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Posted 6/26/2008 10:50 AM (GMT 0)
As most of you know I am faced with getting a myelogram soon.


Has anyone else experienced this problem? [img]/community/emoticons/eyes.gif[/img]


____________________________________________________________
Rule 13 as per banned reference

Post Edited By Moderator (MMMNAVY) : 6/26/2008 8:07:03 PM (GMT-6)
Posted 6/26/2008 11:39 AM (GMT 0)

Sorry Lassie,

Can't help you with experience but send you lots of love and good vibes!

Cary

Posted 6/26/2008 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Cary, that is very sweet of you.

Lassie
Posted 6/26/2008 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry when an account is locked the posts are deleted. There is no way to recover them.

But I can answer your question, so what would you like to know?
Posted 6/26/2008 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Lassie,

I have had two myleograms in my life. It was not a pleasant experience for me. That's all I have to say about it. Is there anything specific that you want to know??

Lindaloo
Posted 6/26/2008 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
No guys, there was nothing specific I needed to know.

Lindaloo - I had a myelogram years ago; I'm just hoping their technique has improved. Wish they would put me to sleep. Ha!

Post Edited By Moderator (MMMNAVY) : 6/26/2008 1:54:09 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/26/2008 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
MMMNavy - how did I break Rule 13? I have always been respectful of all moderators. This really hurts my feelings as I have never intentionally broken any rules and have offered nothing but suppprt in your often difficult position.

lassie
Posted 6/26/2008 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Lassie,
I don't know the answer to this but I'm just speculating. It seems like you were referencing someone else's posts, and that other person may have been who violated that rule, and that's why those other posts were deleted? Again, I'm guessing, maybe the mods can clarify. Please don't take it personally until a moderator clarifies it ok?

I wish I could help with the myelogram, but I've not had one. I do recall on the other thread (the one where we had computer problems) someone saying that there have been changes to the way they are done which would make them more tolerable??? I hope someone can help you out here.

I do know they help give the best information for diagnostics - even better than MRI's, and you said your ortho was trying to get to the bottom of what had kept you in a wheelchair, so in your case it may well be worht it. If you have some questions about why it's being done, will you be seeing your doc before the procedure? If not, maybe call his office and ask if at some point you could get answers to your questions.

If you know why he's doing it - that is, to get more info. - and you agree with the need, then maybe it's just the anxiety, and we can help you with that. Certainly any procedure is scary, but focus on the fact you will finally have some answers. Has it been rescheduled yet?

We're listening....and I suspect someone who's had the procedure will add some info. soon, especially now that it's in the subject of your thread.

PaLady
Posted 6/26/2008 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
Lassie, I have email you. It was not you, it was your reference in the title of your post.
Posted 6/30/2008 1:35 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Lassie,

I've had two myelograms. They were more frightening to read about , than actually having them.

You go into the hospital a few hours before the scheduled appointment, and they do the normal hospital stuff. They take you down to radiology for the test. You get onto a table, and the radiologist comes in, they do a prep thing ( wash down your back), and then they use some lidocaine type stuff to numb your back a little, and then insert the needle to withdraw a bit of spinal fluid. They use the same needle to insert the dye for the myelogram. They take a few pictures and depending on the area they are supposed to examine, may tilt the table to get the dye to flow to the correct area. It's over in about a half hour. Then you go onto a gurney to go to CT. They do the CT exam and you go back to your room to wait out the four hours or whatever the hospitals policy is, and then go home.

The best thing to do is follow the directions that they give you in regard to your head position. I was told to not use more than 2 pillows when I got home, and to stay laying down for 24 hours except for eating or going to the bathroom and to drink either caffeinated soda or coffee, as it helps keep the spinal headaches at bay.

I didn't have a spinal headache with either one, so I was lucky.

When are you supposed to have yours done? If there is anything else I can answer for you, please feel free to ask.
Sandi M

Posted 6/30/2008 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Lassie,
How are you doing? You've been quiet and that has me a bit concerned. Let us know how you're doing.

PaLady
Posted 6/30/2008 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Sandi M,

Thanks so much for your reply; you gave me more information than the teck that called me for the pre-work up. I had a myelogram done years ago. It was for my C-spine area and was horrid. They did everything but turn me upside down (maybe they did). Since this will be for my lumbar area maybe it won't be so bad. I didn't know caffeinated drinks might prevent spinal headaches.
Thanks for the info.

I noticed you had a consult for the SCS. I went through the trial and decided it wasn't for me. If you have any questions about this, I'd be glad to help you as much as I can.

I hope your pain level is low today.
Posted 6/30/2008 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
PaLady,

Thanks for your concern. I'm okay, just a little down for the past several days. Pain issues are okay; just some personal crap I have to deal with. I'm still around though & think about you guys alot. Please keep me in your thoughts.

lassie
Posted 6/30/2008 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
Lassie,

I'm sending positive energy your way as I write! But it's wonderful that your pain is down - pretty great when you think of it, so the other issues can work out, too.

Hang in there!

PaLady
Posted 6/30/2008 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
:-)  Hi Lassie,

Saw part of your post and I just wanted to reassure you about your upcoming Mylogram (sp?) They sound

a lot worse then they are, at least in my opinion.  Sounds to me like Sandy M summed it up pretty good. I

would just warn you about the headache issue. You do not want to get one of those headaches, they're worse then the Mylo in my case. Ideally after having your test and being released from the hospital you should definitely go home to lie down and I'd suggest no pillows unless you put them so that they elavate your legs. The soda and coffee thing is good advice. If you do for some reason get the headache you need to call back the dr. that did the test and let them know because you might need what they call a blood patch which is a way of closing the needle puncture in your spinal cord. Again not anything to be scared about and not too painfull either. There have been a few times after my own Mylograms where I had to have the

blood patch procedure more than once.

You'll be fine though Lassie, just don't let the nerves and stress get to you and it will be over before you know it. You can also ask for some kind of oral meds like Valium to take before you go in. You have to set that part up before your test though. So good luck to you, I'll be thinking of you and hoping all goes well.

I think I'd rather be having your test more then my next test which is a colonoscopy. They are just straight out humiliating and uncomfortable and that stuff you have to drink the night before... well needless to say that part is one of the worse aspects of my test. Yuckie!!

I decided years ago to think of my body as a car and dr.s as mechanics.lol They have to look under the hood and at your exhaust pipe as well. It would be funny if it wasn't true. After years and years of surgeries and tests and so on it is kind of nice to seperate yourself from your body and let the mechanics get their work done. Hey it works for me. Good luck to you Lassie and I think I read somewhere that your pain level was better so good for you honey. Have a great day.

 

Toritoo

Posted 7/1/2008 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lassie,
I'm glad that I could help you some to ease some fears about the myelograms. I was told to not have my head at more than 30 degrees post myelogram. In the hospital, I didn't even get a pillow but could raise the bed just a tiny bit for the first 4 hours, but she told me that it was really important to go home and stay down for the first 24 hours.
The caffeine for some reason does help with the headaches, can't give you a technical explanation but it does work.
They shouldn't have to tilt you since this one is in the lumbar area. They had problems getting the dye to flow past L 3-4 on me, so they raised the head of the gurney and left me like that for almost an hour, but that was because of the stenosis problems.
I did go for the consult for the scs, and for a lot of reasons , decided not to have one implanted. I am confident in them after some of the stories that I have read here and other back boards. I'm sorry that yours didn't work for you, but it's stories like yours that made me decide not to do it, too many stories about lead migration and truthfully, I can't tolerate a TENS unit, and no one can explain how it would be any different internally if I can't tolerate it externally, since the sensations are similar. Until someone can answer that for me, I'm not doing it. Trying it just because it might be differnt doesn't appeal to me. I've got enough damage to my spinal nerves now to risk something that may cause even more problems for me.
I do appreciate your offering to help. If I do decide somewhere down the road to give it a try, I'm sure that I will have lots of questions and you will be one of the first that I come to.
Take care of yourself and I hope that things are smoothing out for you. Are the problems you are having related to the situation with your former carer? I sure hope things are getting better for you.
Take care,
Sandi
Posted 7/1/2008 10:12 AM (GMT 0)
Toritoo,
You are just too funny about the exhaust pipe.lol!! But it's true and youv'e got a great way of looking at it. Maybe I'll try it.
No, colonoscopies are not fun. They are suposed to give you "happy juice" to help you relax. For some people, it kinda puts you in "lala land". Of course, not the case with me. The Versed did nothing but they did the coloscopy anyway. One of the most embarassing procedures I've ever had done. Not trying to scare you or anything; just telling you my experience. Hopefully, the meds will work for you and you won't remember a thing.
Yes, my pain level is much smoother and lower, at least for a while. Who know, maybe I'm fixed!! I call it a miracle and thank God everyday.
lassie
Posted 7/1/2008 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
As a crohnie I have a colonscopy yearly and I do have to be put under GA for it. Versed does nothing for me too. I inevitably end up bleeding from it.

Good to know you are doing better.
Posted 7/1/2008 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Ok all your post-colonoscopy folk, I have a question: Was any of your back/sciatic pain aggravated after the colonoscopy? One of the reasons I hesitate to have one is that I've already got so much pain in my lower back/buttocks/legs, and all that jazz I'm afraid the positions I'll be in (even though I may be "out" during the procedure) will aggravate some of the back pain issues later, after I'm home. Did this happen with any of you who have back/sciatic issues and have had a colonoscopy?

PaLady
Posted 7/1/2008 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Wish I could help you there. Mine was for a GI tract problem.
Hopefully, someone has some input to help you.

lassie
Posted 7/1/2008 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
you are in one position for the scope and that is laying on your left side with your knees at as much of an angle (closest to 90 degrees that they can get you), they might roll you over to your back when finished but just ask them not to move you.
Posted 7/1/2008 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have a lot of lower back pain/sciatic pain and the scope doesn't bother it. Lying on the bed before the scope does though. I just make sure that I take a pain killer when I get home. One thing I do is that I have them raise my legs when I'm waiting for the scope with a pillow.
Posted 7/2/2008 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
I am an old x-ray tech and have been involved with many myelograms. I don't know whether this will help you, but I can explain what will happen while you are in radiology. You will be brought into the x-ray room and placed face down on the x-ray table. There will be foot board attached to the bottom of the table, so the radiologist can put you and the table in a vertical position. There will also be a shoulder brace that is attached to the sides of the table. This will be placed after you are on the table. It holds your shoulders, so if and when the radiologist tips the table down toward your head, you don't slide off. Usually, a small cushion or pillow is placed under your waist area. That is done to straighten your nature curve in your lower back. The radiologist will use a very small needle with Lidocaine or another numbing agent and will put it in under your skin. It will sting a little, just like it does when Novacaine is given at the dentist's office. The lidocaine will numb your back. The radiologist will then use a larger and longer needle to go into your spinal canal. The x-ray tech or radiologist may use the fluoroscope to pass and above you lying face down on the table. The fluoroscope is connected to a television monitor and the radiologist can see the needle, your body parts and the contrast material. He/She will inject some contrast material through the needle, that will stay in place throughout the entire procedure. When there is sufficient contrast material, the radiologist will disconnect the syringe, but leave the needle in place. To get the contrast material to flow up and down the spinal column, the radiologist will tip the entire table, including you toward your head and toward your feet. The radiologist may ask you to raise one side of your body sightly to right and then to the left. What this does is allows the contrast material to fill the spinal canal. The radiologist will be taking digital pictures as you are moved. For the most part, you will not have to move much at all. With modern technology, the x-ray room is no longer dark, but the lights will be dimmed. Usually after the radiologists has taken all of the digital pictures they want, the x-ray technologist may be asked to move the fluoroscope unit toward your feet. Then the tech will move the overhead x-ray tube, that has not been used, and position it to take a picture crosswise, while you are still lying on the table face down. After all of the pictures have been taken, the radiologist will often use the fluoroscope and move the table to pool the contrast material under the needle tip. Then will withdraw as much contrast material as will easily come out. After that, the needle will be withdrawn and a band-aid will be put on your back. Often you will be instructed to stay in a horizontal position for a few hours. The whole procedure usually takes 40 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how easy it is to place the needle, how many images are taken, how easy and quickly the contrast material flows up and down your spinal canal, and lastly how much time is required to extract the majority of the contrast material at the conclusion of the test.

If you have difficulty laying on a hard surface face down, be sure an tell them. If you have ever had a CT or MRI scan, this is quite different in that there is no "gantry" or hole in a huge machine that your body goes in and out of. Rather you are in an open room, with the fluoroscope device that is attached to the x-ray table being moved from your head to your buttock area while you are lying on the table. The advantage of being awake is that the procedure will go quicker as the radiologist can tell you to lift one hip/side or body, then the other.

If you have ever had contrast material during a radiology diagnostic, CT, or MRI study, make sure you tell the technologist and radiologists about it first. They usually ask, but it is always wise to inform medical personnel about your body.

I hope this helps and does not scare you. I have found knowledge helps me. In all the years that I participated in myelograms, I do not remember anyway complaining from pain unless the spinal needle touched a nerve. It isn't a quick procedure like a back x-ray, but it does give very valuable information to your physician.

Best wishes, JoAnn
Posted 7/2/2008 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
Ok all your post-colonoscopy folk, I have a question: Was any of your back/sciatic pain aggravated after the colonoscopy? One of the reasons I hesitate to have one is that I've already got so much pain in my lower back/buttocks/legs, and all that jazz I'm afraid the positions I'll be in (even though I may be "out" during the procedure) will aggravate some of the back pain issues later, after I'm home. Did this happen with any of you who have back/sciatic issues and have had a colonoscopy?

PaLady

PALady,

I am having my second one next month. I didn't have a worsening of my back problems after my first one. They do put you as close to 90 degrees as they can get you, and then roll you onto your back afterward. I asked them not to roll me onto my back, just leave me as I was when they put me out and that's what they did.

The worst part is the prep for it. I had to ask for a different prep this year, drinking that stuff was awful. The only thing that I found that made it a little palatable was mixing it into pink lemonade ( with extra pl mix into the glass), and lots of ice.....the lemonade contrasted the salt taste of the prep.

Sandi

Posted 7/2/2008 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the info from the post-coloscopy folk! I don't want to hijack Lassie's thread. If I get close to having one I may start a thread, but it's not on my to do list at the moment!

PaLady
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