Lumbar Puncture

[AlisonWonderbra]

I have a lumbar puncture on Tuesday and I'm mildly terrified. I work in Healthcare and have no business being scared, but I am.

I'm notoriously crap at staying still, even for a haircut, so I'm worried I'm going to wriggle and fuck things up.

Has anyone had sedation for the procedure. It's being performed in a day case unit rather than a ward.

I had a myelogram (which is an X-ray of the spine after dye has been inserted) years ago. The dye injection was in the lumbar region and I never even felt it go in. So try not to worry.

doing an LP on someone who’s sedated can be hairier than on someone who’s awake but anxious (sedated people are a bit more prone to surprise movements!). It also needs more manpower (someone to sedate as well as someone to do the procedure, more monitoring, fasting and more organisation…all possible, but not with no notice.. Lots of people don’t realise that an LP is exactly the same technique as having a spinal anaesthetic (except of course that instead of injecting spinal anaesthetic, in an LP we take samples out) …we do them all the time on very anxious people who are having contractions and for all sorts of other procedures. It’ll be fine!

I do recognise that I'm being ridiculous about this, especially since I've actually witnessed an LP at work (when I worked on a ward rather than in ED where I now work).

I'm experiencing rather physical anxiety just thinking about it though, and my whole body feels knotted up. Perhaps they can give me some diazepam?

Two of my colleagues have had an LP in the past and have had a bad experience - one being largely bed bound for weeks afterward, and the other ending up in theatre for a blood patch after a leak.

I've had rather a lot of bad luck of late, so I suppose I'm just waiting for the next thing to go wrong.

Hand hold OP, I’m a nurse and had watched an LP be done on a patient before I had to have one myself and I was so anxious too. I think the fact I’d seen one being done made it worse in a way!

It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but the Dr was lovey and I was absolutely fine afterwards, didn’t even get a headache. I wish you all the best 💐

I had 2 last year. Never had one before, never seen one done. I was really nervous but the Drs were lovely. It genuinely wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Had a horrible headache after the 2nd one but they'd needed extra fluid for the sample. But ultimately it was fine.

Can someone go with you? Dad had two and was worried about the same thing so I sort of leaned on him heavily while holding his hand. He was so worried he thought he’d break my hand! He didn’t. Obviously.

i understand it’s scary. If a friend asked me to do that for them, no worries, I would do that.

The letter said to attend alone, but that could well be a generic letter in the wake of Covid. The clinic is actually right next to my place of work do it was my intention to pop in and ask if they'd allow someone to accompany me. Unfortunately I've been off work for three weeks with (related) illness. I will try to call tomorrow, I think.

Thank you for the messages of support.

I had a couple of diazepam before mine.

I'm sat in the waiting room now and absolutely shitting it. They're running an hour late too. I've already eaten my fingernails and now I'm working on my actual fingers.

Distractions welcome.

Hi OP sending big unmumsnetty hugs. Try and focus on your breathing - long and slow, focus on the out breath.

We're here, waiting is just the worse isn't it but you will soon be seen and on your way back home, is someone looking after you tonight and taking you home.

I haven't had an LP ever, but have had spinals with my cesarean sections. Like you, I was very nervous as I'm quite fidgety. They used local anaesthetic first, then I didn't feel anything after that. Hope it all goes OK.

And although you don't need to be, you have every right to be scared/nervous. Even if you work in healthcare!

First attempt failed. I was absolutely fine and feeling quite relaxed but the needle in my spine was awful. They're speaking to a more senior doctor now and asking about sedation. I'm shaking like a leaf.

I've had the lumbar puncture for diagnostic purposes and my options were so dire I was very eager and determined to get it. Because diagnosis would mean treatment, and going undiagnosed could mean death in the next few years. Didn't feel a thing during the procedure, but did have headaches afterwards for couple of days because of spinal fluid leak. Caffeine helps with those a lot - the kind of you get from pharmacy in pills, not gulping coffee. You will be absolutely fine, focus on the purpose!

I got through it on the second attempt but it was horrendously painful. Just feeling a little weak now. Back home on the sofa being tended to by 4yo DS who is bringing me food made of Lego whilst his dad makes actual dinner.