Settings remain the same as the last change. However, the implant that I had to turn off was turned back on. Continue reading ‘Neurology Appointment’ »
Archive for the ‘Medical Reports’ Category
Unfortunately, I survived the battery replacement surgery. The neurosurgeon wasn’t available in March, so it was delayed until yesterday. It took over a month to have this surgery. The last time, however, took less than 2 weeks. Furthermore, everything’s not good this time… Continue reading ‘Battery Replacement Update’ »
During a routine “settings change” appointment, my neurologist found that one of the batteries has died and the other one is dying slowly. Continue reading ‘Battery Replacement’ »
I had to go early in the morning to see my neurologist today. Instead of fooling along with other settings, he suggested that we turn extra contact points on since we’ve tried almost everything else. I believe contacts 3 and 4 are on; consequently, the amplitude had to be turned down to 2.2. Pulse width and rate (frequency) remains the same at 450 and 60, respectively. I don’t feel anything different yet, but it took about 2 months the last time for the changes to take an effect, so I’m hoping for some benefits after this year.
There are no plans for any kinds of surgery, which I was a little disappointed that he didn’t discuss anything about it. I was told that there was an experimental surgery, but I guess I don’t qualify or something. Oh, well… 
Ever since my previous neurologist started decreasing the pulse width about 4 or 5 months ago, I’ve been getting progressively worse; i.e., my left leg was much more rigid than ever with both of my ankles turning inward, making it difficult to walk even with help. I’ve never had this problem before, so I’m hoping the change made today will get rid of it: pulse width is back at 450 which is pretty high.
By the way, I’m seeing my original neurologist now that the other one was “transferred” to Wisconsin. Oh, and they’re considering an experimental surgery — Subatomic Nucleus (STN), I believe — that targets another area of the brain.
Looks like I’ll have go in for another battery replacement as I’ve found out yesterday that the DBS implant in my right chest plate is dead. My condition has been getting progressively worse, I believe, for the last two weeks. I’ve an appointment on Tuesday for a scheduled adjustment, so I’ll wait until then. It’s not something like a pacemaker anyway.
We’ve planned two trips in July and August, one of them will be for over a week. So it’s good that it died now while I’m home. It was due anyhow. 
UPDATE: It was a false alarm. It was the battery of the controller that was weak; as for my condition, I’ve no idea. Instead of surgery, I had a setting adjustment: pulse width was lowered even more.
We undid the previous change, as I’ve been doing pretty bad after about 2 weeks of it, but increased the rate (frequency) a little. Other patients in New York apparently received some improvements with low pulse width, high rate and moderate voltage, according to my neurologist. I don’t expect much, though. Continue reading ‘Settings Change, Etc.’ »
On Tuesday, I went in to see my neurologist for another adjustment of my implants. Pulse width on both side has been increased to 450 from 400, which I believe has improved my ankles from turning inwards. I”m going back in 2 months.
As for my MRI, they couldn’t come to an agreement; therefore, they’re gonna send it to the neurosurgeon at UCSF who performed my initial operations. Hopefullly, he’ll think that it warrants a redo.
I had an appointment with my neurologist this afternoon, and he suggested that we stay on the plan; i.e., keep increasing the voltage. He did so by .4 this time. Continue reading ‘Settings Change, Etc.’ »
I was at the hospital for nearly 8 hours yesterday for an MRI that my neurologist ordered. Why so long? Since I can’t stay still especially with all that loud noise from the machine, I told them I wanted to be sedated with anesthesia. This sedation took longer than I’ve expected because of the lack of coordination within the hospital. Continue reading ‘New MRI at OHSU’ »
