Geochick, yes, have someone at home with you for the lumbar puncture. Only a very few people have problems but if you do you want someone to be there for a bit just so you don't have to keep standing up and definitely to drive you home. I was one of the lucky tiny minority and got a spinal headache for almost a week, but I have a migraine/headache history which probably gave me more sensitivity to the drop in pressure. I then drank 6 liters of water a day trying to push liquids which meant I had to stand up extra times -- the doc's office didn't quite get the fact that cyclists push liquids a bit more than normal folk. The neuro finally figured out that I was extra miserable because I wasn't getting my normal endorphin fix. As long as I stayed lying down there was no head pain. The puncture itself wasn't that big a deal and wasn't that uncomfortable. Probably lots of people on this forum can relate their own lumbar puncture experiences.

Keep in touch.

SK