Dear all,
Last Wednesday (March 31, 2010) I was admitted for a lumbar puncture procedure. This was supposed to rectify the previous one whose doctor failed to measure my CSF pressure. I discussed the procedure with the doctor and signed in a day before for records opening. The LP was performed and things went on smoothly until he pulled out the needle and I felt very strange electric shock all over my body. I stayed for 9 hrs since the doctor recommended it after the procedure. After this long rest on the bed I stand up and I change my dress getting ready to go home, I felt a bit not quite normal as I used to feel after the previous LPs but I thought that will go as soon I rest at home or by moving myself around. When I was about to leave the hospital building, I suddenly felt ill. I lost control over my lower extremities, vision blurred, and eventually I lost consciousness and my all my body was collapsed. I am just glad that I was able to walk back to them before I went flat out. I was not able recall the rest of the events as I later was revived in the ER. I was so blessed that I passed out while still in the hospital vicinity and the emergency response team was able to take me in.
When I was revived, I was no longer ambulatory, unable to keep myself upright and I felt lethargic. Weakness crept all over me and I was moved in my hospital room with IV and on painkillers. Days passed without progress and I was kept on constant dose of pain killers. I tried contacting my doctor but since it's the weekend here, I failed to reach him. As if the same horror flashed back on me. The last hospital have deaf nurses, and not this one are staffed with ones cast in the same mold. I kept on telling them to inform my doctor about my case so he can visit and confer with me regarding my status whilst the one who is handling my case is a registered doctor that she is not versed on IIH. Still for days I waited and things are getting no better. Though the bathroom is close to my bed, getting there is an effort, my knee wobbles and I can hardly support myself. Added burden is the dud nurse caller. I needed a nurse just to get myself to the bathroom and imagine the discomfort it brings.
Few days later, after exhausting all efforts to contact my neurologist here, I was able to reach my doctor in Beirut who had handled my case previously. Once he listen to my story he was very upset and he told me that they cracked the CSF tube and there might be leakage of CSF and that needs some time to heal normally but I have to live with severe pain and severe headache. He suggested for me to inform my doctors here for a blood patch to rectify the possible leak in my epidural area.
However, much to my dismay, when I convey the suggestion to the registered doctor she said will discuss it with the consultant and anyway I am not an emergency case which she might meet him on Wednesday and approach this suggestion to his approval, and for the time being I only need to keep myself in painkillers till I am back to normal.
So here I am, with laptop wedged in my chest, trying to make most of my time in a hospital with a crappy connection. Just letting you know so you won't wonder why I have been off the forums for almost a week.
Will keep you posted and will give you the updates as soon as I get discharged. I can't do much since I can hardly get up and I am still tethered to IV line.
Cheers y'all.
Saleh