Neil

Not at all. A visit to Headway will most likely be HUGELY beneficial - I too got back to work/normal-life super quick, maybe too quickly I don't know. I've never liked to sit around feeling useless. Looking back I think I didn't fully turn the corner until I had an hour long chat with a lovely lady at Headway Basingstoke. The visit was also of great benefit to my wife, who seemed to be more in shock about my SAH than I was (often the way!). I think that was a big part of the problem, though - I was trying to carry my wifes emotions and as well as keeping my own in check to be strong for my wife, even though I was the one who'd had the brain-fart! Best advice I can give - don't try to be macho. Let your feelings out! It's like ripping off a plaster from a hairy leg - hurts like anything but let's the wound underneath heal better.

Hi Anna, So sorry to hear about your Mum - it is a very distressing time both for the patient and those around them. My thoughts are with you all. You Mum is definitely in the best hands possible - Wessex Neuro is brilliant (certainly enough doctors and nurses told me that when I was in there!) They must've done something right - like Lin you wouldn't know to look at me that I'd had a brain haemorrhage. I really really hope your Mum is as lucky as many of us here. Anna, we're all here for you: any time you want to ask question or even just blow off a bit of steam, go right ahead. Neil.

Hi Debbie, Poor you - you've survived one of the scariest things that can happen to you, certainly you're going to feel very different. Please be assured of two things, though: #1 You ARE still you - just might take a bit of digging to find the bubbly you again. #2 There are lots of excellent people out there who can give you the professional help you need. Have you tried getting in touch with Headway? I went to see them soon after my SAH, the therapist I spoke with was totally brilliant and reassuring and I felt much better almost instantly. Like Tina, I didn't get told anything I didn't know, I just got a good thorough listening to and, well, it's hard to explain really but it's definitely worth doing! Click here to see contact details for all the Headway branches in your area: http://www.headway.org.uk/Regions/NorthWest.aspx Good luck! Sending you loads of positive vibes! It helps to remember we're all right behind you. Hope to see lots of posts from you in the near future

Hi Brenda! Oh my gosh yes, the nerves beforehand are the worst part (the scary forms you have to sign before the procedure don't help any either!) To distract myself a bit, I used all my angios as an excuse to chat up the lovely nurses: here's hoping you get a nice handsome doctor to flirt with Take care m'dear, do let us know how you get on - we're right behind you! Neil.

Fab stuff! Know just how you feel - great, ain't it?

Hi Jo, Glad you popped up - you're certainly among folk who really do understand! Couple of bits of advice for you: #1 Getting engaged is FAR more important than going back to work - the former will last you forever, you can always find a better job when you feel ready. Certainly don't let anyone at work push you more than you feel comfortable with. #2 Yup, you'll have an itchy scalp now and then, but the horrible clicking will go away as your skull heals up (as will your bruises and such) and before you know it, you'll be looking back on all this and thinking much happier thoughts The worst outward effect I had after my craniotomy (apart from bruising) was that my right eyebrow refused to move. Very odd, but was handy for Roger moore impressions! It has since started working again though so I guess I'll never be the next James Bond now.

I hope I'm not breaking the rules here (If so I apologise!) - I can offer actual proper advice on this subject. Quite apart from my brain going pop a little while back, I've been a heart patient since I was born - hole in the heart at birth, all fixed up now though. Palpitations are not too much to worry about - as long as your GP is happy. A quick tip to help the palpitations go away: breath sort of shallow but slowly and regularly and also strain a bit like you do when going to the loo - sounds terrible but it does work and calms your beating heart! Main thing of course is to do EXACTLY as your consultants/GP tell you to and you'll be OK.

Hi Everyone, First off, I apologise for not contributing very much since finding this wonderful site just when I needed it. I've been extremely lucky and should hang around more to support those more unfortunate among us. I am sorry. I hope the next bit will inspire some of you. A big chunk of "getting better" is locked away inside you and sometimes you might need a helpful nudge to unlock it. I went to see the marvellous Mr Sparrow at Wessex Neuro recently - he made my tiny brain all better at the beginning of last year. The reason he wanted to see me was mainly to explain that he'd thoroughly analysed my latest MRI scan and also looked at my previous MRIs and my 5 sets of angiogram piccies (yes! 5 in as many weeks!) and concluded that the arteries he was slightly concerned about after my clipping no longer gave him any cause for concern. Even showed me exactly which arteries and the before/after shots! They've shrunk back to normal quite nicely and my clip is doing just fine! The best bit.... I don't need another MRI scan. I'm having one on about 3 years time just to be certain sure, but it's not totally necessary (Mr Sparrow's words!) Wow. There's been a nagging old Raven on my shoulder since I had my noodle fixed, telling me the next scan would be bad news. It just flapped off thanks to the wonderful Mr Sparrow, ne'er to be seen again. I wish you all as much love and luck as you need. I shall try to be good and spread some marvellous vibes to all of you - every little helps: this site helped me get better so it's a debt owed!

For home stuff I'm generally OK, just plain forgetful. Tonight for example I left some chicken breast in the oven for 2 hours whilst I sat on my PC playing games. That's just me being easily distracted though: good job Tammy is patient! However, for work I did struggle for a while at first. Now that I'm office based (have been since August) I make use of Outlook reminders and copious post-it notes. Did try an office diary but I kept forgetting where I'd left it

Hi Mark and Diane, Glad to hear it went OK the other day! Yup, the headaches will be a nuisance for a while til your brain has had a chance to clean itself up. Keep up the fluid intake, minimum 3 litres a day - makes a big difference.

Wow! Thanks all for your replies! You really are an ace bunch

First off, my apologies for not posting anything yesterday. I know this is something one would normally share with you wonderful folk but I must admit to being quite unsure of myself yesterday, very much up and down emotionally and keeping a lid on it: I was reluctant to share until I'd 'had a word with myself'. Happily, though, I've settled on feeling positive about it! I've gone through a whole year since my bleed and quite frankly everything has been great since it happened! Most likely that's down to my now being more grateful for waking up every morning than I was before my SAH. To sum up: in the 365 days since my little brain went pop, I've: Got married to a wonderful woman and had a great honeymoon Put on 3 stone (beats being as skinny as I was!) Learnt to have a lot more faith in myself Changed jobs twice (each time for better opportunities!) Made friends with a great bunch of geniunely understanding folks So, on the occasion of my first Anni-versary I'd like to thank you all for being really rather smashing and I'm proud to be a (albeit quiet) member of your gang

My consultant admitted to me that incorrect procedures were used during my clipping surgery, resulting in my right eyebrow not working at all. No movement whatsoever. I was told it wouldn't work again. I ended up looking sarcastic if I tried to raise my eyebrows as only the one would go up! A number of people told me to sue. I did no such thing, of course. Biting the hand that feeds and all that. My eyebrow started working again all of a sudden a couple of months ago. Splendid! And how silly would I have looked if I'd sued and won?

Wow, Debbie! You've beaten my back to work record! Glad you made it through the Angio OK. If you ever have to have another you'll be much more relaxed next time. It's a doddle really, eh? You've done great! I really hope you thoroughly enjoy your holiday, you've earnt a good time!

Bessie, as Perry says please keep talking to us. It's not often that I pray but I'm saying one for your Mum and for you tonight.