| Deep Brain Stimulator Procedure |
| Monday, July 24, 2000 |
| My alarm clock rings...time to get ready for the surgery. I hop in the shower, get dressed, and wait for what seemed like an eternity for my husband to get ready. I am so excited, yet anxious. No turning back now... We go to admissions where I get all of my wrist ID's. Then we laugh over the fact we are going to the SHORT surgical procedure unit. This isn't what I call a short procedure by any means. After about 20 minutes, my name is called. I give my husband a hug and kiss goodbye and head in to get all the operating room clothes on. I am surprised that I have no tremors now. "Great", I think to myself, "I am supposed to be full of tremors for the surgery so they know if it is successful! I am wheeled into the O.R. waiting room, where I meet both of the anesthesiologists. At 7:45 I am told that the surgical team is ready for me. I am greeted by many people, when I see my surgeon in his greens, I realize that this is the moment I have been waiting for... By the time they finish cutting my hair and shaving/waxing my head, the tremors begin to show themselves boldly! My head is coated with lidocaine, the halo is fitted and I am taken to the MRI room. My surgeon gets me comfortable with lots of blankets under my knees and shoulders to help ease the discomfort of a long day flat on my back. The stereotactic frame is put on my head, and in I go... Then it was back to the O.R. for the nuts and bolts of the procedure. This is the part where I needed those rosary beads. The left part of my skull is drilled first. The electrode was placed, and the endless series of questions begins. Very quickly the tremor fades and I think that this is the end of it. Not yet--fine tuning is needed I am informed. I would have loved to see what they were all looking at on all those monitors!! Now it was time to drill the right side of my skull. This seemed a bit more difficult for some reason. I was so afraid they were going to drill too deep. I remember opening my eyes, and they were dusting off their computer screens--yuck! Then the whole question and answer time came again. Now it was time to go for the CAT scan...that it all I remember for several hours..... The next sight I see is my husband in my room--I immediately wanted that card and those beads. Yes, thank you Lord for seeing me through it all safely!!!! My surgeon stopped by to see me and to tell me I was quite a trooper... |
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