Stickit2Stage4

This past Monday morning was the Nerve Block procedure for what my Neurologist, Dr V said was Occipital Neuralgia.

I was extremely anxious beforehand and debated between taking Xanax or Ativan to relax me and make the procedure more bearable. Xanax won. About 45 minutes before we left I took it and then as I was about to walk out the door took another half because NEEDLES IN MY HEAD.

I didn’t see Dr V this visit. The Neurosurgeon, Dr C was doing the Block. He seemed nice enough and explained how it would all go. He told me that I would have the best luck if he did BOTH sides instead of just the right side. (OH MY GOD, WHAT??). I could feel my blood pressure rise and hear my heart beating in my head. 

I didn’t need to lay down. I just had to sit with my back to him, facing the door and bend my head down as if looking as my lap. He began moving my hair and parting it to find the spot he needed. He had me hold my hair for him as he wiped my scalp with alcohol. He hadn’t even hurt me yet but I could feel the tears coming. Then he said the most horrible thing ever…”Wow! This is a big needle!” He wasn’t being funny or trying to bring levity to the situation. He actually meant it. There was no stopping the tears now.

1…2…3…Poke! I cannot even accurately put into words the intense stabbing, stinging pain of that needle. He pushed it in deeper and then he turned it while it was in my head. All the while injecting the numbing medicine into the nerve. I couldn’t stop myself from yelling out in pain. Then he was done. With just the right side. 

Dr C gave me a few minutes to compose myself while he dabbed my head making sure there wasn’t much bleeding. Then the whole process began on the left side. I’m not sure why but the left side hurt even worse.

Thirty minutes from the time I walked into the Office from when I walked out and it was over. My entire head throbbed. My eyes were puffy from crying. I just wanted to go home.

I slept pretty much the rest of the day.

Wednesday morning the migraines started again and I’ve woken up with one every morning since. Pretty disappointing. 

Quite honestly, I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I don’t want to have my meds changed. None of the options were good and they all needed approval from my Oncologist. I should be thankful this is my biggest problem right now.

Next month, I’m off to Sloan for a check-up and then I help move Adam into his dorm!  

Go Yellowjackets!!