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Has anyone taken Sumatriptan for lumbar puncture aftercare?
I'm going to have my first LP on May 15th and have been reading about taking lots of caffeine as well as drinking lots of water to help prevent the horrible headache that some do get. Since caffeine helps with migraines due to vessel constriction, I was curious if anyone has taken Sumatriptan for that? I have a prescription of that for migraines but haven't taken it yet. Just curious. I will probably just drink lots of water, take excedrin, drink coffee, and lay flat as soon as I get home. I'm going to bring bottled water in the car with me to have on the 30 minute drive home. My daughter is taking me. I'm sooooo nervous!
I have taken generic Imitrex,Sumatriptan. I was skeptical at 1st, but upon takining my 1st caplet, within 2 hours headache was pretty much gone. 1 friend who tried it said it made it worse, but by questioning him I have attributed it to diff blood type he has than I, My blood type is B, but can't rememeber if - or +.after being on it for 2 months now as needed, I say it does what it's supposed to very well, being an excedrin user for 15 years, could'nt tolerate it in my stomach anymore, switched to Ibuprophen for 15 years found it to be ineffective against headaches & causes indigestion problems if not taken after food.Hope this helps if you haven't already tried it
After reviewing an older question this morning, I thought it might be good to repeat the word of caution I gave there regarding fluids, caffeine and lumbar punctures.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO DRINK TOO MUCH WATER!!
And yes, it happens more often than you’d think.
Drink extra fluids after a LP but don't go overboard - a bit over 2 quarts (or 2 liters) is adequate. Your body can't really process an overload.
A caffeinated beverage or two may be helpful after an LP but caffeine pulls fluid out of the body as well - sending electrolytes along for the ride.
Too much fluid processing demand on the body can lead to what is called
WATER INTOXICATION and that can cause:
>>electrolyte imbalance
>>abnormal function of the nerves, muscles and heart
>>and is potentially deadly!
Drinking adequate fluids with a measured intake of caffeine are things you can do to ward off a post LP headache. When you already HAVE this type of headache you need to request a blood patch or place yourself on uninterrupted light duty/rest for as long as it takes for it to resolve naturally.
Mary
IT IS POSSIBLE TO DRINK TOO MUCH WATER!!
And yes, it happens more often than you’d think.
Drink extra fluids after a LP but don't go overboard - a bit over 2 quarts (or 2 liters) is adequate. Your body can't really process an overload.
A caffeinated beverage or two may be helpful after an LP but caffeine pulls fluid out of the body as well - sending electrolytes along for the ride.
Too much fluid processing demand on the body can lead to what is called
WATER INTOXICATION and that can cause:
>>electrolyte imbalance
>>abnormal function of the nerves, muscles and heart
>>and is potentially deadly!
Drinking adequate fluids with a measured intake of caffeine are things you can do to ward off a post LP headache. When you already HAVE this type of headache you need to request a blood patch or place yourself on uninterrupted light duty/rest for as long as it takes for it to resolve naturally.
Mary
Dennis, that sounds really risky. My neuro said I have to take it really easy for a few days to avoid the risk of leaking spinal fluid. I'm really glad that you didn't have problems from that. My riding mower is a rather bumpy ride and it jerks my back around.
Like the other said the actual LP is nothing to worry about.The chances for getting the headache are very small. I have an LP done twice in my life and the first one I don't remember anything about. The last LP I had was just a couple of years ago. The Neuro that did it was actually teaching some other doctors how to do a LP so I got a sort of inside look at what they were doing during the LP.
Within 15 minutes of the end of the procedure I was on my way home ( 2 hour drive for me) and 1/2 hour after I got home I was out mowing my lawn on a lawn tractor. While I don't recommend other to go out and mow their lawn this does show how easy things can go.
Dennis
Within 15 minutes of the end of the procedure I was on my way home ( 2 hour drive for me) and 1/2 hour after I got home I was out mowing my lawn on a lawn tractor. While I don't recommend other to go out and mow their lawn this does show how easy things can go.
Dennis
Some people have no problems. I felt fine on the way home, but that I was MISERABLE for the next two weeks.
One of my friends had a similar experience but got better after IV fluids.
I would recommend drinking LOTS of water and caffeine and let someone wait on you hand and foot!
One of my friends had a similar experience but got better after IV fluids.
I would recommend drinking LOTS of water and caffeine and let someone wait on you hand and foot!
Hi, Sandy! I can understand being nervous with all the horror stories. For me, the actual LP itself was a piece of cake. Unfortunately, I did get the headache from he!!, but a blood patch resolved it almost instantly. I walked into the unit practically in tears, and walked out smiling, and my DH and I went out to lunch immediately afterward!
Point is - LP is a piece of cake, and if you do get the headache, that's easily fixed, too.
Good luck, I'll be thinking of you.
Point is - LP is a piece of cake, and if you do get the headache, that's easily fixed, too.
Good luck, I'll be thinking of you.
I don’t know about using the sumatriptan in this context. You normally take it at the first sign of a migraine, right? I don’t think it is commonly used to prevent headaches. It would be good to ask your doc if it would be okay to use it *just in case* you feel the pangs of a headache starting post LP. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be waiting on a return phone call in that situation.
I too thought the worst part of the LP was the anticipation before and during the procedure. I experienced a sensation far closer to pressure than pain. I managed to control my breathing and look calm but just couldn't shake my fear that intense pain was imminent (I hadn't met the wonderful voices of reassurance from this forum yet). As a result, I retained a tremendous amount of tension in my muscles during - and after - the procedure. I ended up creating a problem that had nothing to do with the reality of the procedure. I don't think I released that tension and relaxed again until some time the next day. My own anxiety was the thing that left me drained in the end. NO HEADACHE though - not even a tension headache :)
Funny.... now that I share this, I'm realizing I have had six epidural injections done. It is a very similar procedure but I was far more relaxed with the epidurals, even the ones I had without sedation. Oh, I had spinal anesthesia for two surgeries as well. No problems before, during or after. I guess my mind hadn't stamped any of those procedures with the strong negative association it reserved for a 'spinal tap' or LP. I know now that my mind was wrong to single out the LP as so different.
All the more recent procedures I had were done under fluoroscopy. I was offered the option of taking a mild sedative before each procedure. Each doc had me positioned face down with my belly/hips elevated on a pillow. This is a more comfortable position for me naturally but ohhh, if only I had ALLOWED myself to relax EVERY time.
I did get a headache after a procedure ONCE. It was years ago when I had a cervical myelogram - a radiographic study that uses dye and requires the same type of CSF access as a LP or spinal anesthesia. Dye leaked into the space lining my brain and provided me with more than a week of absolute misery (blood patches weren't done back then) but it did NOT survive as the most severe pain experience of my life. I guess spinal headache are not all created equal.
It makes sense to think of requesting the blood patch prophylactically. Unfortunately, I doubt the procedure doc will go for the idea. The remedy has its own inherent dangers to consider. Blood is an irritant in the CSF. It can also introduce bacteria to the other side of the blood brain barrier. Then there's the fact that blood patch success rates improve dramatically when the procedure is done at least 24 hours AFTER headache appears.
Geeze, I hope I haven’t overloaded you again…..
I think relaxation and meditation exercises are a wonderful place to direct your energy. Learning and practicing techniques when life is calm allows easier access to inner resources during the hard moments of life. There was a long, unexpected delay before my LP procedure and I wasn’t able to hold onto my safe place.
Please remind us when you are headed off for your test so we can send pleasant and relaxing thoughts your way in abundance.
Mary
I too thought the worst part of the LP was the anticipation before and during the procedure. I experienced a sensation far closer to pressure than pain. I managed to control my breathing and look calm but just couldn't shake my fear that intense pain was imminent (I hadn't met the wonderful voices of reassurance from this forum yet). As a result, I retained a tremendous amount of tension in my muscles during - and after - the procedure. I ended up creating a problem that had nothing to do with the reality of the procedure. I don't think I released that tension and relaxed again until some time the next day. My own anxiety was the thing that left me drained in the end. NO HEADACHE though - not even a tension headache :)
Funny.... now that I share this, I'm realizing I have had six epidural injections done. It is a very similar procedure but I was far more relaxed with the epidurals, even the ones I had without sedation. Oh, I had spinal anesthesia for two surgeries as well. No problems before, during or after. I guess my mind hadn't stamped any of those procedures with the strong negative association it reserved for a 'spinal tap' or LP. I know now that my mind was wrong to single out the LP as so different.
All the more recent procedures I had were done under fluoroscopy. I was offered the option of taking a mild sedative before each procedure. Each doc had me positioned face down with my belly/hips elevated on a pillow. This is a more comfortable position for me naturally but ohhh, if only I had ALLOWED myself to relax EVERY time.
I did get a headache after a procedure ONCE. It was years ago when I had a cervical myelogram - a radiographic study that uses dye and requires the same type of CSF access as a LP or spinal anesthesia. Dye leaked into the space lining my brain and provided me with more than a week of absolute misery (blood patches weren't done back then) but it did NOT survive as the most severe pain experience of my life. I guess spinal headache are not all created equal.
It makes sense to think of requesting the blood patch prophylactically. Unfortunately, I doubt the procedure doc will go for the idea. The remedy has its own inherent dangers to consider. Blood is an irritant in the CSF. It can also introduce bacteria to the other side of the blood brain barrier. Then there's the fact that blood patch success rates improve dramatically when the procedure is done at least 24 hours AFTER headache appears.
Geeze, I hope I haven’t overloaded you again…..
I think relaxation and meditation exercises are a wonderful place to direct your energy. Learning and practicing techniques when life is calm allows easier access to inner resources during the hard moments of life. There was a long, unexpected delay before my LP procedure and I wasn’t able to hold onto my safe place.
Please remind us when you are headed off for your test so we can send pleasant and relaxing thoughts your way in abundance.
Mary
Thanks Sarah and Sarah. :)
I sure hope I don't have any problems. I'm going to have a bunch of water and excedrin on my nightstand by my bed for when I get home to lay down. I plan on reclining in my daughters car on the way home. My neuro said they will make me lay flat for an hour after the procedure before I can go home.
I sure hope I don't have any problems. I'm going to have a bunch of water and excedrin on my nightstand by my bed for when I get home to lay down. I plan on reclining in my daughters car on the way home. My neuro said they will make me lay flat for an hour after the procedure before I can go home.
1 Comments
Don't take Excedrin for postdural puncture headache. Your doctor should have told you to avoid ibuprofen and aspirin. Aspirin is an ingredient in Excedrin. Take acetaminophen and caffeine instead.
Thanks Lulu. I read your post about your experience and it really helps to read that. I wonder why they don't do a blood patch at the end of the procedure instead of waiting for some people to suffer horribly first? I wonder if I can ask my dr to do that? Just seems like a nice precaution to me.
I, for one, did get the headache. It was the absolute worst pain I've ever felt in my life!!!!
That being said, the probability of the headache is very small, I think I was told by my neuro <5%. The procedure itself is nothing at all! The worst part was the lidocaine injection and that just felt like a little bee sting.
It is totally worth getting the LP, as that may be the nail that you need to drill your dx.
I tried everything I could get my hands on to make that headache go away, including taking some Imitrex from a relative. It did nothing! Nothing at all! I think, and someone will correct me if I'm wrong, that the reason for the headache is a spinal fluid leak. Meaning that you don't have as much CSF as you need and due to gravity, the fluid is first lower in your head.
The only thing that finally worked for me was the blood patch. My neuro made me ride it out for most of the week until I finally went against his wishes and went to the ER for a blood patch. Wish I would have done it right away instead of waiting until my pain was unbearable!
They also gave me morphine in the ER while I was waiting, which made it tolerable enough that I was coherent again....
Don't worry! You'll be fine! It's normal to have nerves about it, but it's really a piece of cake! Like I said, the headache is really rare. I would bet the majority of those here didn't get it.
Take care!
Sarah =)
That being said, the probability of the headache is very small, I think I was told by my neuro <5%. The procedure itself is nothing at all! The worst part was the lidocaine injection and that just felt like a little bee sting.
It is totally worth getting the LP, as that may be the nail that you need to drill your dx.
I tried everything I could get my hands on to make that headache go away, including taking some Imitrex from a relative. It did nothing! Nothing at all! I think, and someone will correct me if I'm wrong, that the reason for the headache is a spinal fluid leak. Meaning that you don't have as much CSF as you need and due to gravity, the fluid is first lower in your head.
The only thing that finally worked for me was the blood patch. My neuro made me ride it out for most of the week until I finally went against his wishes and went to the ER for a blood patch. Wish I would have done it right away instead of waiting until my pain was unbearable!
They also gave me morphine in the ER while I was waiting, which made it tolerable enough that I was coherent again....
Don't worry! You'll be fine! It's normal to have nerves about it, but it's really a piece of cake! Like I said, the headache is really rare. I would bet the majority of those here didn't get it.
Take care!
Sarah =)
1 Comments
The headache is not rare at all. Whoever told you <5% doesn't know what they're talking about. Up to 40% of patients get the postdural puncture headache.
Sandy
I dreaded with a passion my LP for years and when I finally decided to have it, I didn't even feel it. All I felt was the initial needle ***** of the lidocaine,
and the pressure at the end of the bandage............
get them to let you lean over the bedside table, it opens the spine up and makes the job easier................
I drank 3 cokes and 2 glasses of water and drove myself home after 2 hrs.
You'll do fine, just try to relax, that's the hard part
I dreaded with a passion my LP for years and when I finally decided to have it, I didn't even feel it. All I felt was the initial needle ***** of the lidocaine,
and the pressure at the end of the bandage............
get them to let you lean over the bedside table, it opens the spine up and makes the job easier................
I drank 3 cokes and 2 glasses of water and drove myself home after 2 hrs.
You'll do fine, just try to relax, that's the hard part
nerves are understandable. The mere name of this test will strike fear in the toughest person., But for most of us, the LP is a piece of cake. I hope it will be for you as well.
I wrote about my LP in detail when I had it done -you can read about it at
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/42150/My-LP---in-all-the-details---not-new-but-here-for-reference
good luck and try not to worry about this test- it is a very common procedure.
-L
I wrote about my LP in detail when I had it done -you can read about it at
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/42150/My-LP---in-all-the-details---not-new-but-here-for-reference
good luck and try not to worry about this test- it is a very common procedure.
-L
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