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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Hand holding - epidural headache

19 replies

Angeliki159 · 31/07/2018 17:58

Sorry I need some hand holding please!!
I had a really traumatic birth over the weekend and have come through the other side...Just.
I am now left with a massive headache caused by the epidural (punctured some fluid sack or something). the doctor said they can do a blood patch (give me another epidural and put some of my own blood in it to clog the leak) but my body seems to be repairing itself.

Sunday night I was really really sick. Dizzy, throwing up, pale, felt like a train had hit me. Only relief I got was to lay completely flat. Any incline and the headache came straight back.
Monday I managed to get up and go to the toilet, hold some food and drink down, was discharged. When I got home the headache got bad but was not AS bad as Sunday. Had painkillers and went to bed.
Today I have written a painkiller action plan and am trying to rest and lay down as much as I can.

Please tell me someone else had this and managed to get through it without having to have the blood patch??
Please, anyone give me a glimmer of hope that I'm nearing the end of this horrendous ordeal and I can get on with my life with my new baby!!

OP posts:

Ifeelshit · 31/07/2018 19:52

It's horrible isn't it. I had it from a spinal for manual evacuation of the placenta. Drink loads of fluids and font exert yourself. If you struggle to keep water down suck ice cubes or ice lollies. I found tepid mint tea easy to stomach too. The headache stops when the spinal fluid replenishes itself which takes longer if you are dehydrated. You should start to feel better soon.

IntoTheWoods84 · 31/07/2018 21:46

I had this too. It was agony. Blood patch fixed it immediately and, although weird, wasn’t painful. Good luck!

Exploring · 31/07/2018 21:57

I had this too, I had the blood patch but it failed (unusual I think so don't write off getting it done it was pretty quick and not painful) and I refused to go back in, it took 2 weeks of bed rest basically, on painkillers and fluids, which meant I got feeding well established as it was all I could do & got looked after. The visiting midwife was so happy when she found me downstairs 😂

Imstickingwiththisone · 31/07/2018 22:00

Oh that sounds horrible OP get well soon

Auldspinster · 31/07/2018 22:04

I had it after a lumbar puncture, it resolved itself after a couple of horrible days.

TingleTots · 31/07/2018 22:16

I had this, took the blood patch as they told me I had no other option, was painful and not ideal being kept in for a few more days without LO but worked instantly and I would recommend it!

Original poster

Angeliki159 · 31/07/2018 22:45

Thanks all. It's really horrible. The doctor didn't feel that I needed the blood patch but has said it I don't improve to call triage and go back in.
My husband has been amazing looking after both me and baby.
We are FF so he has pretty much taken charge of changing and feeding so I can stay resting.
It's not been TOO bad during the day today. Kept on top of the painkillers and resting when I need to.
Trying to guzzle water as I know I have not been drinking enough in hospital.
It gets worse in the evening.

Day 1 I was sick and on the floor sobbing by 6.30pm. Finally managed to goto the loo without the headache coming back instantly by 6am the next morning.
Day 2 the headache got really bad at 9pm and I was sobbing trying to get into bed so I could be flat. Was able to go to the loo during the night.
Day 3 (today) headache is starting to get bad now. Had paracetamol at 9.10pm and can have some ibruprofen at 11.30pm.

It's getting there, right?
I'm on my way to recovery??
Please tell me that I'm on my way to being better!??

I have had the most horrendous week and there is just this and the daily injections I have to do (super difficult when you have a phobia of needles and nobody around to do it for you!) Then I am free from the experience and I can enjoy being with my lil boy and being a mum.

I want that SO badly it hurts!!

OP posts:

mavydoes · 01/08/2018 09:33

The blood patch can defo help but the headaches are brutal - I have IIH so lumbar punctures are routine with me - keep hydrated and a warm bottle near your spine.

Exploring · 01/08/2018 15:34

I think they gave me tramadol for mine, have you tried anything stronger? I developed a way to walk to the bathroom bent in half so my head was still horizontal.

It sounds like you are doing well to me, and you'll keep improving as your body heals 💐 - as much as I remember the pain I'd still pop back in a time machine for some newborn staring and sniffing 😂

ThursdayLastWeek · 01/08/2018 15:39

Please get the blood patch.

I was desperate to avoid going back to hospital after a week in but my MW was having none of it and sent me straight back to the maternity ward.

They gave me codeine which eased it enough for me to eat and when two anaesthetists were free they did the blood patch in moments.
Despite my anxieties about it (it was caused by an anaesthetist bungling my epidural for a long time during labour) it was so simple and reassuring and it worked instantly.

Please go and get one. You’ll feel like yourself in under an hour and can appreciate your baby fully

Aw12345 · 01/08/2018 21:13

No experience or wisdom but I'm so sorry to hear how much you're suffering I'm sure it will pass soon and in time will become a distant memory... Even though it sounds very tough at the moment.

Gemsie1984 · 02/08/2018 03:12

I also had IIH and had to have a diagnostic LP and had a post lumbar headache. I feel for you, they're just bloody horrible. I had to lay flat and took tramadol like they were sweets for four days. After 3 days I could go to the loo without the instant vice-like headache. Was mobile day 4 more but still more in bed and for a few more days the headaches would come and go, but not so intense and I'd manage to wean to paracetamol and ibuprofen.

fanlight79 · 02/08/2018 03:42

Mine lasted just under a week and my midwife advised plenty of fluids and also suggested caffeine as apparently that can help recovery. I refused the blood patch as was told there was equal chance of that going wrong as there was of the original epidural that caused it in the first place, but it's the only cure if it doesn't go away naturally in a reasonable timeframe (I decided to give myself a week due to bf twins and potential hospital stay). Hope you feel better soon, enjoy your new baby.

Jonsnowscodpiece · 02/08/2018 04:46

Sounds awful Angel
I had the migraine too after my ELCS 7 weeks ago, but it wasn't as bad as yours and other PPs and luckily sorted itself out without the blood patch. It's very upsetting though when all you want to do is get well and look after your new baby. I hope you feel better soon.

IntoTheWoods84 · 02/08/2018 09:05

Caffeine definitely helps!

Original poster

Angeliki159 · 02/08/2018 16:54

Yea a lot of people have said caffeine helps. Unfortunately it's my biggest IBS trigger and will cause me to be in agony with stomach pains. Not ideal after a c section.
Been weighing up which would be worse...
Crazy headache and having to be horizontal most of the day
Or
Potential no headache but confined to the bathroom and in agony most of the day.

I'm getting there. I managed to Have a little jig around the room with baby earlier today.
No way that could have happened on sunday/Monday.
So it hurts a lot but I'm still trying.
I'm doing some feeds and I managed to change a nappy today. Luckily my husband is being amazing and he is looking after me and baby and MW even said I looked better today compared to 2 days ago.
Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel after all!
Was feeling like it would never end!

OP posts:

Jonsnowscodpiece · 02/08/2018 23:02

Glad to hear it OP, fingers crossed for you.

muddiecuddles · 05/08/2018 21:55

Was going to suggest full fat Coke for the caffeine but see about your IBS. It really does work however

Lozz22 · 14/11/2018 00:27

I had it after my lumbar puncture. Massive headache, even worse than the one is being rushed into hospital with when my GP thought I might have being having a stroke!! I wasn't but I did have a TIA after about a week after I was discharged from hospital!! I too was going to say lots of caffeine but I've just seen you can't tolerate it. Apart from caffeine I also laid flat out apart from when I had to go to the toilet and then I would just vomit violently. I remember being that hot sick and dizzy I was laid on the toilet floor trying to cool down/ possibly stop myself from passing out. I did at one point pass out a few times whilst being violently sick, the last in the bed next to me had to buzz for the dr because I was throwing up, making some hideous howling noises and hyperventilating because i was convinced I was going to die. By the time the nurse got there I was unconscious, face down in my sick bowl and I'd managed to lose total control of my bladder too!! Consultant came round and said I was severely dehydrated and wanted me putting urgently on a drip!! I ended up on a drip having around 6 litres of saline pumped in, glucose and anti sickness. Picked up slightly once that had taken effect and then crashed back down the following day. Had Oromorph which was fantastic for the pain but made me very delirious!! I used cold compresses on my head. I also had horrific upper back and central chest pains from it. No idea why!! Mine lasted around 6 weeks but everything did start off because of a brain injury from a bad fall so I'm sure yours won't be as long as mine!! for you

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