Atypical Multiple Sclerosis

I have had my baclofen pump for about three months now.  It has made a huge difference in the quality of my life,  in the quality of my family’s life.  The other day was refill day.  This is the first time I had to have it refilled.  Someone recently asked me, if I had my refilled yet.  When I said no, they replied, “Oh, just wait.  That’s an experience.  Just wait.” Oh, great, I thought. That doesn’t sound fun.

But then I realized, it can’t be as bad as the surgery, or living with severe spasticity.  I thought maybe like most things people embellish for who knows what reasons. Still, it did make me a bit apprehensive. 

So, I arrived bright and early for my appointment.  I awoke at 5:30am so I could shower, have coffee, eat breakfast, get my family out the door to work and school, so I could leave on time for the hour and a half drive to my docs.  I really hate early morning drives.  It sets off vertigo whenI don’t have enough time to adjust to being awake. I don’t like driving in the early morning.

Well, it is a procedure for sure to get the pump refilled.  Not a bad procedure, just a procedure, especially the first time.  Seems there’s a first time for everything. The doc needs to find the tip of the pump so they can line up the template. The template finds the center of the pump which holds a small area in which a needle is inserted to first draw out the remaining meds then fill the pump with the new meds. Sounds easy enough. But, finding the tip the first time can be tricky.

The doc needed to really press and feel all round the pump. This is not a gentle operation as the doc needs to feel below the skin into the fat layer to find the outline of the pump.  Seems the tip of my pump is up under the ribs. Things got much easier when I told the doc how everytime I bend down I get a sharp shot to my ribcage. So, she proceeded to feel under the ribs for the tip. You can imagine how much fun that must have been. 

So once the tip is found and center marked. My mid-section is draped with a sanity cloth(has a hold in the middle for access to the pump) and the skin all around the pump is painted with the heavy thick yellow sanitizer. Pretty simple so far.

The doc got the needle and meds ready. Then told me I’d feel a pinch. I’m thinking like getting your blood drawn-a slight pinch. Well, the doc never said ‘slight’, I added that. It was quite a pinch. Just a point I am ready to say, “Hey, that’s beginning to hurt maybe something’s wrong,” it stopped. The needle found the pump reservoir. A few moments later and I was being cleaned up. All done. Simple as that.

It was sore for a few days. I guess it was to be expected considering there was a fair bit of manipulation around the pump.  All in all a pretty simple, easy procedure. I thought I would share this because when I spoke with others I got negative feedback about the experience. And I am not sure why.  Granted it is a bit more than having blood drawn, but only a bit more. Easy and simple.