Psalm 138:7
New Living Translation
(NLT)
7 Though I am surrounded by troubles,
you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand,
and the power of your right hand saves me.
you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand,
and the power of your right hand saves me.
For four months now I have been suffering with a headache
when I’m not lying down. This appears to be the result of my bout with West
Nile Virus (WNV). The hospital did several lumbar punctures to diagnose the
disease. After seeing numerous doctors who were simply clueless as to how to
solve the issue, I was finally referred to Dr Olivo, a neurologist.
When I described my symptoms to him, his eyes lit up, and he
said, “It’s undoubtedly a cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF) at a lumbar puncture
site.” I had come to the same conclusion after reading the Internet. Apparently
the fact that the headache and other symptoms disappear when I lie down is
characteristic of a CSF leak.
Dr Olivo went right to work to get the various preliminary
tests done and then get me into the hospital to have the patch done. Results
are supposed to be immediate, so the patch is an outpatient procedure. The
radiologist who administered the patch had me lie down for a half hour
afterwards and then had me get up and dress. Of course he inquired if I felt
better.
I walked around a bit, somewhat bewildered. The room swayed
from left to right as I turned my head. I needed to hold onto something in
order to walk straight. My entire head ached from my shoulders on up. Not only
was I not better, I was also a lot worse.
There was the hope that it would clear up over time. That
hope never materialized. I was sorely disappointed but not discouraged or depressed.
By chance I had read the promise in the verse above the very morning of the
procedure. I sensed as I read the promise that I might need its comfort that
very day, though I certainly hoped not.
God has brought me through alive from the very deadly WNV
after 9 weeks in hospital and rehab. There are some lingering areas where I
haven’t fully recovered besides the CSF leak. The literature suggests that
healing from the WNV usually takes at least a year. So I have a while to go
yet.
Thank You, Lord, for
the promise that Your mighty right hand will save me in the very midst of my
troubles.
#CALIFORNIA, #IE, #PSALMS, #BIBLEPROMISE, #WESTNILEVIRUS,
#HEADACHE, #NEUROLOGY, #LUMBARPATCH, #DEPRESSION, #CEREBROSPINALFLUID,
#CSFLEAK, #MEDICALFAILURE, #HEALING
[i] Picture from http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/normantranscript.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/e0/1e07211b-16d6-5bef-ba77-3e091c456d63/58713d2bb304f.image.jpg
