Guest Mike84 Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Hi everyone, First off I just wanted to say thanks for the website, I’ve been reading around a bit and hope to make my way through all the information on here, it looks like it is going to be immensely helpful to me! I wanted to share my story with you all – I’m sure much of my experience is similar to others. The first thing to say is I am quite young – only 26 in fact, so I guess that places me in a bit of a unique position as these things go, always been healthy and never had any problems in that respect. My story starts on Christmas day 2009, I ring church bells as a hobby and was ringing for Christmas service at the time when I suddenly had a really bad pain in my head and neck and felt a bit dizzy. Fortunately one of my fellow ringers is a doctor and she told me that if I didn’t feel better to go to A and E. Well I took some paracetomol (as you do) and then drove to my parents house where I was due to have Christmas lunch (rest assured if I had known what had happened I would NOT have done this!). Thinking that I had just trapped a nerve or something similar I had a lie down but then felt progressively worse, so eventually I went to A and E with my mum. Well then I had a CT scan and was initially told that everything was fine and I could go home, this rapidly progressed to we are keeping you in overnight just in case to you have had a brain haemorrhage and then onto we need to transfer you to the regional specialists ASAP. In all I spent 7 days in hospital having further CT scans and then an angiogram, they never found an aneurysm so I was discharged never knowing what caused my SAH. During my time in hospital I think its safe to say my family were under quite a bit of stress I’m not sure how we will recover from what happened. After hospital I’ve progressed quite well and managed to be back in my own place a week later and then back at work 3 weeks after that (reading around I can see this may seem recklessly fast but it has been really important for me to feel “normal”, and my work have been very supportive). Physically I feel fine now, although I am fairly tired after work! I have plans to do a long distance walk later in the year and have managed to drum up lots of support for that. Emotionally I think it will take me some time to come to terms with what has happened, being young puts quite a slant on it – will I meet a partner, will I have kids and that kind of thing. I’ve also not gotten used to the reactions of other people, some people treat me like I am made of glass where as others are the complete opposite (one person even asked me if I was sure I had had an SAH and the hospital hadn’t just been humouring me!). I’ve also not gotten used to the things I’ve lost – like driving temporarily for example! Finally whilst the care I received in hospital was first class after patient care seems a bit lack lustre, initially I was told to expect a follow up appointment for 4 weeks which was then booked for March and has now slipped to the end of April – am I the only one to have found this kind of thing? Apologies for such a long message – such a lot to get off of my chest! I look forward to talking to you all over the coming months Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempse Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Hi Mike, Nice to meet you. Well not the best way to spend Christmas, but it is quite amazing that you have returned to work so soon after the event. I thought I was young at 46 when I had my sah but being only 26, well there is no wonder you are asking yourself all sorts of questions - it is only natural. The reaction of others never ceases to amaze me either–which is why I think talking to others on this site, who have actually experienced the same thing and therefore understand, is of great help. Wishing you all the best for your long distance walk. Sarah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hi Mike, Welcome to this merry band of fellow SAH-ers! You've come to the right place to air your queries or just have a good old moan. It's good to hear that your recovery is going so well. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on. All the best, C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rod123 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hi Mike and welcome, yes not the best way to spend christmas, you sound as though you are doing brilliantly,and yes after care often lack lustre as you put it, my wife has very good after care but from what i read more often than not this is not the case, anyway mike hope you continue to make a good recovery, Good luck Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hi Mike A very warm welcome to BTG...you are doing very well Look forward to hearing more from you. As for appointments i had to chase up my first 3 month follow up appointment...still wonder to this day if i had not,if they would have contacted me !!! ( actually my husband did the chasing ) Wishing you well...take care love Tina xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogbrush Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hello Mike. Thanks for sharing your story and welcome to behindthegray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hi Mike Welcome and thanks for sharing your story with us. I'm not surprised you feel so tired after working but can understand the wanting to feel normal. It is very early on in your recovery just remember to rest as much as you can in between working. You wont be on your own with having your SAH in your "twenties" we have quite a few members who were only in their "twenties" so plenty of advice should be available from people in your age group. Look forward to hearing more from you soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hi Mike welcome to btg yes I was 23 when I had mine so anything you want to know just ask. Look forward to chatting sometime. Jess.xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hey Mike Welcome to the site and to the family. I was 35 when I had my SAH. Well done for feeling fit enough to go back to work, but like Jan said, rest when you can. Fatigue has a habit of jumping up and biting you on the bum when you least expect it. Look forward to hearing more from you - feel free to ask any questions you like - it would appear that after care in general is very lack lustre for SAHers - regardless of your postcode - I think thats why many of us went looking for sites like this - the fellow and moral support and understanding is fabulous on here - you won't find anything like it anywhere. Take care - rest when you can and make sure you keep you fluid intake up too - it helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hi Mike and a warm welcome to Behind the Gray! You're only 3 years older than my son and Jess was the same age as my son is now, when she experienced her SAH, so I can't begin to imagine what that is like, for you and your family. I was 38 when I had my sentinel bleed and that seemed young enough, especially with two kids that still relied on me. You sound as though you're doing really well! Anything that you need to ask, then please ask away, as I'm sure that somebody will be able to help you. After care seems to be pretty patchy and not many GP's seem to know a lot about a SAH or it's aftermath ..... however, I've now got a GP that will sit down and listen and where nothing seems too much trouble. I'm sure that you will go on to meet a partner and have children ... life does move on and you will feel better over a period of time .... give yourself a chance to heal physically and mentally .... time is a great healer. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennissmithy Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hi Mike Welcome to Behindthegray I was only 27 when I had my SAH too so I completely understand how frustrating it feels to be so young. I returned to work very quickly and had a shocking time and was back off for 8 months so take your time and listen to your body. Take care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perrycornish Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hi Mike, You are doing a grand job, be careful though and listen to your body, it probably knows best ( dammit!) so glad your work colleagues are supportive, I can't imagine what it is like to have an SAH in your twenties but others do! I can't because I thought I was young and was not amused and I was 67 or 8:lol: I'm sure you will get lots of support from Jess, Laura and Co:-D So glad you found us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelBel Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Hi Mike, That is amazing that you have been able to get back to your own place and back to work so quickly! Well done, just take care that you do not over-do it (difficult to know until you have overdone it though!) That is shocking that someone said that the hospital may have been humouring you!?!?! Some people say the strangest things though, and half the time it is because they don't engage their own brain first, or haven't a clue what to say! I am 37 and had my SAH in December last year. I can certainly understand the feelings you have been experiencing with regards to "will I find a partner, will I have children, will I be able to do things that I should be able to do"...I think it is only natural to have these fears after such a traumatic event. It must be hard for you (and others) not having an aneurysm to pin the cause of the SAH on, although even with an aneurysm you are left wondering why the aneurysm occurred, and what may have contributed to it. We always question why and what if, it is natural to want to know the answers. Good news: I was told at my follow-up appointment last week, that "I am young and can now enjoy a normal life again, although it can take up to 2 yrs to fully recover", so I am sure that as you are so much younger than me, you will be able to turn your life around and enjoy the rest of your life to the full; taking care not to over-do it initially of course Take care Kel x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz D Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Hi Mike Welcone to BTG. You are doing really well and I think we all understand the need to get back to some sort of "normality". But as the others have said listen to your body and don't do too much. Maybe the hospital is busy and that's why your appointment has been delayed. My coiling procedure was cancelled at 2.30pm on the day I should have had it because they had an emergency admission. That person was a lot more poorly than me but these things happen. I agree about the aftecare when we are discharged. My GP has been wonderful but he has experience of patients with a SAH but this forum has been a godsend and helped my recovery. Liz xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Hi Mike And warm welcome to the site, not much for me to add really you have done great getting back to work take it easy tho.....look forward to hearing more from you take care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Hi Mike of course you will meet someone one day and have children I have had two and got married and everything all since the rupture. Try not to worry over those things concentrate on getting better everything else will fall into place. Jess.xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike84 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Hi everyone, thanks for all the replies, finding a lovely bunch of people who understand what i'm going through is great! I will definetly take the advice you have all given to heart M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myratas Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Hi Mike Welcome to BTG, hope to hear from you again when you are ready. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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