Spinal Leak/Need help quick

[babyzone]

Okay in April 2007 which was about 6 weeks ago I had an Csection.I was given a Spinal as a anastesia.The day after I got an awful headache.Later on that evening it got worst as I stood up and went to the restroom.The anastesiologist came in and siad I had an Spinal Leak.They tried fixing it with IV fluids,pain meds,caffeine,and me laying down flat.So I did but I had to get up and go to the restroom from drinking so much Coke and the IV fluids.My back started hurting from laying flat in those beds.Later on that night I was ablt to get up and the headache had subsided a bit.I took a short walk.the next morning it was worst.My vision was bad and I was sick to my stomach and in tears it hurt do bad.I suffer from migraines prior to this.SO it was 10 times as worst than those.The pressurein my head was extreme.When I sniffed I felt so much pressure.I was given a Blood Patch which hurt like heck.But it took almost instantly.I went to my room and layed down and went to sleep.Got up 3 hours later and took a shower and felt like a new person.The following day I was still getting a very slight headache barely enough to notice.I was just so worried that it would come back.I asked my Doctor and he said it was normal as the Blood Patch only does 95% of the work.The rest will subside on its own.And it did.Thank goodness.My question here is this past week I have been getting awful headaches again.With pressure and my vision seems weird also.I do not know if there are after affects of the Bood Patch or if it is known to have awful headaches after having a Spinal Leak.I also want to know is it possible that this could have caused a problem like with my brain or something that is causing me to have these bad headaches.And also is it possible that it may be leaking again.What am I looking at here? I am worries as I have an 8year old and a 6 week old to take care of.Thanks In Advance for your response.It is greatly appreciated

[Quixotic1]

The headaches that can happen after a spinal fluid leak are among the worst headaches described.  I have had one and I give you my whole hearted sympathy.  My blood patch allowed me to be upright for only 10 or 15 minutes at a time.  I healed completely over the next 6 weeks.  The epidural blood patch is said to be effective at relieving the problem 95% of the time.  This says that 1 out of 20 is is not effective.  I do know that sometimes a second patch is necessary.

Is this latest headache the "same" as the ones before the blood patch?  Does it change with position the same way?

I have read a couple reports that VERY RARELY there can be bleeding in the brain after a blood patch.  Honestly I found only two reports from the last forty years, but I was not searching specific medical databases.

Because you seem to fall into the 1 in 20, I would immediately call your physician and request an evaluation, including an MRI of the brain, to evaluate for bleed or further leak.  You may meet some resistance, but since you are in such the minority I would tend to be more conservative in evaluating the "failure".  Please, do not think that I think you have a bleed.  It's just when things don't go as predicted a little extra investigation is often warranted.  They may insist on just repeating the patch.  This would probably solve the problem.

Quix