ANOTHER POSSIBILITY?
The doctor wanted to start with other, less severe possible causes, such as my sinuses. ("CSF leak" wasn't brought up again until a few visits later.) I was sent to a Radiology Lab for a CT ("cat") scan of my head and sinuses. The results came back saying that there was all kinds of "stuff" up in my sinuses. Where there was supposed to be air pockets, there weren't any. They were full of "stuff" and sinus "muck."
The CT was followed by a scope up my nose to take a look. I thought my brain was going to leak right out of my head, because it seemed like the doctor was able to put 20 feet of this scope tube up my nose. I had expected it to hurt like hell, but it didn't. Prior to the scoping, my nose was sprayed with numbing solution that dripped down my nose into my throat and tasted absolutely horrible. That was the worst part of the procedure.
After being told I had a "deviated septum," it was suggested to me that a sinus surgery would clean out all that "stuff." I was so miserable. I had been told for years that it was "just my sinuses," and I really wanted it to be "just" that. (I mean, who WANTS a crack in their skull?) I was eager to agree and wanted that doctor to do whatever was necessary just so I could sleep & breathe again and stop dripping. Immediately, if possible. ("Good." I think. Sinuses vs. CSF leak. I'll take the sinusitis. Right?)
So, I consented to the surgery and had it performed shortly thereafter.
TIP NUMBER ONE: No matter how bad things are, no matter how terrible you feel, always, always, ALWAYS get a second medical opinion!!!
SURGERY DAY
Fall 1997. Surgery Day arrived and I was off to the hospital. I went in with the understanding that this was to be an "outpatient" surgery, and it may or may not fix the problem. As I said before, I was so miserable for so long I just wanted relief. At just about any cost. (I later discovered that there would be lots to pay...)
What I did NOT expect was waking up and coming out of the anesthesia not being able to breathe thru my nose at all. (Enter the 2nd panic attack of my life.) What was not explained to me (and I wish it had been), was that when I came out of the anesthesia, my nose would be filled with a gauze packing which made breathing impossible. You're groggy to begin with, and then you're gasping for air... NOT a good feeling. Suffice it to say that the following week was the worst! Personally, I do not recommend sinus surgery for anyone. It's miserable and, guess what? The muck just comes back anyway!
ON THE MEND?
Well, for a short time after surgery, everything was right with the world. I could breathe. So well in fact, that it seemed that the air I breathed completely filled my head.
Then it happened.
I bent over to pick something up and... drip, drip, drip. "IT" had returned. So, back to the doctor for more tests. I was then told that we needed to do some specific tests to find out if what I had really was a "CSF Leak."
Needless to say, these scared the hell out of me. I agreed to get the "high resolution CT scan," but decided to hold off on the "lumbar puncture." (The "lumbar" I could handle, but the "puncture" part of it just didn't sit well with me.)
So, I was off for another CT scan. Nothing conclusive. But still, the clear watery drip from my nose continued. The doctor said I still needed this "lumbar puncture" test. When I asked if I could collect the fluid and send it out to be analyzed for this CSF stuff, I was told a large amount needed to be collected. A visit or two later, I was given a test tube and told to collect 3cc's early in the morning and have it back by the end of the day so it could be sent off for testing.
I decided it was time for a second opinion. When I confessed to my doc that I was getting a second opinion and asked for my records, I was told by the doctor that all doctors in the field of Otolaryngology were highly specialized and that they "all received the same schooling," etc. etc. etc. Time to get that second opinion right away! (By the way, they do NOT all get the "same schooling.") When I got my records, the initial pre-surgery CT scan was missing! I was told by the doctor's office that it had been "misplaced." Hmmm...
So, with what was left of my medical records in hand, I was off for a second opinion. The doctor I met was nothing short of incredible.