i'm praying for you both carrie.

CarrieMpls said:

Since a few of you have asked…

My boyfriend and I still don’t have a diagnosis for his health issues. We won’t get a definitive answer until April 5^th when he meets with his neurologist again. To catch you up, his spine and brain MRIs had findings that could indicate MS but now we need to wait for the results of his lumbar puncture (spinal tap), which we’ll hear about at that next appointment.

His lumbar puncture was this past Friday and the procedure itself went great, but the after effects have been really difficult. He got a severe headache the next day (which is the most common side effect) and when it wasn’t gone the following morning after lots of rest and ibuprofen the doctor told us to head into the ER. We spent all Sunday there and he had a bad reaction to the migraine medication they gave him – he wanted to rip out his IV and leave the hospital immediately and everything. It was pretty scary. So after giving him counteracting meds they sent him home with a prescription for stronger ibuprofen which kept the headache from being debilitating, but didn’t knock it out completely. He’s still having bad headaches and now having nausea on top of it. He had jury duty Monday and Tuesday and never got called on a jury so was able to basically lay down all day and do nothing in the courthouse. He was feeling a bit better last night and we went out to dinner and about half way through he felt awful again. He was unable to sleep through the night, up from 1-3:30 am, and still managed to make it into work but shortly after headed back home and his parents brought him to the ER again this morning.

He needs to have an epidural blood clot to stop his spinal fluid leaking and that should clear up his headache and nausea. The last update I got was that they were giving him anti-nausea medication and they didn’t know if they’d be able to schedule the epidural blood clot for him yet today.

It’s not natural for me to be a caretaker. I feel like I’m not very good at this. I feel utterly inadequate and wish there was more I could do to help him.

This sucks, you guys. Please give your loved ones a hug and be thankful for your health.

If it's any consolation, Carrie, I doubt your BF expects you to take care of him in any extraordinary way. He must know this is all quite foreign and scary to you as well. I'm sure your simply being there with him is as comforting as anything.

Lammastide said:

If it's any consolation, Carrie, I doubt your BF expects you to take care of him in any extraordinary way. He must know this is all quite foreign and scary to you as well. I'm sure your simply being there with him is as comforting as anything.

Thanks. Yeah, I know that rationally, I just have to keep reminding myself. He has been very sweet and has expressed his gratitude for me and my help throughout, so I need to remember that.

kimrachell said:

i'm praying for you both carrie.

Thanks, Kim.

CarrieMpls said:

Since a few of you have asked…

My boyfriend and I still don’t have a diagnosis for his health issues. We won’t get a definitive answer until April 5^th when he meets with his neurologist again. To catch you up, his spine and brain MRIs had findings that could indicate MS but now we need to wait for the results of his lumbar puncture (spinal tap), which we’ll hear about at that next appointment.

His lumbar puncture was this past Friday and the procedure itself went great, but the after effects have been really difficult. He got a severe headache the next day (which is the most common side effect) and when it wasn’t gone the following morning after lots of rest and ibuprofen the doctor told us to head into the ER. We spent all Sunday there and he had a bad reaction to the migraine medication they gave him – he wanted to rip out his IV and leave the hospital immediately and everything. It was pretty scary. So after giving him counteracting meds they sent him home with a prescription for stronger ibuprofen which kept the headache from being debilitating, but didn’t knock it out completely. He’s still having bad headaches and now having nausea on top of it. He had jury duty Monday and Tuesday and never got called on a jury so was able to basically lay down all day and do nothing in the courthouse. He was feeling a bit better last night and we went out to dinner and about half way through he felt awful again. He was unable to sleep through the night, up from 1-3:30 am, and still managed to make it into work but shortly after headed back home and his parents brought him to the ER again this morning.

He needs to have an epidural blood clot to stop his spinal fluid leaking and that should clear up his headache and nausea. The last update I got was that they were giving him anti-nausea medication and they didn’t know if they’d be able to schedule the epidural blood clot for him yet today.

It’s not natural for me to be a caretaker. I feel like I’m not very good at this. I feel utterly inadequate and wish there was more I could do to help him.

This sucks, you guys. Please give your loved ones a hug and be thankful for your health.

I know this feeling so well. But as Lammastide says, simply being there is as comforting as anything. Your BF knows you'd do anything for him - if anything could be done. Give yourself a break. (Easier said than done, I know.)

CarrieMpls said:

Since a few of you have asked…

My boyfriend and I still don’t have a diagnosis for his health issues. We won’t get a definitive answer until April 5^th when he meets with his neurologist again. To catch you up, his spine and brain MRIs had findings that could indicate MS but now we need to wait for the results of his lumbar puncture (spinal tap), which we’ll hear about at that next appointment.

His lumbar puncture was this past Friday and the procedure itself went great, but the after effects have been really difficult. He got a severe headache the next day (which is the most common side effect) and when it wasn’t gone the following morning after lots of rest and ibuprofen the doctor told us to head into the ER. We spent all Sunday there and he had a bad reaction to the migraine medication they gave him – he wanted to rip out his IV and leave the hospital immediately and everything. It was pretty scary. So after giving him counteracting meds they sent him home with a prescription for stronger ibuprofen which kept the headache from being debilitating, but didn’t knock it out completely. He’s still having bad headaches and now having nausea on top of it. He had jury duty Monday and Tuesday and never got called on a jury so was able to basically lay down all day and do nothing in the courthouse. He was feeling a bit better last night and we went out to dinner and about half way through he felt awful again. He was unable to sleep through the night, up from 1-3:30 am, and still managed to make it into work but shortly after headed back home and his parents brought him to the ER again this morning.

He needs to have an epidural blood clot to stop his spinal fluid leaking and that should clear up his headache and nausea. The last update I got was that they were giving him anti-nausea medication and they didn’t know if they’d be able to schedule the epidural blood clot for him yet today.

It’s not natural for me to be a caretaker. I feel like I’m not very good at this. I feel utterly inadequate and wish there was more I could do to help him.

This sucks, you guys. Please give your loved ones a hug and be thankful for your health.

Ugh, I can't imagine what you are going through. I'm sure your bf knows you are doing your best concerning him so just keep doing what you're doing.

Thanks you guys.

He was able to get the procedure done last night and headache was still gone as of this morning. He's resting at my house for the day and we hope life goes back to "normal" tomorrow.

Looking forward to the April 5th visit still, when we'll get some answers.

aaaaawww... much positive energy for you!!!

CarrieMpls said:

Since a few of you have asked…

My boyfriend and I still don’t have a diagnosis for his health issues. We won’t get a definitive answer until April 5^th when he meets with his neurologist again. To catch you up, his spine and brain MRIs had findings that could indicate MS but now we need to wait for the results of his lumbar puncture (spinal tap), which we’ll hear about at that next appointment.

His lumbar puncture was this past Friday and the procedure itself went great, but the after effects have been really difficult. He got a severe headache the next day (which is the most common side effect) and when it wasn’t gone the following morning after lots of rest and ibuprofen the doctor told us to head into the ER. We spent all Sunday there and he had a bad reaction to the migraine medication they gave him – he wanted to rip out his IV and leave the hospital immediately and everything. It was pretty scary. So after giving him counteracting meds they sent him home with a prescription for stronger ibuprofen which kept the headache from being debilitating, but didn’t knock it out completely. He’s still having bad headaches and now having nausea on top of it. He had jury duty Monday and Tuesday and never got called on a jury so was able to basically lay down all day and do nothing in the courthouse. He was feeling a bit better last night and we went out to dinner and about half way through he felt awful again. He was unable to sleep through the night, up from 1-3:30 am, and still managed to make it into work but shortly after headed back home and his parents brought him to the ER again this morning.

He needs to have an epidural blood clot to stop his spinal fluid leaking and that should clear up his headache and nausea. The last update I got was that they were giving him anti-nausea medication and they didn’t know if they’d be able to schedule the epidural blood clot for him yet today.

It’s not natural for me to be a caretaker. I feel like I’m not very good at this. I feel utterly inadequate and wish there was more I could do to help him.

This sucks, you guys. Please give your loved ones a hug and be thankful for your health.

God, Carrie, how horrible.