Patient Stories Head and Neck Brain and Nervous System Ear, Nose, Throat

Her Runny Nose Turned Out To Be A Brain Fluid Leak

May 14, 2018

Kendra Jackson spent the last few years trying to get relief for her chronically runny nose. But everywhere she went, she was told it was because of allergies. "I just knew it wasn't right," Kendra said. "I would wake up in the morning and my pillows, nightgown and sheets would be soaked. I could barely sleep and had horrible headaches. There were times it was so bad I considered suicide."

Christie Barnes, MD, repairs Kendra's CSF leak during surgery

But in March of 2018, she paid a visit to the ENT team at Nebraska Medicine. It was Carla Schneider, PA, who suspected it was much more than allergies. "Just based on her description of the amount of drainage she was having I knew that wasn’t normal and wasn’t typical for any type of allergic rhinitis," said Carla. "We keep it on the list for things to always consider. Even though it’s not very common, it is something that happens." A cerebrospinal fluid leak is dangerous for several reasons, one of them being the possibility of bacteria entering the brain and causing something potentially dangerous like meningitis.

Nebraska Medicine surgeons repair Kendra's CSF leak

Once the diagnosis was confirmed, rhinologist Christie Barnes, MD, and neurosurgeon Dan Surdell, MD, patched the leak using some of Jackson's own abdominal tissue during a brief surgery. Doctors told Jackson she was losing more than 16 ounces of fluid a day because of the leak. Today, the leak has been patched and Jackson is feeling much better, despite some nagging headaches that are lingering from the issue. Dr. Surdell is still seeing Kendra to help her get rid of that issue.