Thank you all so, so, much for all your loving comments and notes after my last post. The day after I wrote it, I was able to get a hold of my doctor, who was able to get me in for the blood patch that same day. It started with having to wait, sitting up (which was excruciating!) for about 5 hours before they could finally do the procedure, but at least it was done!
Apparently blood patches are uncommon in our hospital… every time I was wheeled to a new room, I could hear the new nurse whisper to the last one ”what is a blood patch?!” I began praying the performing doctor would at least know!! Finally a nurse admitted, she was the only one who had every witnessed the only other blood patch that had been done there, and the doctor was the same doctor that had done the first one!! Okay, that made me feel a wee bit better!!
The blood patch felt just as gross as I had expected it to… the doctor first put a local anesthetic in the original needle insertion from the lumbar puncture, and then inserted another needle. She then took blood out of my arm… which I was told was really no more than 2 blood vials full, however, the taking so took soooo long, I began to get very woozy… she then took the blood and inserted it into my back. This was to cause a blood clot, which would hopefully stop the spinal fluid from leaking.
After being on watch for 45 minutes in the operating room, I was brought to Day Surgery Recovery. Here they raised me an inch at a time every 20 minutes, to see how my body would handle the transition. I was thrilled at the end to find the excruciating pain was gone!!
Since then, it has taken my head some time to recover. I still have quite a bit of residual pain, and I’ll be trying to fix some of that with massage therapy and chiropractic work. Otherwise I’m still waiting for an MRI appointment, and I’ll be having a followup appointment with my neurologist in a few weeks.
Other than that I’m doing my best to take it easy, plus catching up on some painting (still planning on being a vendor at the Old Clayburn Day on July 15th!) time with the girls (I dropped off Jordan at a week-long camp yesterday! -Eeeeks!), and hubby is installing a new bathtub!!! Hooray! ~so I have not been bothering much with house keeping!!
Thank you again for the love and prayers!!! You have no idea how much I appreciate it!
xo, Leanne
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My God, woman! I can’t believe what you’ve had to go through! I can honestly say, I would not have remained conscious. I get really bad panic attacks when it comes to medical stuff and I drop like a bag of bricks. I would have insisted they put me out. I give you a TON of credit. I really do. Hopefully, the worst is over for you.
Thank you for sharing your update.
Thank you so much! I’m not normally too quezzy (how do you spell quezzy!? I’m just sounding it out!!) but this one did almost do it for me. Luckily with the big crowd there were lots of hands to hold!! I also hope the worst is over, it was very frustrating to go through this all! Thanks for keeping up!!
xo!
Housework can wait hunni! Glad you are taking it easy – that sounds so awful you poor thing. Thinking of you heaps xxx Nat
thank you Nat!!! xoxo
Housework should be one of the last things on your mind!! You’re a brave soul to have that performed in a hospital where no one but the doctor performing the patch and the lone nurse had any idea what it was. I’m a strong believer in experienced providers. I hope you continue a smooth recovery. With many years of back trouble behind me, pardon the pun, I beg you to not let a chiropractor at your back until the neurologist has checked it. You have no idea how fragile that system is until something like your lumbar puncture, that is normally a safe procedure, can be. Prayers.
Janet
Thank you Janet. I have taken your advice seriously, and will wait to see the chiropractor until I see the neurologist again. I really thank you for all your comments and advice, and will be in touch with you for sure! thank you for the prayers!
xo
Dear Leanne, I am so happy the excruciating pain is gone!!! I was reading your post and OMG you had the SECOND blood patch??? You are brave! I had never heard of it also, but I would think nurses would be more used to it. Fortunately, not many people go through this.
Yes, please forget housework! When you recover you can dust and mop!
Hugs galore!
Hi Claudine!! Noooo, I didn’t need a second blood patch thank God!! Just the one, which was more than enough for me!!
Hugs back!!