Hi Tim Post your story in the "Introduce yourself" forum and you'll find you get a lot more responses. If you give us your story, details, circumstances etc, we can reply to your situation directly and it helps you to find help and support directed at you. Welcome to the family and feel free to ask anything you need - although we cannot give you medical advice as none of us are medically trained.

Hi Sarah Sounds like a good option to take to me. I asked my consultant what the odds of my brain bleeding again were - he said 1% - 2% the same as anyone on the street. I asked him what the odds of my brain bleeding again were if I carried on smoking and he said 3% - I'm still here (the lower odds in my favour) and I haven't cut down smoking let alone stopped - and I'm still here (higher odds in my favour). Definitely get any confusion with scans cleared up and then enjoy life knowing that the odds are no different to someone who has never had a bleed.

Mandie The first thing I did when depression hit was seek help. My GP referred me to a therapist and gave me the option of anti-deps. I didn't want to mask the feelings, I wanted to address them. Seeing a therapist was the best thing I ever did. it helped me come to terms with a lot and nor just the aftermath of SAH. I also had a friend, who someone recently beautifully referred to as my "Living Angel", who sat me down and gave me a brutal pep talk after having suffered from depression himself. He basically told me that i was strong enough, stubborn enough and determined enough not to be depressed and only I could stop it. In a way he was right and from that moment I was determined, stubborn and strong enough not to let this overtake my every waking moment. Ironically enough, this same angel passed away from a non-aneurysmic brain hem in August. You've done the hardest part - surviving - it is not weak to ask for help - that's why we're all members of BTG too.

You're welcome Shelagh - good luck, and if you're not sure about anything, ask - there'll be someone who can point you in the right direction x

Hi there Everyone is evaluated differently by the DVLA - it will depend on various things as to how long his licence will be suspended for. They would normally contact your partner's GP or specialist, so it may be worth your partner contacting the DVLA as well as GP etc to discuss what will be needed. Among other things, it will also depend on the workload of that particular department. Read through this driving section within the forum and you'll find a lot more information on what to do and what not to do.

Sarah - hold on to the thought that if it was "serious" they'd have contacted you by now. I would imagine that if it was putting your life in danger in any way that they would have called you and asked you to come in, rather than risk the delay in post at that time of year. Hope you get that letter through soon so your mind can be put at rest xx

Hi Liz Bit of a mixed one for me as I had a rupture repair and an unruptured packed. Ask your specialist for information as you say you had a "small leak". Even a small leak may leave lasting effects on the brain - my blood was clotting almost immediately as it was leaving the aneurysm but it still managed to damage my brain, even if not severely. Ask them for more information as it was a small bleed to the ICA it could have had more of an effect than you would imagine as it flows behind the eyes.

Hi there Yes, my vision is back to normal but it did take time. The first Christmas for me was 4 months after my SAH and I couldn't join in everything either, through pure exhaustion and severe depression. My daughter was a little older than yours but her Dad explained to her (as she'd witnessed everything from the collapse to the waking half paralysed and screaming in pain) that although I was home, I was still very poorly and probably wouldn't remember much of what has happening. To this day I still can't remember that first Christmas - but I made sure that the ones after were extra special. I held the glue together here too - I worked full time but was still head of childcare and all the parental duties - hubby worked long hours back then. But I made them listen and understand that I needed help and couldn't do everything I used to. Luckily I had my parents on hand and stayed with them for a while whilst hubby was at work. He'd drop me off at the their home after taking our daughter to school and then they'd take me home when it was time to collect my daughter and stayed with til hubby was home. You need to take time to heal - if you rush, you'll hinder your recovery. Your family need to understand that you need to take time to heal and rest and you most certainly must listen to your body. It can be a long road to recovery but you can make as many pit stops along the way as you like.

Hi Jenni I can completely relate to the feelings of guilt that you have. It took two hours to get me to the nearest hospital that could deal with me and that was after a brief journey to another hospital who sent me on. The guilt was the worst part for me - my daughter was 9 at the time and I couldn't do all the things that I would have normally done with and for her. Also like you, patience is not my strong point!! I'm also stubborn so these two things did not look good for my recovery. However, as Macca said, I turned these attributes to my favour. My impatience ensured that I always fought for my appointments and my stubbornness ensured that I didn't give up in getting them. I used the stubbornness to also see me through my recovery by flipping it and telling myself that I would get better, I would not let this beat me. I had trouble with depth perception with my vision and could have sworn that I could have touched the grass in the front garden from my first floor bedroom window!! The best thing I did was get the counselling (I was diagnosed with PTSD) that I needed to get me through the feelings of guilt and anger. Remember, you didn't ask for this and it most certainly isn't your fault. There is absolutely nothing to say that getting to the hospital quicker would have made a difference. Make sure you tell the counsellor about every emotion you feel - let them help and guide you through it.

I had SAH in August 2006, had an MRI after 12 months and then 18 months and nothing since.

Hi Liz and welcome. Quite a scary time for you but at least they are treating you. Make sure you follow the advice given - I know it can be tempting to carry on doing what is usual for you. I have two aneurysms coiled - one through bursting (that's how they were found) and one next to it that wasn't. They coiled both in the procedure through emergency. You'll find a wealth of information and advice on here - we cannot advise you medically or recommend medicines, but we can all sympathise and listen. Hope your op goes smoothly and that you're home in comfort with your family for Christmas xx

Hi there I felt exactly the same - too much noise, too many people, lights were too bright etc. I feared the same re Christmas with my daughter at the age of 9. My first Christmas post SAH was 4 months and it was all so overwhelming. You're very early in recovering right now and it all seems so frightening and daunting - I can't promise it will get better as we're all different, but the following year was a lot better and every year since has been great. I know it's easier said than done right now, but stay positive. Can you shop with your daughter in a place or at a time that isn't so busy? You may not be able to escape the bright lights at this time of year, but if you can find a time and a place that's quieter it may help a little.

Quite possible - my hubby had a life changing motorbike accident four years ago and still suffers with double vision at times - definitely go to that appointment x

Not to that degree Jenni, but I do remember soon after my SAH looking out of our first floor bedroom window and swearing blind that I could touch the grass from there - my depth perception was warped more than my perception of vision. It may be worth taking a trip to the opticians to see if they can enlighten you.

Hi there So sorry to hear about your mom and can completely understand the fear and confusion that you all feel. Take heart in the fact that she is in the best place for her right now and she will get all the aid and support that she needs. Indeed, we all have different rates of recovery and there are so many variables to consider, as Michelle said - different areas of the brain, levels of bleed, size of aneurysm etc - even down to the age and fitness of the person involved - and it doesn't necessarily follow that the older you are the harder it is to recover. Your mom has been through a great deal of trauma and now her body and mind are healing - and they'll do this at their own pace. Keep a diary of your mom's improvements as each day, week and month passes. It'll come as a comfort to you and aid mom when she feels her recovery may be slower than she'd like or to mark her achievements and milestones in her recovery. This is a great place to come for comfort, support, a shoulder to cry on and to have a bit of a laugh to keep the spirits up - you may not feel like laughing just now, but we are all here to support you in supporting your mom. I wish your mom a speedy recovery and remember, you all need to take care of yourselves so that you can take care of and support your mom. Best wishes x