andyp

Welcome!! I am only 2 1/2 years on and you are 14..wow..that is great because us guys can probably learn a lot from you! When you have time to give alittle more detail that would be great! Best wishes Andy P

Hi Blondie-welcome to the site. I had an SAH in Nov 2004 but no cause found. Are you from the uk? You will meet some great people on this site who will be interested to share experiences and many others who will be happy to learn from yours..so to kick off-I am interested to hear of the positive things you have experienced.. best wishes Andy P

Pat Hi-i agree entirely with the views! Tell me though....Did Brian have an arteriovenus malformation? That is what it sounds like. All the best Andy P xx

Hi Pat-As I have a vested interest in this one-it had me thinking. Does Brian smoke? I was told after one SAH during Sex that it was less likely to occur to me again than your average Joe on the street. Given Brian's experience of 3 SAH's I had to think harder about why! Is he doing anything that can bring about continuing ongoing weaknesses? What did his neurospecialist say??? I am intrigued. All the best Andy P x

Phew..I am not sure what to say on this one!!!! Having had an SAH for me during sex at the age of 45 was an issue-things haven't quite been the same since! If I had 3 such occurences I think I would have become a tibetan monk by now! I understand that you may not have minded telling the doc..but what about poor Brian??? (got to be careful there..or i could have spelt Brain!!) Did he mind? Fair play to you both still being sexually active I have to admire that. How old was Brian when you had the 2nd and 3rd ones..and..If you don't mind me asking were you doing anything extra strenuous? It's good that you both are clearly still very much in love and this has not been a barrier to either of you. best Wishes Andy P

Well-I am a perimesenphalic-no cause found too. As with most SAH's-raised blood pressure and weakness in a vessel=bang....but if no cause was found and no other aneurisms spotted then in theory you are at less risk than the man in the street from having another. I wondered about this when I was getting back into swimming-I go 2 or 3 times a week . It took me a while to get back to doing 40 lengths-and I don't go slow so it isn't a gentle swim! I think the problem is that you would never do any exercise that pushes you again would you if you really thought about things..? I felt terrible when I first did about 5 lengths some 7 weeks after the SAH but it got better with time. Exercise is good for you-by all means talk with your consultant-I was told I could gradually get back to normal. The fears are understandable but unlikely to ever come to anything! Mind you ..having had the bleed when making love has dampened the area of life so I guess I still have some issues! Best wishes Andy P

Hi-you don't say where in the world you are but my first thought is angio and MRI scans. I am not totally sure how long the bleed (if that is what it is can be detected-but the headaches and ligt sensitivity suggest that it could be an SAH. I hope you get this resolved soon Andy P

Hi 6 shooter-I am sorry to hear of your troubles-18 days though is very early and things will get better..honest! I had a non-aneurism SAH not through surgery and so did Annie. The good thing is that you are young which helps with recovery. I am sure you will feel exhausted-it is one hell of atiredness that can be difficult to deal with. But..listen to your body and do take it easy..and one small step at a time! What job do you do then? Is there much in the way of help for you in Texas in terms of any support groups I know Annie said in Ohio it wasn't brilliant? Keep asking any questions here and someone will no doubt have advice or have shared something similar. All the best Andy P

Hi thistle-It is great to know you are getting some comfort from this site. You can also be sure that your input will also help others in similar positions. Take care Andy P

Annie, I believe Dave is also on the DVD and he is a member of this site. I am just glad to be able to do something that might benefit others. There is nothing like learning from other peoples experiences. The DVD took quite a long time to be produced-9 months I think. I am awaiting further details from Southampton as to whether it can be made available more widely. I am surprised that in the US you are not stopped from driving-It was fairly rigid here but I informed the driving lisence people as soon as I could. The other thing is that it affected my travel insurance and I had to declare it to my car insurer. All the best AndyP x All the best Andy P x

Hi Annie-I am so glad that you managed to see the DVD at last-thanks to my friend Steve! I can assure you Wendy isn't a dancer but she will be pleased to hear your comments! She is actually a critical care nurse. I have sent another mpeg to India to Kirti and in the meantime I have asked Southampton if they would provide or sell some copies-So that others can see it-I can see there is a need for it as there are more hits are on Karens' site. I think you are bang on with seeing the gift of your own mortality-It does focus the mind and it is a strange sort of honour! Sorry about the RV-it would be great if you came over here-not 18-23rd August as I am away! By the way-does it mean an SAH in the US doesn't stop you from driving?? All the best Andy P x

Andy-thanks for your reply. I was discussing this with my wife who is a critical care nurse. She tells me that part of what you mentioned on the ward is not uncommon with brain injuries -but then she only experiences what happens on the ward -so the rest was perhaps more unusual. I couldn't help but read your post again-I really felt for you. On this site we all talk about how an SAH affects the family of all sufferers which of course it does ,but what you have been dealing with is on a totally different level. I was trying to imagine how I would cope with things in your situation-and I really couldn't think that I would have. Will Heather need to take medication for the longer term or is it likely that things will settle down? If as you mention there was some sort of damage to the hypothalamus or hormonal issues are there any other affects physiologically that Heather has to cope with? Is it only recently that they are looking at blood tests then? Excuse me for asking so many questions- but it is really good to be able to discuss something like this openly-and you never know who else in the world is looking for information and might have similar issues. Best wishes Andy P

Hi Andy and Heather-I have to say how much I admire you a-for your honesty and b- for how you have handled this issue and turned it around It must have been incredibly difficult-I am not sure I would have coped with it very well at all. Our situation was different and because my SAH happened during sex that has dampened that area of enthusiasm somewhat! I never really thought of a brain injury having that sort of effect I love to see something that could be so damaging turned on its head and used to help to others so well done for that. You are very brave to deal with it like you have. I am interested to know what actually has happened in the brain to make this happen-Is it an increase in hormonal production with some injury to the hypothalamus being the cause? I am asking in particular as I have been doing an OU course in Human Biology and my current and last assignment relates to sexual function/hormones and infertility treatment-that was a result of the SAH which has given me an interest in the subject. Thanks for the reminders on relationships and how to keep them good-The SAH brought that home but i still need reminding! Look forward to any info-All the best Andy P

Hi Sarah-No shunt required is good news..and the fact that they know there is a second aneuryism there is good because it is controllable! The odds of 1 in 4 make it a must have op and I am sure you have definitely done the right thing! Have a good holiday in Dubai. North Staffs in September..will have to remember that! Best wishes Andy P x

Hi Sarah-there are a few things i wanted o pick up on here.. Blimey you have had a rough time..not just one trauma but at least 3! I said to my wife only a few weeks back(and i am 2 years on)-"you know I think what i have had is some sort of post-traumatic stress syndrome after this lot"..and Sami..you echoed those words..exactly. It is probably something that many people who have a near deathexperience suffer..and it can be at any time after the event. For me it was about ayear later when i found out how bad it actually had been from my consultant..yepit was nearly a year when i got aheck up and only by insisting..otherwisw there would have been nothing! I paid to see a Counsellor so I could get back to work ASAP...bad move..don't go back too soon! I saw a Counsellor again another year on but I think talking to others who experienced the same has been of more use for me. i wouldn't stop anyone from Counselling or psycho etc because you need to find what is right for you!!!! I think for me that the emotional side was the worst..i am still coping with it 2 years on ..all be it I am much better in that respect now. All the best Andy P x

Hello Kirti-I was very interested to read your father's story-I guess a bleed in the spine is more unusual but it affects the brain all the same- it sounds like he is doing very well. The DVD is a must see and was made by Southampton Hospital- you are likely to benefit more if in the first 6 months of recovery. It includes footage of several patients who had bleeds due to different causes and the effect on their close family. It will be difficult for you too-because it affects everyone who are close to the patient. My friend is going to put in on an MPEg file for Annie and for you if you want to see it. If you have broadband then I am told it can be seen on Media player but if not I will send it on a disc if you let me know your E-mail address and home address. Please use the private message facility to me on this site and I will do the rest. I was 45 when it happened-over 2 years ago-It happened after making love..which you will find is not uncommon but quite difficult to deal with! the tiredness will be a problem for quite some time and as Annie says-he must listen to his body!!!!! Take rest whenever he needs it. Is he still working? you mentioned a conference? I wish you and your family all the best and look forward to hearing from you. Say Hello to your father from me! Best wishes Andy P

Hi Molly-i seem to be posting on 2 pages! Just wondered if there was any element of control of the bleed during the op-also how the other problem with the pituitary has been left or whether you are getting chemo/radio for it. All the best Andy P x

Hi Molly-I feel for you. That must have been very unexpected but we can at least all relate to the haemourrhage part. Have they mentioned that you may have further non invasive treatment on the pituitary and can they try chemo or radio? You don't sound any more garballed than the rest of us..honest! You will certainly get a genuine welcome on this site and the support of many people so do keep in touch. Andy P

Hi-well statistically as you say 15% have no cause found and I as well as many others who use this site am in that group. It is a good group to be in as no medical intervention was necessary and it is less likely to ever occur again! Far less now than for any "normal" person. That said-it is still a haemourrhage and your father will still suffer all the things that go with it-emotional and physical. It does leave a question mark over things and can make one anxious. Understandably! I guess we all want to know why something happened-and it can be rather unsettlng for us to have no real answer. I was told it was probably a congenital weakness that burst and has left no trace. I don't think it is a limitation of technology as such -simply that there is now nothing to find-although clearly it had to have occured somewhere in the brain. I felt odd pain in a particular spot for many months and I was sure then that was where it must have happened-but now I can not be quite so sure. In such cases 2 angios is the norm -and that is reassuring. I had them within 2 weeks of each other and neither showed what had happened. Not sure how old your father is or how it happened. Age can be a factor in speed of overall recovery. Head pain and overwhelming tiredness are classic symptoms after a bleed and they will vary with the individual. I had 3 months off work and struggled to get back to normality-I did go back too quickly though. Don't underestimate what this can do in terms of physical and emotional issues-but do hold out hope that it will get better and with your help your dad will I am sure pull through. If you or your dad at any time feel that you want to discuss anything then please feel free to private message me and I will gladly arrange that. It is important if he can a little later get in touch with a local support group-people who will understand and where common experience and concerns can be shared-where are you? -I am assuming uk but you never know on this site! It is still early days and I hope the 2nd angio will also be negative. If you want to borrow a patient experience DVD I am happy to send it to you-I am sure it would be useful to you and your dad. Best Wishes Andy P

Hey guys this reminded me that I was a warm blooded person then after the SAH I reckon I felt the cold for 18months. I have gradually returned to my previous state but it has taken a while. I am now nearly 2 1/2 years post SAH.

Hi Karen-yes-I think it is a great idea to set up this thread-I think that an event like an SAH can and probably does change your relationship-It can go either way though. Back to the sex thing-Linda you are at an incredibly early stage in the recovery process and you really don't need to be pressurised like that. Your other half really doesn't understand what you have experienced but some of us on this site have an inkling . I couldn't contemplate the thought of sex for ages! I have never told anyone in our family how it happened either! I think like Sami said you need to have a heart to heart about it with your chap. All the best Andy P

Hi-well you are very brave to mention this subject..Coincidentally It happened to me just after making love..and yes ..that is quite a hurdle to get over..so to speak!! I found it a bit embarassing when one of the consultants brought a gaggle of 12 students around to my bed on the ward and asked me to explain exactly what happened! I was assured that due to the type of bleed I had that it was unlikely to recurr..never the less I was very wary..but at some point I felt I needed to test things out!!..it was probably 6 months later though..and I threw caution to the wind....phew..and all was fine! I have to say that my sex drive has diminished..possibly due to the whole incident or maybe cos I am 47..who knows???? I am not sure what the cause of your bleed was or what they told you..but it is relatively common...and it does of course raise your blood pressure!! ..Along with many other sports!! I think a lot of people won't own up to it..but well done! If you have been sorted with coiling or you had a bleed with no cause found...then I am sure it will be ok..subject to anything the medics told you. All the best for now Andy P xxx

Hi-Welcome to the site! You sound like you are doing reasonably well considering what you have been through-I wondered if it was a bleed with no cause found-I am presuming that if it was an aneuryism that they would have to have taken some interventional action? I guess none of us can ever be totally certain of the cause but the important thing is that you are still here and like you say you have been given a second chance! Disorientation and problems with crowds are not unusual-but can be real frightening at the time. So I really hope your MRI scan is clear and you get back to whatever normal is-make the most of the rest of your life and take care, all the best Andy P

Hi-I can agree with the others-I am now 47 and over 2 years on and..I still have that thought every day...but life has got nearer normal..although I value things more and feel like I have had a second chance. I had problems ..if you call it that with alchohol-I felt tipsy on half a pint of beer and it took ages to get back to where I was. Sadly I am looking at a can of beer now...my second tonight..Hicc!! Oh dear..what does that say about me? You are at a very early stage and yes we all had different recovery rates. Sami amazed me ..she was up to all sorts so soon! All I can advise is listen to your body-it will take time-there will be bad days ..and good..probably times you want to cry or you feel depressed and times you just thank God you are alive and with a wonderful family. I don't know what help you have in terms of support groups..but there is an SAH Patient experience DVD going around that you may want to see..not sure if Sami is the next to see it but i am sure it would get forwarded to you if you want it. You will also get great support from the wonderful people on this site. All the best Andy P

Hi Annie and others-I am over years post SAH-I had exactly the same re the noise sensitivity in the early days-a kettle noise was agony and the tv had to be really low. Crowds were an issue too. I still have short term memory issues..or is it me getting older? The tiredness is much better and my stamina generally is what it was before although I don't stay up late! Most of my issues were by far emotional. Annie ..my friend is out of hospital and copying the dvd for you..can you view in pal (uk)format and/or ntsc (american)do you know????