I checked with several expert sources on my way to the ER. (Emily was driving so it was safe to use my cell phone.) The overwhelming response was "that's going to hurt like hell, get all the drugs you can". Armed with this new knowledge, I went into the ER with very clear requests. "I'm here for a lumbar puncture, I will need the strongest pain medication available." Sadly this person was just the receptionist so by the time I obsessively said this to all that would listen, there seemed to be some concern that I was just looking for narcotics.
The doctor finally arrived and assured me he would give me something to relax. He came back with Ativan. Ativan? That's a kid's drug. (Again, some concern over my knowledge of pain medication.) He promised me it was stronger with the IV form. I, of course, said I couldn't even feel the effects of the first dose, so he gave me more... I may have bruised my nose as my head hit the table.
When I regained consciousness Emily and Bruce were playing a great game of "Get Janis To Say Things She Wouldn't Normally Say". They told me I said things like evelator instead of elevator, even when they repeated it to me the right way over and over again. The spinal tap showed that the level of protein in my spinal fluid was 67 (units) - below 60 is normal, while 100-1000 indicated Guillain Barre. However, when coupled with my symptoms, it was still high enough that the doctor believed I was in the early stages of Guillain Barre.
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