The neurosurgeon said that the change was due to some swelling and just the probes being in place. He also stated that if I saw an improvement in symptoms just from that then I’d see a big change when the batteries were working.

Up to this point the pain was nothing much. A little from the staples but not bad. On April 8th the battery packs were put in. There’s 2 of them right above each breast. They are about the size of pacemakers. I have 2 scars apx. 2 ½ to 3” long. The wires run up behind my ears to the top of my head. This procedure I had pain!!! Oh my goodness! But it passed quickly. As mentioned earlier by Rockintime or PF, I forget who said it now, the batteries could not be turned on right away.

It was in this time period I had trouble with simple things that I knew before. I turned on the computer and then sat here and thought ‘ok, now what’? I got to my email after much trial and error and then was so frustrated I just logged off. The TV remote was a foreign object. The doc assured me all this would return to normal. And so eventually it did.

Only to have my legs act up yet again……. I was in hospital twice between the end of April and 1st week f May. Very frustrating!!! But again I survived…………… I have a friend who when asked ‘How are you?’ Replies with, ‘I yet live.’ And here I am still alive!

The whole operation was filmed from start to finish. They pitched it to ABC to air with the Michael J. Fox special. But ABC said no. So then they tried to get NBC to run it but they also said no. A quick snippet was aired on a local channel but that’s all…. So far. They figure as more interest is shown in this operation people will want to see it. I asked for a copy but have not received it yet.

I was part of a panel at a Parkinson’s convention and told about my experience with it and answered questions. There were 3 men and me. Several ladies came up to me afterwards and thanked me for speaking and giving a women’s point of view.

I’ve had a loss of interest in many things. Going on line being one of them. The doctor said many Parkinson’s patients sometimes have severe problems with addictions, ranging from gambling to internet use. And my internet addiction was perhaps gone or lessened by the operation. I have found lately I do not feel the strong ‘need’ to be online like I did before. It’s only just recently I’ve started going on a little every day.

Depression has also been an issue lately. Again I’m assured by my doc that this too is ‘normal’ and should pass in time. Meanwhile I take a little blue ‘happy’ pill every day. (Prozac) It seems to help a little.

I left out the fact that the batteries are on!! My thoughts are jumbled so this is out of order but you get the idea. It seems most people who have had this operation can turn up the batteries pretty fast and reach their best results after only a few doctor visits. It was soon discovered that I can’t go as fast. So each visit the max they can increase mine is 2/10’s of a volt. Which means many more doc visits and slow going which results in a frustrated teddy bear. If they go more then 2/10’s at a time I am so dizzy I can’t stand up. Which is not a good thing! Lol

The latest was yet another hospital stay…… went in Aug 27 and was there until Aug 31. Right leg this time. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…….

I think that brings you up to date. I do think the DBS was a success and would do it again. I already see so much improvement in my symptoms!! A big positive is I’m almost completely off the medication I used to have to take just to function at all. That is so great because the meds made me sleepy and ‘out of it’. I saw my GP doc today and she said she sees at least an 80% improvement with the Parkinson’s since the operation. I had to agree at least 80%, maybe more. Not sure how you measure such stuff.

I feel better than I have in a long time. Get the legs to stop their stupid shit and wow!!!!!! I’ll be doing super great!! 

So there you have it…..the adventures of teddy bear. And she yet lives!! 