I had a spinal tap yesterday and I was used as a teaching tool to a doctor in training. It took forever and they went in 5 times.Yesterday I was light headed but did not get the headache but I couldn't sleep. Now today I have a bruise and swelling at the injection site and my legs are really weak and I've had foggy brain all day. I can't think straight and my head just throbs. I can't stop crying and it's making my head hurt more. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Minus the crying : )
Thank you Emmaline. I do feel much better today physically. There was also a huge storm moving through yesterday that added to my discomfort. I felt emotionally better as soon as I got that out last night. I couldn't really vent to my family. I'm so grateful to have a place to come and people who understand. No they didn't do a blood patch but they did have me on my stomach.I have always had a fear of needles in my spine so it was a terrible experience all the way around. It's over so I'm happy I just need to recover for a few days. The day of and yesterday was definitely the worst. I kept thinking yesterday about all the things that medical professionals do that flair us up and make our symptoms worse. It's happened more times than I can count over the years. I appreciate your kind help. I hope your doing okay today Wendy
Emmaline said:
Wendy, that stinks! Did they do a blood patch after? I had a myelogram, but because of the Chiari, they did a blood patch immediately after to seal off where they injected the dye. They also made me lay flat on my stomach rather than the bent spine position.
I can tell you that I would have a reaction after each blood patch. The way it was explained to me was any manipulation of the spinal fluid pressure causes in some people a reaction to that pressure change. In my case for each of the 3 I had, the second day was always the worst. Just felt awful, worse than any bad day. Foggy, headache to the max, nauseous, and just generally all over weak. No one said anything the first time this happened so I was scared to death! I went back to the ER and was treated like I had lost my mind.
I hope this is the same thing going on with you, and if so, you should be feeling better tomorrow. (((Hugs)))
Abby,
I do feel better and on the mend today. Thank you. There was also a huge storm passing through yesterday that added to the pressure and discomfort in my body. I had a mini melt down but I'm back. I appreciate your kind words always. I hope you have a good day Wendy
Abby said:
Wendy
Hope that today is better for you. Doctors and medical personnel learn from us because we are still considered rare.
Praying for you honey
Hugs
Hi..
So sorry that you had to go through all of that..my goodness..five times!!! That is awful. I had a similar experience yrs ago..the next day I felt like my head was going to blow off.
Caffee helped me some.
Did you have this done in RI?? I had mine done by a NL in RI. He actually took 5 tubes of CSF then had me WALK to the hospital with his nurse to bring the samples to the lab..where I then had 8 tubes of blood taken..it was pouring rain out...His nurse had left after giving the lab the CSF...I had to walk back to his office to get my car after all of that...
To make matters even worse...this NL looked like Moe from the 3 Stooges and spoke broken English and would get mad when he spoke in another language and I didn't understand!!LOL Now I can laugh but then...it was very upsetting....needless to say ..I never went back to him...got the results from all the testing through my PCP.
Please drink caffeine. It helps a lot. I can't believe they let you go home. I had a NS that came into the ER after drinking. He tried 10 times digging around in my spine (not just sticking) and then was furious that he couldn't get any fluid. I had chemical meningitis & was admitted and the epidemiologist I saw brought the NS in front of the Hospital Board & he lost Hospital privileges. It was so bad the nurse had to leave the room. Please drink a lot of caffeine & get some rest. I am so sorry you had to go through that.
Lori,
Thank you so much for the kind words and advice. It's funny that you said caffeine helps. The day of I couldn't drink my coffee before (clear liquids) and afterwards I felt so awful I hardley ate or drank anything. I usually have a big cup of ice coffee that I drink through the day to help with being tired all the time. I didn't drink it the day after either because I just felt horrible. Today is a better day all around and I am back to my coffee addiction. : ) All's well with caffeine!
I can not believe they made you walk! That is just cruel. I am so sorry that happened. I did have it done at RI Hospital. They took about 3 viles I think. They never told me what they were dong they were too ocupied with walking the newbee through the proceedure. But I heard her ask for 3 tubes. There was no bedside manner. At one point she said "The skin is tough" and all I could think of was "She puts the lotion in the basket" from Silence of the Lambs. But that's my sick sense of humor. I didn't relize until about 15 minutes what was going on. They kept hitting bone and having to pull the needle out. Okay enough of that I'm having a flash back! Ha Ha.
I walked out on a nl at RI Hos because he was so rude. Maybe it was the same one? I don't remember what he looked like though. I erased him from my shoddy memory bank. "Moe"...That is funny. It should be one of those warnings....If your doctor looks like one of the Three Stooges you should probably find a new doctor..... Nyuck Nyuck Nyuck!
Thank you Lori, for always being a strong caring person. I really appreciate you.
Wendy
lori said:
Hi..
So sorry that you had to go through all of that..my goodness..five times!!! That is awful. I had a similar experience yrs ago..the next day I felt like my head was going to blow off.
Caffee helped me some.
Did you have this done in RI?? I had mine done by a NL in RI and he was a real ass. He actually took 5 tubes of CSF then had me WALK to the hospital with his nurse to bring the samples to the lab..where I then had 8 tubes of blood taken..it was pouring rain out...His nurse had left after giving the lab the CSF...I had to walk back to his office to get my car after all of that...
To make matters even worse...this NL looked like Moe from the 3 Stooges and spoke broken English and would get mad when he spoke in another language and I didn't understand!!LOL Now I can laugh but then...it was very upsetting....needless to say ..I never went back to him...got the results from all the testing through my PCP.
Tracy,
Thank you for the great advice. I never knew that but I do love caffeine. 10 times!?! What a nightmare. They kept talking about "Hitting the pocket" and "You've got to get closer to hit the pocket" I asume they ment the pocket of fluid but they kept hitting bone and bending the needle so they would have to start over. They hit some zingy things too but I don't have any nerve pain..Thank God. Your experience sounds like a nightmare. My nurse was great and she left for most of it. She then came in to check on me and stood behind the doctor. She took one look and asked them if the Attending was around. She left and brought him back but right then they "Hit the pocket" I wish I had been able to thank her but they had me roll on to a gurny and they took me to Recovery. I'm just glad it's over. I'm checking it off my Bucket List LOL ...and I never want to do it again!
Thank you so much for your help Tracy. You have been through so much and still have such a great attitude and help us all out so much. You are awesome.
Wendy
TracyZ said:
Please drink caffeine. It helps a lot. I can't believe they let you go home. I had a NS that came into the ER after drinking. He tried 10 times digging around in my spine (not just sticking) and then was furious that he couldn't get any fluid. I had chemical meningitis & was admitted and the epidemiologist I saw brought the NS in front of the Hospital Board & he lost Hospital privileges. It was so bad the nurse had to leave the room. Please drink a lot of caffeine & get some rest. I am so sorry you had to go through that.
Emmaline,
We have similar senses of humor. I always try and crack jokes during tense moments but no one was talking to me so my mind was free to wander. (Not good) Your experience sounds horrible except for the part about the good drugs (joke) I didn't get anything other that lidocane on the injection site.
Wendy
Emmaline said:
"At one point she said "The skin is tough" and all I could think of was "She puts the lotion in the basket" from Silence of the Lambs."
I can't believe you said that I just laughed out loud, and I had water in my mouth! Haha!
During the end of my myelogram and last blood patch I started to lose it on the table. I always found blood patches to be quite painful. I started to moan and cry. The nurse took a hold of my hand, and said squeeze! They gave me more Versid and Fentnyl. Afterwards she told me I was on the table for 2 hours, so it was no wonder. I would crack jokes during all my procedures, but the neuroradiologist was humorless and very focused.
Glad it's over and your feeling better.
Of the procedures done to me I've asked whoever was doing it how long they've been doing this for. If they havent been doing whatever they've been doing for at least a year I tell them to get me someone else. I've been a lab rat far too long and I'm not going to let someone practice anything on me. I dont mind if they watch for educational purposes but I will not be someones first time... Well that is if she's, um.... never mind :)
Montie,
Fantastic advice. I am going to ask next time I have something done. I have been used as a guinie pig way too many times and had to suffer a flair up of my symptoms later. The worst one was trigger point injections. They were so painful and afterwards I was messed up for over a month. They also didn't work! Thanks for the advice and the chuckle. ; )
Wendy