Sorry Quix or anyone...got another question..?

[EL18]

Hi Quix, hope you are ok?

I had the blood patch done yesterday...left a post for you last night.

Just wondered though, how long will it take to improve the headache?  The Dr never said and I was justed relieved to have it done and over so I never asked. Did a quick search last night but one site said it should be immediate then another said 24 hours or so.  The reason I ask is that it has been well over 24 hours now and there's no change at all.  Also the doctor said that she thinks I might also be having migraines as I started with pain behind my right eye about two weeks ago.  I know the LP headache is still around....no mistaking that. I have never suffered from migraines.....could she be right, could this be another symptom?

I've also been having what I can only describe as 'cold patches' on the right side of my head and above my right eye....what could this be?  I had a ct scan yesterday before the blood patch to rule out bleeding in my head (dr was concerned because of the numb face)...that was fine.

Sorry to ask so many questions...pretty new to all this!

Thanks again for everything.

Em

[EL18]

Thanks AGAIN for answering my many questions.  I know what you are saying about mri's and contrast but to me it would have made sense, since I was there anyway, to just do the contrast.  When I had the first mri with contrast they first did about 15 mins without then injected me half way through.  

I know we are lucky here as we have free health care...although I do indirectly pay towards the NHS each month when the government takes over £1000 from my salary (and that's what you get when you work for them)...hmmm! But it just seems silly to waste a perfectly good mri opportunity...does that make sense?

Thanks once again

Em

p.s. Headache(s) still there. lp headache still going strong no mistaking that one but I live in hope. The 'newish' left sided headache and eye pain is also there  My shoulders are just so sore with the whole thing now...feel like I've swam the english channel.  I hope it goes soon, if not I won't be posting for a while.  I've been able to log on using my husband's laptop as we have wireless, this way I can lie down.  He is off to Shanghi with work next week and I can't see myself sitting upright in front of a computer right now......!

[Quixotic1]

I don't know if the increased incidence of headaches might have anything to do with newly forming and inflamed lesions. The description of your one-sided headache with pain behind the eye is a classic description of a migraine.   It would be very different from the spinal headache.

The reason for doing an MRI just without contrast (in the context of MS) is financial.  If the image without contrast is diagnostic, you don't "need" the enhanced image becasue now you have a diagnosis.  In the US (where we do far too much of everything, and so have ridiculously high-priced medical care) they would do the contrast images alsoto get a baseline picture of all that is going on at diagnosis.  I think that makes a lot of sense, but in the long run, and if the access to the MRI machines is limited, then doing them stepwise is understandable.

Of course, I read your posts, silly girl!  I think I read all the posts.  I act like I own the forum, though it's just because I'm so interested.

No, there are no limits and the number of MRI's that are safe, as far as I know.  Frequency of contrast would likely be measured in days.  I would have to check the half-life of the contrast.

Quix

[EL18]

Hope everyone is doing ok.

thanks for all your help...will keep taking the caffeine, I was put on amitriptyline but stopped taking them as they didn' t do anything....I might try them again now the patch has been done.

Quix, in your post you said that migraines etc could be due/related to my other symptoms...so I'm going to ask a really stupid question now......if there are new lesions forming in my brain...would I know...are headaches symptomatice of this? I still have numbness in my face on the left but the pain is on the right in my head brhind my eye.  Sorry so many questions...! I don't know if you read my previous post but I did find out that I have a number of white spots/areas down my spine...not just one lesion.  I am being referred to an ms specialist now but if this is ms, and i'm guessing very early stage ms then I guess I could still be non the wiser for many years.....oh joy!  I did ask why the mri on my head was done without contrast...she couldn't answer why though.   However, she did seem keen to repeat them...are there limits to how many mri's you can have in a space of time? It's been 6 weeks since they were done...wihtout conrast.

Thanks again for all

Em

[T-lynn]

I had a heck of a time with my LP,scar tissue and steel rods in the lumbar.

Caffine lots of it helps with the headache and excedrin,it contains caffine.Drink alot more than you usually do.Stay down and rest.Let yourself heal

[Quixotic1]

In a simple situation the "cure" or relief should be immediate.  But, your tap was so traumatic it may take longer to seal.  Also, I think I told you about my botched anesthesia and multiple traumatic pokes (my surgeon was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO furious!).  When they patched me I went from unable to raise beyond 30 degrees off the bed, to able to be upright for maybe 30 minutes before the crushing pain set back in.  I got gradually better over 6 weeks.  I'm no expert, but that was how mine healed.  

Why caffeine?  I don't know!  Hmmm...........

Could this be new with the neuro stuff?  Absolutely.  In the context of MS headaches and migraines, particular, have a higher incidence.  Remember, all those symptoms (in MS) are from inflamed brain and such.

Hope you can stay down and let things heal.  You may need something for the headaches.  Stay in touch with your doc.

Quix

[EL18]

Hi Chris,

I'm hanging in there....I think!

I'm pretty new to the forum and don't often add comments to posts because I feel pretty useless really. Everyone seems to know so much and give such good advice.....so I feel pretty bad for just asking questions!  

I hope you are ok though..read a previous post.   This site has been such a support and all of you have been so kind...I hope I can repay the support and kindness.  I'm pretty new to the strange world of symptoms and ms but I hope one day I can bring some knowledge and sound advice to the forum too.

Thanks again

Em

[Momzilla]

Hi, Em~

Quix told me a little of what you're going through.  I'm sorry.  Hope you feel better.

Hang in there!

Chris*