I have now been awake for 5 hours WITH a DBS and I am still off. I am wondering if there is some way to measure the amount of dopamine (levodopa) that is in the blood stream. Then we can better establish where we are and possibly have better medication regimen. I would know how far from "on" that I am etc. I realize that there are many factors to this such as the blood level may not be the same as levodopa needs help to cross the blood-brain barrier, what may be an "off" level for one person may be dyskinetic to another but once you knew your levels that would be what you could go by. I was thinking of a device similar to the glucometer that diabetics use then again you have the blood-brain barrier issue. On the other hand may some type of DBD (Deep Brain Dipstick) may work. I'm a couple of quarts low right now.