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deep brain stimulation for parkinson's

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Posted 3/31/2014 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone had the Deep Brain Stimulation procedure for Parkinson's? I am scheduled in one week. Does anyone have any advice on the best location (i.e. abdomen, chest wall, or buttock) for the internal pulse generator that powers the dbs? I am female and cosmetics are a concern.
Posted 4/2/2014 1:51 AM (GMT 0)

Cotton,

Welcome to HealingWell. Although I know several people who have had DBS for PD, I have not. Hopefully some other folks who have had DBS will reply to your request. Best of luck!

 

lizzy4451

Posted 10/2/2014 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cotton,
I am a 70 year old male and had the DBS you are speaking of. I am happy to say that it was very successful and haven't had a tremor since it was put in . The pulse generator is in my chest where a pace maker would go.
Jim
Posted 10/3/2014 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
We just finalized DBS planning yesterday for my wife that will be done nov 18th so things are fresh in my mind...

There are limits and reasons why the chest area is the usual place, primarily due to the lead wires attached to the probes in the brain- as these have to be physically connected to one another. Has the brand (Medtronic or?) and type (rechargeable/non-rechargeable) been selected? This is usually done by the surgeon and/or his planning team. Once you've done that, the others fall into place.

Frankly, I'm surprised that this is still an open issue, wasn't this settled at your surgery planning session? Hasn't the type and placement of stimulator been decided by the surgeon?

Just a curiosity question, where are you having your surgery?
Posted 11/7/2014 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to see that Cotton never returned. If she had the surgery, I wish her well. My wife's surgery was moved up to the 6th (yesterday) and it went off without a single complication. Things went so well and the neurosurgeon was so pleased with her condition that he and the Medtronic rep stopped by early am today to "turn her on".

I cannot express with words the joy I have to see her essentially tremor free after sixteen years of suffering :-)
Posted 12/17/2014 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I am new to this forum , my dad had DBS operation 6 weeks ago and has the device turned on 6 days ago . He is tweaking the settings and getting on well but all this is new to us. Any advice for him ? Or for the family , things to look out for? Advice to help with getting use to things. Is it normal to have a slight headache . Any advice would be appreciated . Many thanks
Posted 12/18/2014 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
My wife had DBS implanted on November 6th.

Headaches are expected but should be subsiding by now. Is that the case? Have you discussed with the surgeon or his regular neurologist ?

Has he had the stimulator fully programmed? Or was it setup with the settings they used during surgery? He really needs the full programming treatment to match the contacts (on the brain probes) to the appropriate voltage settings. It should be about a two hour process to configure the stimulator. Has that been done?

Once it has been fully programmed, the thing to watch for is excessive stimulation in conjunction with his normal pd meds. Have they been changed at all or is he still on his pre-DBS med profile?

Sorry for all the questions but is tough to know where he is in the process of DBS.

Also, it would be good for you to start a new thread with your questions rather than placing them in a nine month old thread - as fewer people will open the older threads.
Posted 12/18/2014 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your reply , I think I just re posted my message as a new topic, didn't even realise that I posted it in an old one. Thank you I'm so new to this.
He spent two days in Bristol and they programed settings over there and was given the remote to adjust up or down to get it exactly right.
He has changed his meds also and he was over stimulated , so has that under control , almost .
I will get him to check with his doctor if his headaches continue.
He is going back to Bristol in March 2015 to follow up with the surgeon .

Thank you for your help.
Posted 1/31/2015 10:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I had DBS in 2013 and have suffered severe headaches since day 1, my neurologist has checked all the system but feels the headaches are unlikely to be caused by the DBS (I disagree) also for the past few months get an intermittent pulsating sensation (not painful) which seems to follow the route of the wires up my neck and along the left side of my head, It is the headaches I am most worried about, I do not feel that they are chronic daily headaches as suggested by my neurologist. How are your Dads headaches are they any better or being treated.
Best Regards
Wayne
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