Struggling today

[jord38]

I am really sorry for posting again, you must be getting fed up of me lol. Six weeks yesterday since my SAH and,my headache today is just not letting up, quite painful today and I'm dizzy so I'm getting myself a bit worked up. I wish I could just have one day where I feel relaxed x

[MaryB]

We are not getting sick of you, never say that.

Sorry that this is such common thing. All you can do is drink a big bottle of water and rest. Just know it is a resting day for you.

[Gill C]

Hi Jord, I've had panic attacks & it isn't easy to keep calm when the same thoughts are running through your head.

I worked through my panic attacks without any help (I didn't know what they were at the time). Maybe something similar might help you control the anxiety.

I used to set myself a task for the day, just a small one & then promise myself a treat if I managed to do it.It helps you focus on something & also you can see small progress steps along the way. I find it useful to have the tv or radio on as it helps distract you & singing along can really help too (ask Win!).

You can always pm me if you need a shoulder too.

There are good days & bad just cherish the good ones & try not to focus on the bad ones.

(ps today is a not too good one for me, having a shutdown whilst out & about it not fun!)

xx

[jord38]

Thank you both. I think this is one of the worst headaches I've had since coming home so its scaring me, plus hate the shooting pains in my eyes. I have been drinking so much water and its making no difference, keep getting buzzing in my ear too.

[Super Mario]

It could be the stress of being home alone with the kids.

I had a headache just like that once and my GP sent me for a CT scan as I thought my shunt was playing up. It was clear and the docs told me it was a tension headache.

Looking back I had been trying to do something it was obvious I couldn't manage and getting extremely frustrated with myself so the medics must have been right.

[jord38]

I will be going to my gp in the morning if its no better. A long night of worry ahead, oh the joys x

[Bev897056]

Hi

Its so hard you feel alone and scared. I did a post a bit back about titinus, floaters in eyes feeling dizzy and spaced out you name it I also think we pick up on every little thing going on with our bodies cos we are hyper alert because we are expecting something to happen. I started scanning my body for anything that may be different and checking my pulse all the time and expecting the worst to happen I suppose! All part of it also think I have health anxiety too. Not surprised how it affects us cos we all have been through a life threating episode which makes you sit up and think big time and we are scared of anything happening again who wouldn't be. Maybe have a word with dr about cbt theorpy thats really good I started It but had to be put on hold since my fit as I cant drive to where they held it. I also really want to see about meditation to chill me out. Post as much as you like. It does seem like everyone on here are the only people who truly understand because we have all been there x x x

[Winb143]

Jord it is first day alone so it is normal to panic relax and have a sweet or a drink at hand in case you get dry mouth, sounds

daft but it helps.

Buzzing is normal after SAH I get it. I keep washing my ears, doesn't help but takes my mind off it. lol

Singing helps with ears, think of a happy song and sing it ...try it go on xx must be a happy one !

Good luck and keep calm if possible xx

Good luck

WinB143 xx xx

[goldfish.girl]

Hi Jord,

Being back home alone with your children has been a massive achievement, I'm not surprised that you feel a bit anxious and that may be making your headache worse. Can you ring someone to come round to sit with you, just to help your peace of mind?

No-one is going to get fed up with you posting here. I think we can all remember those early days & how scary it can be until you regain confidence in your body (& head!) being ok again. Like me, you will get to a point when you struggle to remember how you felt right now. When I read your posts, it triggers memories of how it was for me in the early days but, honestly, you will get past all this worry & fear as time goes on.

Be very proud of what you have achieved but also ask for help & reassurance if you need it. You are not going to need it forever so don't be too proud/independent to ask for it just now.

Take care,

Michelle xx

[jord38]

Thank you all so much. I'm really tired so doubt I will ask anybody to come and sit with me but I will go to bed early with baby and hope that it has eased by morning. I really appreciate the way you all reply so quickly with your words of reassurance. Lisa xx

[Winb143]

Jord.

You are and will be okay xx keep thinking happy thoughts and someone will be here for you from BTG.

I'll join you and go bed early also as I was up with hubby until 4am both of us couldn't sleep so Al put on a John Wayne film

sent me off to sleep lol xx

Keep smiling xx

WinB143 xx

[Daffodil]

Hi Jord

Hopefully you are tucked up in your own bed at home having had a lovely cuddle with your little one tonight. I hope your head has eased in morning.

My headaches when I came home were epic in proportions. My poor kids, the slightest noise made me shudder. Still ocassionally do , a doozy of a day today.

I also had anxiety about the amount of sensations I felt , especially post shunt. Like Penny I have had scans to 'check up on things '

Some of my coping techniques in the early days were increasing the regularity of when I ate. I didn't wait to feel hungry. I figure the brain must use a massive amount of energy to heal so porridge became a close friend.

I meditated and still try to do that even if I do often just end up falling asleep.

A friend bought me a cd of crickets chirruping ...don't laugh everyone, it masks the hissing and high pitch buzzing great so I Can get off to sleep:lol:

I try to achieve one thing each day but also accept that some days it's just about healing and that means nothing and that's ok. This was and still is VERY hard to accept.

Shout your worries and we'll hear you. Oh and Win's right on with the tea and singing. Drink tea and hum. Sleep tight.

[amexdm]

Hang in there Jord,

You are early days, it will get better. Do you have something to take for the headache? After SAH headaches can be strong and lasting. You don't want to get your blood pressure up, it's not healthy. Take care, we're here for you.

David

[Winb143]

Morning Jord,

Well dont just lay there I need my early morning cuppa, cannot do a thing without it, remember no sugar for me.

Hope you slept well and have a good day today. xx

Speak later as I need to let dog out. oh and no toast for me.

Seriously keep head up and sing xx Also Hope head is better.

Love

WinB143 See David and Daff were here for you Jord (we'll call them the 2 D's) lol

xx xx to all of us xx

Edited November 26, 2012 by Winb143

[jord38]

As always thank you for the reassuring replies everyone. My problem is I don't know when I should contact a Dr or when its just normal expected pain etc, its a nightmare lol. Win I will have to try the john Wayne film to see if it sends me to the land of nod, I'm waking constantly since the Sah and up at the crack of dawn. Daff I will try the eating a bit more regularly, not much of an appetite at the mo.and have lost so much weight, need to get some meat on my bones. David I am taking ibuprufen and paracetamol but its not doing the trick xx

[Gill C]

Jord I would say if paracetamol & ibuprofen together are not helping then you should mention it to your GP. Pain doesn't aid sleep & sleep in turn may help lessen the headaches. My head is always worse when I.m not sleeping too well, my gp has prescribed amytriptaliine which really helps me but may not be right for you, best to get an expert view

[jord38]

Thanks gill, will mention it to Dr and see what they say xx

[Winb143]

Is it a normal headache you would have got before SAH? or is it a thunderclap pain? whooo got a pain now lol

If worried go to Docs if it is a stress related headache Stop Stressing..lol

Hope your Day goes well and remember keep calm and have mints or sweets to suck on in case you panic.

Good luck Jord, You can do it xx

Love

WinB143 xx xx

[jord38]

God no its nothing like the Sah headache, that was horrendous but its painful and keep getting bad pain in my left eye which is where I got the pain when I had the haemorrhage. I'm quite calm at the moment surprisingly despite this damn headache and eye pain. Thanks win. Ps don't know how to accept friend request on phone so will do it when I get on laptop xx

[Winb143]

No rush Jord, you be well xx

If in doubt see Doc .. hope you have a good night xx

WinB143 xx

[kpaggett]

Since I never got the awful post SAH headaches, I really don't know what I'm talking about except that if the pain is unbearable, see if you can't get a referral to an actual headache specialist. They know sooooooo much more about various sub-types of sub-types of headaches. A GP just doesn't have the ability to learn all there is to know about everything. This is coming from an American who you might say is gaga for specialists though, so take my observation with that in mind.

I do however meditate twice/day and don't have small kids depending on me so that probably makes a difference as well with the headaches. Sometimes if I feel like I might get one, I stop what I'm doing and totally shift my attention and that has always worked for me. This is easier said than done for you, I think.

Be sure to take care of yourself and ask for help often even if you feel like, 'I should be able to handle this!' This is a new you and maybe you really can't handle it sometimes even if you wish so hard for it. As you recover, letting go of the shoulds gets easier. Help is only there if you ask though and sometimes it is met with skepticism by loved ones who think your fine now because it's been so long since the event and you handled whatever it is yesterday. SAH recovery has been so variable and annoyingly slow for me even as I don't have crazy kids all over me or a job right now.

Keep your spirits high!

~Kris

[MaryB]

Jord, I have started to use an eye mask to help with my headaches and eye pain. I fold it in 1/2 sometimes to put extra pressure on my eye sockets.

Just sharing. maryb

[Guest Mike]

Hiya, my name is Mike and like you had those nasty headaches, went to the Des and told them what they were like,.they prescribed me a drug called Pizotifen, its for deep migraine headaches, this helped me emensley, also I found that having a deep bath and laying back so the water was just lapping around your face, with a dark flannel over my eyes with the light off, was so relaxing it was unbelievable, I hope these little naughty headaches go away, it does take time, I'm 2 years on and still have them but not such intensity as before, and as far as the bath goes have it as hot as you can bare the step in relax and see hoe you feel the next day

[jord38]

Thank you all for the helpful tips, will try anything. Doctor is saying it's sinus because I woke up with blood in my mouth the other morning, it's a little like de ja vu, I was put on antibiotics for sinuses a few days before SAH as was having same sort of symptoms as Im having now.

I must admit that coming home has been good for me, Im not sat thinking as much as I dont have time (sick days are not allowed when you have children lol). I still have my panics when I get bad pain and dizziness but nowhere near as bad. I must admit Im shattered though, back to cleaning (although only bits) and cooking so by teatime I could just go to bed and usually feel pretty rotten. I just want to get back to normal, this couldnt have happened at a worse time, right before Christmas, have so much to do and no energy to do it but hey ho, I will get there.

I want to thank you all again for helping me, I would have been in an even worse state if I hadnt had you all for reassurance. Looking forward to the day when every little pain doesnt send my nerves on edge.

Lisa xxx

[jeanhelen]

As always thank you for the reassuring replies everyone. My problem is I don't know when I should contact a Dr or when its just normal expected pain etc, its a nightmare lol. Win I will have to try the john Wayne film to see if it sends me to the land of nod, I'm waking constantly since the Sah and up at the crack of dawn. Daff I will try the eating a bit more regularly, not much of an appetite at the mo.and have lost so much weight, need to get some meat on my bones. David I am taking ibuprufen and paracetamol but its not doing the trick xx

Weight loss was/is part of my recovery process; I lost 3 stone in five months before it stabilised. Like you, I just had no appetite. Keeping a food diary helps me make sure I eat something for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day even if it's just soup or a sandwich. The hospital clinics labelled me anorexic(!) which seems odd but is about the proportion of bodyweight you lose so do keep an eye on it.

Headaches were a constant for me in the first few months before they started to tail off and now I seldom get them; I was advised to take paracetamol, which did help but not much. Drinking lots of water keeps you hydrated and is generally good for you as well as helping with the headache.

Do talk to your GP about anything and everything that worries you; even if they tell you it's 'expected' or 'normal' they can track your recovery progress and may be able to give advice or assistance about whatever it is.

Stay calm and be kind to yourself, it does get easier

Edited November 28, 2012 by jeanhelen