update

[Starlyght24]

I have been posting on here off and on since 2012.  I am 33 years old. I just recently got a new ms doctor that I really like.  He looked my brain mri.  He stated that some...not all...and not most of the lesions in my brain are the size, shape, and location of ms lesions. I have greater than 20 lesions in my brain.

I have no real ms symptoms. I am going next week for a lumbar puncture and VEP testing. I am really nervous about the lumbar though as I have never had one.

I am just glad that more testing besides mri scans are finally being done.

How long does it usually take to get results back?

[zerodegrees]

I am so glad you are feeling better.

Happy to hear he will continue to follow you closely. I hope that you have no further issues.

[Starlyght24]

My headache is finally gone!!!  That was rough!!  My lumbar tests were normal which of course my doctor said that it doesn't rule out MS but it's also not ruled in.  I am going today for my VEP testing.  Basically if this come back normal my dr is going to see me again for another check up in 4 months and just keep an eye on me.

[SarahL2491]

It seems the LP affects everyone differently.  I laid down for an hour, drinking a coke, and then drove home, guess was lucky!  My neuro did it in his office, and although I have MS, I had no O bands.

[Ab_ms]

Hi. When I had my lumbar puncture I had severe headaches for nearly 3 weeks. They did eventually pass :) hoping yours get better soon. I couldn't stand up the pain was that bad . I took xanax to sleep and drank lots of tea & coffee to help. And it took pain killers for the head ache.
It's a horrible procedure ...if you get all the after symptoms but in hoping your headaches will get better quick
My diagnosis was also because of dizzy symptoms and pins and needles shooting down my spine. As well. And Ithey foundhad active lesions. On my brain through MRI..
Igope your symptoms get better  soon
Ab_ms

[HVAC]

It took me over two weeks to get over the headache it did get a little better ever day.I drank a case of startbuck double shot expresso. My GP gave me percocept because they would not do a blood patch.

All my MS damage is from when I was two years old to seven. I grew up with my symptoms so I did not know they were MS symptoms. I went neurologist many times growing up so they knew I had something neurological they just never thought of MS. My GP was doing a yearly exam and found the MS doing a neuro exam.I had always flunked neuro exams but my GP thought is was MS. I thought all the doctors were crazy when they said I might have MS. Now I have realized I have had many MS symptoms besides my double vision all along. I had a hard time reading, finding words, losing things, and being forgetful. I was real smart so people thought I was lazy. I had migraines, depression, hand tremors, unexplained pain, I was clumsy  and had lots of falls. I remember not being able to walk when I was 7 I thought it was a bad flu. My MS has not really progressed since 2009 when I was diagnosed. I see my MS Specialist evry two years. I went for an eye exam yesterday. He said all the damage to my optic nerves was really old. They think I had Optic Neuritis as an infant so I don't remember it. I was hospitalized for Neurological problems as a toddler. I just remember the story, my family is dead so I can't ask.

Alex

[Starlyght24]

I was having headaches so they did a ct...ct came back abnormal so did an mri...mri came back abnormal and here I am.

My lumbar puncture results just came back and they were normal.  I am still having problems with the spinal headache. Dr said if it doesn't improve by tomorrow morning then I have to go in for a 2nd blood patch. I have been drinking tea and Mt dew!!

I am suppose to do my evoked potential testing on friday.

[kwarendorf]

Hi SL - Sorry your LP didn't go well.

As to RIS, I agree with ZD. Given that you have no MS symptoms, but lesions on you MRI, you are the text book case of radiologically isolated syndrome.

What lead to the MRI?

Kyle

[RB99]

Hi,
I was told to drink lots of caffeine after my LP. I lay down for a couple of hours afterwards and then got a cab home, The low pressure headache hit the next day and lasted a week. I drank lots of diet coke and tea and coffee for the whole week,  this bizarrely enough did help and take the edge off.

Feel better soon!

[zerodegrees]

Aww, you poor thing. I am so sorry you had the headache.  It happened to me too and the blood patch did help.

The RIS could stand for radiologically isolated syndrome. Which means you have MRI evidence of MS, but do not have symptoms. This makes sense as this is what you have described. I am guessing that you had the initial MRI for another reason and this was an incidental finding???

It seems most folks here have symptoms before the MRI evidence. For me, I had a lot of symptoms and a lot of MRI findings at diagnosis, so mine was quick and easy.

I hope you get some answers soon and feel better soon. Keep in mind that the LP is just part of the criteria for diagnosis. It does not automatically rule it in or out.

[Starlyght24]

I just had a lumbar puncture on Wednesday.....on the order form for my lumbar puncture it stated possible RIS.  I ended up  getting the horrible spinal headache.  I went in for a blood patch on Friday which was way worse than the LP itself.  My headache seems to be improving.  I am hoping to get my results this week.  I have to say though I don't think I ever want to do this procedure ever again!!  Very miserable!!

[Starlyght24]

I really don't have any major symptoms. ..which is why I haven't been diagnosed. ..since some of the lesions in my brain could be ms lesions my dr wants me to do these tests...As I am writing this I am at urgent care because of dizziness...I was at work it wouldn't go away...was suppose to work til 8pm...so now just waiting.  

[SarahL2491]

My neuro did mine in his office and I didn't feel anything except the novacaine in the beginning.

Bear in mind that not everyone shows bands in their fluid, mine were negative.

Drink lots of caffeine afterwards and try and lay down the first two hours afterwards; then I drove home.

You didn't state what your symptoms have been, do you mind sharing?

[immisceo]

The time it takes to get the results is highly variable. Some hospitals do them in house, others send them to external labs. It also depends on the resources they have and the demand. For what it's worth, mine took 6 weeks.

I'd also get the sedative. Also, I'd make sure it's not done by a new intern. The voice of experience...

[Starlyght24]

They told me I could get a sedative and think I am going to do that!!

[HVAC]

You can ask to get I.V. valiusm for the LP. I had it and do not remember it. I am not sure why others put people through The anxiety of LPs.

Alex