I know some of you may think I'm crazy but I am having so much anxiety about my final CIDP test this Friday. It is the one I DREAD! A spinal tap. EEEKKKK!!! I go through constant pain every day but this spinal tap has got me freaking! All my other tests have come back pointing to CIDP. My neuro said I have almost no activity in my legs which was pretty depressing but then she gave me hope saying she thinks IVIG will really help me. We will see. I just have to get through this stupid spinal tap!
My spinal tap was done in the ER. I just remember feeling NOTHING and it did not seem to take long. I guess they told me to be still and I believe I was in a fetal position but not sure. Anyway it is not something to worry about, I promise.
mike
I did not feel a thing either. It was done in a clinic as an out patient procedure. They had some type of live xray machine they used when guiding the needle into the spine so they could see exactly where they were putting the needle. He numbed my back and I only felt pressure. It was a pretty quick procedure. I did not have any complications after either so I was glad. This was the test that cinched my diagnosis with increased protein in the lumbar fluid. I started IVIG almost right away and have had improvement ever since.
THANK Y'ALL SOOOO MUCH JMichaelS and chirpybirdy!!!! This does ease my mind some. I have to be at the hospital @7:15 but the procedure isn't until 10:30. Now I won't have to sit there and worry about what to expect. I hope mine goes as easy as yours did. ;)
I am sure it will. Doctors do this procedure very very frequently. There is a slight risk of a headache afterwards due to the small loss of fluid. But, it is an excellent diagnostic test. I've been on IVIG for 21 months. It has stopped the progression of CIDP.
I too was a bit aprehensive about the spinal tap but like the others who commented I have nothing bad to say about it , It was over pretty quickly and was not as scary as I thought . I did get the spinal fluid leakage afterwards causing the headache though and needed a blood patch to fix that too , I beliebve most people do not get that as far as I know , It is well worth getting the spinal tap as it help's confirm your condition and then you ae closer to getting treatment
Best wishes to you :)
Mary
Its not so bad. I have had 14 of them( i have high pressure in the brain). I have had good experiences with them and bad. For most my taps I have been given versed which is awesome. You are so aloof and oblivious you dont care about the tap. My advice to you, do not strain do not lift anything heavy for a week and drink some caffeine. I have had very bad spinal leaks as mary mentioned and they are no fun when you need a blood patch. Good luck on your spinal tap, you will do just fine.
You are all so helpful and kind. You don't know how much that means to me. Thank you all! @js12149....14 spinal taps?! I am so sorry! Just to be clear, you said DO drink caffeine? Just making sure because I am taking all the advise I can get!
I believe you are going to do great. It is totally understandable to be anxious. Just think, there's a lot of folks here that have gone through it and are pulling for you! I'll be praying for you, and I know a lot of others will be too!
Maybe not lots of caffeine, but I know exactly what is meant. A little can help some folks.
rllowe75 said:
You are all so helpful and kind. You don't know how much that means to me. Thank you all! @js12149....14 spinal taps?! I am so sorry! Just to be clear, you said DO drink caffeine? Just making sure because I am taking all the advise I can get!
Thank you Lori!
caffeine raises your icp. hospitals even give it in IV form if you have a leak ( yes its like coffee in an iv lol)
Like you, I was PETRIFIED of having the spinal tap - it's all I thought about when I heard I had to have one. But literally , I could not feel a thing! They did it with x-ray guidance so they know exactly where to put the needle. I would have one done again with NO apprehension (but hopefully won't need to!). Once I began IVIG treatment, the improvement was extremely quick. GOOD LUCK!!
I just wanted to say that my test was easier than i thought. The doctor joked around some. But he explained everything he was doing too. And mostly because the nurses and doctor were very considerate of my being so nervous we talked of exotic vacations and took my mind off the procedure going on…anyway… it didnt hurt. I laid yhrre for awhile to make sure of no headaches and then went on home. I remember thinking how i had let it get so big in my head…
.and how much easier it was.
I just wanted to say that my test was easier than i thought. The doctor joked around some. But he explained everything he was doing too. And mostly because the nurses and doctor were very considerate of my being so nervous we talked of exotic vacations and took my mind off the procedure going on…anyway… it didnt hurt. I laid yhrre for awhile to make sure of no headaches and then went on home. I remember thinking how i had let it get so big in my head…
.and how much easier it was.
I just wanted to say that my test was easier than i thought. The doctor joked around some. But he explained everything he was doing too. And mostly because the nurses and doctor were very considerate of my being so nervous we talked of exotic vacations and took my mind off the procedure going on…anyway… it didnt hurt. I laid yhrre for awhile to make sure of no headaches and then went on home. I remember thinking how i had let it get so big in my head…
.and how much easier it was.
The tap itself was really a breeze…I unfortunately was one of the few to suffer the headache afterwards…nothing you can do but listen and follow instructions…yes, on caffeine…they gave me a caffeine drip in hopes of soothing the headache. IVig is a blessing for me…the key has been consistency and patience…know and accept you are in for a couple of years…the outlook is quite good though! Stay strong!
Spinal tap is a breeze…your worry is a lot worse than the procedure…you’ll see
I had some real anxiety about it myself. I felt a bit of a sting when the local anesthetic was administered, but felt nothing but a bit of pressure when the spinal tap itself was done. Do try and relax about it, as it is nothing compared to the nerve pain. I'll say a prayer for you. :) Linda
Do not fret my love about your lumber puncture,try and get a experienced doctor to do it and hopefully he or she will hit the spot first time! Drink plenty of water after as this will ease your headache that you will probably get later on :)