Sorry It's Been Awhile

Since my last blog update, this time of year is a very hectic with two kid's in sports, a busy work schedule, and just overall life issues.

On the MS front, what a month it's been. Two weeks ago I went to the neurologist office for what I thought was to be a simple albeit slightly uncomfortable procedure. The procedure involved a spinal tap, which then then would inject via a catheter a medicine directly into my spine that would help me with the muscle spasms and weakness that I have in my legs, mostly my right side.

This is a test to see if I would a candidate for a Baclofen Pump, yet another electronic device to be implanted in me.

Long story short, the two neurology fellows were unable to get the spinal tap, total number of attempts was four, plus at least that many shots of lidocaine to numb the area. That area of my back looked like a dartboard, plus I was sore as hell.

After the fourth attempt, the neurologist decided that I have been tortured enough and that I should come back again, but this time have the procedure down under using flouroscopy to aid in getting the catheter into my spine.

So last Wednesday, I went in for that procedure. After some clerical, and bureaucratic foul ups, the test was done, the medicine was given, and the results were very positive. The radiologist, got the spinal tap on the first try, and I had very little discomfort, as opposed to my experience the week before where I was utterly tortured.

About an hour after the procedure, the neurology fellow came in and tested me again, and the increase in muscle strength, and lack of spascity was noticeably different. We discussed the implantation of the baclofen pump, and decided that it was a good idea, and I green lighted the idea. It will take a couple of weeks, for the doctors to review everything, before I get on the schedule for the actual surgery...side note, at some point this year I am due for a defibrillator change, so I will be opened up twice this year. I imagine sometime in June this will be done.

While the fact of having another foreign object in my body and a catheter in my spine doesn't sound like a lot of fun, I am at a point right now that something needs to be done to help. I was honestly hoping for an injectable medication, since that is less invasive, and has less risks, but we will see what long term benefits the pump brings and hopefully gives me some more mobility.

On the cognitive front, I have noticed, rather the kid's have noticed that I am having more brain farts than usual, and they are picking up on them, where I am not. I need to discuss with the doctor what course of action needs to be done to remedy this. Also, I have been having more cases of the dropsies, I broke a coffee mug, and dropped a few kitchen items the other day.

So I keep plugging along one day at a time, I have felt pretty good this week, have had more energy than usual, mostly in the morning, still get tired mid-afternoon, but I feel like my mornings have been very productive.

That's it for now, more to come

--gfo