"I suffered a Subarachnoid Haemorrhage"

Last November 2020 I suffered a Subarachnoid Haemorrhage.

A few days before it happened I was feeling dizzy especially when in the gym, I thought I was doing too much on the treadmill and didn’t bother about it.

That night I was getting ready for bed I had a strange feeling no pain or dizziness just a black veil coming over my eyes. I knew this was serious and called 999. I can’t remember what I said but I knew I had to open my door and lie down in the hall on the recovery positon. That’s where the paramedics found me.

I am a retired nurse and live alone. My cousin and his wife live below me and have very good neighbours.   

I was aware of the arrival of the paramedics also my cousin who let them in. According to her I was answering the paramedic and could tell them my name and date of birth. I think my GCS was about 8 or 9. I was blue lighted over to Glasgow Royal and then to The Queen Elizabeth.

The next thing I woke up in HDU with a lovely Polish Nurse asking if I wanted a shower. I asked him what happened to me and he explained that I had suffered a Subarachnoid and had a Com aneurysm coiling. I felt my hair as I thought they still shave it off during procedures.  The nurse smiled and said we have moved on from that, it’s all done from the Carotid artery. I could not remember being in the Royal or the Cath Lab which I suppose is a good thing.

My first post was in Neurology over 40 years ago, they truly had progressed since then.

I was moved to ward 64 under the care of Mr Alakandy during the first ward round the doctors had informed me I was very luck my quick actions saved my life. I recall Mr Saint George another consultant asking if I smoked naturally I said no comment, but he knew and advised me to stop. I have never put a cigarette in my mouth since; I had tried to stop many times this incident gave me the strength, will power and fear to give it up. I am now a reformed smoker and the smell make me feel sick too some of my friend’s amazement!     

As a nurse we can be very critical of each other however the care and attention was first class. Being a patient I have seen my profession from a different side and was very grateful and proud we have such a great health care system when needed. We are simple the best!   

I was discharged in December to say I was anxious and frighted was an understatement. I was still weak, in pain dizzy, anxious and didn’t want to be alone. We were in lockdown so I couldn’t have anyone staying I did feel alone and frightened for the first time in my life.

On discharge the nurse informed me that I would be referred to the Community Treatment for Brain Injures.  I had my first appointment with Laura the Occupational Therapist in January.  My cousin sat in the zoom meeting with me it was strange to go over it again; I was emotional as it dawned on me what I went through, before I was just glad to be alive.  It was my cousin who picked up that my speech was affected and sometimes had problems with my words.  

I was referred to the Speech Therapist Caroline and Clinical Psychologist Luzi.

Laura and I discussed my activities of daily living, giving me coping mechanisms especially when I was tired. As nurse I expected to run before I could walk she gave me sound advice to take things slowly and not to be hard on myself.

I had three appointments with Caroline the Speech Therapist she was happy with my speech it was improving daily. Once again this was beneficial to my recovery and gave me the confidence I needed.

When I met Luzi I was nervous about speaking of the trauma and my emotional state, I tend to say everything is good when it’s not. Like Laura and Caroline I immediately clicked with Luzi and I trusted her.

For the first time in seven years I felt comfortable telling her some of the sad things that happened to me with my mother’s death and my sister’s cruelty towards me. It was a sense of relief discussing my fears and insecurities especially with someone not involved and not judgmental.

In my opinion this team of wonderful professionals helped me pick up the pieces of my fractured life and get it back on track.  

A few times I had to rearrange my appointment the receptionist was very helpful and polite once again I felt this department very open, friendly and accommodating.   

When I worked in Nero in the 80’s there was no rehabilitation in Glasgow only in Edinburgh, in my opinion patients just had to get on with it.   

The Community Treatment for Brain Injures was life line for me the staff helped and supported me with my rehabilitation and moving on with my life. I cannot thank and praise them enough.  Our sessions was through Zoom I found this beneficial, I didn’t have the stress of traveling to appointments, felt comfortable in my own home while talking to the staff.

Most of my appointments I was in my pyjamas no hassle deciding what to wear, I know this might not be ideal for everyone but it certainly worked for me.   Once again thank you for all the support, kindness and understanding.