Update!

Time for a little medical update. I've been away for a few days...having a few tests done.
In March of 2010, I never heard of this guy.......................

I also had never heard of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, in March of 2010, a few weeks before Bret Michaels suffered from a SAH (subarachnoid hemorrhage), I was recovering in NICU from a SAH.

Like Bret Michaels, I was blessed. First of all to be alive.....since a huge percentage of people who have this type of hemorrhage in the brain do not live. I was also blessed because I did not have any major residual effects. I can walk and talk and there was no serious damage to the brain. I am so grateful. However, some things have been been a little tough.

I was determined to go back to school and to my beloved class of K-3 special needs students. I did but it didn't take me long to find out that I was very, very tired.  I also discovered that my short term memory was not what it used to be....and it just got worse and worse. I also started getting terrible headaches. By the end of this past school year, I could hardly keep my eyes open to drive home in the afternoon. I would look at my 6 kids in the classroom and I couldn't remember their names. I was diagnosed with migraines secondary to the SAH. My speech became disjointed and it was difficult for me to speak fluently and with ease.  And so.....I made a difficult but obvious decision......I retired. I had to take early retirement at 25 years. I hadn't planned on retiring for 5 more years......but life doesn't always turn out the way we planned.

Another issue has been my sleep patterns, which have changed since the SAH. After lots of testing over the past few weeks, this is what I know.........

I have developed narcolepsy as a result of the SAH. I am taking new meds to address that issue.This is a process.......... The meds that I have been taking to prevent the migraines are working. No migraine in almost 4 weeks!!!  I have been resting when I need to and I think the fatigue is better and with that the short term and speech issues are getting better.

My allergist has referred me to an ENT to see if there is anything else that can be done in regards to the repeated sinus infections that I keep getting. I see him on Friday.

All in all........things seem to be getting better. "The Rev" and I are taking it one day and one step at the time and are just grateful for each and every day.

Hugs!
Cindy