I had a Lumbar Puncture this week in line with ongoing investigations into what is wrong with me.
My neurologist said it can take up to 2months to get the results. This seems like a long time…
Im also having a spinal MRI shortly. I had a head MRI back in Sept after I ended up in hospital due to a seizure. It was clear but my symptoms have increased & worsened since, hence why my neuro is carrying out these tests as well as number of others.
Has anyone as experience of waiting so long for Lumbar Puncture results?
Also - I’m wondering if I should request a new Head MRI when I’m having the spinal, to see if there has been any change since Sept? There’s clearly something going on with me and whatever it is is not going away…
I was told 6 weeks (nhs) as samples are sent away to be tested.
Neuro day care nurse told me to ring Neurology department at 6 weeks if I hadn’t received a letter so they could start treatment as soon as possible, I did and they informed me they received them and were sending out the letter.
Don’t be afraid to chase them up was the impression I got from the day care nurse.
3.5 months is an outrageously unfair wait while the condition is allowed to “free roam” untreated.
Lets hope Boris’s Cash promises to the nhs speeds things up, but sending samples out for testing seems to be creating a bit of a bottleneck for speedy diagnosis.
the LP has to be read by specialist, who take inpatients as a priority so we go on the outpatient list. I cant remember how long i waited for mine but it doesnt mean you get a result of MS with the result of the LP, as i had to wait several years after.
Getting a diagnosis of MS is a long waiting game. I waited 10 years.
I remember one set of MRI films went to africa to be read lol…that was some years ago near to the beginning.
these tests are like i said taken in rotation, inpatient first then outpatient. My friend had a special test which had to go to the states.
My LP request stated “to include the use of Oligoclonal Bands”
I asked the day care nurse what they were (thinking it was some way of holding you still!), she had a chuckle and explained it is the lab test for checking the presence and quantity of immunoglobulins in the fluid, if they show up there’s a problem with the central nervous system, The quantity helps them decide what it is, MS is usually a certain count and Lymes is a higher count etc.
it doesn’t end there, other counts for other issues, some with in the same scope requiring further testing but all in all a good indicator for MS.