Message for Drusilla

[WendyS]

Hope your MRI scan & lumbar puncture go OK. later this month. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you. I have been through the same process or the same reason and just wanted to warn you, if the hospital haven't already explained the process, that after the lumbar puncture you will probably have to spend 24 hours at home lying as flat as possible. The withdrawal of fluid from your spinal column can leave you with a thumping headache so have some good painkillers ready. Good luck.

[snook]

Drusilla, I've also been through the same process, and the lumbar puncture did leave me with a massive headache, the worst ever - lasted 10 days, and only eased off when I lay down. Also (sorry if this sounds a bit scary) the doctor let a student nurse/doctor do the actual injection and he (or she, I can't remember) took a few 'stabs' at it (not quite that literally), and had me a bit worried for a while (specially as it was the biggest needle I'd ever seen - sorry about that too!). But it was okay in the end. We all have to learn, right? Just a bit worrying when it's your spine they're learning on!

Just take a deep breath, and as Wendy said, be prepared with some real good painkillers.

[Drusilla]

Thank you so much, it's very kind and thoughtful of you both. I'm quite touched. I haven't been thinking too much about it today as my younger daughter has turned into a mini Mike Tyson and flattened an older boy she caught bullying her big sister. Never a dull moment!! :-)

[snook]

Drusilla, you got two particularly good replies to your post in the Parenting section (noticed it last night, just checked it out again now), from Andy-Hughes and ZebUK. Don't worry about the police (it's a non-police matter, they won't be interested, as long as everyone's okay) - speak to the parents (I'm sure they'll understand) - support your daughter and make sure she knows you appreciate her bravery (very important to give her positive feedback). She sounds like a great little girl!

And don't worry about the MRI scan (I've had dozens) and the lumbar puncture (it's just a needle, then a headache, no big deal). Good luck, and take it easy.

[snook]

By the way, I should explain, the MRI people asked me if I'd take part in some research they were doing, so I ended up having scans every few months for a while, hence the large number of scans. It's not usual to have more than one or perhaps two, so don't be worrying that you might have to have so many, that was an exception (they wanted to monitor any changes in the scans over an extended period of time as the MS progressed).

Sorry I didn't make that clear.