Annie

Howdy Ninja! Hey, you ABSOLUTELY did the right thing by cancelling London. You are listening to your body. Good for you! Sometimes it's so hard to educate DOLTS! Your friends need to wake up or just leave you alone. I read an old entry from Articles recently about Andy when he was at Disneyland and coincidentally met an expert on SAH... the man referred him to a website of his writings on the subject which I looked up. There were several things about recovery that I found helpful. The expert said that recovery symptoms can continue in the SAH victim for 6 months to 6 years. That was the first time that I'd heard anything about 6 years. When I was released from the hospital they told me 6 months to a year, and I was frustrated at my one year anniversary that I wasn't "well". Knowing that it can take a lot longer has made me feel a lot better and I am much more patient with the process. I'll find that website and make a thread about it so others can read it too. Then maybe you should send it to your friends. AND by the way, the studies were done on non aneurysm SAH's so you get all the more understanding from all of us about your recovery issues. Karen, if you have that site on a list and want to do the posting, that's fine too. And regarding the prostate thing... if I may be so bold... can you tell me your age? Jack is 62 and very worried about an upcoming checkup on his numbers. Your good news should be a comfort to him. Thanks! Annie

Howdy Ninja! Hey, you ABSOLUTELY did the right thing by cancelling London. You are listening to your body. Good for you! Sometimes it's so hard to educate DOLTS! Your friends need to wake up or just leave you alone. I read an old entry from Articles recently about Andy when he was at Disneyland and coincidentally met an expert on SAH... the man referred him to a website of his writings on the subject which I looked up. There were several things about recovery that I found helpful. The expert said that recovery symptoms can continue in the SAH victim for 6 months to 6 years. That was the first time that I'd heard anything about 6 years. When I was released from the hospital they told me 6 months to a year, and I was frustrated at my one year anniversary that I wasn't "well". Knowing that it can take a lot longer has made me feel a lot better and I am much more patient with the process. I'll find that website and make a thread about it so others can read it too. Then maybe you should send it to your friends. AND by the way, the studies were done on non aneurysm SAH's so you get all the more understanding from all of us about your recovery issues. Karen, if you have that site on a list and want to do the posting, that's fine too. And regarding the prostate thing... if I may be so bold... can you tell me your age? Jack is 62 and very worried about an upcoming checkup on his numbers. Your good news should be a comfort to him. Thanks! Annie

Yeah, Hubby always thought I never listened to him anyway... now he can torture me with that.

Beautiful Ohio! (our Midlands)

"Dr. Embryo" really cracked me up, Sarah! My two were Zerick and Budzick!!! We had z's going all over the place!!!

Oh, I'm so glad to hear that! Super!!! That's a huge step in the right direction! xo, Annie

Gotta love those small victories!!! You just chuff away! It's cause for celebration. Wow, your weather has been as unpredictable as ours. We keep going from spring weather to winter and back. As soon as I said I don't have your headache problems, I developed a monster one yesterday. Had to lie down with the ice pack. Haven't done that In ages. I'm thinking it's probably sinus. hugs, Annie

I remember thinking that I'd never be any better. It really does seem like forever when you're suffering like that.

Also, remember, that personality changes can be very much a part of brain injury. So the treatment you are receiving might be completely out of his control. I suspect that you will see improvement in that with his recovery. You've had a terrible time. I'm so sorry for your stress. Let us know when we can answer a question. We'll do our best with our various experiences. Thinking of you, Annie

Same here. I was told that the chances of another SAH was practically nil. I think that in that first year especially, every twinge brings a lot of fears and questions. After that, you start to concentrate on how to improve life as it is, and less on all the scary stuff. That long slow process is emotional as well as physical. So, pat yourself on the back, Denise... you're normal!!! xo, Annie

How nice to have a beach to go to! You people all live in the greatest spots!

I took your note to mean that your sister's name is Amanda? At any rate, I'll keep Amanda, Wesley and Rachel all on the prayer list! One of those should cover you and your sister both! And, it's Karen that created this site. What a legacy she will have.... all those people helped! love, Annie

Yes, Karen is right. AND... you never have to apologize for being stressed or scared here! We take turns. Annie

That's hard news to hear, Hannah. Your Mom is so very lucky to have you. We are all pulling for you both. Hang in there, and don't forget that you need a little mental holiday from it all from time to time yourself!! This is a lot of change in your life that came on so suddenly. You have my permission to go to your room, shut the door, read a magazine and eat chocolate. xo, Annie

Hi Recrut, I'm in Ohio, and I'm one of your new SAH pals. Welcome! Annie

Yes, if they'll peek in on our conversations here, they'll get some idea that first of all this is real, second it takes a long time to recover, third that even recovery doesn't mean you're the same person you were, and four that you're NOT over reacting. You just need to be the squeaky wheel and speak up for yourself. The hard part for me is to keep doing that when you get the feeling that they're not buying it. The other hard part is that I tend to think that of THEM when they are not really feeling that way at all. It's sometimes my own inner voice saying "they don't believe you". Not sure why I'm that way. Guilt ridden I guess. I find it very hard to plan anything in advance because I never know if it's going to be a "crash" day. So, when I do set up anything with friends I always say that I hope I'll be up to it and that I really want to do the thing and really want to be with them. xo, Annie

Hi and Welcome! It's a funny weird world, this SAH thing. Sami I had the same thought as you... how FUNNY that more than one person thought they were in Australia!!! Maybe that's as far away as they can imagine?? And Karen, I have to wonder if your "flight" was headed there too! haha We're here for you Slim. Take care, Annie

Welcome. I hope you will find some help and support here in the coming months. I think that you are seeing improvement already is a GREAT sign. I agree with the one step forward one step back thing. It's a long slow process. Blessings, Annie

Hi Hannah, Sami is right on with the word "process". And Louise can testify that sometimes the "pros" have no idea of what the chances are for improvement. I believe too that the work is only beginning and you can expect to see improvements. Come here any time to ask questions or get a hug. Here's one now: (((((( )))))))) xo, Annie

Hi Karen, Happy New Year!! Sorry you had that scare with your blood work. Gaaaa!! Hospital... no fun!!! Anyway, sounds like it's going to turn out well. Maybe if there are some fluxuations in Calcium it can be controlled with supplements?? Same for thyroid too?? Don't be insulted, but our dog went on thyroid and it made a new puppy of him! haha. He was lethargic and gaining weight and depressed and the thyroid pill changed all of that in an instant. Anyway, just a thought. Perhaps these indications in your bloodwork wouldn't mean hospital stays. And while we're on the subject.... here's a thyroid question for all of you.... My acupuncturist here is from the UK. She tells me that a "normal" range for thyroid in the states is considered to be anything at 5 and under, whereas in the UK they consider anything at 2 and under to be "normal". This leaves the question of course about whether there are a lot of people here that could be helped by thyroid treatment that aren't getting the help they could. If so, I would be one of those, as my results read over 2. Anyone over there familiar with what numbers to watch for in your bloodwork and what requires treatment? If my lethargy, depression, and weight gain can be helped by a pill, I'd sure like to know about it! I just read my horoscope for 2007. It indicates a year of creative dreams coming true. Oh my. Now I feel the pressure to do wonderful things. xo, Annie

Oh Louise! I can't believe everything you went through (and are going through!)! You are one incredible lady. xo, Annie

Hi Denise and Karen, Thanks for your notes, girls! Denise, some of the other US posters are from Alabama, Las Vegas, and I think Louisiana??? memory!!! :/ I feel bad that the hospital left you with so little information. But it must be common with the SAH crowd. I'm guessing that some of the other stroke victims require so much more attention that it's easy for the hospital to just wash their hands of us and say bye bye. I am very interested to hear what your angios showed if you ever find out. If there was a positive on the second one, then was there an aneurysm that clotted itself? I remember filling out the questionaire from the hospital a few months after. I hope it did some good. I really stressed the lack of after care and how hard it is to get answers once you're released. Love and Merry Merry Christmas! Annie

As usual, Karen, you are so perceptive! Yes, it's been a rough time for me lately. And yes, too, that the holidays add their own special stresses. It's been mostly fatigue for me. I get frustrated that I'm still dealing with that. Then I read the "letter from your brain" and realized that I STILL have some letting go to do as far as my expectations. I think the hardest thing for me lately is that it's so easy for everyone else to just sweep it under the rug and forget that life is different for me now. Jack, though, is just wonderful. After all, it was very traumatic for him too, and has changed his life as well. Over all however, I still feel really lucky and well loved. Have a very Merry if I don't talk to you before Tuesday!! Thank you for the gift of this site. xo, Annie

Hi Denise, I'm glad you have found some comfort here. I have not responded to your questions because others here are more qualified based on their experiences. My SAH was a non aneurysm, so I was told that the liklihood of it happening again was practically nil. But I still worry with every headache. I loved your description of the fish swimming up stream!! Perfect! It's still hard to make friends understand that I'm just not the same person stamina wise OR memory wise. The lack of energy and the forgetting can both be read as apathy by sensitive people, so I sometimes refer them to this site so they can read about it too. I am in Ohio, so it's nice to hear from another Yank. You'll find it interesting to read about the health care that our UK friends have. Even with all of it's problems, at least they HAVE one!! I was really surprised to read thought that your hospital sent you home to "find" yourself a neurosurgeon for follow up! Gee, thanks a lot for your help, huh?? I was fortunate to be online with Karen when she first set this site up. But I can relate to searching for a long time before finding any SAH support. You are so very early in your recovery and I'm sure the questions are overwhelming. But you will see that things settle a bit as you go along. For now, don't try to figure everything out. You should concentrate on your care and rest and give your body time to make some adjustments. As far as reocurrances, I would think that you'd be less likely to suffer another since you are under the regular care of a specialist now. Can't hurt to be positive! It was also interesting for me to read about "is it a stroke or not". That has been helpful to me since people usually ask. Now I know to say it was a "form" of one. Good answer! hugs from Ohio, Annie

I had no coils but 2 angios because they were still looking for an aneurysm, which wasn't there. My only problem with the angio was that I am allergic to the IV dye, so I had to have med for that. But the angio itself I actually found interesting. I'm weird that way. All the equipment and procedures fascinate me. For the MRI, (full body 1 1/2 hour with 2 short breaks) I just concentrated on what I COULD move instead of what I couldn't. I could move my eyes, eyelids, breath, lips, and thumb on the panic button, haha. I also had the headphones and could talk any time I wanted to to the staff. I never felt panic at all, but preferred not to open my eyes since there was nothing to see anyway.