment i received was second to none iI think what im trying to say is it will be scary where ever you are treated i too was very scared but all the staff were amazing and treated myself and the other patients so well, (and im a nurse so i know good care when i see it ). I just wanted to share a positive experiance with you its not all bad , i wish you luck where ever you are treated take care lots of hugs Cath x

Wem thats a lovely idea i think we should all take a leaf out of your book and focus on the positive , sounds fab x

That's brill news dawn , glad it's working out for you x

hi everyone keep your chin up donna , its been a year for me i also suffer with spinning (thats what i call it) mine is nearly controlled with betahistine and stemitil , but when its not its torture. I also have hydrocephalus awaiting a ct scan but dont think its gone as still have headaches and i vomit if i move my head too quick . i always thought the hydrocephalus was causing it but if youve got the same symptoms im not sure, Seing the neurologist in a week so im gonna mention it. my mood is very low too dont know how to improve it , take care x

hi everyone , im not doing what i was doing before mary , but still beat myself up is i feel ive done badly , my memory comes and goes too is this normal? Ive got the neurologist on the 17 following my ct scan so i ll know if the hydrocephalus is worse , may have to have a shunt yikes !!! Im with you boys with the back to work im shattered feeling like ive been run over by a bus , didnt think increasing my hours would be so difficult x

ive never had whooping cough was vaccinated though x

Im determined to stay up past 8 o clock at night even if it s only tilll 9 lol. x

Hi Vanessa i think what you are feeling we have all felt , i used to feel i was unlucky because i survived , i now realise that s so not true . Im with sandy i wish sometimes i didnt look so normal because no one can see how ill you really feel. I Know everything is an effort and im really trying to build my confidence back up , On a positive it will be a year for me in 2 weeks and even though i dont see it everyone telll me how far i have come and i am going to up my hours to 30 next week, it will be hard but i am looking forward to the sense of satisfaction i ll get once i acheive it. I think it was stephanie who said "Im taking my life back " thats how i feel , so keep your chin up it will get easier but for now rest and listen to your body xx Cath x

Hi both I'm with Louise on this since my sah I rarely feel emotion , I'm not tearful but don't get excited either , I'm hoping it ll come back. I miss feeling these things x

I love your attitude stephanie , with everything youve ben through you could so easily hate the world , i love your determination , im going to take my life back too , keep up the good work and wise words love Cath

Well done Sandi acceptance is a big part of recovery , even though i am back at work im doing a different job , i dont know what the future holds for me whether i ll be able to go back on the ward . I intend to try my hardest to go back however if i cant i hope i reach your level of acceptance. You are such an ispiration xxx

Hi Ceejay im nearer to pontypridd , do you find it useful , problem is cant drive at the moment and i work every monday x

Hi Karen i havent commented before but ive been reading your thread , that was great news about jims phonecall must have lifted you up no end , Just remeber to look after yourself and get plenty of rest. After my sah last november i was very short but only with my mum i think i drove her to distraction, i probably still do lol. Take care love to Jim . Cath X

Thanks everyone.

I actually went to Dr's last week re the numb leg. He called the hospital where I was treated and had me re admitted as he had no idea what it was. After being in the assessment unit for a couple of hours and being poked and prodded by a couple of Dr's, they came to the conclusion that it was probably sciatica, but I needed another MRI and as it was so soon after I'd had one, well 2 I found out, they would have to discuss the best route with another Dr and would send for me.

That was 10 days ago

On a good note though, I have my regional Headway meeting next Monday. Been to one before, lovely people who are very apologetic that if I lived in Cardiff there's a whole load of support available but I'm a couple of miles outside the area!

X

Hi Ceekay is it a support group you go too , i live a couple miles outside cardiff dont know of any support groups that exist . Cath

Hi Ceekay I'm Cath I had a burst berry aneurism resulting in sah and coiling November las year , I also woke up in UHW,I agree with the lack of aftercare nobody could believe I was discharged from high dependency with not even a follow up letter. There is a headway in Cardiff I've been there once ,but in fairness don't know if there was much I needed off them.How are you feeling now ? This is a great site for support everyone in very friendly welcome x

Hi All,

Thank you for the warm welcome & messages of support.

Lynne, I live near Pontypridd, and had my ops in the Heath Hospital as well.

Will list more questions to ask, when I next see the neurosurgeon (with my wife, Sam, this time). When I had the appointment in March, I wasn't expecting the discussion I had, so it was a lot to take in - given that only a couple of months before, I was just going to be monitored...

He explained the all the risks of the op, as my aneurysm is above the hypothalmus gland. All being well, I'd be in hospital about 5 days, and off work about 3 months (similar to the decompression surgery I had - luckily, I recovered well from that).

Thanks again.

Ian

Hi Ian hi im cath i live in beddau so just up the road. I Had a ruptured anurism and sah in november last year and went on to have emergency coiling .Ive only just read your post which was a while ago how are things , have you heard from your surgeon? Im under Mr goetz . Hope you are well .

If i could have anything i would have my old life back , as fast as it was and stressful looking back i loved the old me .one thing this has taught me not to take anything for granted.Above all i want to be settled, happy and contented not constantly searching for the better me ! Oh and a lottery win would be nice lol

Hi everyone i have been reading the thread with a great deal of interest as i too have felt like you Michelle .My manager is being most patient with me in fact has told me to slow down . I am doing a admin job but have finally realised how lucky i am to be in a supportive organisation who want me to succeed and worry about me ,

In fact my job is about to go out on a temprorary basis and i wasnt upset like i thought i would be .I have finally realised that i cant do it but i can do the job im doing so its not all bad. Im In agreement with you Carl im gonna be the best i can be at this time . I too felt like you michelle in my personal life where i felt my mates were leaving me behind but i ve realised my limitations now and can acccept them xxx

well done david im very impressed , hope you are feeling ok and have some spoons left for everyday life. My boss has proposed aplan to keep me in work but reduce my hours so i will only be workinf 22.5 hours until at least april next year, this is more feasible to me and feel relieved the pressure is off . Work was zapping my spoons and i slept when off thats not a life . hope everyone is ok x

thanks both dropping my hours is the right thing to do at present , money is not everything this week off has made me realise how many spoons working takes up xx

Morning got a week off work this week , going back but my boss wants me to drop my hours officially take the pressure off me but means i will lose money. Its such a big decision to make but everyone see s how tired i am .Will i ever get back to working full time again?

Hi all hope you are all well ,I had to comment on the thread what I wouldn't give for answers !!! Not just about my health but about work as well . I wishihad a crystal ball to see my future because it feels so bleak at the moment . My vertigo is so bad I feel it's ruling my life, is 9 months still early days ?