I'm still here...

It's been two weeks and one day since having Sam and I'm starting to feel somewhat normal. There's been a bit of a saga that's left me with ridiculous headaches and neck pain for about the last week. It came on really strong last weekend, but I just thought maybe I slept wrong on my neck. Well, when the stiffness moved from the right side to the left side of my neck I knew something was wrong. By last Wednesday, I was completely unusable... the pain was radiating into my head and I could barely function. (Fun trying to take care of a baby that way.... not to mention two other kids.)

Thursday, I woke up not feeling much better and I mentioned this pain to my boss's wife. She happened to know someone who'd had something similar after she delivered, so she got a hold of this girl to have her call me. After talking to her, I was convinced I had the same thing. What happened to her was the epidural went in just a little bit too far and punctured something called the dura which causes a leak of the spinal fluid. This causes the kind of head and neck pain I was having. She told me the doctors would try and treat it with anything but the one thing that can take care of it instantly - and that I should demand to have something called a blood patch. (This is where they basically take a ton of blood from your arm and inject it into the spot of the epidural - so, in essence, you're getting another epidural. Yay. That was just what I wanted.)

Anyway, after talking to her, I called my doctor's office and told them what I thought it was. They said they were going to contact the anesthesiologist and get back to me. The anesthesiologist's office called me. They referred me to a pain management clinic. I was going to get in that day... and if I had this blood patch, I'd be better immediately. (That made the whole process seem worth doing again.)

Anyway, I started calling the pain place around 10 a.m. I left messages. I called all three places back at least twice trying to get myself an appointment. Nothing. No one would call me back. Meanwhile, my head is throbbing, my neck is killing me and I'm feeling emotional and rejected because I can't get these people to call me back.

Finally, around 3 p.m. it was clear I wasn't getting this taken care of that day. The idea that I was going to spend another night like the one before wrecked me. Adam called in the midst of my breakdown and I told him no one would call me back. He said, "Give me the number." I'm torn because I don't want to be that annoying person that keeps calling (the receptionist at this pain place wasn't particularly nice to me...) but I know I need some answers.

On his first try he gets through to the woman who I'd left a message for hours earlier. First try. Makes me an appointment for the following morning first thing. Just like that. I'm equal parts thankful and torked off that seriously - why wouldn't anyone answer MY calls?

Anyway - I finally get into this pain place in the morning and I tell them what's been going on. Adam had told them about our anesthesiologist who gave me the epidural and it turned out she'd been up the whole night before with a sick kid (no wonder she was yawning and slurring her words...) but after assessing my symptoms he came to the conclusion that it wasn't epidural related. It was a pulled muscle. I believe the conversation went something like this:

Doc: Let's face it, you're no spring chicken to be having kids - not with all these 14 year olds I see come through here... it's actually called 'elderly postpartum.'

Me: Did you just call me elderly??

Apparently my 31 years put me at risk for too much strain on my neck. The treatment? Drugs. Lots of drugs. Considering that I'm the biggest prude you can imagine, this treatment wasn't exactly ideal, but I figured I needed something.

The muscle relaxer is the killer. It totally messes me up - and how do you feed a newborn when you're on muscle relaxers? Thank God for Adam - he fed Sam three feedings in a row starting at 11 p.m. and ending at 6 a.m. (with one in the middle) for two nights in a row. And I soon realized the muscle relaxer wasn't going to work for me.

In fact, none of the drugs are really working for me... leaving me wondering if perhaps I really DO have some sort of puncture and fluid leak.

I just thank God that Sam is such an easy baby. He wasn't particularly easy last night, but as a general rule, this is one easy baby... and if he wasn't, I do not know how I would've gotten through the past two weeks of pain.

Incidentally, Samuel means "God has heard..." and I have to say... He did hear. He heard my prayer that this baby would be a good sleeper (Ethan wasn't), a good eater (Sophia wasn't), peaceful, content, happy... and of course, completely healthy. God heard.

And I know God can heal this problem with my neck and head. Sometimes he's the best doctor to rely on...

I've got some new pictures to post, but I'm on the laptop so it'll have to wait until later. I'm just a wee bit too lazy to get up and take care of it right now.

Hope you had a great weekend. :)

Comments

[Bridgette Mehlig]

Courtney,
I'll really be praying about your neck and head. - = : ) But I know that I know that you're going to be totally fine ! Keep standing strong lady ! You're a prayer warrior ! ! ! -= : ) Sam is SUCH a good baby. It was really nice to see you and him on Sunday morning. Thanks for letting me hold him ! I loved it ! Have a great day and I'll talk to you soon. Lots of love. *

[catherine feegel-erhardt]

again... tell your husband...
"I LOVE HIM!"...
he is my hero!
sorry about your neck.. and the pain...sorry about the lack of quality medical care....
DON"T suffer! Go to the ER if you have to! UGH! I hate the way we get treated at doctors' offices! I hope you feel much better very soon! Go with your instincts! Call the anesthesiologist's office back!
Get your husband to call.. he can make things HAPPEN!

[julie]

that's awful, court!

sorry about the neck and back pain. i can't imagine trying to endure that with the wee runs running around and the new baby.

adam is great! love him.

i havent' forgotten about your email. just haven't had the umph to respond.

long story.

love you very much...

[Cyndi Hoehn]

I don't know if you are close to another medical facility or not, but you should try calling them. I know that insurance can be a pain, but it may be the lesser of the two "pain" evils. Again, I am so sorry for your troubles! This is supposed to be one of the most precious and joyous times in life! I will pray for healing for you and look forward to seeing the new pictures =)

[Cyndi Hoehn]

oh, I forgot - you are not OLD!!!! I will turn 31 on the 22nd and I would so not appreciate being called elderly!!! Can I just say that that really STUNK????

[MelissaC]

Courtney -- I will be praying for you to heal! As for the Dr's comment just know that I was considered Advanced Maternal Age at 35 years old! :-) Again hugs and prayers to you!!

[Sherry Wright]

Oh, I'm so sorry you're in pain Courtney. Many P&PT's it passes quickly. ((hugs)) And you are so NOT elderly!! ;0)

[Bridgette Mehlig]

Courtney,
OMG I totally forgot to tell you. About the doctors comment. I was just in total AWE ! lol. I mean I would definetly not say something to someone. Especially someone as sweet and kind as you ! But that was really rude. I'm really sorry that had to happen. But just forget about it. Because we both REALLY know it's TOTALLY NOT TRUE ! Seriously you are SO NOT ! Have an awesome day and I'll see you soon ! All my love to you and your family ! Love you!!! - = * )

[~*Dawn (rn4jchrist)*~]

oh courtney!
Im so sad that you have to be going through this at such a time as this..
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Stay strong and try to relax. hugs,

[kendra]

Hope you find some answers soon Courtney.

[Jenny P]

My goodness....you poor thing! Congrats on the birth of Samuel btw, but ((((hugs)))) with the pain. I had the spinal headache with #2 and had to have the blood patch thingie. It is true that it is instant relief. I don't remember having any neck pain as much as an excruciating headache if I sat up. I was OK if completely horizontal....but that doesn't work when you just had a baby! I do remember the anesthesiologist (sp?) saying that the headache would/should go away on its own in 10-14 days, but that it could be debilitating in the meantime. So I opted for the blood patch. So I don't know if this info. helps you any, but I sure hope you're able to find some relief....fast! And I would check back with a doctor (maybe a different one) if there's no improvement very soon. Best of luck to you!