Re: Spinal Tap here I come!!!

[Guest guest]

Peggy,

The backache I had that night and the severe headache for the next week was what was so bad about my spinal tap. Ask them if there is something they can do like a blood patch-that is where they replace the spinal fluid with some of your blood. Your body works to replace what they take but it takes a few days and you'll suffer with that headache. This certainly was the worse thing I went through to get dxed but it was worth it to know for sure. I do wish you a better doctor than I had, he stuck me four times up and down my spine before another doctor was called in and did it in a matter of minutes. Good luck, I'll be thinking about you.

Amy

[Guest guest]

Peggy-

Okay Hon, I'm not going to sugar coat it. I found the spinal tap quite uncomfortable. I imagine it would have been worse, but I explained to the doctor how uncomfortable I was with this procedure. So, before having to go through it, he gave me about 10mgs of valium. Of course, that didn't relieve the pain, but it did calm me down somewhat. As far as pain goes, I'd have to say it was more like a pressure sensation. A lot of pressure. It didn't last long, but it didn't have to. It lasted way long enough.

Now, I'm probably scaring you. I'm sorry. I probably make it sound worse because I had a mylagram, spinal tap, and I don't know what else it was, all at the same time. I think the hardest part of all...was the wait. I think I waited a week before the doctor called me and told me I had MS.

After the diagnosis, I'd have to say that going what I went through was worth it.

I'll keep you in my prayers. You're going to be just fine.

God bless...Valene

-- Spinal Tap here I come!!!

OK, so the dr. says it is MS and sent me for an MRI of the cervical

spine which came back normal, no lesions, so now I have to have the

spinal tap. I have to tell you all I am terrified. I don't know what

to expect, so if any of you could clue me in I would greatly

appreciate it. No sugar coating it either!!! She also wants me to

have an IV for 3 days of Solu Medrol, some steroid. I have to go in

hospital for that but for like an hour or so at a time. The rest of

the week I will have a pill. My poor veins!!!

Right now I think I am in a state of total despair. I just don't want

to do this, I want to wake up. I know it's not a death sentence but I

like my life just the way it is. I don't like to rely on other

people. My sister says it's because I'm always doing things for other

people and I don't know how to say no. Now people will do things for

me and I deserve to be taken care of for a while. We all need help

sometimes. I know she is trying to help and that she loves me but I

just want to scream and cry. Is that wrong? I feel ashamed that there

are so many others out there suffering worse than me and have had

more pain in their lives and I am being selfish right now and that is

definately not who I am, but I just can't make this feeling go away.

If you have any words of inspiration or want to yell at me to snap me

out of this funk please don't hesitate!!!!

Peggy

[Guest guest]

Dear Peggy,

Responding to ".... but I just want to scream and cry. Is that wrong? 'NO!!! you are not wrong. This is like a grieving process. I still have times when I feel the same way. Your life is changing and you do not know what to expect. I got my dx Feb. 2, 1993. I am now 63 yrs young and I have learnt what I can and cannot do and most of the time how to tell thedifference between MS sx s and others BUT the emotions are what they are. Emotions are neither right or wrong they just are. '

I feel ashamed that there are so many others out there suffering worse than me and have had more pain in their lives and I am being selfish right now and that is definately not who I am, but I just can't make this feeling go away."

I am greatful everyday that I am able to move. I do hate that I cannot do things for myself. Things that I used to do for myself and others; now I have to depend on others to either help or even do it all for me. But it is NOT something to be ashamed of. Did you go out and I am going to get MS so I will not have to do this anymore.?

HAPPINESS and BUTTERFLIES to you

Lynn

Spinal Tap here I come!!!To: MSersLife > OK, so the dr. says it is MS and sent me for an MRI of the > cervical > spine which came back normal, no lesions, so now I have to have > the > spinal tap. I have to tell you all I am terrified. I don't know > what > to expect, so if any of you could clue me in I would greatly > appreciate it. No sugar coating it either!!! She also wants me > to > have an IV for 3 days of Solu Medrol, some steroid. I have to go > in > hospital for that but for like an hour or so at a time. The rest > of > the week I will have a pill. My poor veins!!!> Right now I think I am in a state of total despair. I just don't > want > to do this, I want to wake up. I know it's not a death sentence > but I > like my life just the way it is. I don't like to rely on other > people. My sister says it's because I'm always doing things for > other > people and I don't know how to say no. Now people will do things > for > me and I deserve to be taken care of for a while. We all need > help > sometimes. I know she is trying to help and that she loves me > but I > just want to scream and cry. Is that wrong? I feel ashamed that > there > are so many others out there suffering worse than me and have > had > more pain in their lives and I am being selfish right now and > that is > definately not who I am, but I just can't make this feeling go away.> If you have any words of inspiration or want to yell at me to > snap me > out of this funk please don't hesitate!!!!> > Peggy> > > > >

[Guest guest]

In my own opinion, spinal taps are no big strain; the advantage is that they may really cinch that elusive diagnosis!

Love, n

Spinal Tap here I come!!!

OK, so the dr. says it is MS and sent me for an MRI of the cervical spine which came back normal, no lesions, so now I have to have the spinal tap. I have to tell you all I am terrified. I don't know what to expect, so if any of you could clue me in I would greatly appreciate it. No sugar coating it either!!! She also wants me to have an IV for 3 days of Solu Medrol, some steroid. I have to go in hospital for that but for like an hour or so at a time. The rest of the week I will have a pill. My poor veins!!!Right now I think I am in a state of total despair. I just don't want to do this, I want to wake up. I know it's not a death sentence but I like my life just the way it is. I don't like to rely on other people. My sister says it's because I'm always doing things for other people and I don't know how to say no. Now people will do things for me and I deserve to be taken care of for a while. We all need help sometimes. I know she is trying to help and that she loves me but I just want to scream and cry. Is that wrong? I feel ashamed that there are so many others out there suffering worse than me and have had more pain in their lives and I am being selfish right now and that is definately not who I am, but I just can't make this feeling go away.If you have any words of inspiration or want to yell at me to snap me out of this funk please don't hesitate!!!!Peggy

[Guest guest]

WHat would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? If you want to hear God laugh tell him your plan. God has something lined out for you, you just don't know what it is. Take one day at a time, one step at a time and eventually the answers will come. But it is okay to be scared and pissed off right now. Go outside and scream or throw things or whatever it takes to get that negative energy out of your system so you can go on living your life, alittle different, but it will still be YOUR life. 'Peggy wrote: OK, so the dr. says it is MS and sent me for an MRI of the cervical spine which came back normal, no lesions, so now I have to have the spinal tap. I have to tell you all I am terrified. I don't know what to expect, so if any of you could clue me in I would greatly appreciate it. No sugar coating it either!!! She also wants me to have an IV for 3 days of Solu Medrol, some steroid. I have to go in hospital for that but for like an hour or so at a time. The rest of the week I will have a pill. My poor veins!!!Right now I think I am in a state of total despair. I just don't want to do this, I want to wake up. I know it's not a death sentence but I like my life just the way it is. I don't like to rely on other people. My sister says it's because I'm always doing things for other people and I don't know how to say no. Now people will do things for me and I

deserve to be taken care of for a while. We all need help sometimes. I know she is trying to help and that she loves me but I just want to scream and cry. Is that wrong? I feel ashamed that there are so many others out there suffering worse than me and have had more pain in their lives and I am being selfish right now and that is definately not who I am, but I just can't make this feeling go away.If you have any words of inspiration or want to yell at me to snap me out of this funk please don't hesitate!!!!Peggy

[Guest guest]

Well, my spinal tap was unpleasant also..Sorry!! I had it done by a

radiologist (dr who does just xray reading etc) and he did a really

poor job, I was positioned poorly, it took forever..and then I got a

spinal headache that made me horribly ill for 3 weeks. they can do a

blood patch that supposedly fixes it..but since it involves another

spinal stick...it was just too much for me to risk!!

HUgs, kris

krispy1rn@...

[Guest guest]

Peggy,

There are a lot of things that you can do to help yourself. Fear is perfectly natural and usually the first impression and also the biggest obstacle to overcome. Time will help with that. In the coming months you will learn that MS is not the end of your life. There is no reason why you cannot still have a happy, active and productive life. Yes, it may require some changes and then again...it may not.

Go to www.opingandprevailing.com If you cannot afford to pay for the book send me your mailing address and I will send it to you.

Regards,

Tom

Spinal Tap here I come!!!

OK, so the dr. says it is MS and sent me for an MRI of the cervical spine which came back normal, no lesions, so now I have to have the spinal tap. I have to tell you all I am terrified. I don't know what to expect, so if any of you could clue me in I would greatly appreciate it. No sugar coating it either!!! She also wants me to have an IV for 3 days of Solu Medrol, some steroid. I have to go in hospital for that but for like an hour or so at a time. The rest of the week I will have a pill. My poor veins!!!Right now I think I am in a state of total despair. I just don't want to do this, I want to wake up. I know it's not a death sentence but I like my life just the way it is. I don't like to rely on other people. My sister says it's because I'm always doing things for other people and I don't know how to say no. Now people will do things for me and I deserve to be taken care of for a while. We all need help sometimes. I know she is trying to help and that she loves me but I just want to scream and cry. Is that wrong? I feel ashamed that there are so many others out there suffering worse than me and have had more pain in their lives and I am being selfish right now and that is definately not who I am, but I just can't make this feeling go away.If you have any words of inspiration or want to yell at me to snap me out of this funk please don't hesitate!!!!Peggy

[Guest guest]

That kind of reminds me of the words to that Garth song...Standing outside the fire. Love that song!

Peace and Blessings

~*~ Akiba ~*~

Pragmatic Visionary

http://yodamamma.blogspot.com/

http://www.solay-twinflames.com

-- Re: Spinal Tap here I come!!!

WHat would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? If you want to hear God laugh tell him your plan. God has something lined out for you, you just don't know what it is. Take one day at a time, one step at a time and eventually the answers will come. But it is okay to be scared and pissed off right now. Go outside and scream or throw things or whatever it takes to get that negative energy out of your system so you can go on living your life, alittle different, but it will still be YOUR life.

'Peggy <spazman222verizon (DOT) net> wrote:

OK, so the dr. says it is MS and sent me for an MRI of the cervical spine which came back normal, no lesions, so now I have to have the spinal tap. I have to tell you all I am terrified. I don't know what to expect, so if any of you could clue me i I would greatly appreciate it. No sugar coating it either!!! She also wants me to have an IV for 3 days of Solu Medrol, some steroid. I have to go in hospital for that but for like an hour or so at a time. The rest of the week I will have a pill. My poor veins!!!Right now I think I am in a state of total despair. I just don't want to do this, I want to wake up. I know it's not a death sentence but I like my life just the way it is. I don't like to rely on other people. My sister says it's because I'm always doing things for other people and I don't know how to say no. Now people will do things for me and I deserve to be taken care of for a while. We all need help sometimes. I know she is trying to help and that she loves me but I just want to scream and cry. Is that wrong? I feel ashamed that there are so many others out there suffering worse than me and have had more pain in their lives and I am being selfish right now and that is definately not who I am, but I just can't make this feeling go away.If you have any words of inspiration or want to yell at me to snap me out of this funk please don't hesitate!!!!Peggy

[Guest guest]

Since you already have a diagnosis of MS why do you have to have a spinal tap???? Usually that's only needed during diagnosis. Am I wrong folks?

You will be okay. Honest. Life will go on. There are much worse things than MS. There's treatment for MS now. There--did any of that help? lol

Please call your local chapter of the National MS Society. Tell them you are newly diagnosed. They should have a packet for Newly Diagnosed to send to you. Ask them for support groups for Newly Diagnosed. I truly do think you should contact the local NMMS. They sent me a great package of information when I was newly diagnosed. When you call the NMSS ask for their list of books in their lending library. There are some good books for the newly diagnosed. Maybe someone here will suggest a book or two for you to read.

At least now you have a name for what's wrong with you. That really is a good thing.

((((warm hugs your way)))))

Sharon (MSersLife Group Owner/Creator)

Kind words may be short... but their echoes are endless.... Mother Theresa

Spinal Tap here I come!!!

OK, so the dr. says it is MS and sent me for an MRI of the cervical spine which came back normal, no lesions, so now I have to have the spinal tap. I have to tell you all I am terrified. I don't know what to expect, so if any of you could clue me in I would greatly appreciate it. No sugar coating it either!!! She also wants me to have an IV for 3 days of Solu Medrol, some steroid. I have to go in hospital for that but for like an hour or so at a time. The rest of the week I will have a pill. My poor veins!!!Right now I think I am in a state of total despair. I just don't want to do this, I want to wake up. I know it's not a death sentence but I like my life just the way it is. I don't like to rely on other people. My sister says it's because I'm always doing things for other people and I don't know how to say no. Now people will do things for me and I deserve to be taken care of for a while. We all need help

sometimes. I know she is trying to help and that she loves me but I just want to scream and cry. Is that wrong? I feel ashamed that there are so many others out there suffering worse than me and have had more pain in their lives and I am being selfish right now and that is definately not who I am, but I just can't make this feeling go away.If you have any words of inspiration or want to yell at me to snap me out of this funk please don't hesitate!!!!Peggy

[Guest guest]

Help me out with what they can/might see that *diagnoses* MS.

My head MRI 18 months ago was clear. My spinal tap had oligoclonal

banding. I have heard various opinions on *that IS MS* vs. *that can

come from other things*, etc.

My GP and I believe it's MS, and I totally responded to Copaxone - WAY

better. Just curious what you've heard they can see in spinal tap?

Amy