Drinking coke at 6:00 AM in the morning, on the day of my Lumbar Puncture, was difficult.  I arrived at the hospital at 8:00 A.M. and went to the day surgery department.  Soon I was directed to a private room.  The nurse presented me with the usual hospital gown with the gaping opening in the back, and told me to change into it ‘with the opening toward the back’.  Further instructions stated that I was to wait on the bed and the doctor would be with me shortly. 

Then the nurse proceeded to get out a sterile pack wrapped in green material.  She donned vinyl gloves and carefully and methodically opened the pack and spread the contents on a metal tray that had also been in a sterile green wrap.  She cautiously arranged two long needles, two small metal bowls, one large metal bowl, a pair of tongs, some gauze, and various other items on the tray.  I kept looking at those syringes.  I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

The neurologist breezed in and donned his rubber gloves and directed me to sit on the side of the hospital bed.  The nurse then rolled a hospital food table in front of me, and put a pillow on it.  The doctor told me to lean across the table and hug the far side.  It was all very bewildering.  All accounts that I had heard involved the patient laying on the side, curled up in the fetal position.    This was very different.

I had heard horror stories about experiencing a great deal of pain when they felt the needle being inserted.  In my odd position I felt the doctor’s cool fingers on my back, followed by a cold sensation of solution he used to put disinfection on my back.   While I waited for the needle insertion the nurse held the bottle of coke beneath my head and indicated that I should sip from the straw.  The doctor and I carried on a conversation of small talk.  I kept wondering when he was going to insert that long needle into my back.  After a short time the doctor said, “Okay, all done.  Please lay down on your side for a few minutes.” 

I hadn’t felt the needle.  So I said, “Are you really finished.” 

Whereas he chuckled lightly and said, “I do it differently than most do.”  He took of his gloves and said, “Phone and make an appointment when you get home.  See you then.”  And he walked out the door.

When I arrived home my children had brought the TV upstairs and had arranged the living room as a temporary hospital room.  They had also rented a few movies to be viewed during my recovery.

For the next few days I lay around watching TV, reading, sleeping, and sipping coke.  I seldom had to get off the couch.  When I did I received a piercing headache for my efforts.  One of my children held a glass of coke and a straw for me to drink until the headache waned.  I was served all my meals on the couch.  I slept a great deal.

I did experience some dizziness and headaches when I stood or sat up.  I am sure that the bad experiences that I could have experienced were diminished because of the coke and not having to get up too often.