Carmen

12 hours ago, ClareM said:

 I work as a pharmacy technician with a small team of pharmacists and technicians. We support patients in the community with managing their medication. It's all about compliance and hospital avoidance. Many, particularly elderly people, are admitted to hospital as they are not taking their medication correctly. Our aim is to assess and rationalise medication regimes with the intention of making things more manageable. We see so many patients who just need a bit of help and it's so nice to be able to make a difference.

 

Maybe you should take some time out over the weekend and see if some rest helps the dizziness. It may be that this is your brains way of telling you that it needs a break.

 

Keep us posted as to how things go over the weekend xx.

Your job sounds lovely … very rewarding 

I’ve been resting loads but today I might literally stay in bed and drink nothing but water ! ( no decaf coffee ) and see how it goes …

Thank you x

12 hours ago, Super Mario said:

Carmen, I worked in a secondary school for years but because I lost my sense of balance and wouldn't have been able to continue with my job safely, I got early retirement, and I was only 53. My pension was enhanced by the number of years to my retirement age.I got the option of a large lump sum and a lower monthly pension or a lower lump sum and a higher monthly pension.

 

Taking the difference between the two lump sums, higher minus lower it would only take two years to make up the difference between the two with the higher monthly payments.

I took the lower lump sum and higher monthly payments, that was 18 years ago so I am quids in. Of course that was a gamble, I may not have lived for 2 years.

 

Once I felt able to actually do something, about a year after my SAH, I volunteered with my County Council and did Youth Mentoring and helped out in a local infant's school. That I could tailor to as and when I felt able and no commitment to hours. I did manage to fill my time. At first, I did wonder how to fill my days as I was used to never being still.

 

Oh wow , that was a lot to process 😂 - I think maybe I should speak to my school pension advisor and see what my options are … my boss said she has known people take the early retirement temporarily ? Then return to a smaller role a couple of years later ? I think I just need to know all my options just in case it all goes horribly wrong 🙈 

You and Clare are such a great support .. thank you 😊 

Thanks Clare , I’ve worked there for 15 years and my boss has been very supportive . 
I think I need to continue working as I miss it … although this dizziness is the worst it’s been and where as I normally only get it late evenings when Im tired , I’ve had it for the last 4 days straight and it’s when I’m like this I can’t imagine how I will ever cope with working again !! 

I have to ask … what is your dream job ? 
x

Hi , funny you should say that , my boss has asked if that’s something I would like to talk to occupational health about … I’m only 50 and if I took my lump sum pension now then surely I will leave myself short ? I have read up about it but I’m not sure I really understand it ….. 

20 hours ago, ClareM said:

Hi Carmen, I travelled on holiday to Menorca approx 12 weeks after my bleed. Although I enjoyed it, I was very irritable whilst away and slept every afternoon (in bed not on the beach!)

 

My tips for travelling are: factor in rest time, if flying it's worthwhile booking an airport lounge as it's so much quieter - the busy airport environment was difficult for me. I also always have an extra day's holiday after return to recover. 

 

I was 55 when I had my bleed, it was 7 years ago. I was out running and collapsed. I'm back to running, started about 4 months after the bleed. Ran tonight 4.5 miles with a hill and a rain shower - loved it, it's great for my mental health and even after a busy workday it makes me feel much better. The girls I run with all say we run as much for our mental health as our physical health  

 

I too returned to work after 3 months, too early, because of salary, see if you can take some of the holiday you've accrued to stretch out the return. I'm sure your work would rather have you back well and able to manage than having to go sick within weeks. It must be in their benefit to have you with all your experience back and well than having to re -recruit.

 

But bear in mind you will possibly struggle to manage your pre bleed hours especially if it's a stressful job.

 

Clare xx

Hi Clare , unfortunately I don’t accrue holiday as I work term time only . I went down to a 4 day week back in April as I have rheumatoid arthritis and 5 days was too much 

I’m being referred to occupational health who will support me with my return and if it doesn’t work , my boss will work with me ,hopefully , to extend my phased period 🙈 so many unknowns !! 

15 hours ago, Compostc said:

Hi Carmen

 

Like you I had a sudden SAH didn’t know anything until I woke up in hospital, that was 2012.

I certainly couldn’t have coped with a primary school class, I found it difficult to be with my grandchildren just for a short time.

 

 But like most of us you won’t listen to your husband you’ll have to have a give it a go. It took me a long time to realise the more I pushed the worse I got.😵‍💫

 

 

I am a pastoral and safeguarding lead with a small team , working directly with families and childrens services , so although I don’t have a class of children, I have a very demanding and often stressful job . 

You are right … I don’t listen to my husband and then I get told off when I’ve done too much 😂😬

 Im worried I’m going back to work too early but I cannot be without my salary , regardless of how many people say “ your health is more important” unfortunately , the stress of no income may be just as bad for me! 

It’s awful but it’s reality isn’t it …

Hi @ClareM , thank you so much for your message … yes , I fear you are right 🙈 my husband took me away for my 50th birthday last weekend and I did too much . I’m my own worst enemy ! He wanted to cancel ( he booked it before my SAH ) but I was determined to go 🙄

I’m now paying the price as I was very poorly the day I travelled home , was sick , ached and felt like I had flu . The dizziness and fatigue is lingering today - hoping to feel better tomorrow . 

Some days I feel like myself which is amazing so I do more and then regret it . We have lots of pets and live rurally so I’m normally always on the go and testing does not come naturally to me ! 
Can I ask how long ago you had your SAH / stroke ? Were you a similar age to me ? 
Carmen x

Thank you @Compostc … In general the neuro team have been brilliant and acknowledge the fatigue as being a big hurdle , however when I mentioned the dizziness, they suggested it was my hormones 🙄 as I had just had the all clear to go back onto my HRT. 

Work are being very supportive, I work at a local primary school, have done for 15 years. My phased return will be over a 6 week period in January although my husband isn’t keen for this to happen! Lol

Did you have a stroke ? Or a sudden SAH like myself ? I’m so glad I found this page 

thanks 😊 

Hi ! I’m Carmen , 50 yrs old from Lincolnshire , UK . 

I had an SAH this summer and a coil embolisation. There was evidence of a stroke during surgery but  I was lucky to avoid any disabilities as a result of this …. HOWEVER !…. The fatigue and the DIZZINESS is very real and when raising the dizziness with the neuro team I have been dismissed 🙈 

It was not until I read some posts on here that I realise it IS a thing !!! I’m so relieved 😅 

it is normally when I’m tired or extra run down … 

I’m not due to go back to work until the new year , on a phased return as my job is very demanding so I still have time for further recovery …..

I just wanted to say thank you for reassuring me that I’m not imagining my dizzy head !! 
xx