Brief Answer:
All the symptoms are normal post a lumbar puncture.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

As you have been explained. the symptoms you have mentioned are all normal after going through this procedure. If I were you, I wouldn't be alarmed about them and suggest you not lose sleep over it. Due to loss of fluid, there will be these headaches which are bad. The best thing to do at this period is to lie down straight on your back and not sit or stand too much unnecessarily. You must keep these activities to bare minimum. As for the medications, taking Tylenol four times a day should help provided you do not have any contraindications or allergy to it. Also if you are consuming alcohol, please avoid it during this period of medication with Tylenol. If Tylenol isn't helping, you might need more powerful pain meds like Ultram and Toradol which are prescription drugs, and hence it will warrant a consultation with a physician first. Also I think it would help to accept the fact that it might take around a maximum of one week for these symptoms to subside and a minimum of 2 days.

The problem with restroom is that you are in too much pain due to which bowel movements get aborted and you are not able to evacuate. Please DO NOT strain when in the loo. This will cause increased pressure on the wound and result in loss of CSF which will again trigger the headaches cycle. Just be normal. If you are not able to evacuate, see a physician and discuss enema or digital evacuation. Also taking a laxative at night will ease bowel movement the next morning. If you are having any mild cough, start on cough medications immediately. And just check that there is no soakage of the dressing now and then. If the symptoms continue for 2 more days or they get worse in the interim with numbness of legs, urinary retention etc., please visit the ER immediately.

Hope this has answered your question. Please do get back if you have any more questions.

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