Post Dural headache!!

[Penelope888]

Hello,

I had my son 4 days ago and since have been suffering from a post dural headache caused by the epidural. Have been bedbound as thats when its least painful. I had the blood patch on Tuesday with immediate relief but the next day all the pain returned. I'm drinking loads, having caffine and following all the rules. Painkillers don't help although taking just incase.

I'm looking for light at the end of the tunnel?! Will it go naturally on its own...is a second patch worth it. Any advice and experiences welcome!

Many thanks.

Retired anaesthetist here. Definitely ask to speak to an anaesthetist on the ward and discuss your options, including a repeat blood patch. Failure of a patch is more likely if it is performed within 3 days of the tear, or if an inadequate volume of blood was injected. It can be a couple of weeks for the dural tear to heal on its own, so a repeat can spare you a lot of misery.
I’d also ask for a consultant anaesthetist to perform it. If your epidural space is very superficial, a less experienced junior may overshoot again, giving you a second tear.

Thank you thats very helpful. I am in touch with them and if there are no improvement by tomorrow we are speaking again. Its miserable! They managed to get 30ml of my blood in so i was hopeful. Many thanks for your responce.

30mls is a decent volume, so you may just be unlucky and have either a large tear that wasn’t completely compressed by the blood clot, or the clot may have been dislodged by the continuing pressure of the csf leak.
I think the worst one I ever read about needed four consecutive patches, but the vast majority will settle with either one or two!
If you are offered a repeat patch, go for it. Otherwise the ghastly headache will spoil what should be your lovely first couple of weeks with your new baby. I hope you are soon pain free and feeling chirpier, OP.
May I also say to any other MNetters reading this, dural taps are very rare with epidurals - less than 1% with experienced anaesthetists - so please don’t be put off choosing one for effective pain relief in labour.

Thank you! Yes i'll see how i feel tomorrow and make a decision re a second patch. Thanks for the advice.