Skippy

Hi Josie I suffered from terrible anxiety and slept really badly and this all caused me to feel nauseous at first. Plenty of rest and water will help in the early stages - don't try to do too much too soon.

Hi Josie Welcome to BTG, really glad that you found us, although its always bittersweet saying that as it means that you've suffered too. You're very early in your recovery so everything is going to be a bit scary and different to say the least right now. Your thoughts and emotions may not make sense and your memory may not be what it was. The brain takes a long time to heal and needs all the help you can give it. It needs rest, water and as little stress as possible, even though that last one is easier said than done at the moment. Don't be in a rush to do anything and take each day as it comes - many little victories all contribute to feeling better and healing. Can you give us a bit more information about yourself? It helps us to know the background of someone when we're replying - apart from the fact that we're really quite nosey You'll find lots of warm and compassionate people here and although we can't offer medical advice or recommend drugs etc, we can empathise with you and understand what you are going through. There is more experience of SAH on here than you'll find in any book, on any website or in any medical institution. Looking forward to hearing more about you and your experience.

Chris, definitely go and get your eyes checked - I was advised not to have an eye test until two years after my brain hem as the hem itself can change the sight temporarily. Since my SAH over ten years ago my eyesight has changed every two years until this year. My prescription remained the same. I've been short sighted since I was 19 but now I've noticed that I can't read small print so good, refuse to have bifocals as I take my glasses off to read anyway. But I did ask if I was short sighted and was now becoming long sighted too -then shouldn't my eye sight meet in the middle at some point and give me 20 20 vision again

Hey there hun Can only agree with the others - mine again was different - burst aneurysm, through the groin to coil - I had mine early hours of a morning and not operate on until 12 hours later. High Dependency for two days, general ward two days and home. I woke after surgery and was talking (complaining I was cold apparently!). I was up and walking a day later. Severity of bleed, where in the brain, general health and age are all factors. I was 35 when I had mine, was (and am) a smoker, not a heavy drinker and exercised 3 times a week at least. We are all different and there are no two recoveries the same. Definitely talk to her Doctors to get a feel of where, what, how etc and definitely talk to her now - she can probably hear you so talk about your day etc. It will give you comfort even if she can't respond right now. How old are you by the way and is there anyone else around you to support you and your Mom??

Hi Sharon As Clare said, very early on in recovery. He'll be frightened, angry, frustrated and confused. I know I was extremely angry in the beginning. Pain in his back could be from a lumber puncture if he had one as well as blood dissipating as Clare said. Patience is a virtue - for both of you. Plenty of water is essential right now as is rest.

Words fail me completely - with the hospital and with you Sophie. I would not have left until I'd had another scan or answers at the very least.

Stay put until you get answers Sophie

At least you're there. Tell them the pain is getting worse and you're feeling sick - anything to jump up that queue!!! Do not under any circumstances leave until you have been seen Sophie!!!!!!!!!!!

Sophie hun - stop wondering and being confused. Please, get yourself to A&E with that letter and tell them you are in pain and have stiffness in your neck and are light headed.

Have to say that I agree with the guys above - if you're that worried get yourself there now!!! You just tell work what's happened, how you're feeling and go.....personally I can't understand why you're at work!! Your GP should have had the good sense to sign you off work if they have notification stating suspected SAH. Go! Now!!!

Sophie Well done on pushing for an urgent referral. Unfortunately I cannot help with the jargon in the letter. The GP is probably being cautious as most of them do not get to talk to an SAH patient and they have little knowledge. He probably doesn't want to give you any false information. My GP told me my aneurysm was 2cm - that's a giant - as he'd seen my MRI - it turned out that the aneurysm was 2mm and the blood clot around it was 2cm!! My bleed was diagnosed through MRI/MRA not a CT scan so hopefully at your appointment they'll give you more scans and therefore more information. Hopefully that appointment will come through quickly.

Sophie, in the meantime, if you are in so much pain that you cannot function and are genuinely worried/scared do not hesitate to dial 999!!! Pretty much the exact same words my GP told me when I was discharged and still in pain. Luckily I never had to but don't be afraid to use the emergency services.

Hi Sophie Welcome to BTG. As others have said, we cannot offer medical advice on your symptoms or situation. Unfortunately you will have to trust that this does not need "urgent attention" and may be that although there could have been a bleed it may not be one that needs further treatment. If you look on this site under NASAH you will find people who have had bleeds that have not been caused by aneurysms but tears in various arteries - this may be something that your specialists are trying to ascertain. SAH and NASAH present differently in different people - my SAH was a blinding headache that caused loss of consciousness and the use of my right side. I was put into a coma and operated on 12 hours later having two aneurysms coiled. All I can suggest is that you contact your GP to see how far along they are with your referral and when you can expect an appointment. As mentioned, please try not to over do things for the time being and rest and drink plenty of water.

It's been a few years since we've met up now to be honest. I see one lady fairly frequently but she no longer comes on BTG but her and her hubby have stayed good friends with me and mine and they came down to support me last year when my hubby nearly died in a motorbike accident. They kind of have a bromance going haha. Glad that things seem to be improving for your Robert - it does give a sense of pride when we see someone struggling and they get advice and things improve for them. It helps tremendously knowing that you're not alone xxx

That's excellent Robert - talking does help and your family will understand more about what you've been through and are still going through. Have a wonderful Christmas and I hope 2017 brings you more happiness xxx

Similar traits yes, but I have been left with a better me - I'm not so quick to lose my temper now and certainly don't sweat the small stuff. However, I feel that I'm not so good at dealing with stressful situations compared to how I used to and feel myself getting anxious and panicky rather than logical and steadfast. My husband says its my stubborness that got me through, and I tend to agree with him more than I'd like to

Hi Robert I've been reading this thread with interest and I am so very glad that this site has helped you to open up. I had a tough time accepting my SAH and tried to fight it for a while - I was determined not to give this more of my life than it had already taken. You know what?? As soon as I stopped fighting and accepted who I was and what I could do, it became so much easier. You've made my Christmas a very happy one knowing that you are now ready to ask for the help you need and deserve. Believe it or not you've done the hardest parts - you've survived and you've now recognised you need help - the rest should be easier by comparison. I joined this site ten years ago and back then there were only nine of us, so watching this site grow and help so many people along the way has been a privilege. I hope you stay in contact with us throughout your journey as it will definitely help others who follow the same path and face the same struggles - it will give them hope and confidence in their future. Well done xxx

Helen - happy anni-versary. Ten years on and I celebrate mine like a second birthday - it's the day I survived and I refuse to let it pass without acknowledging it, only now I do so without fear xxx

Hi Myra A very warm welcome to BTG and so glad you found us. I haven't any experience with aphasia and compared to some on here, I've gotten off pretty lightly with the lasting affects. You're very early in your recovery and, to be honest, you may be expecting a little too much a little too soon. At this stage in your recovery, please listen to your body and rest when you need to. Drinking plenty of water will help with brain function and help no end. It took me at least a year to stop needing daily naps and for my sleep pattern to return to anywhere near normal, now I work 37 hours a week in a primary school office and come home and do accounts and proof reading for my hubby - however, I am ten years post SAH now. Take care of yourself first and foremost - one thing I have learnt is that my health comes first.

Hi there Howard Glad that you found us. Unfortunately there is no easy way or suggestion to help you get your licence back. It all lays in the hand of your consultants and GP as to how capable they think you are of driving after your SAH. I, luckily, haven't suffered any long term physical affects of the SAH but I had to surrender my licence and had to wait 3 months to get it back. It may be worth seeing your GP for advice on the subject -they may be able to give you an insight into how / if / when you'll be deemed fit to drive a car let alone and HGV. Got everything crossed that things work out for you x

Hi Colin So glad you found us. Not sure if any of our members are in a wheelchair but there are some who still struggle with mobility. Can you give us a bit more information about yourself and what happened - it may help others identify and respond. You'll find a really friendly bunch here who have wealth of experience and offer tonnes of support. We can't give medical advice but we can share our experiences with you and be here to listen.

Haha Win As you can see Renfield - there's a lot of humour on this site - an important faculty to keep very much hold of. I can identify with your feeling a fraud - I did too when I first joined BTG and read some of the stories on here. But no one who has had an SAH or NASAH is a fraud - some are just more fortunate than others and, it seems, you and I are a couple of those fortunate one. I was 35 when had my SAH and I was discharged from hospital 3 days after my coiling op, I was back at work 3 weeks later (I worked with my husband at the time running our Graphic Design Company) I was fortunate enough to have a bed in my office that I used when I needed to and it took me a year to stop needing a nap during the day and for my sleeping habits to return to anywhere near normal. But the fatigue, when it hit, was a killer - sneaks up and knocks you off your feet. My hubby loves the motorbikes too - unfortunately due to a near fatal crash last year I've refused to let him on one again. However, we're heavily into the Motogp and always go to Silverstone for the weekend - we all have a love of motorbikes as a family, so if the island you live on is the Isle of Man I will be very jealous Please do stay with us through your recovery - if nothing else, you'll get support and encouragement from all on here x

Hi there Welcome to BTG. All you've said so far appears very much par for the course for many here. You seem to be sensible in that you're not pushing yourself too much and are taking things steady. It's good that you're not experiencing too much pain too. Make sure that you're drinking plenty of water too as it helps the brain to function. I felt the same regarding visitors and conversing with others in the early days however, I'm the opposite on watching a film as opposed to reading a book. I couldn't remember what I had read the day before and, being a bit of a book worm, I was devastated - I resorted to magazines and crosswords to keep my brain active. Now, ten years later, I pretty much do all the things I did before, though I do tire far more easily than I did before. Where abouts are you - homewise? Family? Work? Not being nosy honest , just helps to build up a better picture of a person and their recovery. Hope you stay on the site because it's been a life line for many, including me, and has loads of information and a wealth of first hand experience. Hope to see you more and get to know you better.

David, there are some people on here that have a shunt and have been worried about it functioning long time and how often it may have to be changed, will it fail, what happens etc. What Daff was saying is that its great to hear from someone who has had one for a length of time and it's still doing its job.

Sammy Anne so very sorry about your situation but as the others have said, even just for peace of mind, get yourself to a doctor to be checked out.