Hi,

This is my 1st post. I have been lurking around for the past few weeks and finally thought I'd introduce myself.

My name is Patty and I was in a horseback riding accident on 8/9/2012. I have ridden horses for the past 38 years and have been teaching for the past 3 years and this is my first accident where I hit my head. I had just mounted my horse and within 30 seconds he spooked, started backing up quickly, he tripped and we both went down. I was wearing a helmet. I only remember him starting to back up, I do not remember falling. I remember bits and pieces in the the emergency room.

They did a CT and MRI and I had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. I was in the hospital for 4 days and then released.

My symptoms are:

brain fog
vertigo
balance problems
concentration problems
speech problems (finding words etc)
anger
anxiety
slight vision changes (colors changing,text size changing)
tingling
constant hand & feet movement - this happens all the time without my brain telling my fingers or toes to move, I hope this makes sense.

and the last two (that I remember at this time) are the most disturbing to me. I have gained about 15 lbs. I have been watching what I eat (except for today since it is my bday) and have been exercising daily, long walks and eliptical machine. I know that exercising causes my symptoms to be worse, but if I don't exercise then I get extremely anxious and I feel like I HAVE to exercise because I don't want to gain anymore weight. Oh, also, I quit smoking cigarettes the day of the accident.

The last symptom is not necessarily bad for me, but it is not normal. I used to get bad migraines before the accident. After the accident I noticed that I do not feel pain the same way, if at all. For the first few weeks I knew I had headaches by feeling the pulsating, but did not have any pain.

I also used to have bad neck and shoulder pain almost every day(which caused my headaches). That is totally gone. So other than the fogginess and dizziness that can come from walking too long, I do not feel muscle fatigue and I feel like I can just walk and walk and walk because my legs are almost numb like. I know this is not good for my symptoms. How concerned should I be about this lack of pain? Does anybody else have this problem?

Regarding the weight gain, I believe this is from quitting smoking and maybe there was some pituitary gland damage? I had hypothyroidism and on meds before the accident. My internist raised my meds just last week, I think just to appease me, but still no weight loss. Any ideas?

I have not driven a car since the accident. I have not been back to a Neurologist since the hospital, My internist doesn't think it is necessary, but I am now looking into finding one to get tested. Not sure what tests they are going to do at this stage, but I feel like I need answers.

Lastly, I know that a subarachnoid hemorrhage is pretty bad. Other than the brain bleeding, (mine stopped bleeding while still in the hospital) it seems like all the symptoms are the same as pcs. Am I missing something? Why do the drs say these are so much worse? Are my symptoms more apt to be permanent? Do I have a higher risk of another bleed? Any info would be helpful? My mother had a brain aneurysm at my exact age (46) and is now paralyzed and I guess I am a little freaked out and nervous for my future.

Sorry this is so long. I tried to put this in shorter paragraphs so it would be easier to read. I also have a problem with long paragraphs.

Thank you,

Patty