Part 2

So... after Jacks' birth, I walk over to my postpartum room. We are on cloud nine. We have a healthy baby with 10 fingers and 10 toes. Our daughter is healthy and happy. Our life is amazing, we are so blessed!

Then... the headache from HELL hits. I think, "Wow, I must be just having a hormone rush or something. This will pass." Two Vicodin later, still intense. I lay down, and this horrible, horrible headache magically disappears. I sit up, and I think the world is going to end my head hurts so bad. "What is going on?!"

Answer: A Spinal Headache. The dura area of my spine was 'nicked' from the epidural creating this headache.

I had to have a blood patch (blood removed from my arm and inserted into my spine) to help patch the area. This relieved the pain immediately. Life was good again. I got right up after my hour of bed rest and ate lunch in the cafeteria with my daughter, Dad, and friend. I was discharged later that day.

Then... the headache returned the NEXT morning (Monday). We had a 8am doctor's appointment for Jack (routine post-hospital visit). Elayna needed to be at school. But Nick and I are like a well-oiled machine; dressing and getting two kids ready for the day. I was in pain, but thought it can't be... no it's not... it must be just a normal headache. I take two more Vicodin. Nothing, no relief. We dropped off E at pre-school and headed to our doctor's appointment for Jack. My headache was so severe, I could not complete the paperwork for my son or undress him for the doctor. I had to sit down because I felt like I was going to throw up. I did not let this ruin his first appointment... I still took pictures to document this event.
On the way home I almost threw up, and once home, crashed into bed. Alas, the headache was gone. "You have got to be kidding me!" The blood patch doesn't work in 5% of people... I am in that lucky 5%.

I still thought maybe this will pass. Who was I kidding? But in my "Polly-Anna" mind set, I hope against hope it will. No luck. Tuesday we went to the ER at Banner Thunderbird, and I had my second blood patch done. We had to wait for the doctor to complete a case which took a few hours. Oh yea, my milk came in while we are waiting. I go from a size C to a DD (possibly E) in a matter of hours. Jack was at home with my parents, and they supplemented with Simalac formula while I was away. My chest feels like a million pounds of milk and pain. The only relief from my headache is to lie flat. So I lie flat, with a all this weight from my chest crushing me. What fun! Finally, I had the blood patch done, and I experience relief right away. I get to go home, and Jack nurses... thank you, Jesus!

So, now I am back to being a Mom of two loving my new little world, headache free!
Back to life...