myratas Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Hi everyone I had SAH on the 13 March 2008, woke up with an awful headache 2.00 in the morning, i knew something was not right so i called my son to call an ambulance, i did vomit a few times and then passed out. I was sent to the Royal Free Hospital in London where they performed the coiling later in the day. Then two days later i had a seizure and i cannot remember much after that. It's only when i got home that i realize that i am lucky to be alive but i am having problems both physically and mentally, after the haemorrhage my left leg has become weak that i cannot walk unaided, i still suffer from headaches but the biggest concern for me is getting to sleep, i keep getting flashbacks as to what happened, i try to think about other things but i can't. It's hard talking to anyone because i do not want to burden anyone with my problem. I have made an appointment with my GP next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogbrush Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Hello and welcome to behindthegray. You are very early on in your recovery and headaches and sleep problems are common at that stage. I think we all have had that fear that it may happen again, but it will get better with time. Now you've been fixed up, the chances of it happening again are very small. You've come to the right place here. Any questions you might have, there is always someone here with an answer. Regards Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Hi Myratas, a warm welcome to you, What Keith has said so well I cant add to, except to say you are not alone, I am 5 months down the line, and went through very similar. It is very scarey when it all sinks in what has happened and how lucky we are to have survived. It is a good thing to go and see you Doctor, and if you ever need to chat everyone here are so lovely and caring and know a bit of how you are feeling. This website has been a Godsend to me. As you say you dont want to keep going on to your family and friends, but here you can, we understand. Take care, be well Love Tinaxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Hi there Myratas Welcome to the site and to the family. You're doing well to get onto a computer so early in your recovery. It's an awful thing to happen and your body is still adjusting. I try to think of as a heart attack in my brain and then tell myself that all sorts of things are going to be different. I'm 21 months in now and there are still times I get a little panicky and can't sleep. I found that burning some lavender oil in my bedroom before going to sleep helped me a great deal. As Keith says, now you're "fixed" the chances of another one extremely low - according to my consultant, I've no more chance of it happening again than any other person in the street. I can't realy comment on the physical problems as I was extremely lucky not to have any lasting physical effects, but it's effectively a stroke and the results are going to be similar. I know it's scary for you at the moment and the flashbacks are awful, but it will get better. I found counselling helped me a great deal to unburden my thoughts and anxiety without worrying my family further - and that how I also see this site - we're all in therapy together and we all know how it feels to be where we are. As I've said before - it's a long road to recovery, but you're allowed to make as many pit stops as you need along the way. Take care of yourself and try to rest (even if it's not sleeping) as much as you can. The headaches will ease eventually but in the meantime, try to make sure you drink 2 litres of water a day - I used to get headaches before my SAH due to lack of fluid. Speak soon TTFN Sami xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennissmithy Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Hello and welcome to this brilliant website You are still very early in your recovery and I think lots of us went from sleeping problems early in our recovery but luckily it does get better. Speaking to your GP is a good idea but if you have got good friends and family, then try speaking to them. I honestly don't think they will feel burdened they are just feeling very happy that you are alive to talk to talk to them. Good luck and take care Laura xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Hi there Warm welcome to the site What can I say except ditto what everyone else has said, its a good idea going to see your GP. You are very early in your recovery & I'm sure people wouldnt feel burdened with you. Hope to hear from you soon Louise.xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Hi Myratas, Well if you need to talk, then you know where we are ...... you're very early on, in terms of recovery and sleeping problems seem to be par for the course with many of us ...... I can remember not being able to sleep until 4am and spending many sleepless nights with my laptop on the internet. It's certainly got a lot better for me, but I can still get quite vivid dreams and the odd period of rubbish sleep.... I think that having flashbacks to the SAH is quite common, but talk to your GP if you need help and be honest with him/her ..... think that most of us tend to be a bit proud when it comes to asking for help. If you feel that you need help with your weak leg, then mention it to the Doc and maybe they can refer you for some physio. Good luck... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I'm oppisite end of the flash back thing, because I have never ever remembered any of it, which isnt all that great in a way because 6weeks plus I have no memories what so ever about anything..... Louise.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Hi there welcome to BTG. It is great here anything you need to know just ask you are still very early on in your recovery it will get better. Jess.xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Hi and welcome As everyone has already said you are very early in recovery. Sleep problems are normal it seems and from research I have done it appears that only sleeping for 2 hours at a stretch is common, that certainly happened to me for the first few months, it has just got better the past week or so ( I had my SAH in mid January this year) I feel that the lack of recovery advice given on leaving hospital is at the root of many of our worries. When I first read the Recovery section on Salford Royal Hospital SAH website I could not stop crying because it made it so clear that everything I was feeling was totally par for the course and that I wasn't going mad or moaning and being a wimp! I was so thrilled to find that information, then I found this site and it reinforced it even more!! There is always someone here with a supporting response or personal experience to recount. I know it is hard but the tiredness and headaches mean you are doing too much.At the stage you are at I would walk to the end of the road for a little exercise and feel the headache and eye pain start after a couple of 100 yards, an elderly neighbour escorted me home more than once as they could see I was struggling! Listen to your body, it is upsetting to know that you can't do the things you want to do but better to pace yourself slowly, be patient and accept that life will be in the slow lane for a few months at least. Emotions will run amok, tears, tiredness, headaches, neck ache, eye ache, limbs that don't always do as you want etc etc. Things will get much better, especially with the support of some of the long standing people on here ( I am a relative newcomer too) Hope you can have a more peaceful day tomorrow. Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Hi Myratas A warm welcome to the site just remember to listen to your body and get plenty of rest it does get easier with time and the anxiety when trying to sleep does improve gradually as you get used to the different aches and twinges. Janet x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myratas Posted May 15, 2008 Author Share Posted May 15, 2008 Thank you all so much for your encouragement and support, i am so glad i found this site, it certainly helps to hear other peoples experience and that it will get better in time. I am getting physiotherapy at the moment and hopefully i will start doing things more myself. I feel that i have found friends here, i was feeling lonely i cannot share my feelings with my two boys, one is 21 and the other is 15, they have been great in my recovery. Bear with me, i am a bit tearful and maybe feeling a bit down lately. kind regards myraxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vivien Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Welcome Myra I can echo what the others have said, I still have problems sleeping a year on, and when I do sleep I have really vivid disturbing dreams. I have only just found out that it could be Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and am waiting to be referred to a counsellor. I think this is also quite common for people who have had a near death experience, which us survivors of an SAH have had. It does get better though, and I am loads better now, especially once I admitted that I had problems and asked for help It does seem to be that time is a great healer ( sorry for the cliche! ) Vivien x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Its not a cliche time is the best healer......believe me..... hugs Louise.xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Forgot to say dont under estimate your Sons, my friends 2 kids where great to chat to for me & they accepted me for me which was more than most people did at the time........ hugs Louise.xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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