What is your connection with brain injury? Please ... - Headway
What is your connection with brain injury? Please tick all that apply.
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i have just came home from the hospital with a subarachnoid bleed
then you have a brain injury...
Both my Mum and Dad have had A SAH within the past 15 months.
People say I'm very lucky for my outcome. I really don't know much of this sub. bleed. they say it was caused by, my blood pressure getting so high. I've had high blood pressure for many years. which has been under control. I've been a member of a weight lose program, ate real well, worked out 5-6 days a week. held down a full time job, working as a cook in a up scale grocery store. always in good health. came down with the flu. Was off of work 3 days and started feeling better. So i went back to work. feeling a little sick put in a full 9 hour day. drove home got out of my car and It felt like someone had hit me over the head with a brick. came in the house, and knew there was something really wrong. my husband drove me to emerg. hospital. my blood pressure was 269/198. rushed into emerg. room i could see people coming from every direction.got the blood pressure under control. had few ct scans, and found a small bleed. they said as small as the tip of a Q tip.long story short. this has been about 4 wks. ago. on lots of meds. and just cant seem to get it togather. I didnt lose any motor skills or speech. Thats why I feel so lucky.But im really tired and just dont feel like i'll ever get myself back on track. I will see my neurolgist next week and see what he says, but in the mean time it feels like I should be better by now. I've always been the rock of the family, the one who held things togather,now I can't and the depression is unbareable, I guess i"m just feeling sorry for myself, and really conpaired to the other stories, I'm lucky to be alive. It still does't make me feel any better.
Hi teenna,
Thank you for your sharing your story here. I am sorry to hear this situation, I think what you describe is very normal and it still is very early days in your recovery, if that is any reassurance. At this stage it is important to get as much support as possible, and, particularly when fatigue is present, be careful to rest and allow yourself time to improve. It is also worth speaking to the neurologist about this and the depression you are feeling - they may be able to suggest further rehabilitation that can help.
You will get some really good support and advice on this community - can I also suggest you contact our helpline on 0808 800 2244 or helpline@headway.org.uk. They have access to a lot of information that they can send and talk through with you, including our booklets and local Headway groups.
Best wishes,
Headway.
Its very early days for you. I had a SAH three years ago.i wish you all the best with your recovery take it a day at a time x
Hi Teena,
I was the same after my SAH. Things do get better, and the tiredness will ease up a bit. I regard myself as very lucky- I had no long term problems despite having the bleed for 3 days before attending hospital. Don't be hard on yourself and believe me- people want to hear your ok.
My story is one of the early blogs on here.
We are all with you, things get better.
If you could see how many reports of frustration and depression there are on Headway from people 4 weeks on from their sah I'm sure you would see that you are not alone and this is the norm at this stage of recovery. I am 14 months on now from a sah and I promise you it does improve but,usually,very slowly. Ask the neurologist to prescribe something for your depression.......and for the next 2 or 3 months at least, being the rock is just not plausible.
Take care X
Thank-you so much for your concern. i want to feel better but it is all so new for me. my regular doc. seems to know nothing, she asked me how this happened. I was expecting her to tell me. she says, ok well just keep taking your meds and let me know what your neurologist says. and well go from there. What do i need her for then? you said you were 14 months now, could u explain a little bit. where u working? and are u now? dont want to be nosie but just want to know alittle about u. thanks again looking foward to talking with u.
Sorry, I often forget to click on 'polls' so this is a bit late.
I was 'fortunate' enough to be at retirement age when I had my sah so this hasn't been an issue for me. I do,however, see the frustration of so many people here who, like yourself have previously led active lives and are desperate to return to work.
I, personally, have always been very active(as a single parent of two) and spent many years restoring an old house to make a home for my kids. At first I was determined to ignore the whole sah episode and carry on as before....big miscalculation ! Just before the bleed I'd been revamping my kitchen with new floor and wall tiles and new work surfaces........because they were a bit dated.....and because I had the time and energy. After that I was going to set about the bathroom.....still hasn't happened ! I'm only now starting to catch up with stuff having been just too tired, dizzy, headachy etc.etc.
This is a pattern which repeats through many posts....the frustration of suddenly being incapacitated and not seeing an end to the awful exhaustion. The key words are SLOWLY and GRADUALLY....Take any help you can get. I was still hospitalised at two months after the sah so you in the VERY early stages of recovery. Take Headway's advice and speak to your neurologist about possible further help.....and most of all....let someone else be the rock for a while.
And I hate to rub this in (I wasn't very impressed when everyone was telling me how lucky I'd been) but, for many, this is as good as it gets, but for you there are better times ahead.
Can I suggest that you post a blog on the main site (not sure many people look at the polls) and you will receive lots of different types of support and ideas.
Sincere best wishes, teenna. Look forward to speaking again soon. cat x
Hello, kind of lost and confused daily. Suffered a double concussion in 2008 after taking part in ironman lanzarote. Spiralled into. Heavy depression about 5 months later. Almost five year's later I am a different person, gained 5 stone, personality has changed. Hate who I am now. Forgetful, lack confidence, get easily confused, short tempered I am 45 somedays I feel like I am 75. People ,even my wife don't seem to understand.
My question is will I ever be the same ?
Thanks
Hi Robt,
Thank you for your question. I am very sorry to hear of the way you are feeling - personality changes, memory problems, short temper etc are all very common effects of a brain injury, and all of these can seem worse in the absence of proper support.
It sounds like you would benefit from contacting our helpline to talk things through. They can discuss further rehabilitation, Headway support services and give you information to help.
You can get in touch on 0808 800 2244 or helpline@headway.org.uk
We look forward to hearing from you soon,
Best wishes,
Headway.
I volunteer at Headway Blackpool Wyre and Fylde, I have a brain injury and I also consider the members of Headway Blackpool Wyre and FVylde to be my friends and adopted family 
Accident, household.
In recovery.
Recovering well, and hope the best for all. Tthat hope is worth the most huge burden, but in fact it can be a whisper.
Thanks coetzeegisela for the update on your progress. I think this really highlights the fact that our polls are just a snapshot of a moment in the process, and things can change over time in the case of brain injury.
I hope you continue to recover well, and do let us know if you need anything from us.
Best wishes,
Headway.
Research both subjective and objective.
SAH on January 24 2017.
I had a fractured skull and subdural haematoma and l5 spine fracture
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