Any prep suggestions for LP? (when you live totally alone)

[derrie]

So, between y'all's input and my doctor's grumbling that I couldn't hide from it forever, I have a lumbar puncture scheduled for later this week.

While I understad the standard advice (drink caffeine, lie flat), I am wondering if there is any special preparation I should do before my LP. The key fact here is that I live completely alone, in a new town, and I have no family or friends here. I have a co-worker willing to drive me home, and that's about it. No one is going to be waiting on me.

So what do I do? Should I stock up on Luna bars and line the floor around my couch with water bottles? Should I train my border collie to cook dinner (or at least fetch take out)? Speaking of, should I try to arrange with someone to walk my dog (she's used to generous daily walks)? What do I do to keep from dying of boredom (oh yeah, I don't have a TV, either)?

I assume plenty of people who live alone recover from relatively simple medical procedures just fine, but I'd like to make my day or so of staring at the ceiling as painless and unstressful as possible.

Y'all's advice is generally golden. Thanks in advance.

[candycane]

Just be prepared to take it easy

I think it's a good idea to have someone walk the dog, & remember to lay flat as much as possible (as you know, it really does help) The luna bars & water are a good idea Have the couch made, videos ready and a cooler next to you with whatever snacks & drinks you like. I did get up to go to the bathroom but that was about it. Good luck!

[wkikta]

See if they will allow you to remain at the LP site for a couple of hours to lay down on your back. This will allow the puncture site to fully close, dramatically reducing the possibility of a Headache. Not sure if the Caffeine is mandatory, well hydrated is probably more important. If you do get a headache don't wait to go to the Emergency Room for a Blood Patch, it will aleve it almost immediately.

Finding someone to walk your dog is a great idea. For the boredom a book is a good thing. And, you can read laying down.

Best of Luck!

[Redwings]

Hi derrie:

It looks like you've already thought of the most important things: have easy access to easy-to-prepare food and beverages and lie flat as much as possible. If you have favorite take-out food and don't mind eating it as leftovers, you can get a couple of meals worth a day before and reheat the next day when you're ready. (Pizza and bagged salad work well for this.)

I think you have a great idea to arrange for someone to walk your dog. A border collie with pent-up energy might be more than you can handle if you're not feeling well.

Even if you don't have a TV, there are lots of shows that have past episodes and/or clips that can be watched online. Even when lying (sort of) flat. The Colbert Report, the Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, America's Test Kitchen, Jimmy Fallon, even Sesame Street... There's more than enough to fill a day or two. There's also an almost endless supply of online radio, too.

Wear clothes that are loose, comfy, and easy to get in and out of. And keep your phone with you.

[Sequoia]

Something else to think about is how you're going to get to the ER if you get the severe headache and need a blood patch.

You'll be too incapacitated to drive yourself, and you may also be throwing up from the pain. If it's too much to ask of your co-worker, you may end up needing an ambulance.

Best to be prepared for that possibility even though most people don't get the headache, particularly if they're scrupulous about lying down as much as possible, for as long as possible.

I'm also wondering why your doctor is insisting on a lumbar puncture. Many people with MS never have one. Does he know your living situation?

Hoping all goes well for you,

Sequoia

[derrie]

Thank you all for the -- as usual -- spot on advice.

Sequoia-- that's good advice about having an on-call driver. I'll ask my co-worker if he can stay on call to drive me this weekend if I need it. As far as the LP goes, my neurologist feels it is important as a diagnostic tool. He's in this land of "well, you might have this, or you might have that." I don't have an MS diagnosis, though he considers it one of our continuing candidates. We're now in the land of looking for "chemical clues," as he calls it, so we're all over weird blood tests and the LP.

Anyway, between Sesame Street and the Colbert Report, Luna bars and my co-worker on speed dial, I should be golden.

Thanks all for your help. It's comforting to feel a bit of virtual support.

[hope32]

I had my LP while I was in a Taiwanese hospital so I guess in a way that helped. It sounds to me like you've thought of everything though! I don't think they told me about the caffeine; how does that help?

[Justsayyes]

If you are not sensitive to the ingredients in Exedrin for migraine, I'd have some of it on hand just in case. After 3 days of not being able to get up, I was not offered a blood patch, was told to try the Excedrin, which has caffeine, aspirin, and acetaminophen. I did get up the next day.

[Sequoia]

If you are not sensitive to the ingredients in Exedrin for migraine, I'd have some of it on hand just in case. After 3 days of not being able to get up, I was not offered a blood patch, was told to try the Excedrin, which has caffeine, aspirin, and acetaminophen. I did get up the next day.

Nobody with a severe post-LP headache should wait to be "offered" a blood patch! It's entirely reasonable to ask for one.

In fact, I'd suggest talking to the neuro beforehand to make sure a blood patch will be available promptly if needed, and if the answer is no, cancel the appointment and find another doctor who's not reluctant to provide adequate pain control.

Mind you, I'm not a medical professional...this is just a personal opinion.

[derrie]

In fact, I'd suggest talking to the neuro beforehand to make sure a blood patch will be available promptly if needed, and if the answer is no, cancel the appointment and find another doctor who's not reluctant to provide adequate pain control.

I spoke to my neurologist's completely wonderful nurse (she really is a star among nurses), and she said if I developed a debilitating headache, I should call them right away, and they'd arrange a "quick prodedure" that would take care of it. I assume she's referring to a blood patch.

I'll grab some excedrin, too, while I'm preparing the LP Recovery Headquarters around my couch. If I do get a headache, I'll give that a try first.

[Sir-Voor]

I only had one and based on that I would recommend insisting the tap being plugged.
All that means is that they put an air bubble that stills it and helps prevent leakage, they did not plug it for me and I had a week long migraine.

Also with my LP they did not tell me before hand that the table was going to rotate, witch it did after they put the needle in my spine. If I had known I would have had my feet on the board and not inches from it.

Odds are it will not hurt, but brace yourself, because if it does! $&&*%^&*#*(! You will be glade your braced for it.

Even though I had a bad experience, but it was not so bad it would keep me from having one again if recommended.

[RedTalon]

Also drink stuff with caffeine both before and after your LP iy helps alot or did for me.

[Sequoia]

I only had one and based on that I would recommend insisting the tap being plugged.
All that means is that they put an air bubble that stills it and helps prevent leakage, they did not plug it for me and I had a week long migraine.

They don't use an air bubble to seal the hole; they use a small amount of your own blood.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3313201

[Justsayyes]

Nobody with a severe post-LP headache should wait to be "offered" a blood patch! It's entirely reasonable to ask for one.

In fact, I'd suggest talking to the neuro beforehand to make sure a blood patch will be available promptly if needed, and if the answer is no, cancel the appointment and find another doctor who's not reluctant to provide adequate pain control.

Mind you, I'm not a medical professional...this is just a personal opinion.

ITA, and looking back I am not happy that I wasn't given the help I needed.

[Sir-Voor]

They don't use an air bubble to seal the hole; they use a small amount of your own blood.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3313201

LOL, it’s been 9 years and should have known better then to trust my memory as to all the facts.

I do remember laying down in the back set for the drive home, that may still be recommended?