Super Mario

I also have numbness that comes and goes in a small one side area of my chin just under my lip. Also have numb toes and outside of my lower leg on the same side as my face. This appeared 18 months after my SAH and ensuing shunt.

The docs say it is nothing to do with my SAH and a MRI scan on my lumber sacral spine only showed a slight narrowing of my spinal canal, but say that could possibly be the cause as certain movements will make it more pronounced.

I have given up worrying about it and carry on as normal.

The best thing to do is to try and find a Welfare Rights Officer, they will be able to do a benefits check and help you fill in any forms for any claims you need to make, and are impartial. Sometimes your local council employ them. DWP helpline is OK but only give you info about what you ask, they do not impart any other information.

To find an adviser in your area check the Community Legal Advice website. To find an adviser it is near the bottom of the left hand side of the home page. If you ring them you need to be eligable for legal aid before they will help but it is free online.

The last MRI I had I just blanked my mind and nodded off, so it seemed to be over in no time.

I can't stand to hear any sort of noise so I told them not to put the music on, the scan noise was preferable to having that blurting down my ears.

The hassle was waiting to have my shunt reset as the scan had moved it. I had to wait ages, over an hour until a doctor was free to do it.

I always use Fortis. Their criteria is not quite as strict as some. I always ring the medical line to get clearance though, mainly because I have other conditions as well. You can only purchase it through brokers, just google Fortis and you can find your nearest broker through their website. I think the Post Office insurance is underwritten by Fortis.

It is reasonable as well, especially if you buy a years policy depending on how many times you intend to use it.

Thank you for the warm welcomes.

I lurk alot but don't post unless I have something positive to say.

Hi Mandy

You can get free prescriptions if, because of a permanent disability, you cannot leave your home without help or if your income falls below a certain level. See this link.

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23069022/.

Another alternative is to buy a prepayment certificate, the 12 month ones you can buy on monthly direct debit. See link.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

Hope this helps.

I go to water aerobics with my local stroke support group. It is geared up to people who have had all types of strokes. I find I can do just about all of the exercises because the water will hold me up and my balance on dry land is so bad that I fall over regularly.

Something like this you may be able to do.

I also have balance problems and walk as though I am drunk, even worse when I am tired. I have had lots of falls and now joke that I "bounce well". I also go very dizzy when trying to look left and right, ie moving my head quickly from side to side, so you can imagine, crossing roads is a nightmare, virtually impossible if it is busy. This is what has led to me being not allowed to drive anymore. I find that dizziness also happens when looking up or bending down. I have to focus on a set point to try to stabilise myself and it does help a little. It is difficult for me to carry anything like food or drinks as they invariably end up on the floor and I am unable to do my own housework. (I don't know whether that is a bad thing or not, at least it has given me the excuse to have a cleaner ).

I use a triwalker or a mobility scooter when out and about on my own or a stick and hubby when I am with him, a stick and furniture in the house and I have to have a chair in the shower and have been told by an OT that I should have a stairlift for safety.

I don't know if the bleed or the ensuing hydrocephalus caused these problems but I am way past wondering now. I just live life the best I can within my limitations.

At least I now know that I am not on my own in having these problems.

I also cry very easily, I never used too. I also get very angry very quickly. I don't know if that is frustration at not being able to do the things I used to before or a result of the SAH.

All I know is that I never used to be like this, I was quite a placid sort of person.

As well as dropping things my balance is atrocious and because of dizziness when I move my head from left to right, I find it almost impossible to cross roads, especially busy ones, I use a three wheel walker all the time.

My coordination is also very poor, I often miss my mug when pouring water into it, I have burnt my hand so many times that I now keep it well away, and as for concentration and memory, it is very poor and I am unable to multitask.

I keep post it notes in business.

Cooking I now do is very basic and I can only do that with the help of timers. I have been known to half peel potatoes, go and do something else because I have just thought about it, and ages later find them still in the sink.

I asked my neuro if I could go through airport security safely with my coils. He said it was fine and would not set off security.

I have since flown at least 20 times over the last 4 years and have never had a problem with the flight or anything, likewise with my shunt.

I always carry details of my aneurysms, coils and my shunt type and settings with me as well as info about my heart stents. Just seems to be a wise thing to do.

I had my two angios in my right leg 5 years ago and prior to that have had two heart angios in the same leg. I suppose I am lucky as I do not have any problems at all with the site even though there must be scarring on the artery.

These things happen to me. My hand just seems to let go involuntary and whatever lands on the floor.

I was also left with Terson's Syndrome. My GP had never heard of it either and had to do her research.

Apparently it is debris from blood that collected at the back of the eye when the blood was forced down the optic nerve owing to the pressure caused by the bleed. It was trying to find a "way out"

When the blood clears it leaves debris. Luckily I also had an op that cleared it but have been left with a few floaters that can be annoying at times, but at least I can see.

Well I am glad I am not alone with not being able to stand noise.

I do feel so isolated at times and people just do not understand, I often think other people believe it is me being awkward and funny about noise.

This forum has certainly made me feel not so alone because I have found others who have been left with the same after effects.

before I could shut off and it wouldn't bother me.

That is exactly what I could do but not now, weird isn't it.

Glad you have been able to put actions into place for when Tina is discharged.

I didn't say earlier because it seemed so negative that all I had to do was climb some steps, which I did with difficulty, balance no good, to see if I was fit for discharge. This was at the general hospital I had been transerred back to. I have some horror stories of there that I won't go into, memory was rubbish but there are certain things that stick.

I was sent home with no care whatsoever and I thought that was that. It was only by a chance meeting with someone I knew who worked on a specialist stroke ward who suggested I went to my GP and request physio for my balance problems. It was only then that I was seen by an OT as well and given aids to help me. That was 6 months down the line. I do feel though that had I been given physio earlier in my recovery I may have been able to overcome some of my balance problems.

Aftercare, as far as I can see, is almost non existent unless you have someone to fight for you.

Again all the best to Tina and yourself.

Hi Charty

Have sent you a pm.

Penny

Hi Laura

I was a senior laboratory technician in a comprehensive school and had to work round the kids all the time. They are even louder and bigger when they reach secondary school.

I thought I was an oddbod, but obviously not, there are others on here that can't stand noise.

I enjoy going to the theatre to see a range of things, even musicals and I can cope with them. It does seem strange though.

In March I am going to see Showaddywaddy, I have seen them in the past several times and found them to be good entertainers but must admit I am wondering how I will fare now, because they are very loud.

I would be interested to know if anyone else has been left with an intolerance to noise.

I can't stand it, never have the radio or TV on and won't even sit in the same room when they are on. I find it very difficult to concentrate at the best of times and it is impossible with noise.

I will turn round and go home if I go out to the local and the jukebox is on or there is a disco.

I hate noise with a vengeance.

It seems bizarre as I used to work in a school, and they are noisy places, I used to be able to "switch off" and just get on with my work, can't seem to do that now.

I just rang DVLA and told them. I had to send my license back and sadly still can't drive due to dizziness and balance problems. I do know of people who have got theirs back after about 12 months.

Hi Laura

What has happened has happened. Although it was a deliberate attack, CICAP have classed it as a crime of violence, not all kids are the same and I think that I was unfortunate to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and an easy target.

I am certainly not going to cower in a corner when it snows because of that incident or else the instigater will have won.

I have put it to the back of my mind but of course I am cautious when I see snow but it does not worry me too much.

What is concerning me,and I am hoping someome may be able to give advice or guidence on, is that she now has short term memory loss and bouts of confusion,she feels abandond and isolated, and is worried she may be moved to a mental hospital.

Although I have no medical knowledge I don't think for one minute she will be moved to a mental hospital. All you are describing is a normal part of the proccess for an SAH and it is very early days. Recovery can be very slow and to the best of my knowledge many of these effects will right themselves eventually, although I still have short term memory problems, there are ways round them.

I am sure someone who has been on this forum for a while will possibly be able to advise you better. Even better speak to the doctors who are treating your wife who will be able to explain the ins and outs of the effects of a SAH.

You are sound like such a positive person, which is something I am trying to work on

Thank you Donna

I try do be but I must admit it took me a long time to come to terms with what had happened. You can't turn the clock back so all I do now is live life and enjoy it. It is no use crying over spilt milk.

I was also referred by my GP to the local gym but they refused to even assess me as my balance is too bad and they have not got the staff for one to one. I even said I would take someone with me, but that was a no no. Now they have moved to a larger place I have been referred again, so I will wait and see what happens.

The one thing I can do is water aerobics 'cos the water balances me. I go to a private swim school with our local stroke support group and it is geared to stroke victims. It is not cheap although there is some funding to help but we have to pay the shortfall ourselves.