The scariest day of my life and what i am going through

To make a long story short it all happened on Friday!

I was on prac sitting in on appointments when my vision went blurry, then i got the most massive off all headaches. Had 2 neurofens.... didn't help.
I then got numb in my right arm, i felt really dizzy and faint, my tongue started swelling and my jaw got heavy, the next thing i remember the Ambulance has arrived and my BP was 180/100.

Rushed to hospital, and went for CT scan which came back ok.

Had lumber puncture - horrible horrible experience

Started showing signs of neurological improvement as previously my riight side was significantly weaker and apparently my right side of face was a bit droopy, and got sent home to have MRI as out patient.

BUT...............

Today back into hospital as it turns out i may have a lumber puncture headache!!! has anyone had one of them? i can't do anything! i have been laying down since friday night, i cant move without being in excruciating pain! and for someone with 2 little girls and someone who can't sit still for 5 mins this has been a very trying time for me.

Tomorrow is MRI day! has anyone had one? I am scared about the proceedure and what it might find!

I have been so worried about you!! I can't help you out with any info as I dont have a clue, but I hope it all goes well and you find some answers. xxx
Thinking of you and worrying about you xxx

:omg: you poor thing. Sounds very scary. :hug: I hope you are going to be okay and that the MRI gves you some answers. Thinking of you :hug:

:hugs: don't have much advice but I got a headache from the epidural and it was awful. Sounds like what you are experiencing is even worse.
Hope you get some answers tomorrow.

MRI is way easier than a lumbar puncture. It is mainly boring, but can be a bit claustrophobic. You have a mirror above your head that you can see out the end with. If i was getting a bit idgy, looking into the mirror to see outside helped.

hope you feel better soon.

How scary. I hope you get some answers and start feeling better real soon.
:hug:

GL for tomorrow.
xox

So scary!!! I hope you get some answers, but that it's nothing serious!!! :hug:

First off :hug: what a dreadful experience!

LP headaches are, unfortunately, relatively common. They don't tend to do much to treat them other than tell you to lay flat and give you some strong analgesia. It might take a few more days for the headache to resolve.

The MRI is a long tube thing that makes a heck of a lot of noise. You will be given headphones to block out the noise and you will be able to hear instructions through them. You have to stay very still at certain points. You can't fidget. It can be claustrophobic so if you have an issue with small spaces, let them know in advance. They usually give you a button to press incase you panic. If you do have issues with small spaces, they can sedate you if they have plenty of notice.

Honestly, I've had 2 MRI's now (for different things) and they are fine. No pain unless you get a sore back from being flat. It's just a noisy noisy experience. You won't get your results immediately - they will take a few days to write the report.

I hope they find the cause of your turn soon for you. It must have been extremely frightening!

:hug:

That is frightening! I hope that everything goes well tomorrow. Take care.

Oh goodness! You poor love. :hug:

Oh you poor thing, how scary! I hope they find the reason for it. Sorry I don't have any other advice :hug:

Oh no, that sounds exactly what I went though nearly 8 weeks ago.

Ive had 2 MRI's since, and has pp explained it can be noisy, vibrating sensation. I just closed my eyes, had headphones in and nearly slept!

Good luck :)

Oh btw, mine turned out to be migraines (but I too have the numbing sensation, droopy face, blurry vision etc)

how scary. Hope you get some answers. xx

I have had a similar experience about 8 weeks after my third son was born. Mine ended up being diagnosed as migraine also and now I take preventative medication daily otherwise end up with migraines twice a month. I had the headache after my lumbar puncture too and was told to just wait it out. Took about 5 days I think. Try to lie down and get the kids to come to you and get someone to deliver family movies and catch up on some quiet time. Hope your feeling better soon.

I'm really sorry you went through that and still have the worry of not knowing what is going on.

Did they make you lie down for hours after the LP? If not, they should have.

MRIs are great for picking up what other scans won't detect (in my experience). I really hope you can go to your happy place during the scan and that the wait for results is short. Waiting on medical test results can be the worst form of torture.

Thinking of you :hug:

Sent from my phone.

So sorry this is happening to you.

I hope that the MRI isn't stressful for you, that the headache goes away asap, and that the MRI is conclusive, and whatever it shows up is easily (and non-invasive-ly) treatable.

I've had one or two MRIs in the past, and they are completely non-scary.

It's a large white machine that looks like a great big white cylinder laying on its side, with a tunnel in the middle, with a raised ramp leading up to the tunnel.

There's a little tray on the ramp, which you lie on, and they wheel you in. It's not heaps of space, but there are microphones and cameras hooked up, so they can see and hear you, so if you feel uncomfortable, you can just tell them, and they will help you.

It takes a while because they do so many different images of whatever they're looking at - mine went for about 45 minutes, I think. It got boring, but I knew that the stiller I was, the more likely they'd get all their results from the first time and I wouldn't need to go it again another time ... It was a good incentive!

There's loud banging and clicking in the machine, as it does its thing ... the banging is at different intervals, and sounds slightly different here and there. Again, nothing scary or painful, just a bit annoying and boring.

I just tried to think of different things while I was in there ... ideas about a holiday or what to cook the next week, or plans for something to write, or what songs I would sing if I had to audition for Australian Idol tomorrow ... anything to keep my mind off it, and to pass the time.

I hope that answers your questions :hug:

oh my, how frightening! that sounds very scary xoxo

I have had an MRI like PP said the noise is terrible, really small space - but it is ok over and done with relatively quickly...

I hope your okay xoxo

:hug: how awful! Good luck with your MRI. Take it easy and I hope things are back to normal again soon.

hope your ok. hugs. xxx

Thanks heaps everyone :hug:

for all those that have had a MRI did you have to have the contrast dye? If i have too i am going to say no to it! i don't like the sound of it, and since my lumber puncture has had this bad result it would be just my luck that i have a reaction to the dye too!

My MRI is now also on wednesday night (guess it can't be that urgent) but now that is just more days i have to stress!

Have been having a major downer today and to be honest have had some bad thoughts! not being able to do anything but lay on my back is getting me depressed

I didn't have the contrast dye with the MRI, but I did with one of my Cat Scans.


Cat xox

ditto - as per Cat.

:hug:

it can be pretty depressing ... I wish there was something I could suggest, other than having people over, or whiling away the time with crappy TV and books ...

maybe learn sudoku or cryptic crosswords or something, to get your mind onto other things?

or stalk other BB'ers' blogs?

you can start with mine if you like ... it's nothing special, but it will keep you occupied, and keep your mind on other things :)

How scary, I'm so sorry you're in pain. The waiting is the worst.

Just wanted to wish you luck for Wednesday night *hug*

wow what a terrifying experience.

I really hope you are feeling better soon xox

No, you don't have contrast with an MRI.

If they're looking for blocked vessels, they are more likely to use contrast with a CT scan OR do an angiogram. Not an MRI.

Fear of the unknown is the worst. But in all honesty, the MRI is a noisy submarine. If you've ever been in a sub, you'll understand what I mean after Wed. It is a small space that makes lots and lots of noise. The duration will depend on how much they need to scan on you. My gastric one took about 20 min, my back took about 5.

The reaction to the lumbar puncture is a mechanical thing - your spine is objecting to the change in pressure, and that has lots of unpleasant knock-on effects.
The MRI contrast agent if it is used is NOT put into your spine - it's given in an IV. So there shouldn't be any pressure change associated with it.
Hope all goes OK.

What a horrible experience, you poor thing! I hope you're starting to feel a little better, good luck with the mri

Feeling a tad better today, have managed to stand long enough to wash my hair :)

MRI tonight at 1935 :)

Glad you're feeling a little better. Hope the MRI goes well and that you get some answers.

Take care *hugs*

Good luck tonight - I was supposed to have the iv/dye with my first MRI but being pregnant they just did the scan on its own.

How did u go with MRI


Cat xox

i hope you get some answers huni xx

MRI came back all good :) so they are now thinking that i either had a blod clot that has passed or a blood vessel in the brain spasm (had a big word but cannot remember it)

and today i am feeling almost back to normal :) so i am hoping it never happens again! ever!

fantastic xoxoxo

Huzzah!!!

I was so worried about you.

Great news!

Glad you are feeling better. Sounds like it was very scary

Awesome news! You must be so relieved.