Brian Roberts - New to all this

[Brian Roberts]

Hi everyone, I'm Brian I'm currently in Wessex Neurological Hospital having had a Sub Arac last Friday, at first I ignored it and thought it was a severe migraine Three days later I got convinced to go to A&E where I had a scan and was told I had a bleed. I was taken to Southampton and on the Monday had surgery.

 

At first it was going to be an angiogram and coiling was going to be used, that didn't work and after 8 hours of surgery I had my head opened up and three aneurysms were clipped. Having my staples out tomorrow and hopefully will be home Monday. What a life changing incident more people need to be aware. 

[Nicola D]

Hi Brian and welcome to BTG. 

I couldn't agree more that awareness of SAH is generally poor and yet it's surprisingly common!

I hope you're over the worst and continue to make a good recovery

 

Nicola x

[ClareM]

Hi Brian welcome to BTG, another Wessex survivor. You sound remakably well for  just over a week. Yes it is a life changing event, certainly changed mine.

 

Hope you get home on Monday and continue to make a good recovery. Make sure you get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water, it really does help with the headaches.Look forward to hearing more from you.

 

Clare x

[Winb143]

You seem to be bouncing back quick Brian so Well Done.

 

Try and take it slowly at first, listen to your body and all will be well.

 

I was coiled,  but got Ventriculitis and then Sepsis while in hospital.

 

It was a hard time for my Family and we go through it but so do our Family as they feel helpless.

 

I wish you all the best and keep smiling when possible it really helps  (So does singing happy songs)

WinB143 x  My surgeon told me NO STRESS so passing it on hence my singing lol

[kempse]

Hi Brian, 

Welcome to BTG. Having been a member on here for several years, I cannot recall anyone posting from their hospital bed - that's quite amazing!

I wish you well in your recovery, but do take it easy, you have had a big trauma to your brain and that takes time to heal. I'm sure you will find this site useful in the weeks and months ahead if you have any concerns. 

Best wishes,

Sarah

 

 

[Sharlua]

Welcome Brian, pleased you found the site so early, great that aneurysms have now been clipped sorry that coiling did not work but it is totally amazing what they can do.  Take care for your recovery as like you say it is life changing event.  Real shock for you and your family so take it slowly in your recovery as it very early days. Lots of support here so don't be afraid to ask any questions, I look forward to hearing how you get on.

 

Take care 

 

Sharon

[Louise]

Hi Brian

 

Welcome to the site, glad you found us.

 

Hope to hear more from you once your home recovering...

 

take care

[Brian Roberts]

Hi everyone, as the title states I'm new to all this, actually it's the first time I've been really ill. Fortunately I suffered a SAH with a very little bleed and it has not affected any of my motor functions, vision, hearing or anything else all I have is a dull headache from it and the usual pain from post surgery.

 

 I am after a litte advice as everyone tells me I have to have at least 3 months off work and I cannot drive. I feel I could be back at work in a few weeks and to be honest I could drive now, but won't. This affects everyone in different ways and I will go mad off work for so long .

 

Is there anyone out there to be as fortunate as myself and what was your recovery prognosis? 

[Super Mario]

Welcome to BTG Brian.

As for your questions, everyone is different in their rates of recovery. All I can advise is listen to your doctors.

When you are told you are able to return to work it may be prudent to have a phased return rather than throwing yourself straight in the deep end.

You will be surprised at how much the bleed has taken out of you even though you say it was a small bleed.

 

For the moment just concentrate on getting yourself well. Look for things like reading, listening to music, watching films, doing puzzles to fill your time. Possibly a small potter around the house or small DIY jobs that aren't too taxing. Have regular naps if you can and be sure to drink plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated and that will help with the headaches.

 

My best wishes for a speedy recovery with a good outcome.

[Louise]

Hello Brian

 

Welcome, ditto what Super has said, maybe small but it does take it out of you.

 

Don't think there's a run of the mill recovery on this we're all different with different outcomes to our bleeds...

 

Relax and take things slowly

 

Take care

 

[Chris G]

Welcome Brian,

 

Wishing you the best for a speedy recovery.  Mine was a NASAH, so my recovery experience would probably not be that similar to yours.  I ditto the above, everyone is different.  Listen to your doctors and listen to your body.  Get well soon!

 

Chris

[Skippy]

Hi Brian

 

When I first joined BTG I felt like a fraud as my SAH hadn't left me with any physical problems at all - other than fatigue.  I actually returned to work 3 weeks later but as I was working with my husband running our own company at the time and I was lucky enough to have a bed in my office.  Everyday I would need to to sleep for at least four hours during the day.  When I started working elsewhere the need for daily napping after work didn't stop for a good year or so.  

 

However, I had two aneurysms coiled and not clipped.  Clipping is very invasive and you must be in pain only 5 days post surgery - there are some people who have been clipped that take weeks to recover from the surgery itself, let alone the reason for having it.

 

Only you know how you feel physically, but the not driving until you are cleared by the DVLA is a given I'm afraid.   I wouldn't advise work at all though until you get the all clear from your surgeon/specialist.

[ClareM]

Hi Brian, when I was told I would have 3 months minimum off work I thought - what? 3 months, I won't need that and what will I do with all that time? I had never been off sick for more than a couple of days at a time, I didn't do sick leave!  But I DID need 3 months, in fact I would have liked more but I only got paid for 3 months so back to work I went on a very slow phased return.

 

If like me you are used to being busy and working full time it can be difficult accepting that amount of time off but strangely you do get used to it and actually quite enjoy the slow down with life. I ended up returning to work on reduced hours, I don't think I could work 5 days on the trot now - I'd be floored.

 

I was told in hospital that I would not drive for at least 6 months due to the EVD. Didn't find that too bad, luckily my husband and children drive so they ferried me around. I didn't actually drive for 10 months due to DVLA delays but I got a free bus pass so got used to public transport. I am now actually considering giving up my car as I don't use it much and know how fairly reliable public transport is - I live in a city with good transport.

 

Everyone is different and I am not sure if a small bleed makes that much difference. There are certainly people on BTG who seem to have suffered more than others. I do think in the early days it is easy to think ' I'm ok, I can do that' but the reality then sets in when you find you can't do that and all you are really good at is sitting, staring and sleeping! 

 

Take the advice of the medics and really take the time going back to work. Ok you may not need 3 months but don't rush back and when you do go make sure it is on a phased basis.

Be good to keep up with you and your recovery, keep posting.

 

Clare xx

[Super Mario]

Brian, may I ask what your occupation is?

Would it be possible for you to do a little work from home if you get really bored?

[Chelle C]

Hi Brian, welcome to BTG you will find a huge amount of information here,

 

Sounds like you are making a good recovery, it`s still early days for you yet

so try and take it easy, I was told to make sure I drank plenty of water as keeping

hydrated really does help with the headaches.

 

Plenty of rest also, although you say your bleed was only a small one your brain

has suffered a trauma and it needs time to heal, fatigue can also be a problem,

not everyone is affected by it but if you are then try and listen to your body and

know your limits, just try not to over do things because your body and your brain

will let you know when you have.

 

Progress can be slow but we all recover at different rates as no two bleeds are the

same.

 

Keep coming here we are all here to support you, you will find lots of help and information

and you will make a lot of new friends.

 

I had 2 aneurysms coiled in 2014 after a massive bleed, they found the second one while

they were coiling the one that had ruptured. BTG has helped me to get where I am today

with my recovery, the people are just fantastic, hopefully you will find the same as you get

to know the people here.

 

I wish you well on your recovery journey, look forward to hearing more from you.

Best Wishes

Michelle

[Brian Roberts]

Thanks everyone for your advice, I would like to say that I'm recovering extremely well and my life is slowly returning to some normality whatever that maybe. I still think myself very lucky and without the nagging wife who persuaded me to go to A&E I wouldn't be here . 

Thanks again for the support. 

[subzero]

Hello Brian....thanks for getting in touch. Great to hear that you are making good progress.

 

Take care, and as always, be kind to your body and brain in these early days.

 

Oh...and make sure your `good lady` is well looked after too!  She has had her own emotions and anxieties to contend with during your hospitalisation and recovery.

 

Subs

 

 

[Lyn]

Hi Brian, you sound very positive & upbeat which I'm sure will speed up your recovery ? I had a nasah in March & have only recently gone back to work. Early on i slept every afternoon, it was such an overwhelming tiredness. I thought I'd be back to work sooner, but have learnt to listen to my body & I know when I've overdone it!

 

For me its an achy neck & a bit of a 'muddly head'. I'm also very lucky to have no lasting affects & be more or less back to 'normal'. But don't underestimate the toll it has taken on your body & make sure you rest! Take care?

[Renfield]

Hi Brian.

 

Your circumstances are amazingly close to mine in almost every detail.

If that's any comfort. I am retired and so returning to work is not an issue for me.

Driving however is, and like you, I am only a very short period into my SAH experience. (a few weeks or so). In fact I may have been coming in the door as you were going out.  I too was in the WN Hospital.

 

My after effects seem very light compared to many of the people who are members here.

I am hoping that I will be able to drive very soon as a delay, long or short, is a matter of great concern to me. On the plus side we can say that in the grand scheme of things, things could be very much worse.

I wish you a fast & smooth recovery.