Could I have had a subarachnoid hemorrage- posting for traffic

[RestlessTraveller]

I've posted on the health board but it doesn't seem that busy and I'm really worried.

2 weeks ago I was hit with a sudden and extreme pain in my head. I fell to the floor, couldn't get up, vomited etc. My parter called 111 and they said I needed an emergency ambulance. 2 hours later we were still waiting and the pain had started to subside and I was overcome with extreme tiredness so we cancelled the ambulance. It has taken me up until Saturday to see my GP he has now referred me for CAT scan and said there is a possibility I may have had a subarachnoid hemorrage. I've since done some research and although the description fits almost exactly I think I can't possibly have had this as apart from mild headaches and feeling a bit tired I feel fine. What do people think?

Thanks for the advice Formalhaut. Unfortunately it's not just down to not being able to see the needle. I know that I wouldn't be able to do it. I would have to refuse. Sensibly I know this is ridiculous but I would be so distressed I wouldn't be able to keep still. I've had to refuse treatments in the past.

Hi restless. i had a subarachnoid haemorrhage and had the same symptoms as you. It is called a thunder clap headache - I vomited as well and then felt a bit flu-y for a few days. I was pregnant at the time and luckily had a medical c-sec for other reasons (NHS pushed for a natural birth which would have killed me). When i had the epidural for the csec I had a headache which was due to the blood in my brain. VVV luckily for me the anaesthetist made sure I had a CT scan which showed a bleed and I was taken to a neuro hospital and had brain surgery for a brain aneurysm. The first bleed I had was a sentinel bleed (a practice bleed) and I would have had a huge bleed a few weeks or months later which probably would have killed me. Honestly after the headache I felt pretty good - just a little unwell. My advice is to go to your gp/go to A&E and make sure that you speak to a specialist.

If you get another headache go to a and e immediately and tell them you have a thunderclap headache. You need a CTA, a ct angiogram as soon as possible. Aneurysm rupture can be fatal, please don't ignore this.

My sister had the thunderclap headache, called 111 and they sent her an ambulance straightaway. The triage nurse at A&E gave her a lecture about wasting their time for a headache and was going to send her home until the doctor reviewed her and admitted her to the high dependency unit where she had every test under the sun and stayed for a week, not allowed to move from the bed. Apparently the chances of having a catastrophic bleed in the week afterwards are very high. I'm very surprised your GP is being so blasé about it. Please go to A&E immediately if it happens again.

(The A&E nurse was later disciplined for the 'telling off' and had some re-training.)

With sedation you'd probably be ok. Seriously, a good anaesthetist can have you not giving a flying fig about anything while still conscious and not remembering anything after.
Without meaning to be dramatic, you have to have this investigated. Whatever it takes. A ct /angiogram plus lumbar puncture may be needed. Ct alone doesn't pick up everything - they need to check your spinal fluid is clear too.
Hope you're ok. Take care