HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Got C-section On With Preeclampsia. Started Feeling Sleepy, Sensitive Ear And Headache. Is This Normal?

default
Posted on Fri, 19 Oct 2012
Question: i got c-section on 9/17 with pree-clampsia, left hospital on 9/20, then back to hospital on 9/23 - 9/25 cuz high blood pressure, they send me home cuz nothing concern, afterthat , i got the headache(weird,empty,heavy feeling) from neck to head
i feelsleepy all the time, everytime i try to sleep, i get waken by the itching throat, especially when im about to fall asleep, and other problem is my head and ear feel weird, (buring, empting,heavy or i dont know how to decride) the doctor said cause by medicine, i cut back on medicine and it disappare, but then itcame back since last night, i told my ob and she said she doest know why,as long as my BP is normal, maybe jusy my feeling or hormone, i was on manesium for over24hours,after that, i got this headache (not hurt much but heavy, weird, uncomforble feeling from neck,ear,head) my ear feel sensetive, is that normal? is there anyway to help with all these problem, im trying to sleep asmuch as i can, everytime i lay down and sleep for a lil bit, i feel very tired that dont even wana wake up, but i cant really fall asleep,do i have to keep taking motrin even tho my incision not hurting? i have been coughing (ititchingsometime and have musplus) is that normal during recover)after c-section?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sadiq Mughal (3 hours later)
Hello,

Thanks for question and thanks for your detailed history.

The last question you asked is this normal during recovery after LSCS? - The answer is No, not at all.

From the detailed history you provided you problems seem to be multidimensional. A few conditions which I can think of are:
1. This might be a continuation of your pre-eclamsia in post partum period, an entity known as post partum pre eclampsia. Here the sign and symptoms of pre eclampsia continue in post partum period up to six weeks.
2. The second reason could be a post spinal head ache which occur due leakage of CSF and trauma to dura after spinal anaesthesia; but you have not mentioned in history which type of anaesthesia you received for your LSCS.
3. Third possibility could be side effect of magnesium therapy; as magnesium produces symptoms of central nervous system depression like lethargy, confusion, disorientation, anorexia, nausea and vomiting. These side effects occur at serum concentration of 4 -4 meq/l.
4. Fourth could also be post delivery headache which is also known entity.
5. It could be postpartum psychosis
6. Finally it could be combination of two reason described above.

I advise you to consult some neurologist. He/she can examine you and narrow down the aforementioned possibility and accordingly manage the symptoms.

I Hope I answered your question. For any further query you may write back to me.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Sadiq Mughal (58 minutes later)
they did the cat scannot sure the name) and everything turn out fine,when i left the hospital, they said everything is under control, after that, i went to my ob for another check up after lef the hospital days later, they confirm everything is fine, no need to take any medicine , wont be any appointment util 6 weeks later once im recover, they said they said it may be from the epidural ad the magnesium, my headache ad sensertive ears started after i ws on magesium for over 24hours in the hospital, they said, as long as my blood pressure is not over 140/90, everything should be fine, i check my blood pressure every day at home, it is good
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sadiq Mughal (9 hours later)
Hello, thanks for your follow up.

You ruled out spinal anaesthesia as a cause of your head ache. Epidural anaesthesia doesn't cause headache and other symptoms unless one of its complication which is accidental dural puncture occurs.

Your CT scan was done. You also did not specify which part of the body was scanned. Did they do the CT of your head to rule out small petechial hemorrhages which occur in pereclamptic patient especially during normal labor. Those petechial hemorrhages can be responsible for symptoms like that of yours. Discuss with your treating doctor.

From the outset based on your description as explained in my answer this could be due to magnesium or combination of two factors. Magnesium deficiency seems more likely and they will settle down once level of magnesium decreases in your blood. Till then if you cannot get appointment from neurologist, you can take analgesic for your head ache.

I hope I answered your question .For any further query you are welcome to write back.

Get well soon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Sadiq Mughal (2 hours later)
so, what u mean is it will go away on it own even without goig back to the hospital? ifyes, how long is that usually take
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sadiq Mughal (14 hours later)
Hello thanks for your follow up.

As I mentioned in the my answer initially that you should consult Neurologist to establish the cause of your symptoms, as your physical examination is very important in establishing the cause of your symptoms.

You can take analgesic for relief of your symptoms till you can get appointment from neurologist. Now your query is that, will your symptoms will go on its own or you need to go to Hospital.

As I elaborated in my answer that your symptoms seems most likely from magnesium therapy, and once the level of magnesium in your blood comes to normal. Your symptoms if due to magnesium, will settle down of itself. But if some other factor is involved then it need to be addressed. That is the reason I asked to consult neurologist.

Hope I addressed your query. For any further clarification you are welcome to write back.

I wish you early recovery.

Get well soon.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Sadiq Mughal (8 hours later)
im having all answer from the neurologist, he said all the symtoms are common after delivery , or c-section, i also went to check w my doctor this earlier , having a lil ear effusion, she said the headaches is normal after all stuffs and meds i gone through
i just went to check with my doctor, she said i have alil ear effusion, im still waiting on my OB see if i can take sudafed or not because i gotpree-clampsia before, they affair it will affect my blood pressure , my ob havent get back to me yet, so will it be ok to take that?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sadiq Mughal (7 hours later)
Hello
Thanks for your feed back.
So it was your physical examination which established the cause of your symptoms.
I would like to answer your last question, to refresh your knowledge, although you have got answers of all your questions.
The sudafed is pseudo ephedrine that is nasal decongestant. It shrinks the blood vessels and can increases the blood pressure. It is also secreted in breast milk and may harm nursing baby.
So it's not good for you.
Since you don't have any further question, please close the discussion.
Get well soon
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Sadiq Mughal (29 minutes later)
i dont breastfeed anymore, and my ob got back to me saying i can take the sudafed, either the 6 hours or 12 hours one, since im not taking any medicine, im really uncomforble with my ears that i cant sleep at all, even they said i can take that, if the blood pressure go up, i have to let them know, but im affair to take it, because i dont want to g back to the hospital again,so what is the other good advise?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sadiq Mughal (25 minutes later)
Hello,

Thanks for your feedback.

If you do not breast-feed your baby, you can go for sudafed, as now it is your 16th postoperative day. There are less chances that sudafed will increase your blood pressure to the level that you may require hospitalization, however keep daily record of you blood pressure.

You have ear effusion, sudafed will decongest your ear that will give you relief from headache, as well as give you sound sleep.

Hope your problem has been addressed and if you do not any further question, close the discussion, accept the answer and write review.

Get well soon.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sadiq Mughal

Critical Care Specialist

Practicing since :1992

Answered : 1661 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Got C-section On With Preeclampsia. Started Feeling Sleepy, Sensitive Ear And Headache. Is This Normal?

Hello,

Thanks for question and thanks for your detailed history.

The last question you asked is this normal during recovery after LSCS? - The answer is No, not at all.

From the detailed history you provided you problems seem to be multidimensional. A few conditions which I can think of are:
1. This might be a continuation of your pre-eclamsia in post partum period, an entity known as post partum pre eclampsia. Here the sign and symptoms of pre eclampsia continue in post partum period up to six weeks.
2. The second reason could be a post spinal head ache which occur due leakage of CSF and trauma to dura after spinal anaesthesia; but you have not mentioned in history which type of anaesthesia you received for your LSCS.
3. Third possibility could be side effect of magnesium therapy; as magnesium produces symptoms of central nervous system depression like lethargy, confusion, disorientation, anorexia, nausea and vomiting. These side effects occur at serum concentration of 4 -4 meq/l.
4. Fourth could also be post delivery headache which is also known entity.
5. It could be postpartum psychosis
6. Finally it could be combination of two reason described above.

I advise you to consult some neurologist. He/she can examine you and narrow down the aforementioned possibility and accordingly manage the symptoms.

I Hope I answered your question. For any further query you may write back to me.

Regards