Hi, I’m having a lumbar puncture on Monday and I’m only young, I was wondering what you have to wear for it? Are you given a gown? Do you wear loose clothing ?
I’ve read alot about lp and to be honest I think im just scaring myself!
Can I have it so I wear my own clothes if I’m uncomfortable?
Had mine on Tuesday. Loose fitting T shirt & joggers. They only need access to the small of your back (lumbar) and just move the clothes up & down. No gown.
In the US, you get a gown and drawstring hospital pants.
It honestly wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, but make sure you drink a LOT in the 24 hours before you go. Stop in time so that you can empty your bladder before the test, because they can’t pause it for you. If you’re not hydrated enough before the test you have a greater chance of having issues after it, mostly a really bad headache. You’ll probably have to stay there up to an hour after the test so that they can be sure you’re not developing any side effects.
They may do the test differently where you are, but they had me lay on my stomach with a nurse at my head who kept me talking. I’m assuming it was so that she could see right away if something was wrong. They numbed a small area on my spine, and then they started the test. It wasn’t as painful as I’d been led to believe, just an occasional pinch with pressure, and it didn’t seem to take very long at all.
They put me into one of those back-to-front hospital gowns, then I had to kneel and bend forward arching my back. The procedure was painless and I was fairly soon home again.
They recommended drinking lots of fluids, especially cola.
Ben
Was wearing my regular clothes. They literally just lifted my tshirt up to do it
First time around I was just in my regular clothes. Second time around it was x-ray guided so I was in a surgical suite in gowns. Wear something loose on top so it can be lifted up and out of the way, and trousers on the bottom that can be pulled down low without riding back up (not jeans!).
Good luck!
Hi
I’d say anything comfortable.
I was asked to curl up in the foetal position - to separate the vertebrae.
Yes, make sure you drink plenty beforehand.
Afterwards lay as flat as you can for as long as you can and drink full sugar coke or pepsi - Not sure why but supposed to stop the post LP headache. Have paracetamol ready too.
Doesn’t take long and as long as you’re prepared and know what’s going to happen then that takes the scariness out of it.
Let us know how you get on.
Jen
I was told coffee or energy drinks. I think the theory is that caffeine kind of ups the pressure in your body generally and makes up for the pressure loss caused by the removed fluid whilst your body makes more. Coke or Pepsi probably would have been a better idea than the Red Bull I drank LOL. Depending on where you’re getting it done they might offer to bring you a cup of tea or coffee afterwards. My advice is to take a straw with you: you can’t lay flat on your back and drink without making a mess (or I suppose you could bring a tippy cup if you have one lol)
Took about 3 days to recover from mine. Splitting headache if I sat upright which then spread down the spine if I stayed upright