Hi. I'd like to submit this account of my experience of the past year. I hope it gives confidence and inspiration.
I had a burst aneurysm just coming up to a year ago. I had to learn to walk, and talk, etc. etc. In fact, I'm sitting at the exact spot where it happened! (I was on the computer and my wife found me the next morning, covered in vomit). No headaches, no warning, just "wham"...
Luckily, I had lots of sick leave owing otherwise I don't know how we would have managed work-wise. It's been the year from hell. In fact, after living in this house for 20 years, raising our kids here etc. etc. we've now sold to move to a new house (this one is a 100 years old).
I'm still at the same job - heaps of sympathy from my workmates, etc. etc. but I've transferred to a new office near our new house. Initially I identified with the "Stroke Survivors" group - I thought that was what I had. But it wasn't it was a subarachnoid haemmorage, and as far as I'm concerned that was a whole different ball game. As for the effects? I foolishly took someone's well-meaning advice and stopped having a rest at lunchtime. Bad move!! By the end of the week, I've had it. Poor concentration, "fuddled" (!?) feeling. The fear was the worst. Fear that I would be consigned to the scrap heap as "brain damaged" and unable to work and function. Fear of not knowing what I was doing. I think I can work and function - as long as I take things slowly. Very slowly.
It's been a nightmare and it's still not over. I understand that 2 years is the optimum recovery time, so I'm half way there!!
Best wishes to everyone out there who has had an aneurysm and I hope you all get better.
(p.s. I'd love to get some emails from other survivors!)