LymeNet Flash: New member Olympia has lumbar puncture "?"

This is topic New member Olympia has lumbar puncture "?" in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/35567

Posted by tabbytamer (Member # 3159) on :

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/012983.html

Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :

Olympia,

I had a lumbar puncture. The procedure wasn't bad, but then I got the awful headache. Lyme doesn't usually show up in spinal fluid, but other diseases do. It gave me comfort of mind to know I did not have MS etc. Good luck.

Posted by Panchito (Member # 4880) on :

I have had various lumbar punctures, although none for lyme. About 7 years ago I had intracranial hypertension, AKA pseudo tumor cerebri, for which i had various lumbar punctures, which gave me a horrible headache and dizziness kind of feeling for a week. The intracranial hypertension mysteriously cleared up after a year.

Three years ago I came down with lyme and they suspected that i might be intracranial hypertenion again, so they performed another puncture. This time appearantly they used a new type of needle, which is much smaller/thinner. It did not cause a heachache at all.

There is another thing that might be usefull, ask the hospital or doc that performs the procedure if you can keep lying down for at leat a few hours immediately after the procedure (they always kicked me out immediately), supposedly that is helpfull.

Other than that, I did not have any problems at all with lumbal punctures./

Posted by olympia (Member # 7548) on :

Thanks So much-Just still so unsure-also heard that if the "hole" doesn't heal right away a "blood patch" is done because spinal fluid doesn't contain blood therefore doesn't "clot"-
My first rocephin treatments finished may 27 I think Dr. wants to see if c.s.f. is clear using p.c.r.-I'm just not sure of going invasive-o.k. I'm a wooos-Have had seizure activity and other neurological symptomology since about 1999-then huge swollen knee this Jan.-lyme diagnosis by p.c.r. of synovial fluid and serological western blot in Feb. 2005

I'm so confused right now after treatment as to what to think of what will happen,i.e.the"lyme controversy"-Many years of bacterial infection and reproducion versus immune system response-
My Dr. has already mentioned another round of I.V. rocephin for 9 weeeks-
remember I'm a wooos-I didn't use the PIIC but kept having a new canula inserted every few days outpatient at our hospital-
ick- I have a sensitivity to contrast to insert the PIIC-and the antidote to the contrast-oops-

Anyway-I'm getting lengthy here for just wanting to say thanks so much-I guess I'm a bit apprehensive-Also
trying to learn more
Best Wishes Olympia