| 21 Months Post-Op After almost 2 years, I have never been so excited about the outcome of having the DBS-STN installed. Several weeks ago, I had a terryifying experience. The left stimulator was somehow turned off. This of course brought back the all-to-familiar tremor, small handwriting, and depression. The right stimulator was not set properly, thus varying the amplitude from 3.7 to 1.1 at any given time. I was a mess. I had previously arranged to consult with a movement disorder specialist, so I decided to tough it out. I lived in pure hell for about a week. It took great effort to walk, freezing was quite common, turning required enormous levels of thought. When I met this new MDS, he confided in me that he knew he had his work cut out. Then, after reviewing my records, he called my surgeon to discuss my history. After all stimulators were turned back on properly, I immediately felt relieved. He told me that increasing my requip from 3 mg a day to 6mg may help to relieve the dystonia that has now spread to my left arm and hand. That ordeal allowed me to live my life with PD as if I did not have this surgery. It was not a pretty picture. Without the DBS, I would need help to complete the simple tasks of life--dressing, bathing, cooking, cleaning, driving, etc. Things that I take for granted. Yes, my PD has definately progressed. I have resigned from my teaching position. In order to do so, my neurologist needed to fill out a form declaring my disability. In that form, he had written that I was in the end stages of PD! Reading those words, I was almost in disbelief. But experiencing life without my surgery--that is where my Parkinson's has taken me. |