I received one early in the time frame right after my diagnosis of lyme, because of thought of meningitis. It did not show anything and so I don't think that it was worth it. My blood test showed more results.
Janjan
Posts: 30 | From warrenton, virginia | Registered: Nov 2005
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BostonLyme2005
Unregistered
posted
ok...sounds good....I may try this urine test thing I read about....
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
it was the worst test i went thru...i don't think it tells much very often
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Though my spinal tap saved my life, I would not ever conciously do one again. It did not hurt during the procedure, but I was fortunate enough to get the headache and can still have pain right where the needle went in. (It's been a year)
-------------------- Sometimes when I say �Oh, I�m fine� I want someone to look me in the eyes & say �tell the truth�
posted
I had one years ago when my symptoms first started. It wasn't even checked for lyme, probably because " there was no such thing in Ohio". I thought it was very painful. I would only do it again if my life depended on it.
Posts: 340 | From Ohio | Registered: Oct 2005
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trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
Rob, I can't remember what the statistic is on getting a positive result from a lumbar puncture; just remember it's fairly low.
I had one done when I was diagnosed.
It hurt but was not unbearable but I was one of the lucky ones, like AP, that got that headache. I was in the hospital for an extra 10 days. I have my fair share of headaches and nothing even comes close to that one.
Um, sorry, having a flashback.
I know there are reasons where it's necessary and some are helped by them. But I stand by don't do it if you don't have to.
Peeing in a cup...
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
I had one in 2001--it was the test that the nuerologist needed to start up the IV for insurance purposes. It was + for Lyme antibodies....cant remember IgM or IgG...done at local lab. (in new mex)
The procedure was not painful for me, but my doc did several a week and was skilled. I had a shot of demerol before hand too--that stuff is THE BOMB!
However,I ended up leaking a whole bunch of spinal fluid thru the hole as it did NOT heal properly. This is one of the risk factors...I WOULD be the 5% or whatever....
I was in so much pain in my head, and was also nonsensical and disoriented.
I had to have a blood patch---they take blood from your arm and shoot it at the epidural space and hope it clots there to seal up the hole.
The headache before I had this done (4 days after spinal tap) was the worst thing in the WORLD.
There are risks, there are pros and cons.
Some HMO's PPO's are looking at tests like this to verify nuero lyme. It isnt fair...not everyone who has NueroBb tests positive.
Make sure the tap doc is skilled and get something to relax you. Trails
Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001
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Areneli
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6740
posted
It is mainly done to exclude other diseases. If you know you have LD stay away from it.
Posts: 1538 | From Planet Earth | Registered: Jan 2005
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Hi Rob.
Why would you want one?
The chances of finding Bb in your cerebrospinal fluid are somewhere around 20%. Given those percentages, unless there's good evidence of some other process going on, most LLMD's don't push for one.
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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BostonLyme2005
Unregistered
posted
Hi Guys,
I amnot going to have one...I was just asking around to get some info....
Where I was infected, ( humane society), dogs had lyme there, deer and ticks preent, ticks all over me everytime I went there, classic symptoms, and half a dozen +'s and four -five IND's on the Igenex WB's, is enough for me....
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