sarahk67

I totally agree with Dawn, it is because they ask nothing of you. People, in my experience, all seem to have an opinion about what we've been through whether it's been asked for or not. If someone or something is really irritating me (which is frequently at the moment!!), I just grab the lead and off we go, no need for conversation other than the doggie kind and no brain draining thoughts or replies required - just peaceful bliss until I've calmed down and feel ready to head for home and back into the real world again. I wouldn't be where I am today in my recovery without the comfort and love of my dog, of that I am in no doubt. Sarahk

Hello one and all! Great to see so many people joining with new thoughts and ideas for the forums, it's what a site needs to keep it current. I had my SAH nearly a year ago now and don't come on as often as I used to, but still like to see what's going on. This site was and still is invaluable to me and helped me through some very difficult times. Never be afraid to ask anything, even if it seems really stupid. I can assure you, someone would have felt the same at some point or another on their road to recovery too. Get lots of rest and be kind to yourselves. It's a rough road along the way, but there will eventually be light at the end of the tunnel. Sarahk x

Hi Kate This site is a really useful place to find help and advice. Since my SAH back in January I've found it's the only place people really understand your worries and fears, so never feel silly or shy to ask something. Chances are someone would have felt the same during their recovery too. Rest up, drink lots of water and most of all, be kind to yourself. It's a very traumatic thing we've all been through, so give yourself plenty of time to recover. Sarahk x

Thanks Daff, found that really interesting and true. Was having abit of a 'blue' afternoon, so good to read and see that its not just me but all part of the condition - have to remind myself of that sometimes, as I'm sure we all do. Keep the info coming, I found it very uplifting. Sarahk x

Thanks all, isn't this a lovely thread! Smiles and happiness everywhere. Sarahk x

'What makes me happy' today is that finally got my six month scan results - brain and spine MRI back in August - and all clear. No further deterioration and no new ones springing up - hurray!!!!! Still can't find where the original bleed came from, but hey, there's a clip in there and nothing else has happened so I can live with that (no pun intended!!). How nice to be able to write something positive and have a place to write it. A smiley day today! Sarahk x

Hi there, I was exactly the same, lost a load of weight in hospital and then couldn't stop eating chocolate when I finally came home - and still can't!! Mind you, I had an enourmous sweet tooth before the SAH, but now I'd be eating it morning, noon and night if I didn't reign myself in. Don't worry about the weight gain, I think it happens to us all and down to the enforced inactivity of the situation we find ourselves in and not through choice. I did start to do abit of stretching a couple of months in (on the floor where I knew I was safe) and moved on to a pilates DVD, a very gentle one I hasten to add, to get my legs moving abit. I also have a dog, so built up my walking day by day (much to her relief as she was starting to resemble me, aka a beach ball with legs!) Now I've started back at work for a few hours each week and that's helped shift a few pounds as well, but like I say, it's been a totally gradual thing. I look at it as I put that weight on (about a stone) over a course of six months so it will take about the same to get off. I think we've all been through enough without adding a strict dieting regime into the pot. I felt the time was right for me to start moving, but if not sure, then best to check with your doctor first. But like I said, be kind to yourself and do what suits you- we're all in the same boat and I take it as a sign that we must be starting to feel better if we're getting worried about what we look like again!! Sarahk x

Hi Catherine, Just logged on for first time this week and seen your question. I was just having this conversation with my mum last night - will these headaches ever stop?! You are in the very early stages of your recovery and I was the same then (had my SAH end of Jan), everytime you look down or dare to lie flat the whole world goes for a spin! I found the answer was to bend the knees, not always easy but does save alot of headaches. Saying that, I did a load of hoovering on Saturday followed by a days gardening on Sunday with, needless to say, the head from hell on Monday - perhaps I should follow my own advice!! Take care of yourself Catherine and don't try and do too much, it is all a learning curve in the early stages. Sarahk x

Hi Jillian, You have had a rough time of it haven't you. Just remember be kind to yourself as everything will take time to come back, sometimes I think we're our own worse enemies and try to rush things. Great on here isn't it, this site is full of useful information and ideas. It's also good to just come on and have a 'why me?' rant if you feel like it!! Everyone has felt what you're feeling at sometime or another so don't ever think you're on your own. Take care Jillian and get lots of rest Sarahk

Incredibly frustrating isn't it? it's basically all down to us to sort out when it's the last think you feel like doing, all that concentrating and speaking to people! I finally had a letter through out of the blue for a follow up MRI and went a couple of weeks ago for it, six months after my op! I now have to wait six-eight weeks for the results, I'm working on the assumption that no news is good news, so for once I don't mind if they don't get in touch for eight weeks!!! Good to have a vent though every now and again for us all, healthy to get it off your chest. Keep your chin up and I'll be channelling postive vibes for you!! Sarahk xx

Hello Di It is a great site for info and getting answers to questions no one else seems to know or understand. I find the search engine on this site a really good way of finding an answer quickly. There are alot of forums and options to look through which are informative and some of them fun to read through, they make you feel not so alone. You sound like your doing really well with your recovery. Just remember, small steps for us all to start with. Regards Sarahk

Good for you Sandi, I think we should all take a leaf out of your book and accept every working day has different needs. I've been in my phase-back to work for nearly three weeks now and I too find it hard to adapt to changes in timing. I had a meeting with the Management Team where set days and hours were established before I came back as I pointed out to them I now need time to think about things you don't spare a minute on before - what I'm going to wear, what to take with me, what time to leave home to catch my bus. First week, no problem and I actually enjoyed the experience, all be it a very tiring one. Last week I had to change one working day for another as I had to go for a scan, no problem they said. This week, both my working days have been changed - I actually turned up on my regular day to be told I should have been in the previous day!! This has really thrown me and now have to face going in tomorrow to have yet another meeting to explain why they can't do this to me, which will make me seem like an idiot to 'normal' people for making a fuss, when to me it's actually a big deal. As far as I've come on my road to recovery, going back to work has made me realise, as enjoyable as its been, I still have a long way to go to get back to pre-me. Small steps and all that... Sarahk xx

Hi Debbie, It's such a relief finding this site isn't it - at last people who understand what I'm going through!! I'm just over six months into the SAH 'experience' and three months was my mark when I started to feel like me again, so I thought 'that's it, let's get on now'. Unfortunately it doesn't work like that, but everyone has different experiences and you'll find your own path. I have weeks where I feel perfectly normal and others where I can't bear any noise, any light or anyone!! As I said, we're all different and this is a great place for asking questions of others and getting information from people who have been through the same things you're feeling now. Just be kind to yourself Debbie and do what's best for you, not what other people expect of you. If all else fails, just have a good cry - always works for me!! Sarahk xx

Here, here! That's cheered me up on an otherwise dull day. Thank you Daffodil

My achievement is that I started my structured back to work yesterday. Only for three hours, but I did it! I work in fashion and was worried about the noise and not being able to rush around like I used to do, but everyone was really understanding, gave me a lovely 'welcome back' in the team meeting and felt like I'd never been away. As per usual, I took too much on and ended up with a whacking headache by the end and a couple of hours on the sofa when I got home, but small steps and all that. I'll know when I go in again tomorrow what I should and shouldn't do, but it's all trial and error whilst I find my feet - but I did it and am really proud of myself that I've got to this point. Up the workers!!! Positive thoughts to you all, Sarahk xx

Hi Kayleigh I had a 'brain drain' too for the first couple of weeks in hospital, removed about a week before I came home and like yours, weeped through the stitches. But once I was released, my GP arranged for the District Nurse to call and remove the stitches about a week after I was home. Your GP should have been sent all your paperwork by now, so I'd say give them a call to find out what's going on. Re. DVLA, I agree with Daff and write off the first six months for driving. It does take forever but you can make yourself very stressed trying to sort it out quicker, which is the last thing you need. Hope that helps in some small way!! Sarahk xx

You're quite right Mary to have a rant. You, David and all the other American followers don't have the options that us British people do. We all moan here about the NHS, but in situations like this you realise what a god send it is. It's hard enough recooperating (is that how you spell it?!) without the added pressure of a time scale that you have no choice in to get back to work. Statutory Sick Pay isn't brilliant, but it's certainly helped me out of a hole and kept me afloat whilst recovering. I really feel for you guys. Sarahk xxx

Just been to that link you suggested on TIA thread Daff and really useful - I'm ordering the book today!! I'm nearly six months into the SAH gang and am going to my work on Thursday to sort out a back to work plan. To be honest, it's frightening the life out of me having to sort out going back. Even though they've been great about my recovery they now want to get me into a structure of a few hours a week and build from there. My job is great when I get to do my job, but it's surrounded by the daily grind of long, long hours, unrealistic deadlines, rubbish pay and my people pleasing need to help everyone else out, all of which create a really stressful enviroment to work in - I just don't feel I'm up to that anymore. What do you do? We all need to earn money and there are very few job opportunites where I live without having to travel to London every day. Feel like I'm waiting for some divine intervention when all I really need to do is make a decision and stick to it, never easy for me before the SAH and dam near impossible for me since!! I'd love to just let my hippy side take control and see where the road leads me, but I've had some form of a job since I was 13 and the thought of taking that step into the unknown (let alone the financial repercusions) frightens the life out of me. Anyone else ever been in this situation? Sarahk xxx

I understand how you feel Lesley, I feel exactly the same - what the hells's going on? You cracked my skull open, fixed it up and shipped me home, now what - nothing, that's what. I had the district nurse round the first week I was home to take some stitches out where the drainage tube had been and I've seen my GP every month, but all he says is 'it will take time' which isn't really giving you the answers you want is it? That's why I find this site so comforting, it's the only place I can get any information and not feel so alone. My medical discharge form stated that 'no aftercare was needed' despite having been in there for 17 days and my head shaved and clipped. Incredibly frustrating isn't it that you then have to go and find any answers you require where as you quite rightly say, something like a broken leg you get rehab and follow up appointments. This obviously happens to alot of people considering the amount of members on this site alone so you would think some form of 'official' follow-up would be in place. Hope you enjoy your time away, Sarahk x

Hi Desy You're a live one (no pun intended) and very funny. Enjoyed (although that's a wierd word to use!) reading about what happened and your amazing recovery to date, good for you. Don't worry about not having the usual side-effects, headaches are very over rated! Keep the updates coming, SarahKx

Thank you all for your warm welcome, lovely to read your comments. I was abit shy about writing 'My Story' first of all and didn't really know what to say, but once I started typing I couldn't stop! It was actually quite cathartic and I had a good cry afterwards - but then I seem to cry about most things at the moment so no change there!! This site has been an absolute god send with all the really useful threads, information to read and the general feeling that I'm not alone in this anymore, so thanks again to you all. Sarahk x (And Maryb, your two dogs are adorable!!)

I found it utterly bizzare as well Lesley, a major operation on your brain and then you leave with no follow-up and no one to ask any questions to, apart from my GP who's been absolutely brilliant, but he's not a neurosurgeon. This site has been a godsend as I knew absolutely no one this had happened to. Didn't even know the difference between clipping and coiling or which I'd had until I joined this site!! It made me feel so much better to read info that it wasn't just me who was feeling tierd, ratty, headachey, emotional - we've all felt like this at some time or another. I'm five months in and it does get better, the good days start to outweigh the bad ones. Hope you start to feel abit better soon Lesley.

I'm with you all the way Tracey, exactly the same thing is happening to me except mine has been going on since the middle of March! I thought DVLA would be the ones to hold things up, but no it's the Consultants. My form seems to have been passed from one to another, and like you, every two weeks I ring a secretary to be told it's been sent to someone else now, or waiting for another form and I have to start all over again - driving me mad (no pun intended!!). The most annoying thing about it being there is nothing you can do, all control has been taken away from us. So being the control freak that I am, I now tell myself to deep breath before ringing them and think what will be will be - it is however, really good to have a moan off!! Anyone else had this probelm?

Hi all, my name is Sarah and my journey into the SAH Club started on the evening of 24th January this year. A normal day off, I’d been having bad headaches and been a bit narky for a couple of weeks, but I work in fashion and the Christmas period followed by the January sales are our busiest time so I just put it down to stress. Went out to make a cup of tea for my mum and I when wham, as the saying goes, felt like I’d been hit in the head by a shovel. I deteriorated quickly and my mum called for an ambulance that took me to my local hospital. I was admitted to A&E whilst they decided what to do, the on duty Doctor having told my mum to prepare herself that I was either going to die or be left brain damaged. She then received a call early the next morning to say I’d been ambulanced to a specialist hospital 45 minutes away and was to be operated on immediately. I was in theatre for five hours, during which time I had to be resuscitated twice before the operation was completed and I was put into ICU. The next two days were very touch and go, but by the third I had started to show signs of improvement. I was in ICU for twelve days and luckily for me, I remember very little of this time. My amazing mum, brothers and best friend have filled me in as to what went on, having visited me every day for the duration of my stay. After a total of seventeen days, I was allowed home - hurray!! By the second week of being home, I started to do gentle stretches every day to get my body moving again and now five months down the line, I still do those stretches but can now also walk my dog and do Pilates to continue with my recovery. I’m now planning a phased back to work and see my Management Team once a month for a ‘keep in touch’ meeting. Last week one of them said to me ‘you’re such a fighter Sarah’ and I just yeah, yeahed her. But you know what, she’s right - we all are, we’re fighters and survivors to get where we are in our recovery. Every now and again I have to remember to give myself a pat on the back for getting where I am today, who knows what any of us can go on to achieve.