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246236 tn?1275478902

1st Neuro Appointment

Well, I had my first neuro appointment yesterday morning.  The neuro said my mri's was pretty suggestive for MS.  He said the lesions in the brain could sometimes be explained away as something else, but that there's very few things that could cause the one on the cervical.  He is sending for a spinal tap and some bloodwork when I get back from my wedding.  He also started talking to me about treatment and actually said "This is probably the next direction will be going in" making it seem he's pretty sure I have it.  He said my exam tests (Babinski's, etc) looked pretty normal though, so that's good.  Right now though he has me down for "demyelination of the central nervous system" as a diagnosis.  Have you guys had a spinal tap?  I'm kind freaked out about it.  The neuro said it should hurt, but then I read online, and he various degrees of horror stories.  Is the tap pretty conclusive for knowing a clear diagnosis?  Well, the spinal tap is September 4th.  Right now I have a wedding to focus on!  MINE :)  We leave in the morning for Illinois and won't be back intil August 27th.  
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Avatar universal
Get your spinal tap done in a hospital if you can, as an outpatient.  They prep you better, keep you flat for 4-5 hours afterwards.  Good numbing, etc.  The actual issue with spinal tap or Lumbar Puncture is not the procedure but the possibility of getting a spinal tap headache afterwards.  So they way to prevent that is to lay flat after the procedure as long as you can and not exercise for a week and to avoid getting the area hot, like in a tub afterwards for a week.  Take a shower.  If you do get the headache ( you will know) go home immediately, lay down flat, perferably for the rest of the day/night.

Jon
Helpful - 0
220917 tn?1309784481
Hey!

What are you thinking about?  Go get yourself married!  Congratulations!  Enjoy yourself!  Your great doctor will be here when you get back.  Let him worry.  BTW -- I had a spinal tap.  Mine was decidedly uneventful.  I really only felt the ***** of the numbing shot.  Then a bit of pressure as they were drawing the fluid.  Others have had pretty traumatic ones, but we'll talk when you get back from your fabulous wedding.  Go enjoy it!

Feel well and take time to rest.  Fully enjoy your special day.

Zilla*
Helpful - 0
230625 tn?1216761064
It sounds like your neuro is pretty proactive, especially since he's talking treatment already!  

I had a spinal tap right after we got the abnormal MRI.   I didn't think it was that bad.  I did get a headache for a few days after, but that was because I didn't lay down enough after the procedure.  I was also told to drink lots of caffeine before and after.

My spinal tap came out completely normal, as did my office exam tests.  I have a suspicious brain lesion, so my neuro is pressing on.  Did you neuro say what his course of action would be if your spinal tap came out normal?

Now,.... forget about everything "MS" related and go enjoy your great wedding and honeymoon!   I'm so happy for you!!!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!  :-)

Take care!  Pat  :)
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