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What Causes Mood Swings After A Lumbar Puncture?
My husband has fluid on the brain. He had a spinal tap yesterday to drain excess fluid. He has been hallucinating with mood swings and agitation. He also has short term memory problems repeating the same questions over and over. Picking imaginary threads off his clothes. Is this all related and I just need to wait it out or is more going on. He has many health issues going on. No changes in medications.
posted on
Sat, 25 Nov 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 25 Mar 2018
Answered on
Tue, 27 Mar 2018
Last reviewed on
Hello,
Do understand that the person undergoes a lumbar puncture (LP) as an investigation modality.
There is a possibility that the symptoms occurred after the LP but the fact that the test was ordered prior to the symptoms suggests that there was some neurological problem going on before the LP was done (details of which are not available on the query). So, I think the symptoms are related to ongoing problem, not LP.
As for the cause of the symptoms, it would be inappropriate to comment on the diagnosis without clinical details and other investigations. One of the reasons why LP is done is infection and severe infection- called meningoencephalitis- can cause the symptoms.
As for the excess fluid drained, it was probably hydrocephalus (which itself can happen due to brain infection), in which condition also, there is a possibility of the symptoms mentioned.
As for the treatment, I need to know the ongoing treatment and LP report to be able to comment. However, there is a possibility that treatment was not changed after LP because the patient is already on antibiotics. So no change was needed as per the report.
Alternatively, if it is hydrocephalus, they need to evaluate how the patient improves after surgery before making a definitive comment on further treatment.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Saumya Mittal
Do understand that the person undergoes a lumbar puncture (LP) as an investigation modality.
There is a possibility that the symptoms occurred after the LP but the fact that the test was ordered prior to the symptoms suggests that there was some neurological problem going on before the LP was done (details of which are not available on the query). So, I think the symptoms are related to ongoing problem, not LP.
As for the cause of the symptoms, it would be inappropriate to comment on the diagnosis without clinical details and other investigations. One of the reasons why LP is done is infection and severe infection- called meningoencephalitis- can cause the symptoms.
As for the excess fluid drained, it was probably hydrocephalus (which itself can happen due to brain infection), in which condition also, there is a possibility of the symptoms mentioned.
As for the treatment, I need to know the ongoing treatment and LP report to be able to comment. However, there is a possibility that treatment was not changed after LP because the patient is already on antibiotics. So no change was needed as per the report.
Alternatively, if it is hydrocephalus, they need to evaluate how the patient improves after surgery before making a definitive comment on further treatment.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Saumya Mittal
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