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Neil

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Everything posted by Neil

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
  4. 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.
  5. Fab stuff! Know just how you feel - great, ain't it?
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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!
  9. 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
  10. 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.
  11. Wow! Thanks all for your replies! You really are an ace bunch
  12. 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
  13. 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?
  14. 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!
  15. 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.
  16. I'm the same as Perry up there ^^^. All the lovely Morphine during my recovery completely negated any cravings for fags. I also had conflicting advice, ranging from 'would be a good idea to stop, it does you no good but don't worry too much if you can't stop' right through to 'if you smoke again you stand a 20% chance of having another anuerysm. don't you dare smoke again.' So, I simply don't smoke any more! It's no bother, really, but as I say, I was kind of lucky to be doped up in a hospital bed for a few weeks
  17. Update: After my op earlier this year, my (thinks carefully, needs Jimmy Cricket wellies) RIGHT eyebrow stopped working. Thereafter I've been known as 'that sacrastic bloke' for raising just the one eyebrow all the time. Anyway, just a couple of days ago I felt a funny tingle in my right eyebrow. Checked in the mirror and it has started moving again! Woohoo! Not moving a lot but moving nonetheless. I was even sad enough to blog about it and stick a vid up on you tube! Hehe Soon be time for my final angiogram before I go onto annual MRI scans. Hope they don't have to open my head up again just as my eyebrow has finally decided to co-operate!
  18. Hi Perry, My next angio isn't for another 6 months. Latest one was about a week after my op so a while ago now. Nowt to worry about, though; angiograms are a doddle once you get used to them! From the second angio onwards I spent more time making the nusrses blush than I did worrying
  19. I know exactly what you mean, Scott. Good on you for living your life the right way! I've been having the same kind of thoughts, your words are very inspirational
  20. Have also found out that Green Tea is an excellent beverage. A quick google will give you dozens of sites, each with dozens of reasons to drink Green Tea. I've found it to be an ideal morning cuppa as it seems to be the only thing that wakes my brain up instantly and properly (not like coffee where I feel dopey again half an hour after drinking it). I suppose staying up this late staring at my PC doesn't help but hey, it's not a skool night and I get a nice long lie-in tomorrow morning! I did find something a while ago that said Green Tea helps your blood vessels open up a teensy bit wider so blood sends oxygen round your body more easily, but I can't find it now so I may have dreamt it.
  21. Ah! Found this thread again at last! Yes, my memory and concentration still aren't as tip-top as once they were, but I get round to most things eventually. Tammy and I did eventually visit Headway and had a brilliant 2 hour session with a most excellent therapist. Lots of tears and outpourings. Everything is so much better now. That coupled with the wonderful support of the splendid BTG Family has been a real boon to us. We're now properly looking forward to getting married this July, thanks to everyone that has helped us! Our experiences certainly qualify us enough to at least say to any carers feeling stuck on how to deal with the emotional aspect of a loved-one's SAH, please do seek help. Don't suffer in silence. Don't hide. Don't be afraid. There are lots of experts out there (and a few in here!) who can and will help to make things a lot better.
  22. Hope you're much better very soon, Keith.
  23. Grand stuff, Perry! Will you be growing any veggies? We have loads of spare seeds if you're wanting them! Our little garden only has room for a few rows of dinner (what with the blackcurrant bushes, rhubarb and the compost bins already in place!) Mmmm, nowt like home-grown veg is there?
  24. Too true, Shiree! Onwards and upwards is the only way Thanks all for your kind words! It was strange at first, being back at work, and it was lovely to read all your messages.
  25. I get an odd clicking sound, that's my jaw muscles healing after being cut during the craniotomy. My right eyebrow muscles still don't work at all though. Bah! The 'air moving' thing is pressure changes inside your head. Y'know, like when you go up in an aeroplane and your ears pop? Similar sort of thing, apparently.
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