ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Post-Treatment => Topic started by: kaitysmom on January 18, 2011, 12:36:52 pm
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I've heard folks on here talk about CSF leaks anywhere from a few days after surgery to years. Not sure if this is a leak or a "freak occurence". I'm 8 weeks post surgery and while eating my lunch I began to choke/cough so hard that my head felt like it was going to explode then the bloody nose started. This has never happened before. I was told in the hospital that if I had a continual runny nose or fluid leaking from my ear that was a CSF leak. I've had a runny nose periodically but only since I started back to work after the new year. Then I chalked it up to coming back into an office environment where everyone seemed to have a cold.
Has anyone had this before? I have called the doctor just to be sure I'm not going crazy. I am hoping it's more of a freak incident rather than a leak.
Jody
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Hi Jody, Doubtful it is a leak. You possibly have a very dry nose which can happen in winter and the irritation of the cough set the bleeding off. One can have a runny nose but it isn't a leak. My surgeon states a leak as when you bend over for a time the fluid comes as a drip out of the nose and can catch some like a drip of water coming from a faucet,then is a leak. I did have a leak in 2006 2 weeks post op and it did act this way. I do get a runny nose on one side from eating and the other if get too warm when active but it doesn't drip. I recently had a cold and one side ran once I was over it for a few days and of course made me nervous but no drip. it has quit now. One should ask your dr if continues or feels like things are not right. I personally never had any salty taste or headache when I did have the leak. Some do with it.
Cheryl R
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Hi Jody, I kinda doubt its' csf also, I would try a salin/water mix to mostin the nasal passages, you can pick it up at any Walgreen's. I am still in a battle with csf leaks, mine never came out of my nose, only out of the incision site. I also use musinex to deal with bad sinus. Hope it helps
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Jody ~
Although I'm not a nurse like Cheryl or had to deal with stubborn CSF leaks like Mark, my inexpert opinion is that what you experienced is probably not a CSF leak. I assume your doctor will confirm that supposition. I also hope that the runny/bloody nose situation can be easily remedied. Please let us know how this all works out for you. Thanks.
Jim
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Hi Jody
I agree with Cheryl and Mark, my CSF leak was a constant drip and when I use to bend in the slightest it trickled out. It was the same texture as water and had a salty taste like tears. It was also constant and not periodic. I also had some really painful headaches as well that was caused by the pressure changes in my head and I had never had ones that bad before.
Hope this helps a little
Jacqui
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Hi,
I had a leak after my first surgery in 2007. It was a small leak from my nose and was noticed when I would bend over to tie my shoes.
I went in to my doctor and was sent home with sinus meds. a few days later I developed mengentitus.
I also developed a new leak a month ago and had surgery to stop the leak. It didn't work and the leak was inside my ear and my ear swelled up.
So, I had to have a shunt install and all is well not. I hope
Your doctor should be able to take a sample of the fluid and send it to the lab. Mine did the second time.
Good luck.