Lumbar Puncture #1

I had my 1st of 5 Lumbar Punctures with Chemo Injection yesterday and I must say, things are handled very differently post-BMT!

Before my bone marrow transplant I was given something to relax me, then I was taken by guerny down to Neuro-Radiology and put on a tilting table to make needle entry more precise. This was all done with Radiographs so the doc could see exactly where to insert that very long needle they use - not too far so that he would hit a nerve and not too little so that he wouldn't be able to get enough spinal fluid. Yesterday, my LP was done in a small room where I sat on the side of the bed and leaned over a bedside table with no drugs (only topical) and no guerny. I was left to rest for one hour in a freezing cold room with only a thin sheet. Wow, what a difference a bone marrow transplant makes! I came right home and laid in bed on my back for about 8 hours - don't want no stinkin' spinal headache! Really though, it wasn't so bad and was over before I knew it. I don't anticipate that any cancer will be found in my spine or brain. Only 4 more to go. My next one is Sept. 10th.

I am feeling pretty good today, which is always nice at the start of a weekend. My fluid retention problem is still around, but is much better. My nausea is at bay. Things are looking up!