Skippy

Hi Clara Seeing a Counsellor will be liberating for you - it did me the world of good. It helped me see past the guilt and taught me stop blaming myself for what I put others through. I found coming off the strong painkillers actually eased my pain as I was rushed back into hospital 3 weeks after my bleed with a suspected re-bleed - it was actually an analgesic headache caused by the strong pain relief I was taking. I stopped it there and then (not advisable) and took nothing but paracetamol after. Remember, lots of rest, water and relaxation will help with the headaches xxx

hey there Yes I did - one in particular who was supposed to be a good friend. When one of my other friends moved to Cornwall I found out this particular friend had done nothing but lie to me and the one who moved. She'd played us off each other and told the other friend that I would be busy when she wanted to contact me. The other friend had just lost her sister at the time and wanted to talk to me but was told by the "good" friend that I'd be busy!!!! We just couldn't be bothered with her in the end and a year later we both cut here completely out of our lives. I have two very very good friends who were in my life before and are in my life now. One is my best friend of 35 years and we've been each others rocks over the years. I decided that after my SAH life was too short to have people in it that were shallower than puddle in the sahara!!! If they're true friends they'll help you through it - otherwise they are mere acquaintances xxx

Ahhh Shobs that's brilliant news. So pleased for you both xxx

Clara darling - you are safe. You've done the right thing by arranging to see your GP. It's perfectly natural to panic at this stage in your recovery - the palpitations could be being caused by the anxiety you feel when you're waking. I know I dreaded waking up not knowing how I'd feel that day or how my head would feel. I remember dancing around the garden like a mad woman the day I woke and my head didn't hurt and my mood had lifted. May sound daft, but try thinking of a place that makes you happy and imagining yourself being there, sit comfortably and breathe slowly. Just stay there for a little while and try to let the calm wash over you. It may not work immediately or even the first time but with practice it really does help - it was a saviour for me in the early days. I was extremely anxious and thought I was having a heart attack - its kind of meditation, but it worked.

Clara - I also completely relate to what you've said. 5 weeks into your recovery is very early and I couldn't tolerate people coming to visit me either - I was back at work 3 weeks later but more out of the fear of being left alone than anything (I worked in the family business full time back then). I had a bed in my office and would sleep for a good four hours during the day. But still too much information and my brain basically shut itself off and I couldn't take in what people were saying. I got better the more I relaxed and slept and, to be honest, I went to a Pink concert 2 1/2 months after my SAH - those tickets were expensive and I was not going to waste them!! It got to about a year before I started needing to sleep during the day and once I stopped fighting the new me, it became a whole lot easier. Initially, yes I was devastated and also felt I was a basket case - I was crying for now reason and felt like I was sinking into a bottomless pit. I had counselling and it helped immensely and I'd highly recommend it. Like Macca said, give yourself time and stop beating yourself up. You could possibly be suffering from PTSD - I was and that's where the counselling came in. See you GP and see if they can refer you. Get plenty of rest (forget about running around at 100 miles per hour and talking ten to the dozen) drink plenty of water - treat your brain like a broken leg - it needs time to heal so don't put too much pressure and weight on it xxx

Chris congratulations on your anniversary. Time has flown past since you joined us and, as Tina said, what better way to start the day than securing the recovery with running and past the very spot. You're a valued part of our community and it has been a privilege to go on your journey with you.

Nope, no creases in my earlobes at all and neither has hubby - I've had an SAH and he's has a heart condition.

Hi Taka You've typed amazing well considering the distraction of two children Its sounds like you've been through the mill somewhat. There is a forum on here for NASAH (brain hems without aneurysms) - might be worth you taking a look on there to see if you identify with anyone's story. I can imagine that you are very scared and anxious at the moment, and as hard as it is, please try to relax a little bit and enjoy your children. You say you have a scan again in 4 weeks, let's wait to see what this shows. In the meantime, try to rest as much as the cheek pinching one and baby will allow and make sure you are drinking plenty of water to help with any headaches you may suffer. Have a good look around the site and you'll find a lot of information on all areas of SAH and NASAH from people who have experienced them.

Hi there Unfortunately no, I can't help you there. The only change to my eyes has been the curse of old age and I am now getting long sighted as well as being short sighted - in my mind that should mean that my eyes should meet somewhere in the middle and I'll have perfect vision again!. Have you had your eyes tested again for your contact lenses or just had a change of brand?

Hi there Yes I can completely understand where you're coming from. I used to jog, swim and do step aerobics three times a week - I can't even run now without my head vibrating and starting to feel sick. I'm 11 years in now and it was the hardest thing for me to come to terms with.

Hi Maeve Can only echo what others have said. I didn't feel mine until I came round after passing out. Had that been it, then yes, completely painless and that's how I'd want to go. Mine was caused by an aneurysm but no stress as I was on holiday at the time so I was completely relaxed. Please do not blame yourself and be plagued by "what ifs" and "If only"s. Statistics show that roughly 8,500 people a year in the UK have an SAH - less than 1% survive - it has an extremely high mortality rate which, unfortunately, is why so little is known about it. Is there any bereavement counselling that you and you sister could get access to?? Counselling helped me after my SAH so I think it would do you both the world of good. But please, as the others have said, do not carry around unnecessary guilt - none of this was your fault. Take care of yourselves xx

Hi Kristi So sorry that you've been through hell trying to find out what has happened and why - it does sound like an NASAH (there is a dedicated section this on the forum and would be worth a look). Hopefully your appointment in October will yield some answers for you, although if the cause is unknown or it was a tear in the artery as opposed to a ruptured aneurysm, you may not get any satisfactory answers from the scan - please do not let this deter you from seeking answers. I hope that this site is of some comfort and use to you x

Hi Rosie Firstly, Google is not your friend and the studies that you are looking at are not a true reflection of any chances of it happening again. My neurosurgeon told me that if I carried on smoking I had a 3% chance of it happening again and if i stopped a 1% chance - other than that I was no more at risk than any one else on the planet. I had the same issues as you at the same time after my SAH - I was diagnosed with PTSD and had counselling - it does help, very much so. This site was my biggest help and support after my SAH and I really don't know where I'd be without it. Please, stop looking at studies and concentrate on you. We are all different and it is impossible to lump us into a study and accurately predict any outcome at all. Plenty of water and rest - these are the main ingredients of your recipe for recovery at the moment - and of course BTG! Take it easy hun xx

Hi Linda Its sounds like you have had a NASAH (Non-Aneurysmal SAH) - no aneurysm but the artery has torn - there is a section on her dedicated to NASAH survivors but don't let that stop you accessing the whole site - we're all here for each other. I felt like a fraud too when I first came on here - everyone else (there were only 9 of us back then) seemed to be having such a tough time physically and I was perfectly OK other than the fatigue. But please remember, you are not a fraud, you have suffered and you have survived. I also left hospital without any information on recovery - what to expect etc or what had actually happened to me. I saw my GP who explained what he could - he'd never had a SAH survivor in his surgery!! This site has been a godsend for me and I am privileged to now to be in a position to give back to Behind the Grey and help people like yourself through those first few scary and confusing months. By the way, you can ask where we're from - some of us have our details in our avatar. I'm in Nottingham, England

Hi Linda The one thing we can't do on here is advocate medications or give medical advice, we can only offer the wealth of experience and knowledge that we all have of our own specific recovery journey - and everyone's is different. I was back at work three weeks after my SAH but was lucky enough to be working with my husband in our graphic design company at the time so I had a bed in my office and would have naps during the day when I needed them. It took a year for me not have a nap during the day and feel OK. After stopping the antispasm drugs I went into free fall and was diagnosed with PTSD and had counselling and found this site. You are very early into your recovery and it may be a long road to get there. I say this all the time, but you are allowed to make as many pit stops along the way as you need to. At the moment you will need lots of rest and you must drink plenty of water to keep the brain hydrated. You don't say what you were doing at the time of your SAH or the procedures you had after. I wish you all the best with your recovery and please do stay on here - the Green Room is a great place to be of a day - it takes your mind off things a little and really does make you realise that you are not alone (just beware of Win and her singing )

Hi I've never come across this before, so it's something you're going to have to talk to his GP or health professional about - the same for the wound on his leg.

Hi there Well done on managing your return to work. Its really rewarding knowing that the advice and support on here goes towards helping others get through this.

25th August 2006 - 2 aneurysms - one ruptured, both coiled. No physical effects other than fatigue for the first year. Anxiety and depression within the first three months and had counselling. We are all different with respect to location of bleed/aneurysm and the grade of bleed besides our own ages and physical condition at the time. All of these factors will have an impact on your recovery, lasting effects etc. Listen to your body, drink plenty of water and rest as much as possible.

Hey there Believe it or not how you reacting is normal. We all had to get used to the "new" us and asking for help etc. I felt the same - I was super woman and then felt like I had kryptonite hanging around my neck for a good couple of years after. I'm 11 years in this month and it has got easier with each passing year - the only thing I don't do now that I used to do is step aerobics three times a week as my head can't cope with it - all the jumping makes my head vibrate too much. I've been told by various family members that my stubbornness is one thing that got me through and I agree - its like training, each day I pushed myself that little bit further until my brain was used to it and then I pushed a little more until it got used to it again and so on. The other thing I did learn is that it's OK to swallow your pride and ask for help - that takes a stronger person, not a weaker one. Keep pushing, just so not so much in one go xx

Hi Sis I'm going through them but because I have the merina coil in, I haven't actually had a period for 13 years (more coils in my body than blooming Zebidee)!! I sleep in light weight pjs/nightdress and have a thin duvet on with a natural cotton cover and sheet. There are natural remedies you can use but we can't recommend as you know. There's also a "cool pillow" which keeps the head cool when you're sleeping which may help - I've seen them but never tried one. I also have the window open slightly with an insect cover over it so no creepy crawlies can get in lol.

I know how you feel. My husband tells me that it was my pure stubbornness that got me through the first few years, and I'm inclined to agree. I'm eleven years on later this month and I still get the occasional sharp stabbing pain in the head - and bearing in mind that all messages sent to the body from the brain are electrical, it stands to reason to that we're going to feel something whilst its recovering. The one piece of comfort I take though, is that the brain itself cannot feel pain - it doesn't have pain receptors like the rest of the body, so pains we are feeling are from the messages going to the brain from those parts of the body that can feel pain. If you're frustrated and tense, this will also cause headaches as the muscles contract around the skull causing the pain - I know its not easy, but do try to relax as much as you can. I know that Win on here talks about singing, but it is scientifically proven to relieve stress and, believe it or not, help the brain to recover as singing releases feel good hormones which in turn makes you feel good. It also helps rewire the brain apparently as by singing along to a song that you know stimulates the memory into action as you are recalling the words. So even though our Winnie may not have the best singing voice (her words, not mine ) - it does actually help distress, relax and help your brain.

Hi Pat Sorry to hear that your recovery is not going as well as you'd like. Unfortunately we are all very different in our recovery rates and lasting affects. Have you seen your GP/Specialist recently to discuss your concerns? You don't say in your update whether you are back at working/working or if so how many hours a week etc. The advice would be the same as usual though; plenty of water, listen to your body and rest when you can. Definitely make an appointment to see your GP/Specialist to see if there is anything they can suggest.

Hey Tori Thanks for the update. It sounds like your mum is making lovely progress. So pleased for you, have everything crossed that it will continue.

Congratulation on your anni-versary and your scan hun - hope you have a lovely day xx

Hi Dave Sorry that you're still suffering from the headaches but I can't help you I'm afraid. Like Jess said though, glad that you are talking to someone about them. A Neurologist would be better than a GP as they don't know much about SAH and the after affects.