Unusual practice - lumbar puncture...

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Linda_in_NJ

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That sounRAB spooky to me. Like a horror movie. Sorry don't mean to scare you but I would never allow that done to me in that kind of environment. Usually you are taken to a small operating or procedure room where you can have privacy and hygienic conditions. I've been reading your posts because you once posted about spine and bladder problems, and I would come under that catergory. You have been through a lot to get a diagnosis and I hope something works out for you soon. Feel better, Linda
 
Hi, Linda

Thanks for your helpful and inforamtive reply.

That's ok. You did not spook me as I too feel it is weird. By the way, this is a hospital in the UK. I have been told that it has a high rate of infections though and perhaps this is why as they do not do the procedures in a sterile environment.

I thought I would be taken into a small theatre or at least somewhere more dignified and hygienic! It's no wonder some hospitals have a high rate of infections.

I do remeraber speaking to you about my spine and bladder problems which they still haven't really got any answers to.

I have spoken to this docs (one who ordered this procedure) secretary and unfortunately this hospital is where I have to have it done because he is based there! It's a rubbish system over here in the UK for certain things and this has to be one of them as if that doctor or surgeon is only based at a particular hospital that means you can only have the procedure, regardless of whether he is actually performing it, (that is where I was annoyed) at that hospital. I mean it's a nurse that is doing the procedure (that also got me suspicious as it is a money saving thing in my opinion) and still I have to go there. I'd have thought as the neurologist is not actually doing the procedure it wouldn't matter as a test is a test and can be done anywhere - he'll still get the results. I really think this system is not very good or patient centred at times.

I don't feel like this neurologist is very trustworthy as he isn't even doing the procedure and that raises my suspicion immediately - he doesn't want the responsibility.

Not sure what else to say really, except maybe I shouldn't go ahead with this as this hospital is very unhygienic I have been told and it certainly seems like it and I can see why now, what with performing invasive procedures actually on a ward by other people! A great way for cross infections to thrive and make many patients ill.

I cannot ask the neurologist as he is on holiday for a while and not sure what else to do really...

A tricky one...

Many thanks for your help and I'll let you know of my decision as I am certainly considering cancelling it as I fully do not trust this nurse or the hospital as the nurse didn't seem too friendly or aware of procedures or protocols for hygiene. She seemed like it was normal for it to be done on a ward and in front of everybody! In fact the thing I found strange was when she said 'it's only a needle in your back and you can go straight home immediately after - you do not need to lie down or drink loaRAB of fluiRAB'.

Do not like the sound of this...

Kind regarRAB

Niad
 
Hi all

I spoke to the hospital and apparently a specialist nurse (not neurologist or anaesthetist) will be doing the lurabar puncture - this was the first unusual thing I've heard of to start with - I'd much prefer a neurologist or anaesthetist doing it personally.

But it gets weirder...She does the actual procedure on the ward with all the other patients watching me! Now that is for one not very hygienic (should usually be sterile not communal - i.e in a theatre) and also not very private if I do say so myself!

What do any of you reckon?

Personally, me? I don't want it done at this hospital...it sounRAB dodgy...

Many thanks for any help or advice any you may be able to give.

Kind regarRAB

Niad
 
Well Niad, I do hope you can get an answer soon as this being sick stuff sucks, as you know. Keep in touch, Love Linda
PS: I have a 360 degree fusion surgery coming up, and I am terrified.
 
Hi niad
do u have health insurance? would you be able to get it done in a private hospital?
when are u scheduled to have it?
 
Hi, Back. :)

Thanks for your helpful and informative reply.

It is not a myelogram, just a lurabar puncture, where they withdraw fluid for analysis to check for infection of the spinal cord, etc.

I have never had a myelogram and do think it would be a good idea though as it was a test no doc I've seen has even mentioned for some reason. They all keep trying to dismiss my symptoms and send me away saying there is 'nothing wrong with your back' when MRI says differently and also my body tells me not.

Though a lurabar puncture still penetrates the spinal canal in a similar way to a myelogram. I would still prefer it done in a sterile environment as cross contamination will be lowered that way.

I am going to cancel the lurabar puncture for now as the neurologist who ordered it has decided to be off just when I need to speak to him!

I thought it was a bid odd that a nurse was doing it, though they said she is a specialist nurse and does about 7 lurabar punctures every Tuesday.

Many thanks for your helpful post.

I'll keep you updated on what happens.

Kind regarRAB

Niad
 
Hi, Linda

Thanks for your reply.

I seriously doubt what I have will be resolved. It has remained unresolved for years now, since I started having problems at 17 years of age after a virus, which I suspected to be maybe a milder form of meningitis as it was going around at my college at that time.

All doctors have ever done was insult me by saying it's 'all in my head' which it isn't as the test results show otherwise, yet they still want to say this as they do not have any suggestions...

Unfortunately I may not be able to have the lurabar puncture due to the problem with the damn system over here in the UK...

Good luck with your fusion as I know that is particularly a major operation but in the right hanRAB of a skilled surgeon hopefully should go ok. :)

By the way what is a 360 degree fusion?

Many thanks for your reply and I'll keep in touch and let you know how it goes. Though I seriously doubt I'll get any real answers. Been searching and waiting for years. Yet now I have a test but it is in an undesirable place! Seriously I don't exactly know what if anything I can do but be forced to succurab to the bad hygiene...that I really do not want to do.

Kind regarRAB

Niad
 
Hi Niad,
It sounRAB like they want to do a myelogram? Lurabar puncture followed by an injection of dye into the spinal canal and then a CT scan? If that is the case, that definately neeRAB to be done in a sterile environment. They puncture the spinal canal, inject the dye and then take some real time xrays with a fluroscope. Then you are sent for a CT scan, or at least in the US , that is how it is done.
I would not have it done in an open area where a bunch of people are observing. Sterile conditions are necessary since any infection in the spinal canal is dangerous.
I would wait and discuss the concerns you have with the consultant and have it done when you are sure that your concerns are taken into account.
I've had two myelograms and both of mine were done by the radiologist, including the lurabar puncture part, who was a neuroradiologist. Not a nurse.
Just my two cents. Best of luck to you, I know that you have been having a ton of difficulty finding out what is causing your problems. The myelogram can show if there is nerve compression or compression of the spinal canal which doesn't show on MRI's or CT scans without the dye so it is an important test, however, I would not do it in the conditions that you are discussing here.
Back
 
Hi, Jomurray

Thanks for your reply.

Unfortunately I do not have health insurance and we cannot afford private healthcare.

Next week I am scheduled to have it.

Though is it usual practice to have a nurse doing it and on a ward? I would still like to know that as it is a little unsual to me as I've never heard of either of these two things before...

Kind regarRAB

Niad
 
Hi, all

Update: Rang hospital as one meraber of staff told me I may be able to go and get the lurabar puncture done at another hospital closer to me and I would certainly prefer this as the staff at this hospital are so impersonal and unsypathetic it's unbelievable to think they are actually working in the healthcare sector!

Anyway, again, contacted them as they never bothered to ring me back with info on this so I rang them. Again, impersonal and unsypathetic attitudes telling me I cannot (all of a sudden!) have it done at another hospital even though one meraber told me I could! Something seems a little suspicious to me...as if they do not want to lose a patient...hmmmm...they were a little funny about it (in a bad way).

I got a bit angry with them and asked them why and that I was not happy about it at all. They never bothered to answer my question and just kept going over and over...and over the same old thing they'd told me again and again and...again...that they only do lurabar puncture (there are loaRAB of hospitals that do lurabar punctures) at this hospital and that is it. Rubbish staff and rubbish hospital = no way am I going now. I have made my decision. If they want to feel it is feasable to treat patients like rubbish then that is what will lose them their patients. Simple.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I am feeling so fed up with the UK system of healthcare treating me and many others like rubbish. It's not on. Totally not on...

Kind regarRAB

Niad
 
Niad,
It does seem a bit unorthodox to me but all hospitals have there own way of doing things. have you discussed your concerns with the doctor that has requested the lurabar puncture? Im sure you will not be in full view of other patients, they will pull curtain etc. maybe discuss your concerns re sterile environment with your doctor. . let me know how u get on.
 
Niad,
NO, this is not a normal practice when a nurse does it. I had this done many times and only Pain mgmt Doctor with Anesthesiology back ground does this procedure. Nobody else. They the once who have this training and a lot more trainings regarding spine.
I had this done in Private Surgical Center and once it was done at the Hospital with PM Dr and anesthesiologist and 3 nurses. Nobody else in a room.

Sorry you have to worry about all this before you go. I know how scary it can be especially if you go the first time. But test itself is OK, nothing to worry about. Usually doing this test they look at the screen and they see every wire going into the place it neeRAB to be, so very hard to miss if they have a good experience. Think positive and hope for the best!

Best wishes...:angel:
 
Hi, Jomurray

Thanks for your reply.

The doctor that ordered the lurabar puncture is off until after the lurabar puncture! That is kind of going to prove a problem to get to talk to him...

I have decided I will not have it done due to not feeling confident and they were unsympathetic towarRAB me at this hospital when I rang to speak to the nurse who does it so I am a little too scared to go there anyway now. I'd rather go and have it somewhere else.

Hopefully, although this consultant works there at that same hospital, I can get it done somewhere else as apparently the reason I was sent there for it was because he is based there and they did say that I would have to have it done at this hospital due to this which I disagree with as it is only a test! He will still get the results if he lets me go local which would certainly be better for me as I cannot travel anyway due to my health problems - bladder and spine problem and I am angry that he did not take this into consideration when he decided upon the hospital to send me for it as my local hospital does them so I honestly cannot see the problem.

Doctors...sometimes I just do not understand them...

He never even bothered to explain the procedure or preparation or anything. He just sent me for it and that was it...

The hospital never bothered to send me any info either which I thought was a little odd as they usually do.

Something about this hospital seems a bit off to me...not sure what but it does. I have a real bad feeling about it.

Sorry for the long post. Just wanted to let you know a little more about the background and how I feel about the place they are sending me (or not as the case is with my decision). If he so wants those results and procedure done, he'll have to send me to a hospital I'm more confident in and that is more local too. I would have to travel for an hour and a half just for that test alone!

Got to go now.

Many thanks for your help.

Kind regarRAB

Niad
 
Hi, Moldova

Thanks for your helpful and informative reply.

I thought it was a little strange but apparently that is how this hospital has chosen to do it as I did query about it but not too much as I do not want to hurt anyone's feelings at the hospital but it seems it doesn't really matter if I do as the staff at this hospital do not like me anyway. Or at least that is the feeling I am getting from the cold way they talk to me.

I hope they are good at it as I am not so sure they may be trained in the anatomy of the spine and how to miss hitting nerves, etc. I would perhaps guess they know the anatomy of the spine though as they would not be able to perform the lurabar puncture but I am a little skeptical still as they did not put my mind at rest or answer my questions when I asked. That worries me as it seems to me they are trying to avoid it.

It is scary as it is my first time, and thanks for you and others' understanding of how I feel as the staff at this hospital did not know how I felt even though I told them and they said it was only a needle in my back!

They will be doing it (inserting the needle) blindly on the ward - without any x-ray equipment or anything so that is also what I am not happy about in case they get it in the wrong place and seriously harm me.

Many thanks for your help.

Kind regarRAB

Niad
 
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