Lumbar puncture

[kaj]

Haven"t posted in a while but I read all the time. I thought I would let you know what is going on. My mom had her lumbar puncture today. She was in a lot of pain and crying. She said that she "didn't want to live like this anymore." She also started to cry when they were asking her questions. She said, "I am smarter than this." When I saw her, she looked depressed and not herself at all. It was a real downer of a day. I hope to God this helps her. I don't want to put her through anymore pain. I will let you know how it works out.
God Bless, Kim

[Travelingdueo]

I hope things get better for her..
Will continue to keep her in our prayers
let us know the outcome

[wonderland]

Kim: I am so sorry you, your mother and your whole family are going through this. My heart is with you.

Pamela

[rmbing64]

Kim, I am so sorry for your Mom. I hope her results are helpful and give her some relief, as did mine. I was wondering how she was. I will keep you and you mom in my thoughts. Rose

[goldie411]

Kim, I'm very sorry yall are going through this. I will keep yall in my prayers. Take care

[dawnmn]

Kim,
Sorry your mom and your family are still on this journey. Please do keep us updated. Were still rooting that the doctor's will continue to figure out what is going on with your mom. Take care!

Dawn

[ChrisC]

Kaj, I'm sorry that your Mom is feeling this way - it has to be very frustrating for her, and you and your family. How did the tests go? Is she feeling any better? Let us know how she's doing......prayers are with her.

[kaj]

Thanks for all your kind words. Mom was very confused when I saw her today. She had already seen ST, OT, and the neuro psychiatrist by the time I got there. She was very tired at that point. In the morning though, my sister called her and my mom asked her where she was, and why was she in the hospital. We are hoping that is a good sign. That is the first time that she has ever asked that. Tommorrow might be a better day. I called her at night time and I asked her if she knew why she was in the hospital and she said yes, she had an aneurysm. That is the second time she has said that.

Only time will tell.

Has anyone had a lumbar puncture that helped with memory, bathroom issues and balance? If so, how long did it take for those things to change? jUst wondering what to expect if the lumbar puncture works.

Thanks again,
KIm

[Greenie]

Kim, that's great news. Relieving the pressure in the brain will cause all those things to get better.

Have they determined she has hydrocephalus? Are they talking about a shunt? After my Mom got her shunt she got remarkably better.

[rmbing64]

Kim, after my shunt was placed, I had a great improvement in my memory. I am sorry that your mom's lumbar puncture was painful. Mine did not hurt at all. That must have been so distressing for all of you. I think, just from the little bit, and it is not very much, that I remember, that I had such relief from the horrible headaches that I had been having but I had a shunt placed the next day. I was initially very confused after the anesthetic that I received during surgery but after the first couple of days, it was really the first time that I comprehended what had happened to me, though I had been told on multiple occasions. I could talk, carry on a conversation, remember things from the past but I did not really retain things, until after the hydrocephalus was addressed. I had too many other issues to know if my balance was from that but definatley I had some confusion and some lethargy. Rose

[FireflyR7]

;) God bless your Mom!! I know how difficult this is!! I had a rupture almost 3 years ago and still in recovery. :o Have you considered getting her counceling for her depression and dealing with all of this??
I know that this has been the hardest 3 years of my life, the brain can take a long time to heal. Everyone is so different, I hope they can get her feeling better soon!!! Please keep us posted. I will be keeping her in my prayers!! ;)
Tricia

[kc_dawn]

Hi Kim, Thanks for the update...I hope your mom gets better, I think you will see great improveme1nts in the near future! I will continue to keep you,your mom and your family in my thoughts and prayers:)

[kaj]

Last night, my mom pulled out all her iv's and snapped the lumbar drain. The thing wasn't even in for more than 33 hours. So far two out of the four people assessing her have not seen any kind of change, according to them. I am very frustrated because since she entered the hospital she has not been herself. She has been a lot more confused. She doesn't understand where she is. I think they have not really seen the "true mom" that we see everyday. They are not sure if they are going to try the lumbar drain again. Also, her blood pressure dropped again. She has these spells about every two weeks where her blood pressure drops to about 85/62. She turns as white as a ghost and we have to lay her down immediately. Once we lay her down, her blood pressure comes back up and she gets all the color back in her face and then she is fine. We can't figure out what triggers it. She is going to be seen by the cardiologist at the hospital. Hopefully they can tell us. She did suffer a significant heart attack from the aneurysm. However, she just had an echo done and they said it looked normal. This waiting game is really getting to me. I give you all credit for all you have endured. God bless you.
Kim

[Kitty]

Thanks for all your kind words. Mom was very confused when I saw her today. She had already seen ST, OT, and the neuro psychiatrist by the time I got there. She was very tired at that point. In the morning though, my sister called her and my mom asked her where she was, and why was she in the hospital. We are hoping that is a good sign. That is the first time that she has ever asked that. Tommorrow might be a better day. I called her at night time and I asked her if she knew why she was in the hospital and she said yes, she had an aneurysm. That is the second time she has said that.

Only time will tell.

Has anyone had a lumbar puncture that helped with memory, bathroom issues and balance? If so, how long did it take for those things to change? jUst wondering what to expect if the lumbar puncture works.

Thanks again,
KIm

Kim,

I don't have any personal experience with the type of issues your Mom is having, but I would count those little bits of enhanced comprehension and communication as positives. I hope there will be many more improvements, a bit at a time, and more good days.

Kitty