Super Mario

i don't think i could take that amount of money from the health service

It is not from the NHS, it comes from their insurance. This does not mean that I condone it. We live in a "compo happy" society now.

These links may help.

http://www.brighamandwomens.org/cvcenter/Patient/BubbleStudy.aspx

http://www.npheartcenter.com/tests/echo.htm

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-bubble-echocardiogram.htm

http://www.danburyhospital.org/workfiles/patientinformation/PatientEdTearoffs/Diagnostic/EchocardiogramwithSaline.pdf

Hope this helps.

I also have to wear a hat but not because my head gets cold but because my shunt gets so cold it seems to burn through my head. Hot and sunny weather also has the same effect.

I am 5+ years post SAH and still have severe balance problems and extreme dizziness. Like others I look as if I am drunk all the time.

I actually use a 3 wheeled walking frame if I go out. It is my little bit of independance. Before physio got me that I would go out with a stick and invariably end up falling over several time on one journey, sometimes into the road.

It is a good Job I bounce well.

I never had any problems carrying holidays over when I have had long term sickness.

After my SAH I was unable to work again due to disability and my employers gave me my pay in lieu of the holidays I did not take during that year.

That is good news. At least everything is above board now.

I would still put it in writing to the insurance company and keep a copy. Just to err on the side of caution as they are notorious for trying to wriggle out of claims.

I had to recind my licence as soon as I reported it and I can't have it back because of my continuing dizziness. Never mind, common sense says I wouldn't be safe to drive as I am. I don't think I will ever get it back 5 years down the line as there has been no improvement.

Yes you are right, I guess I will bite the bullet and phone the DVLA this coming week, better to be safe than sorry.

Suppose I should also notify the insurance company, even though I only renewed the insurance a couple of weeks ago - hope they don't question why I didn't tell them then!

Just say you didn't know that SAH was reportable until someone told you in passing. I suspect that although he will be able to insure the vehicle he will not be named as a driver.

Ring DVLA first and see what they say about length of time to refrain from driving, then contact the insurance company.

Hi

You do need to notify DVLA, the condition is listed and your doctor is wrong. There is quite a hefty fine involved for failing to do so.

See link for Cerebral Haemorrhage down the page

http://www1.rsaconnect.rsagroup.co.uk/UKPExtranet/UWGuide.nsf/0b6c6e47241d046080256c160034856a/2fc74c75cd35c5b280256c1c005d3fb8?OpenDocument

If you don't your insurance will be invalid.

Not good news I know but better to be on the safe side.

Elaine has your area got a coalition for inclusive living or something in that vein, usually under your county council? These organisations often have mentors. I mentor for our local one and would be willing to give you my phone number but as I am away until the 21st I think it wouldn't help as your mum needs support now.

Alternatively you could try your GP for some councilling.

If after that date you would still like my number just pm me.

I go to the gym and manage fairly well. The trainer's concern was that due to balance problems I wouldn't be able to access the equipment safely. I cope by assessing how I am going to get on it safely and have now got it down to a "t". I haven't lost any weight though over 20 sessions but my body is fitter in spite of having heart problems as well.

My trainer says that it is better to have an overweight fitter body than to be slim and unfit.

You can only try it, but don't expect miracles. Any benefit will become apparent over time.

Michelle, this could be some information about what you are experiencing.

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40026034/

yes it probably was due to the bang on your head that caused it to pop anything like that can cause them to go apparently

One expert says possibly, another says not as does my neuro.

I honestly don't think they really know.

There is actually very little medical research done. We are being swept under the carpet so to speak. Consultants just seem not to believe that it can leave you with disabilities and are always quick to blame something else especially if you have other medical conditions. I was told it was my medication causing the problems and to get them looked at by cardio, funny that I have been taking the same for years prior to my SAH and had no problems.

As for BP mine is genetically low, the only thing I can think of that will have raised it above my norm was that I was assaulted at work and hit on the head with a flying object. I was so angry my BP must have gone sky high and of course if I had a genetic aneurism that may have caused it to pop. Not saying that it wouldn't have burst anyway in time. I do believe that the incident led to it bursting.

Just out of curiosity I googled the above in UK only and was amazed just how little there is. There are lots of pages relating to SAH but little research into causes and outcomes. Worldwide the results are not much better.

It is almost as if it happens and then forgotten about.

Funny you should say that. Before my SAH I couldn't drink red wine or sherry, just one sip gave me the most blinding headache. Now I can drink red wine, as much as I want and sherry although I don't particularly like sherry and never get a headache from it.

Something has certainly changed for me.

I had very few headaches prior to my SAH.

On the 2 days leading up to it I had a constant very unpleasant headache which would not go away. Unpleasant as it was it did not stop me going to work though.

I now suffer with regular severe headaches.

My rupture was in the left posterior communicating artery in 2004 when I was 54.

Apart from the dreadful fatigue I have very little sense of balance and have to use a three wheel walker all the time. Memory is very iffy and can only remember things if they have been gone over time and time again. Headaches have diminished in number but boy when I get one, I get a mother and father of one.

I do not know whether the balance problem was caused by the bleed or by the ensuing hydrocephalus that sent me into a coma and I had to go for emergency surgery to put a drain in.

I don't think the docs really know either.

I have just remembered that I also lost my sight totally in my left eye. A brilliant eye surgeon actually gave me it back by operating. I was told that the blood tried to find a way out via my optic nerve and eye due to the pressure. The loss of sight was due to debris being left at the back of the eye when the blood cleared.

I also have another aneurism on the right side in the same place, like a twin. This has never been checked since it was discovered. I am going to ask about it at my next neuro appointment which is on Monday.

Much as I hate to admit it I am disabled. My sense of balance is so poor that I have to use a three wheel walker all of the time. My memory is iffy as well, but that can have its advantages.

Mine was the same as Janets. I have severe balance problems and permanent dizziness and have to walk with a frame.

I do not know if it was the bleed that caused these problems or the ensuing hydrocephalus though.

I was confused mega so my family tell me. I had gone back to my Radiographer training days when I was 18 and was saying I was being looked after well because I was staff. I also said that the nurses were trying to poison me and then offered a cake to my grandson.

Of course I remember nothing of this and have been told about it at a later date. I dread to think what else I was saying.

I have a shunt but I am sorry I can't answer your question as I can't remember anything about it at all.

I would have thought that if a shunt needed to settle then your wife would not have been discharged until that had happened.

What did make me very sick though were the painkillers I was sent home with.

I have a shunt (drain) at the base of my skull on the left hand side that goes to my abdomen. Is the pain where the shunt is or in your abdomen?

Sometimes my shunt, well not the shunt itself, but the area where it is hurts like hell but I have never queried it and just presumed it happens if I have been laid on it and bruised the area as the shunt is quite hard, or because it is a "foreign body". The pain lasts for a few hours and then eases. I am 5 years on from my SAH and it has not diminished with time.

If I think on I will mention it to my neuro at my next appointment.

Very interesting article.

I still get flashbacks of that evening 5 years ago even now, but only the horrendous pain in my head and up to the paramedics arriving, I did have one clear moment when I must have been in A+E of someone saying "are we transferring her tonight or in the morning". I then have no memories at all for about 8 weeks. I have always looked on them as seeing how lucky I was to survive. They are not as frequent as they used to be though. I went through the sleepiness and depression too and have been left with memory problems and a very poor sense of balance. I used to sit and cry regularly for no apparent reason.

Luckily one day I sat there and had severe words with myself, telling myself I was lucky to be alive and to start a life for myself again.

This I did, although I admit it was hard, especially as I had been left less able, and now I enjoy my life as much as possible. I have actually made a new life for myself and am doing everything I want to do within my capabilities. The things I can't do I just put out of my head, no use in wishing, it uses up too much energy.

I don't have a "wish I had list" anymore as you can't turn the clock back, I have a "I have done list" instead.

The SAH made me realise that you don't know what tomorrow will bring, so live life and enjoy it.

I love to travel abroad, so another motto of mine is "have walking frame will travel"

That walking frame has covered thousands of miles in plane holds, can I give it an award?

Your welcome.

Enjoy your son's wedding.

I, for one, have flown dozens of times since I had my shunt fitted.

I have had no effect whatsoever, even security does not alarm or anything.

Mine is a programmable one and I was assured by my neuro that all would be OK, and it is.