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I have taken statins on the highest dosage since they first came out about 30 years ago and nobody in the medical world has said for me not to take them since my SAH. To be honest, if I didn't take them I would be in real trouble, already had severe blocked arteries before my SAH and 4 years ago had a heart attack in spite of taking them. My cholesterol is extremely high, a genetic defect.

Hi CJ, if I were you I would contact your doctor's surgery and ask them to chase it up as they will carry more weight than yourself. I have found that has worked in the past for me.

Andrea, to be honest that score does not indicate how you will recover, it is how you were at the time of the SAH. Recovery is dependant on which part of the brain was affected, many folk make an almost full recovery, but not quite like they were prior to the event. A new me as such. The best advice I can give you is to have a positive attitude to your recovery, do not harp on what has happened, you can't turn the clock back. Look forward with that sort of attitude and determination, it will help. Now I know that is easier said than done but it can be done.

There is some information here. http://www.brainline.org/content/2010/10/what-is-the-glasgow-coma-scale.html Seems like the higher the number the less severe it is, the opposite to what you may think. That is not to trivialise any sort of brain injury. Mine was a 5 and although I have balance and memory problems amongst other problems I am still here and making the most of my life and enjoying it.

Welcome to BTG Sairah. You will find that very few of us were given any information on discharge, seems to be an international failing. That is why this site is very good for support. Although we cannot give medical advice as none of us are medically trained, members are willing to share their experiences. If you do a search there are members who have had the same feelings as yourself and no doubt some will reply to you at some point. No-one's recovery is the same, there are no hard fast rules of what to expect. Make sure you are drinking lots of water to keep well hydrated. For some reason that helps with the headaches and helps your brain to heal. I, for one, can't watch tv anymore because the movement makes me feel ill and no way can I cope with flashing images or bright lights, even loud noise and I am 13 years post SAH. I would suggest that until you are further on in your recovery you avoid those sort of images if you possibly can.

Headaches are common after a SAH regardless of where the bleed occurred. If you read around the site you will find members reporting head sensations.

Are you keeping hydrated? Drink plenty of water, it helps with the headaches but I don't know about the dizziness. Well worth a try. Dizziness is the pits, mine didn't go away, 13 years later I still suffer and have to use walking aids. I have learnt to cope with it by developing strategies. Don't take this as a negative, I was just unlucky, in most cases it does eventually go. As I suggested use a stick to stabilise yourself in the meantime. Why not visit you doctor and ask if there is anything he can give you for it in the short term. You know the saying "Patience is a virtue" well in terms of recovery from a SAH it certainly is.

Welcome to BTG Ricky. You are in the very early stages of recovery. As for your question, there are no hard, fast rules regarding recovery, each and every one is different. It takes time and in most cases lots of time. For the dizziness it may be prudent to use a walking stick or other walking aid to lessen the risk of falls. All you can do is listen to your body and sleep when you need to, your brain has been assaulted and needs time to heal. Don't push it, slowly and surely is the way to go, or you will find yourself taking backward steps in your recovery. You ask how long it will be before you start to feel "normal". In many cases, not all, there will be a new "normal" which has to be accepted. It is not all doom and gloom, there is a life after SAH, might be a slightly different life as many have found, but there to be enjoyed.

There are members on here who have metal plates and as far as I recall they have had no problems at all. Chin up, you will be fine although any surgery can be daunting so I can understand your apprehension, keep positive about it Soonest done, soonest over.

Andrea, you need to get that checked out by your GP. It may or may not be anything to do with your SAH. It is too easy to blame all ensuing problems on that when in fact it isn't at times. I think we have all done it in the past until learning better.

No one can predict any recovery. As we are not medically qualified I would suggest that those are questions you should be asking your doctors although there may be others on here who have experienced the same. Just remember that everyone is different. Have you had any physiotherapy? If not it may be wise to explore that option if it is recommended by your doctors

Andrea, welcome to BTG. What you are feeling is quite normal. Yes you will be happy again and you will feel you have control of your life. It just takes time to come to terms with he event. Possibly a visit to your doctor to explain how you are feeling and to request some counselling to help you along the path of acceptance.

I think that is a natural reaction to aches and pains after a SAH. Many of us were exactly the same in our early days of recovery.

Take it very slowly, your brain needs lots of time to heal. You cannot run before you can walk. If you do you will find yourself taking backward steps in your recovery. As for returning to work, 2 1/2 months after a SAH is very early in most cases. You appear to have a very stressful and busy occupation so if you do return don't be surprised if you can't cope. If you must return to work make sure it is done on a very slow phased return basis and preferably some of the responsibility taken off your shoulders for the moment. Does your employer realise the implications of a SAH?

Hi Topsy, the short answer is to take advice from your doctor, neurologist or dentist. You must get it sorted one way or another, pain is not good for you. It counts as medical advice which none of us can give as we are not medically qualified.

For the above forum you don't have to be disabled to get advice. You would be advised to contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau, Welfare Rights Dept at your local council or county council or even an Unemployed Workers Centre for a full Benefits check. Disability is more a functional or mental deficit. Get onto it asap as benefits now take quite a while to sort out. The last place you want to ask Is at the Job Centre or the DWP help line as they very often give wrong advice and information so try and avoid them

Welcome to BTG. You are still in the early days of recovery in the case of a SAH, so yes it is normal in most cases. You have to take things slowly, baby steps, because if you don't you will end up taking backward steps. Fatigue may get better, only time will tell. Everyone's recovery is different, there are no hard. fast rules.

Jenni, as Sarah has said get to work on what benefits you are entitled to. There may be rent/ council tax reductions you can claim as well. As he is employed his employer should be paying Statuary Sick Pay. If no CAB try an Unemployed Workers Centre or your local council may have Welfare Rights Advisors. The sooner you do this the better as claims can only be backdated from the date of application. I wish you both well.

When is individual, everybody is different in their recovery. I would presume physio will do exercises on the legs to encourage movement and to build up muscles that will have wasted away due to non use. How they do it will depend on the patient's ability. As I have said, no two people are alike..

Hi Kim, so many of us experienced the same thing, no after care and were left pretty much alone other than possibly one follow up appointment. Seems to be a common denominator in the main.

Steve, welcome to BTG and thank you for sharing your experience. We are pleased that BTG has been helpful to you. It is a fantastic support group for survivors Just because you feel your strength is returning do not feel tempted to rush your recovery or you may find yourself taking a step backwards. We always say baby steps are the best way forward. If you feel like it you are welcome to join in the banter in The Green Room or even share any frustrations in there. We also have a Games Forum which can be fun, if you wish to join in, don't be shy. Please keep us updated to your progress if possible. It can help others in your position.

Palhuc, this is just a thought, could your insurance company have a say in where your hubby needs to go, ie rehab. At the end of the day it is they who are picking up the bills so surely it would be to their advantage to see him treated as soon as possible for the best outcome. Sorry if this is not appropriate but I know nothing of health insurance over there.

Faymuss, there are members on here who have had children after their SAH. Someone will be along in the near future to try to reassure you and tell you of their experience.

I have flown numerous times since my SAH 13 years ago now, approx. 4 or 5 times a year, and I have never been told that there was a risk with flying and I have asked. Insurance is expensive though, not to declare the SAH will put your mum at risk of not being covered for anything at all. All you can do is take advice from your mum's doctors. I truly hope that your mum can attend your wedding. As to the short term memory and fatigue issues, each and every one of us survivors have had different recovery times. There is no set timescale, each person is different. In the main recovery is a long slow process and often people do not fully regain their short term memory and still suffer with the fatigue years later.

Hi Gemma, re your mum flying, the general consensus is that 3 months after any surgery it should be safe. You MUST take medical advice first though. Another thing is the problem of insurance, if the flights are already booked and insurance already in place on a doctor's say so the insurance may possibly still cover your mum. The company must be informed though. I suspect, if insurance isn't in place, it will be difficult to obtain and very expensive if it can be got. This is speaking from experience, I had a holiday booked and insurance in place when I had my SAH, because I had already got the insurance from the time of booking and the doctors said I could travel they still covered me. Sorry to be the bearer of possibly not too good news. I sincerely hope that all can be resolved and that you have the privilege of your mum at your wedding.