thanks for all the info. i'm having it done at a hospital. they said i should be there for 4-6 hours after the lp and blood work. my hubby is going with me and some of our family and friends want to watch the little guy i just wasn't sure if it was needed but i guess i'll be kid free for the night.
thanks again for all the advise :) i'll keep ya'll posted with the results
hope everyone has a great weekend! fight night saturday and super bowl sunday!!
I've had 3 or 4 in the last 2 years, and I've noticed a lot of difference in the skill of the doctor. And one thing I'd say for sure - if they start having problems getting the fluid out, ask firmly that the doctor get radiological help guiding the needle in. I have very low CSF, which makes the procedure worse, and the last one they started with guidance and it was a breeze. Repeated efforts make the procedure worse, in my opinion. All in all, I think figuerpa is right - the thought is maybe worse than the procedure.
Given the headache risk, I'd have somebody pick up your 2 1/2 year old, in my opinion.
So what would the results tell them without the blood? I mean what do the levels for the IgG, IG ratio and IG Synthesis mean?
Addi
Not totally useless. They can still get IgG, IG Ratio and IG Synthesis. They just can not get OC Bands unless the blood goes with the CSF for Isoelectric Focusing.
Bob
Thanks Bob (and Paula for the pm). So this means my LP's were completely useless?
I was looking through my medical book yesterday and realized I didn't have copies of my LP results. I had two done within a two month timespan back in 06. I was told that both of them had negative results. How could they know that if they didn't take any blood?
CJ, I agree with the advise given to you. I am sure you will do fine. Make sure they take blood!! :)
Addi
I would have some one to help with the child. Have lots of caffeinated drinks on hand afterward. I bought a case of starbucks double shot expresso.
Alex
They have to draw blood to compare the oligoclonal bands in blood against the oligoclonal bands in CSF. It is the unique bands in the brain (CSF) that show that there is a different immune response going on in the central nervous system. Without the blood, they can not tell which bands are unique to the CNS.
Bob
My advice to you is to see if you can have someone help you out with the little one for at least 24 hours. They reccommend staying flat on your back for at least the rest of the day. There is no blood in your spinal fluid to clot up the hole from the needle so there is a chance for leaking. Not that this is the case for everyone, but it is better to err on the side of caution.
They numbed me and I didn't feel a thing. I was not aloud to drive myself home and was told to stay well hydrated, staying hydrated before and after the procedure will help to replenish the fluids they take from you.
Headaches are a very common problem with LP's so taking it easy for the day can help with that as well.
The scareist part of the LP is the thought of having it done. The actual procedure is not bad at all, well at least it wasn't for me.
good luck and take care,
Paula
What does it mean if you don't get the blood drawn? I didn't when I got my LP...
Addi
I guess it depends. I'm a big guy so the doc did mine sitting up in his exam room. Little pinch for the lidocaine, bend forward, a bit of pressure, then I kicked the wall. The needle was in the thecal space and he got his pressure reading and filled his 4 sample tubes. May have taken 10 min. No headache no fuss. Down the hall to have blood drawn because the have to compare the OC bands in the CSF against he bands in the blood. I left and drove home. No headache.
I know other have had different experiences. This was much better than the one I had as a teenager back in 1977. Well, less pain and fuss, but for all the trouble the foolish test came back with 0 bands, and normal values. That said, it didn't stop the Neurologist from diagnosing me. A positive LP supports a diagnosis. A negative LP just means you might be in that 10% that never develop OC-Bands.
Bob