Not sure what to think

[Shona68]

Will this spinal fluid test tell them why I have all the problems ,feel this is gonna be a long bumpy road ,xx

[Iona60]

Shona68 Checking your spinal fluid is one of the tests that is done if MS is suspected. Hope they find answers for you.

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

Keep your head up Shona68 it can take time yes, but you want them to find out for sure. You don't want this monster😊 believe me.

When is your spinal?

J 🌠

[rjoneslaw]

@Shona68

I had the test done and does reveal a lot. When I had the test done I wasn't told all the test that was going to be ran from the fluid. Everything came back fine but it would've been nice to know what the test ever.

So just ask what test will be conducted with the fluid.

Also have someone who can care for you for 2 days. I was told not to do anything for 2 days so I layed in the bed.

For me it wasn't painful and it was over before I knew it.

Good luck!!!

[bxrmom]

The spinal tap is how I received my MS diagnosis, though my neuro at the time didn't tell me (or I didn't hear him after the word MS). Make sure you stay laying down after or you could get very bad headaches. Please keep us updated when you can.

Jessie

[WAshingtongirl in reply to bxrmom]

Me too, bxrmom . Shona68 , I had it done twice. No problem for me. Just rest afterward as others said. I was fine the next day. Even drive myself there and back. That was 20 or so years ago. Maybe the protocol has changed since then. Just do as your doc says. Praying it all goes well for you. 💕

[WAshingtongirl in reply to WAshingtongirl]

Drove! Twice my spell check changed that to drive! 😠

[Juleigh21]

Shona68 I've had two lumbar punctures done in the last 3 years. Both time showed MS and thankfully nothing else! The first one was done in a doc office and it was pretty nasty. The second time it was done in a hospital using fluoroscopy and it was a piece of cake! My advise is to Inquire about the fluoroscopy. If I ever need a third I know which route I'm going! Good luck and let us know how you make out.

[rlh1974]

Shona68 This test rules out many many things. Like Lyme disease Etc. Only are you in an active flair up and there is myelin protein in the fluid is the test conclusive for MS. Most cases it come back clear. Good and bad. The good is, they rule out many other things. The bad, if its clear it is not definitive you either have or do not have MS. Also. For some it hurts like hell! Others its just a brief general discomfort or pressure. That is what it was for me. You will have headaches after, especially if you are upright to much in the day following. So lay down as much as possible.

Hope this helps!

Rob

[sallyscharff]

Good luck Shona! I had 5 spinal taps and it took 7 years to get my MS diagnosed. Make sure you lay flat for 12 hours after.

[Shona68]

Sorry about taking so long to get back to everyone " I've put 3 reply up and thay all went missing ,I'm hopeless with technology,anyway I'd like to say it meens a lot to me that ur sharing ur experience,I realise we all go down different routes ,I've not been given a date yet ,but have been told it can take 6/8 weeks before I know for certain ' I was feeling a bit low the other day when I got this letter i just hate the unknown like to know were I stand ,my heads all over the place with this ,but it's like some of u said thay have to be certain,and hopefully it turns out I'm one of the lucky ones thanks xx

[bavery207]

Shona68 My lumbar puncture was not bad at all (no wheres near as bad as I had imagined it might be!) I had it in a hospital wit h a fluoroscope. Lie down that day and perhaps the next, and the thing no one has mentioned yet is to hydrate. They should tell you to drink lots of water after. But also drink the day before. That helps you.