b. there's some issue with not
using labs that the hospital is not contracted with.

Did the neuro or whomever who did your test
put the spinal tap fluid into Igenex kits?

I don't see why I have to travel to another
state when the neuro is basically in my back
yard. Then if I have a spinal tap headache
I have to travel half a day to get home.

You can Fed-Ex them yourself to the labs. Just make sure you have the right forms from both labs requesting which test you need and the diagnosis codes. And not a bad idea to send a doctors prescription wtih the tests stated on them.

Fed-Ex does require special speciman containers for blood/body fluids, it is just basically a metal tube with a screw top.
Your doctor might have some if they send out labs. Or you can call Fed-Ex and ask them where to get them.

Also since you will be sending out the specimans yourself make sure the tubes are all labeled with your name, DOB and at least date the sample was drawn. Call both labs and ask if the spinal fluid needs to be sent sent on dry ice or can be sent room temperature.

I sent my spinal fluid to MDL from home after the procedure. I brought a small cooler with an ice pack to the hospital with me and after the tap the doc gave me the fluid I needed. I had already arranged for Fed-ex to come to my house and pick up the speciman. It went smoothly.

My LLMD had me go to a specialist (not a neuro) who performed the spinal tap and gave me the fluid to take with me. I then brought it to my LLMD who filled out the test paperwork and sent to the lab.

This is how both of my spinal taps were handled.

Well. I'll just be blunt. Your neurologist is being...ummm. Stupid Is he contracted to work with the hospital? Or does he work out of his own office? If he works out of his own office....he has every ability to put the fluid into a little vial to be sent off to Igenex. He doesn't HAVE to send the fluid to the hospital. So, if he's refusing to send it to Igenex, there's a reason. It may be he's afraid the tests will come back positive and he'll have to deal with the reality of lyme disease. When I had my spinal tap done, we requested to use Igenex labs. My neurologist said that he had always used the hospital labs and would like to stick with them, but he would be willing to take extra vials to be sent to Igenex as well. So we ended up using both labs and he agreed very willingly. If you can't get your doctor to send these tests to the right labs, in my opinion you need to find another neurologist. Because it means you've got someone putting a needle in your back who really doesn't listen to you, and if the tests aren't sent to the right labs they might as well not be done (if your doing this to test for Lyme). It's really hard but you have to be pushy.... tell your doctor you'd like to use both labs and see if maybe he'll agree to that.

Good luck...
By the way, drink LOTS of water/gatorade/juice before and after the procedure and take it as easy as you can until your feeling better.

------------------
Lishka

[This message has been edited by Amareo (edited 18 February 2005).]

The thing the neuro explained to me is that
he never tampers with the cfs because the
lab always handled that. He does the surgery,
lab always took care of the rest, and his
office not equiped to do non-contaminated
transfer. He said he has had trouble with
hospital in the past with outside lab work and was more concerned it wouldn't be done correctly.

Why a spinal tap? They are invasive, dangerous and estimated to be 20% accurate; less than the Elisa! Is this to please the insurance people?

i guess this procedure can be dangerous, so i'm necessarily recommending it, but if you're gonna do it anyway it might be good idea to get the whole story.

I hope they find something so that you can get some relief. This disease is so very complicated that I don't even try to explain it, you did well w/your explanation to me. Thank you for your efforts when I know you're sick.

I really wish you well, it seems you deserve a break from this horrid illness.

PCR-based detection of pathogens in ticks

When I had my first spinal/lumbar puncture, my neurologist did it. It was a mistake as he couldn't get the darn needle in the right position and he tried about 6 times.

I left looking like a multiple stab victim and now I have scar tissue from this botched LP and have to take vicodin to help with the pain..

All because I had this done at the nuero's office.

I have had 3 other successful LP's at the local hospital. 2 under flora scope and one by the anesthesiologist who did my 2 C-Sections.

If it were me, I'd want to have it done at the hospital.