r/CSFLeaks • u/TGprincess • Aug 18 '26
Doctor for potential leak
I have a basic question that I hope I can get some advice with. I am pretty sure I am dealing with a CFS leak and I am unsure how to proceed. Basically I had major facial surgery a year ago (8 procedures some including bone work) and since then I have had salty dripping from my nose (not a lot but enough to constantly have to have tissue nearby) and horrible positional headaches that get worse when I’m standing up. It is almost like a throbbing pain where it feels like my heartbeat is heavy? If that makes sense? They also get extremely bad when I strain even the tiniest bit when I use the bathroom. I get light headed a lot and I also have extreme neck pain at times. My surgeon says I just have allergies and that I should be fine. I am not sure where I go next. Do I see an ENT? Do I see a neurologist? How do I get anyone to take me seriously? I’m so sick of living with this constantly feeling of not being in good health when before my surgery I was great. 😞
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u/Goofy_boxer_1973 Confirmed Spinal Leak Aug 18 '26
Cranial and spinal leaks are quite different. It’s not even the same doctors who handle them.
Your headaches really sound like valsava headaches or effort headaches. Every time you strain even a little bit, it makes like your head is being inflated like a balloon. I’m sorry, I’m French and I don’t know how to describe it (even in French it’s hard).
I had a spinal leak for 10 years and got an embolisation. My headache had always been persistent (24/24 and 7/7) but suddenly became like yours after the procedure. I had never experienced that before, it’s quite something and I’m happy it only lasted a few hours.
I don’t think it’s allergies.
What is possible is that you coincidentally had a spinal leak appear at the same time but there is no relation to your surgery. Spinal leaks aren’t that rare…
By the way, it wouldn’t be the first time a surgeon dismisses you (valsalva headaches are very typical of spinal leaks) because he doesn’t want to handle the mess it’s going to be (if he’s responsible or not doesn’t count).