Multiple Sclerosis

Bonnie’s Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)

I was booked for my lumbar puncture while I was still at the neurologist’s office. 

The receptionist said “Drink a lot of Coca-Cola during the day before your lumbar puncture, as well as on the day you have your lumbar puncture, and on the morning before you actually have your spinal tap”.  She continued, “The more coke you drink the better it will be afterwards.”  She also told me not sit up for several days afterwards and to have someone drive me home after the lumbar puncture was performed.  I was to stay as flat as possible, for as long as necessary. 

I kept thinking that ‘Lumbar Puncture’ sounded so ominous.  I knew that lumbar meant the spinal cord and that puncture meant hole.  I wondered who would knowingly want to have someone create a hole in any area of their spinal cord.  Then I suddenly realized that I was one of those crazy people!  I wanted that hole.  I wanted that diagnosis

My husband stayed home from work to be on hand to drive me to the hospital for the spinal tap and home again.  We placed blankets and pillows in the back seat of the car the evening before, so that I could lay down all the way home, which was about an hour away.  We also stocked up on plenty of coke to see me through this very scary procedure. 

I had heard horror stories from people had had spinal taps and from people who knew people who had had spinal taps.  Not one of these accounts was pleasant.  I was quite frankly, very shaky going into this situation.

Drinking coke at 6:00 AM, on the day of my Lumbar Puncture, was difficult.  I arrived at the hospital at 8:00 A.M. and went to the day surgery department.  Soon I was directed to a private room.  The nurse presented me with the usual hospital gown with the gaping opening in the back, and told me to change into it ‘with the opening toward the back’.  Further instructions stated that I was to wait on the bed and the doctor would be with me shortly. 

Then the nurse proceeded to get out a sterile pack wrapped in green material.  She donned vinyl gloves and carefully and methodically opened the pack and spread the contents on a metal tray that had also been in a sterile green wrap.  She cautiously arranged two syringes with very long needles, two small metal bowls, one large metal bowl, a pair of tongs, some gauze, and various other items on the tray.  I kept looking at those syringes.  I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

The neurologist breezed in and donned his rubber gloves and directed me to sit on the side of the hospital bed.  The nurse then rolled a hospital food table in front of me, and put a pillow on it.  The doctor told me to lean across the table and hug the far side.  It was all very bewildering.  All accounts that I had heard involved the patient laying on their side, curled up in the fetal position.    This was very different.

I had heard awful stories about patients experiencing a great deal of pain when they felt the needle being inserted.  In my odd position I felt the doctor’s cool fingers on my back, followed by a cold sensation of the solution which he used to disinfect my back.   While I waited for the needle insertion the nurse held the bottle of coke beneath my head and indicated that I should sip from the straw.  The doctor and I carried on a conversation of small talk.  I kept wondering when he was going to insert that long needle into my back.  After a short time the doctor said, “Okay, all done.  Please lay down on your side for a few minutes.” 

I hadn’t felt the needle.  “Are you really finished.”  I asked.

Whereas he chuckled lightly and said, “I do it differently than most do.”  He took of his gloves and said, “Phone and make an appointment when you get home.  See you then.”  And he walked out the door.

When I arrived home my children had brought the TV upstairs and had arranged the living room as a temporary hospital room.  They had also rented a few movies to be viewed during my recovery.

For the next few days I lay around watching TV, reading, sleeping, and sipping coke.  I seldom had to get off the couch.  When I did I received a piercing headache for my efforts.  One of my children held a glass of coke and a straw for me to drink until the headache waned.  I was served all my meals on the couch.  I slept a great deal.

I did experience some dizziness and headaches when I stood or sat up.  I am sure that the bad experiences that I could have experienced were diminished because of the coke and not having to get up too often.