coping after a SAH

[shellsbelle]

i dont really know where to start im 4 weeks post having a SAH I have a supportive partner and 2 kids a girl aged 6 and a boy who is 13 weeks Ihad a stroke in 2009 followed by heat surgery later that year i really thought that was the end of my bad luck after i had my son i was the fittest and healthiest ihad been for years then 1 night i was putting away the duck and i felt like i had been smacked over the head with a sledge hammer i got my partner to call an ambulance after many tests i was told i had a bleed and was promptly transferred to oxford i had never been so scared in all my life id just had a baby i never thought id see my kids again luckily it wasnt caused by an aneurysm i left hospital a week later with headaches spine pain memory problems etc then last week things got worse again so made my way to a and e had repeated tests but this time an added mri which had shown a few signal changes they said they couldnt rule out another smaller bleed but they also suspect ms i have an appointment with a neurologist on the 27th but my head is a mess im all over the place i keep thinking why me im only 33 i feel so depressed i cant hold my son for long i have a short temper i cant cope with lots of things going on at once im so moody ijust dont know what to do

[ncmurphy1951]

please dont give up tragiuc that any illness is i suffered an sah in 2007 it constantly keeps me going to have a loved one congratulate you on another step of progress it might be helpful as i dd if you had an independent medical professional mine was an occupational therapist and neuro phycologist sit down with your nearest and dearest to explain about the tempers tiredness, depression and cognative problems you will have and the will experience goood luck try not to gret depressed neik

[zoidbuzz]

Hi, I haven't posted here before, but saw your post & wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I was 33 when I had my SAH, will be 2 years ago in September. I believe I was having a breakdown as I was very depressed & as a result I split up with my partner of 6 years. Physically I was fine & was just about to get on my horse when I felt like I'd been hit over the head with a frying pan. Luckily there was someone there & they called an ambulance & I was taken to hospital. They coiled my aneurysm & I began to recover. I would say it took me a good 14 months before I started to feel like myself again. My recovery came in waves. I thought I was better before I was. I was almost too determined to recover & made some dodgy judgements of character which in my loneliness saw me reach out to the wrong kind of person. Anyway I now have a 16 week old baby, I'm by myself & had to move to the other side of the country to live with my parents, as i'd been self employed. I have tried to reach out to my ex partner, however too much has happened and he has now moved on. So I am starting my life from scratch, just me & my baby girl, with little to lose. I just wanted to let you know that, although your recovery may be slow, you can feel like yourself again. Treasure your husband & your children - don't make the same mistakes that I did & push away those closest to you, as you WILL feel well again. The bad moods will lift. Good luck x

[cat3]

You must be feeling that your life is spinning out of control but you are probably at the worst stage just now. Four weeks on from a SAH is a pretty delicate time......I was only just out of HDU at that stage with another month of hospitalisation to go. Not only are you still in the early stages of recovery and suffering from the shock of further complications, you are fretting (naturally) about your children.

I do think you need to accept that, one month on, it is common to still feel quite poorly. Have you anyone to help with the children whilst you are feeling so low ? You do need help.

Please don't despair; I've heard so many stories on Headway of people who have survived dreadful head traumas and learned to cope again............I think we've all had to come to terms with sacrificing a portion of our lives to allow for the mending process..........some more than others.

Please stay in touch, and let us know the outcome of your tests,

Sending you my best wishes with a massive hug. cat xx

[Petehat]

Try looking at a mindfulness download meditating has helped me and I also suggest coconut oil it is totally natural It's worth a try cheers . From a surviving improving person three years after stroke try reading my book Peters' Stroke of Luck good luck time heals I promise.

[shellsbelle]

thanks everyone things got worse yesterday i had a bit of a meltdown just dont know if i can cope

[headwayuk Partner Headway in reply to shellsbelle]

Hi shellsbelle,

Please do remember the Headway Helpline is available if you need someone to talk to. The Helpline is open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. You can contact us by either telephone or email - the phone number is free to call from UK landlines and most mobiles and the number is 0808 800 22 44; the email address is [e-mail]

Best wishes

Headway UK

[shellsbelle in reply to headwayuk]

thanks i may ring up some time