Medical Clearance

Baclofen pump

 

 

I have a baclofen pump installed in my abdomen. In 2012, I had the pump installed. I get very bad reactions to oral baclofen. Baclofen is muscle relaxer. By taking baclofen through a pump system, I avoid all the bad side effects.

Operation number one

 

 

The first operation was a really significant operation, where the doctor has to create the pouch for the pump in the front side of the patient. Then a catheter is placed up the patient’s spine. This surgery results in both front and back incisions to the patient. The second procedure, which I had is much less invasive. It is essentially a battery replacement, but they do not just replace the battery, they replace the entire pump.

X-rays

 

 

In order to have the operation, the surgeon requires medical clearance. I can have the tests and EKG performed at home. I can also have the x-rays performed at home. The problem was that the surgeon wanted the x-rays performed at a testing center so that the x-rays would be on a disc. The x-rays taken at home could not be transferred to a disc.

Bad blood pressure and EKG

 

 

So off to the testing center I went, which means I transferred from the hospital bed to the power wheelchair with a patient lift to the van. Apparently, my blood pressure was too low, and my general practice physician had to adjust my blood pressure medicine. What they didn’t tell me at the center was that my EKG was bad. I canceled an appointment for an EKG, because I didn’t know why they would have me take two EKGs in one week. My general practice physician saw me and told me that I had done badly on the initial EKG and a second EKG was ordered.

Conclusion

I rescheduled the EKG and I apparently passed. I got medical clearance and I was a go for the operation.