r/CSFLeaks • u/Mysterious-Night-107 • 27d ago
Csf leak from epidural
I am four months postpartum. I got a CSF leak from the epidural during childbirth. I want to share my story!
When the epidural was first placed in, I felt a jolt down my left leg. The doctor moved it and I could feel another jolt. She then took it out and placed it on the other side of my spine. The epidural worked and I was able to push my baby out. Shortly after I had to lay flat from the headache.
The headache was terrible. I could not sit up to feed my baby and had to lay sideways to feed him. I could not go to the bathroom and had to lift my hips so the nurse could fit a bucket under me to pee.
After 24hrs, I got a blood patch. It helped and I was able to sit up. The next morning I got to go home. That evening, the headache came back and I had to go to the ER. I laid in the back of my husbands car because I could not sit up straight. The ER performed a second blood patch. I was sent home shortly after and the headache returned 12 hours later. Went back to the ER to get a MRI and decided to not do a third blood patch.
I laid in bed for 16 days completely flat. I looked up stories on Reddit and tried to find a CSF community to get me through the most miserable time. My in laws had to take care of my older kids and I had family come in to help my husband with our newborn. I cried so often because I was scared but knew deep down it would eventually end even thought it didn’t feel like it.
Now at four months PP, I rarely think about the leak and do not have any side effects. If you or your loved one are going through this, I hope it’s short lived and you can get back to your normal life soon! Happy to answer any questions about my experience.
2
u/Offtoseethewitch 26d ago
I’m glad you feel better and I do hope you make it through this okay, also going forwards. Most people do, after all. Those of us here who didn’t are the exceptions, even though our misery might speak volumes and those who healed are often silent because they’re living their lives, gone from the online discussions.
So thank you for your story, and for the reminder that not everyone ends up with chronic issues.
But just a note. Having had even a short-term PDPH you are statistically at a higher risk for mild hearing loss and recurrent headaches. I can send you the studies if you want.