Kathie - new member

[Kathie]

Hi, I'm new to Behind the Grey. I had a SAH on new years eve..... worst new year ever! I spent a couple of days in neuro HDU, all scans revealed no cause for the bleed so no idea why it happened. I am still on long term sick from work on advice of my surgeon.

 

My job is stressful and is 12 hour shifts which are a total no no at the moment. On a day to day basis I'm not too bad as long as I don't do anything too taxing. I can manage to socialise for 2-3 hours and then feel a bit 'whoozy' and have to go home and rest. If I push myself to do much more than pottering around the house, I suffer terrible fatigue for the next 1-2 days and struggle to even get off the sofa.

 

The headaches are definitely settling though. The constant dull headache has gone but I do get a sharp headache if I get stressed or over tired. I'm starting to get concerned about my long term future and my ability to return to my job. I thought that I'd be able to manage to do more than I can by this stage. Is this normal? Will it get better, will I be less fatigued?

[Super Mario]

Welcome to BTG.

You are still in the early days of recovery in the case of a SAH, so yes it is normal in most cases.

You have to take things slowly, baby steps, because if you don't you will end up taking backward steps.

 

Fatigue may get better, only time will tell. Everyone's recovery is different, there are no hard. fast rules.

[Kathie]

Thanks Super Mario. Do you have any links or can recommend any web sites to enquire about any benefits I may be entitled to as my pay goes to half pay soon and I'm a single parent so really worried as you can imagine. Is this classed as a disibility, temporary or not?

[Super Mario]

For the above forum you don't have to be disabled to get advice.

 

You would be advised to contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau, Welfare Rights Dept at your local council or county council or even an Unemployed Workers Centre for a full Benefits check.

 

Disability is more a functional or mental deficit.

 

Get onto it asap as benefits now take quite a while to sort out.

The last place you want to ask Is at the Job Centre or the DWP help line as they very often give wrong advice and information so try and avoid them

[Winb143]

Hi Kathie,

 

My Daughter told me about Behind the Grey and it has helped me a lot.

 

Just knowing we are not alone in this is a good feeling, so try not to rush as you will take two steps forward and one back.

 

I get tired also, but take care of you and try not to stress too much, not good for you !!

 

I wish you well on recovery and anytime  you feel a bit down or need advice come here as we have all been there, and you are not alone.

 

Best Days work I did was to come on here, I sometimes leave laughing.  Get weird looks from Dog and Daughter lol xx

 

Take care and take it slow until you can look back and say "Hey today was a good Day" it will come  xx

 

All the Best

Winb143 xxxxxx

 

 

[Chris G]

Welcome Kathie,

 

I will send prayers and best wishes for your recovery.  Please  know that it takes time and patience and can be a bit of a rollercoaster.  Go day by day and listen to your body. 

 

Chris

[Kathie]

Thank you Chris that's very kind. It certainly can be a roller coaster, you think you're doing ok then do something fairly simple but that really has an after effect.

[Louise]

Hi Kathie

 

warm welcome glad that you found us.

 

and ditto what SuperMario has said it takes ages...

[Kathie]

Thanks for your message Louise. 

Did you suffer a SAH too? 

[Louise]

Yes I did Kathie...

[Kay]

On 6/2/2017 at 15:08, Kathie said:

 you think you're doing ok then do something fairly simple but that really has an after effect.

 

That is so true. I too am a recent sufferer of a SAH and so often think "that's easy, I'll be fine doing that", followed by doing about a quarter of what I intended to do, followed by a 3 hour nap. 

 

I'm slowly learning that I must take it easier, which is admittedly hard when life is still carrying on at the same pace as before, you just have to make allowances for yourself, it's going to take time and patience (or so I've been told).

 

I also get the sharp headaches when i'm stressed, everything's still settling down in there really, so I suppose these things will still be happening

 

all the best,

Kay

[Kathie]

Hi Kay

Your symptoms sound very similar to mine. Can I ask when did you suffer your SAH? 

 

Kathie ?

[Kay]

Hi Kathie

Well mine happened on the 6th of March this year, so 3 months ago now. I think the fatigue is something that all of us share, I've yet to come across anyone's account of their SAH in which tiredness and fatigue are not mentioned, it's seemingly very normal for us.

 

Kay x

[Kathie]

Hi Kay

Oh gosh yours was very recent then. You're really still in the early days. How do you manage day by day, do you work?

Best wishes

Kathie

[Misty]

Hi Kathie, 

 

I had my SAH on New Years Eve too. I had 2 aneurisms coiled and another 2 on watch. I have recovered really well but can't do as much as I used to do. I read somewhere that it can take 2 years to get back to full stamina. I'm lucky in that I'm self employed so can do as much or as little as I want, I'm not sure that I could go back to work full time, so I hope you can get some help financially while you are still in recovery. I haven't been on here for a while as I try and put it all behind me and not think about it quite so much, and just get on with life, getting as many holidays and treats as I can. I wish you well with your recovery

[Macca]

Hi, and wel come to btg.

 

I suffered chronic fatigue. In coiling me, the surgeon damaged my pituitary gland which then failed to produce growth hormone, hence the fatigue. I now have daily injections of this hormone and am ok, but still not 100%.

 

I am not saying this has happened in your case but if it can happen to me it is worth exploring if all else fails. It could just be your brain needs more time.

 

In either case you need professional medical advice.

 

Good luck

 

Macca

 

 

[ClareM]

POSTED ON BEHALF OF KATHIE

 

 

Hey

I had a NASAH on last new years eve. To cut a long story rather short, there was no cause found, no significant treatment required etc. I feel better with each month that passes but am now at 9 months and still feel unable to return to work which is starting to bother me. I struggle with fatigue, feeling off balance, headache and neck ache, irritability when tired. My job is 12 hour shifts and is really stressful and I'm so worried that I'm not ready but at the same time feel like I should be as it has been 9 months.... surely I should be fit to go back by now?

Kathie 

 

POSTED ON BEHALF OF KATHIE

[ClareM]

Hey Kathie

 

Welcome to BTG, glad you have found us. I too had a NASAH back in Feb 2015 together with Hydrocephalus.

 

I went back to work on a phased return after 3-4 months though to start it was for 2 hours a day and the increase in hours was slow. Pre SAH I worked 41 hours a week in a very stressful environment. I have never been able to go back to that. I eventually settled for 4 long days with Wednesdays off in the middle. However due to other problems at work including stress I eventually changed jobs. I then reduced to 34 hours over 4 days (still having Weds off) in a less stressful job and was happy for a while. Unfortunately due to poor management and staff shortages that job also  became very stressful and I had a major meltdown resulting in me being signed off sick. I have just started in another new role, less hours, only 30 per week now and still with Wednesdays off. It's early days but so far so good - and I love the hours  

 

All the symptoms you mention are fairly par for the course post SAH, especially when tired. I still suffer now and have had to adjust how I do things. It is a case of finding a new normal and you will eventually find that.

 

What do you do as a job? 12 hour shifts seem very punishing, how many days do you do them for? It is worth having a sit down talk with your employer and seeing how they can help you get back to working. Don't let them push you and if you have an Occupational Health dept make sure they are involved too. You may be physically fit enough to go back to work but emotionally is a different matter. A SAH is a life changing event that cannot be ignored and you cannot push too hard as it will trun back and bite you!

 

Take care and let us know how you get on.

 

Clare xx

[Winb143]

Wishing all of you well in recovery and do not overdo it xxxx

 

Listen to your body and brain when tired xxxx 

 

Good luck All xxxxxxxxxx This site is a Godsend  xxxx