My family went to Dairy Queen on Sunday for icecream and to meet up with friends for a visit. The disabled parking was full which wasn't the issue. Parked in the closest spot to the door was a big-a**, jacked up, bright red, Dodge Ram with Harley Davidson mudflaps and gardening equipment in the back. No disabled placard and no disabled license plate. The truck was parked funny in the space as it was in the striped "no parking" area.
So we parked in the nearest and biggest space to accomodate my little ol' wheelchair. Shortly after getting in line, who should appear getting into his truck, but a perfectly mobile 60 something year old man. Now I know what your thinking- disability isn't always obvious. Or, perhaps he parked there for his passenger. My husband went out there to talk to the guy with our infant son still strapped in his car seat. I'm watching intently, all the while aware that a 60 something year old woman keeps eyeing me. This I am used to as I sort of draw attention to myself; a slim young woman in a wheelchair.
The man is saying something to my husband as he walks past him back into the restaurant to retrieve (you guessed it) his perfectly mobile wife. First he told my husband that it was none of his business. It's a good thing he had our son with him; it's what kept the "discussion" from turning sour at that point. After my husband pointed out that we could not park in that spot, the man's next response was that he had the placard in his pocket and just forgot to put it up. At this point the woman is corroborating with this story and they are getting in the truck to leave.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Pregnancy and Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy in the Literature
I'm a nurse, so I needed "official" publications from the medical world to satisfy my search for information in making an informed decision. This is a list of the literature I found using PubMed. If you do not have access, ask your provider to supply you with these articles.
(1992) Pregnancy in a quadraplegic patient treated with continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion to manage her severe spasticity
(1997) Labour pain management in a parturient with an implanted intrathecal pump
(2000) Pregnancy outcome in a woman exposed to continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion
(2001) Intrathecal baclofen for severe tetanus in a pregnant woman
(2003) Intrathecal baclofen pump implantation during pregnancy
(2008) The safety of baclofen in pregnancy- intrathecal therapy in multiple sclerosis
(2009) Epidural analgesia in labor for a woman with an intrathecal baclofen pump
(2009) Intrathecal Baclofen Administration During Pregnancy- A Case Series and Focused Clinical Review
(2009) Intrathecal baclofen and pregnancy- Implications for clinical care
(2010) Intrathecal baclofen pump – a viable therapeutic option in pregnancy
(1992) Pregnancy in a quadraplegic patient treated with continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion to manage her severe spasticity
(1997) Labour pain management in a parturient with an implanted intrathecal pump
(2000) Pregnancy outcome in a woman exposed to continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion
(2001) Intrathecal baclofen for severe tetanus in a pregnant woman
(2003) Intrathecal baclofen pump implantation during pregnancy
(2008) The safety of baclofen in pregnancy- intrathecal therapy in multiple sclerosis
(2009) Epidural analgesia in labor for a woman with an intrathecal baclofen pump
(2009) Intrathecal Baclofen Administration During Pregnancy- A Case Series and Focused Clinical Review
(2009) Intrathecal baclofen and pregnancy- Implications for clinical care
(2010) Intrathecal baclofen pump – a viable therapeutic option in pregnancy
Friday, April 13, 2012
Wait for it...
No excuses. I should not have neglected to post to this blog for an entire year. It was never far from my mind; well not for long that is. Part of me was reluctant to share what was going on for awhile. And then when I finally planned to post an update, it just didn't feel right. Here I am now, hoping to redeem myself with those of you who have all but given up on me!
It has been quite the year. After careful consideration and a lot of prayer, my husband and I decided to become pregnant again. This was not a decision that was easily made. Primarily, we had great concern with regards to the baclofen pump, catheter, and to the well being of the baby. Then of course came the next challenge; how to care for the baby once the pregnancy was over. I spent weeks on the computer searching for information and trying to cover every angle I could think of. When I couldn't come up with any major red flags, we decided to go for it. After a textbook normal 40 week pregnancy, our healthy son was born after a rapid labor and delivery, and we all came home from the hospital the next day. PHEW!
It has been quite the year. After careful consideration and a lot of prayer, my husband and I decided to become pregnant again. This was not a decision that was easily made. Primarily, we had great concern with regards to the baclofen pump, catheter, and to the well being of the baby. Then of course came the next challenge; how to care for the baby once the pregnancy was over. I spent weeks on the computer searching for information and trying to cover every angle I could think of. When I couldn't come up with any major red flags, we decided to go for it. After a textbook normal 40 week pregnancy, our healthy son was born after a rapid labor and delivery, and we all came home from the hospital the next day. PHEW!
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