Hi all🌺
Thank you for sharing all your stories- you have NO Idea what a help And comfort It has been the past few Weeks.
2 weeks ago my husband- Sam-had a bleed. He is 56, fit and bit of a “health freak”.
He was at the gym, early morning session, feeling great, when he felt a “pop” in the back of his head (while doing chest press ) followed by intense discomfort. It was quickly followed by dizzyness and nausea. He did not pass out.
He managed to get a hold of me, telling me he had probably pulled a muscle badly in neck, and could I drive him home. As I got I him, the nausea, pain and dizziness was bad.
But we drove home! Can’t really believe we didn’t go straight to hospital.
At home this LOUD convulsive vomiting started. It Was different from normal
vomiting. It went on and on. With so much neck pain every time he vomited.
We were talking about what to do. Sam wanted me to examine his neck (I am
a physio). I didn’t want to. Thought perhaps he had a badly herniated disc. Or meningitis.
or even a broken vertebrae.
I never thought he had a bleed. There was no neurological sign. No loss of strength.
The GP came to our house. Pretty much took one look at him, and called an ambulance.
At the local hospital they did a scan- and SO MUCH to our shock and surprise- it showed a subarachnoid bleed in the brainstem.
Quickly he was airlifted to Much larger hospital. More Scans. And also an operation- which showed there was no aneurysm. After that everyone seemed a lot calmer. He stayed in intensive care till the next day-and in the hospital for a further 4 days.
His early symptoms In the first days was nausea, still some vomiting , headache, neck pain, tearful, and pain in his buttocks. Over the next days he was given pain medication, fluids, rest and monitoring. Hospital was great. And it quickly became clear- that he was so so Lucky. He can think, and talk and move freely. For that we are gratefull.
It has been a crazy ride. The first scare, supporting our sons, comforting my husband in this scary time. He was just SO brave and strong though.
Back home he is still on painkillers. In the first days mainly for headache. But that is so much better. He forgets a few Things.. misses a word occasionally. .. struggles with too much noise or screentime. But.. we know it could have been so much worse.
His absolutely biggest struggle right now is an INTENSE pain in his lower spine / sacrum Area. It takes his breath away. Makes him cry out in pain. Makes him uneasy in standing and walking.
He is very anxious to find out what it is- but doctors don’t seem to agree. One doctor thought it was residue from the bleed in the spinal fluid. Another totally dismissed this, said it was the lying down/ inactivity. He DOES move around - Sits in chair, goes for short walks.
Has any of you experienced this?? How long did it last? What did you do ?
Hope someone can share their experiences and advice.
Much Iove
Tanja