Lumbar Puncture Procedure or Spinal Tap, by Tabitha, Age 15
The first thing you do is enter the procedure room where you can listen
to music. Child Life can go with you and talk while you're undergoing
your procedure, and your parents can stay in the room also. The nurses
will help you get in a certain position for the procedure. Next, if you
have an IV port, it is accessed and you are given morphine, a kind of
medicine that makes you feel warm, relaxed, and carefree. You may also
receive Versed, which slurs your speech and makes everything in slow motion.
Your emotions intensify and you might feel like crying or laughing unintentionally
or be confused, but this is okay. You will feel some pain as the numbing
medicine goes in, but after that, you will feel little or nothing. Take
deep breaths and concentrate on the music to keep your mind on something
else until the pain subsides.
After the procedure is over, you will lay
flat for an hour, and will likely fall asleep since the medicine makes
you so relaxed. If you feel scared or nervous before the procedure, just
remember that after you get the morphine and Versed you will feel okay.
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