Hi everyone,
I had my Lumbar puncture on the 14th of march last week. I just wanted to report on my experience for people who may have to have this done in the future. It's not great but it not terrible. My DR first warned me of the risks involved and then said we would start by trying with me lead on my left side. If this failed I would have to sit up and try that why. He tried twice with me lead down, I did feel it and it felt like someone was pinching me inside my spinal area.
The second attempt hurt and he gave me more anesthetic (I'm very sensitive or immune to anesthetic so very normal for me to get more, my dentist always has to give me more). Then he asked me to move to the seated position and first time, he got it! After that he told me to lay down and rest for an hour, so I did and chatted with my husband. I felt ok, abit sore after but I was ok. After that I was allowed to go home and rest more. I did, I put myslef on bedrest and I did not get the headache at all, I also drank lots of water and coke to help. I did feel like someone hit me across the back after, but it was no big deal and by thursday I was feeling much better.
So to sum up on the LP, its not all that bad and you get to rest in bed for the rest of the day and if you are lucky like me, your dear husband will bring you food and drinks while you watch TV :).
As for the MRI's I got hold of the discs and I now know for sure with my own eyes that I have 9 lesions in my brain and 3 lesions in my spinal cord. I also have to patchy areas in the spinal cord if you really want to see it. They don't look too bad at the moment and I am doing alot better. I get alot of pseudo attacks after I work out or if I don't drink enough water or if I don't get enough sleep. The symptoms are minor though, just "pulsing" (anyone know what I mean?) its the weird buzzing feeling. I get it in my legs, feet and hands sometimes. and I get some numbness in my fingertips too.
I spoke to the Neuro when I was there about the fact that I have already ticked enough boxes for it to be MS (two attacks seperated in time and more than two lesions seperated in space). He said yes he has enough to diagnose me but needs to do the full work up with the blood tests and the LP. My next meeting is the 11th of April and I'm pretty sure I'm going to get clinically definite MS. I'm starting to cope with this better but sometime I still feel down over it or break down. Sometimes I ask stupid questions like why me?, or feel guilty for what this is/will do to my husband and family. I feel very sorry for him and them..... Anyway, sorry I drone just seemed to have alot to tell you all :) hope everyone is going great!!