Eight weeks have gone by since I had a double implant DBS surgery. Literally, I had two surgeries, one to receive the bilateral implant, and four days later I was back to have the wires and generator installed, which is similar to a pacemaker. The wires were placed under my scalp and inside the skin on my neck, while the generator was placed in my upper chest. This has been a very helpful and beneficial procedure. I have reduced tremors, much less dyskinesia, an improved ability to walk and my voice has improved in strength and clarity.
This is brain surgery, nonetheless, and it is no walk in the park. With all the good involved, what things are the most challenging about DBS, one could ask? I would start with the fact that you need to be prepared for a time of respite to recover. It is important to rest and not strain. There are scalp muscles involved in the surgery and these tissues are engaged as we turn our heads, lift objects or make facial expressions. I had 46 staples and those were holding down my scalp for most of two weeks.
Once removed, the head still needs to recover and this takes well over a month, in my experience. Be patient. The two entry points to put the leads into my brain were sore for three to four weeks. It was like a very bad headache at times, and it is important to realize that these are manageable if you don't overreact. The tendency is to think that the pain may be a bigger problem, though in my case it never was. I took two extra strength Tylenol and tried to relax.
There is a desire to get going soon after the surgery because, as in my case, I was moving so much better, I wanted to get into the yard, start exercising and play my guitars. Starting slowly and not trying to transition to these activities too quickly was important for me. I am sure each surgeon gives good direction to his/her patients regarding what they can begin to do and when. The other issue I ran across was getting used to the wires under the skin on my head and neck. The wires tug and feel strange at times. The pacemaker (generator device) is also something to get used to, both physically and psychologically. At times I was a bit depressed about having this hardware inside my body. It made me feel as though I had changed and would never be the same. When I went through these thoughts, I reminded myself of the tremendous benefits DBS brought me and that these electronics under my skin were a small price to pay for the joy of an improved life and renewed abilities. I am adjusting more and more as the weeks go by.
DBS is brain surgery, and it is a great opportunity, but it comes with several challenges. I was prepared for these because I took a couple of years to think about having the surgery before deciding. Also, my wife bought me a very good book and we read it the month before. It is entitled, "Life with a Battery-Operated Brain" and it was written by Jackie Hunt Christensen. The author, who as had bilateral DBS, does a great job of explaining the pros and cons, along with the details and facts about the devices involved and her personal surgery experiences.
I went into the surgery with my eyes open and fully aware of the variables involved. Ultimately, I had a GREAT Surgeon, and he not only knew what he was doing, but he discussed it thoroughly with me before hand. He reminded me that DBS is not a cure but a treatment that improves one's quality of life. I am looking forward to many years of happiness because of my improved physical abilities. -- Patient-Online
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| 8 Months After DBS Surgery, Feb. 2013 |
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