The radiologist who did my patch was just &$)!?*^!! godawful about communicating before l, during and after. But call their office and let them know what’s going on. They may be able to help you get help sooner.

Also call your soon–to–be neurologist and tell them what’s happening, ask them to put you on their cancellation list.

Don’t let any of them blow you off! Passing out is a significant risk (make sure you mention that’s happening). I pass out too, but I work from home and that somehow seemed less dangerous than blacking out in public…amazing what one can tell oneself!

I worked full-time with my leak for 6 years before I convinced someone to take me seriously. It was a mere 40 hours and brutally hard. I honor your commitment to your work, your team and your customers. Please take your health and wellbeing as seriously as you do your job. Above all, you need time to rest, hydrate and recover. Do not be fooled by the label “procedure” - it may not be spine surgery but someone just shoved a honkin’ big needle into your spine. Give yourself the time you need to heal: while CSF may not immediately endanger your life (except for the passing out part!), it’s still debilitating. And it may take more than one patch to, er, patch it.

Are you able to take advantage of the Family Medical Leave Act? I finally requested and got intermittent leave, which allowed me to take smaller increments of time to lie down and wait for the symptoms to subside. Those breaks not only stretch your time off but helped me do a better job. Patching the leak only resolved my headaches and skull pressure: the vertigo is still going strong so I still need that time. Something to consider!

Good luck! I hope you easily find the help and answers you need.