[knottypine]

At what point did you consider DBS as an option and what was your quality of life like at the time.

[knottypine]

How did you choose the facility, surgeon etc and did you talk to previous patients as to success??

[made it up]

Originally Posted by knottypine

At what point did you consider DBS as an option and what was your quality of life like at the time.

Hi there,
I often say to people when they ask me something along those lines that you just know.
I really don't think anyone can be or should be talked into DBS.
When my quality of life deteriorated to the stage that someone out there could give me a chance, despite the risks some talk of. Then that for me is when I grabbed that chance with a happy outcome thankfully.
Sorry can't help you with hospital or Drs as I assume you're in U.S. and I'm not.
Best wishes,
Lee

[knottypine]

Originally Posted by made it up

Hi there,
I often say to people when they ask me something along those lines that you just know.
I really don't think anyone can be or should be talked into DBS.
When my quality of life deteriorated to the stage that someone out there could give me a chance, despite the risks some talk of. Then that for me is when I grabbed that chance with a happy outcome thankfully.
Sorry can't help you with hospital or Drs as I assume you're in U.S. and I'm not.
Best wishes,
Lee

actually i'm from northern ontario-cheers

[tulip girl]

Originally Posted by knottypine

actually i'm from northern ontario-cheers

No one can make that decision for you except YOU. There is a well established DBS program in Toronto - hospital unknown but I could probably find out.

TG
Dr A. Lozano at Western

[GregD]

I have tremor on my right side. My MSD and I have tried everything to get control of it cause it drives me crazy at times. Well, she talked to me about DBS the last time I saw her. We set up the appointments for the psych evaluation and the consultation with the neuro surgeon. They needed a new MRI of my brain and we found that I have a blockage growing right in the path of where they would want to place the probe. I also quickly discovered that my insurance would not be accepted by the surgeon or the hospital. Even if it was, I would still have been left with a $10,000 - $15,000 bill to pay out of my pocket. With my being on disability and having a daughter getting ready to go to college, I simply could not afford that at this time. Her education is to me more important than my tremor. She has her whole life ahead of her. In comparsion, I have a limited number of years left. Would I consider it in a few years? Maybe. It is a matter of what is right for you at the time.

[ol'cs]

Take your licks and when it gets too bad,you'll kow it. And you'l know what to do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86Eb4...eature=related

[ol'cs]

I'll see you on the other side

DSCN0830.jpg (220.7

[ol'cs]

It gets to the point when you've had enough of this shisse. Body banged and bruised from falling all the time (trying to live your life alone), and one out of three days out of bed.
That alone is the end stage. Loss, loss, loss. Career, gone; friends, gone; home and family, gone. sick from meds, meds and more meds, and dogged by pain, chronic and severe.
So if you can still feel joy once or twice a week for an hour or two, your quality of life is just about shot. The only reason you go on is for the loved ones who have abandoned you. That and good music. However one increasingly feels like having an accident, as the decades roll on.
PD is a horrible disease, you turn to stone.

[AnnT2]

Ol'cs

You know just because you have PD does not mean you have PD induced depression. You might have regular people depression. Have you tried to get therapy - not for PD - for clinical depression? If you can't afford it, have you at least called a suicide hotline? When you feel entirely hopeless, you often believe therapy won't help, anti-depressants won't help, but the truth is they probably will. It may not take away your PD symptoms, but these two approaches either separately or together can and probably will make your outlook better. By the way, that youtube video can only make matters seem worse. Stop watching it. Give yourself a chance by at least considering some of my un-asked for advice.

Ann