Since my SAH and VP shunt in dec 13 I have been so... - Headway
Since my SAH and VP shunt in dec 13 I have been so tired! I want to go to bed at 7 but I have kids and it's so exhausting. Is this normal? X
Hi charlii. 5 weeks is such a short recovery time for the surgery you've had and so my answer would be 'Yes'...........it is normal to be feeling so tired.
I was still in hospital five weeks after my SAH and sleeping was all I did then, and for some weeks afterwards, so to be back home with your children looks like pretty good going to me.
Can I ask what ages your kids are...........and do you have help caring for them, cooking, chores etc ?
I certainly think that this would be classed as normal after a SAH, I still get very tired and it's been 3 years since I suffered a SAH.
Do you have a programmable VP Shunt? If so your setting may need to be changed. If a VP Shunt is set too low or occluded you could have a buildup of fluid in your ventricle causing headaches but if the setting is too high or sensitive it can cause a subdural hematoma. There is a fine line between the two. Your surgeon may order a CT scan to verify. It is not normal to be so tired as you are describing after 1 month so I would have this checked out A.S.A.P.
Hi Cat and Simply and thanks for taking the trouble to reply.
I have 3 kids: a 19 yr old daughter who is usually away at university but is at home for the next month on a school placement as she is training to be a teacher. I have a 16 year old son and another daughter who is 9.
My husband has just gone away to work. He works for 3 weeks away and then has a week at home. I have no family nearby but I do have 3 very good friends who help out but I don't like to bother them if I can help it.
I am struggling with the tiredness so much at night and I haven't got any energy at all and I feel so guilty about it x
yes it's normal! Fatigue is the most common effect of a brain injury. Research i've read suggests it affects between 75% and 100% of sufferers. 3 kids is hard work for anyone and magnified for you. I still get exhausted 3 years after my injury. Try to get rest, call on the help you have and most of all try not to let it get you down! (says he knowing it's his biggest failing and having spent half of yesterday feeling upset and sorry for himself for being so tired)
Hi again charlii. Just typed a reply which vanished into cyberspace so here goes again.
I'm still thinking it's awfully soon to be trying to 'resume normal service'. A SAH is usually a life-changing event requiring significant changes in the way you organise your daily routine. It can be heart-breaking when your kids need attention and you're too tired to function but have you, as a family, sat down and talked about your need to rest whenever possible and a new daily regime to accommodate those changes.
It really shouldn't be about your needing to 'take up' where you left off..........you're a person now with many more needs than pre-SAH and, hard though that is to accept, you need to let up on many of your previous 'duties' and allow others to step in. Things will improve as time goes by, but it is so,so early in terms of your recovery and there is still healing taking place.
I've no idea how you work together as a family so I'm wondering..........do your kids help out with chores.......tidying up/dishes/peeling veg..........etc....etc.....
I've been a single parent since my kids were 11 & 7 and I tried really hard to be both 'mum & dad' but whenever I was ill they seemed to take pride in stepping in & taking over......we were/are a hell of a team.
Let your friends do the shopping..........good friends like to feel needed.
Tell me if I'm way off the mark charlii............we have to use quite a bit of guesswork at times !
Cat xx
Hi Charlii , I had my shunt 2012 and I still lack energy and very tired , I try and be in bed by 8pm every night , boring I know but don't go straight to sleep just lay and chill really watch tv or read a mag , just relax best you can . xx
Hi there, I suffered an SAH in Feb2011. I came home after spending 3 weeks at Queen Square Hospital. I was exhausted and probably slept 20 out of 24 hours each day. Don't rush the recovery. Let your family members help. My husband was an enormous support and even got cleaners in to help. Take the time out, your body needs it. Be positive. X
Hi Charlii, I had a SAH in May last year I have 2 kids my little boy was 8/9 weeks at the time and my little girl was 6 it has been a long windy road with ups and downs but even 8 months on i still get very tired just take things easy go at the pace you are able to I made the mistake of doing too much too soon and ended up back in hospital 3 weeks after I came out see if the older 1's can help a little more just while you are recovering x
Hi Charlii,
I hope you have found the excellent advice of our members useful - as you can see it is very normal, with fatigue being an extremely common effect of a brain injury.
We have some information that I think could be helpful to you - our 'Managing fatigue after brain injury' and 'Parenting after brain injury' booklets apply to your situation, and I think you will find them useful in managing your recovery.
If you would like me to post these to you, please send a private message through here, or contact our helpline on 0808 800 2244 / helpline@headway.org.uk.
Best wishes,
Headway.
its normal being tired yes i did not have shunti had op for sah coils moved from icu within a short time i had strokeits nearly 3 years for me now im still tired not as much as start sounds daft i just want to sleep a lot yet im not sleeping right i was on pc at 5am yet need sleep now ill just have a short bit i hope dd off yur very early yet and children yur bound to be very tired out it will sort out if yur in uk go on brain spine foundation.org theres booklet tell you your ok take care
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