Thanks to Russ (Rusty PW) I had a good conversation. (Brain surgery appears to have gone well)

[DirkG]

I also am surprised I'm just now seeing this thread. My father has essential tremor and has had it for over 30 years (he's now 82). He's now too old for surgery, but if it were up to me, I would have had him get it many years ago. He takes medication and and is in constant care of his primary care physician and his neurologist. I understand what a challenge it is to live with.

Good luck Bill and we'll be praying for you and following your progress.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Friday the 3d was most of the day in Iowa City at the hospital/clinics - 35+ minutes in MRI, blood tests, big information packets, going over what to take and not to take the week before the 10th, how to shower, and more. Exhausting. I was beat by the time I got back home at 7:45
And I go back again tomorrow for participation in a study - they'll run a camera through my nose to watch the vocal cords and such - the idea is to see how DBS may impact vocalization and speech - so there goes the 7th, 2 hours there and 2 hours back - again.
It will be fun tomorrow as maybe I'll get to convince someone there that there's a PROBLEM in my neck and throat - a problem 4 ENTs here say doesn't exist (there's a reason I'm too high on blood calcium and my neck has felt "swollen" for years)
Then on the 10th, the fun begins!
Head to Iowa City Thursday evening, hotel stay (still don't know the time of surgery), then clamped to a bed while they drill and burn through my skull (all while I'm EXTREMELY - to the max - claustrophobic and can't breathe laying on my back). I hope they can juice me up with whiskey or something.
Don't know time of the DBS surgery yet so they've just left it at 7am. So maybe I really don't need to be there the night before for early admission - but waiting until Wednesday to find out and then have no hotel rooms available - not an option. So planning for the worst.
They say I have to stay over-night, so won't be sent home until Saturday, which means my wife will be stuck there Thursday night into sometimes Saturday, nothing to do but sit in a hotel room. Too much driving back and forth and trying to find parking on a weekend or even a Friday as it's a heavy traffic area and no streets go straight for more than a few feet in that city, at least not around the hospital which is right across from the stadium.
But it gets better - then I get to go back on the 16th for a second surgery.
Total trips to Iowa City - 4
3rd, 7th, 10th, 16th
2 hours there, 2 hours back each time. Huge place, easy to get lost as there's nothing that goes straight.
And I'm horrible at logistics, planning timing, and organization, so this is a month of going crazy.

A side effect of last Friday's various appointments - I mentioned to the MRI guy that I had a couple of steel slivers in my hand from using a file (long story - totally Gladiator related!).
Right away he went and got another person who suggested I get my hand x-rayed just to be sure. The x-ray found that what was there was no longer anything "ferrous" or going to be a problem. However, the notes from the x-ray came back stating my thumb joints are basically worn out. I looked up the terms they used on the report - google came back with likely "from extended use of joint" and so on.
It explains why my thumb joints occasionally lock and bind and I can't grip anything between thumb and index finger on my right hand. Like Dad working in a factory, and maintenance work over the years - I've literally worn out the joints.

 

[WILDHOBO]

If you decide to move forward with the implant (or need more specific questions answered on activity limitations), ask to speak to the device rep. They will have more specific information than most docs (is changing rapidly and is very device specific), and if they don't have the answer, the good ones will reach out to the engineers.

For example, many of the newer generators will be "mri conditional" or possibly "mri approved" which speaks to there ability to tolerate magnetic fields (i do not know of any that are ok for electrically based welding). In general, the trend is towards the devices becoming more tolerant not less. Given, your hobbies and interests, it is definitely worth asking.

Good luck with your decision.

As someone who knows @b-roc personally, let’s just say his advice is backed up with knowledge and expertise.

 

[Rusty PW]

When they start drilling. You won't feel a thing because they will have you in twilight sleep. They will wake you after they have the implants installed and are testing them.

 

[WILDHOBO]

When they start drilling. You won't feel a thing because they will have you in twilight sleep. They will wake you after they have the implants installed and are testing them.

To make sure you can still play the piano.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

In room after procedure. Whopping headache from that big clamp and so but doc said all went well.
Cut two holes in skull for electrodes, and plastic caps held in place with screws.........reminds me of old jeep repairs
More later still weak.

 

[WILDHOBO]

In room after procedure. Whopping headache from that bi clamp and so but doc said all went well.
Cut two holes in skull for electrodes, and plastic caps held in place with screws.........reminds me of old jeel repairs
More later still weak.

So happy for you! I’m very glad there’s some hope that this could improve. You deserve to not suffer like you have been. I wish you all the luck in the days ahead.

 

[Rusty PW]

In room after procedure. Whopping headache from that bi clamp and so but doc said all went well.
Cut two holes in skull for electrodes, and plastic caps held in place with screws.........reminds me of old jeel repairs
More later still weak.

You're still in our prayers. I need a few right now myself. Got a health problem that popped up right after Labor Day.

 

[4-Play]

Best wishes for you and yours, Bill. Russ too!

 

[legacy_etu]

Good luck in your recovery Bill. I hope this gets you some relief!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Back home.
you should see the carnage on the top of my head.
Stitches that are over 1' wide (I only saw a picture my wife took.)

Ran fever in hospital on Friday evening and into the night. The nurse FRiday night said it's not normal or good, the morning nurse said that it's very common to run a fever after a procedure like that cutting the bone, peeling the scalp back and so on.
Running fever again this evening - feel chilly, sore throat and cough, and have a massive headache but some of the other pains have subsided a bit.

I go back Thursday for part two - not sure when the huge stitches come out.

I need a few right now myself. Got a health problem that popped up right after Labor Day.

You got it............

 

[WILDHOBO]

Back home.
you should see the carnage on the top of my head.
Stitches that are over 1' wide (I only saw a picture my wife took.)

Ran fever in hospital on Friday evening and into the night. The nurse FRiday night said it's not normal or good, the morning nurse said that it's very common to run a fever after a procedure like that cutting the bone, peeling the scalp back and so on.
Running fever again this evening - feel chilly, sore throat and cough, and have a massive headache but some of the other pains have subsided a bit.

I go back Thursday for part two - not sure when the huge stitches come out.


You got it............

That’s a major deal. But they’re experts, and they’ve got you. I can’t wait to hear about things improving for you. I hope this is game changing for you.

 

[Rusty PW]

Just asked the wifey. She didn't have a headache. But said every once in a while, her head will hurt, but it's not a headache.

You can feel the implant wires under the skin right now. The next step is to run the wires down to your chest, to the pack.

 

[Rusty PW]

I started to build fluid around the heart right after Labor Day. Went to the doctor on 9/26. Said that I've gained 10 lbs since last visit. Put me on a water pill and then a heart monitor for a week. Lost that 10 lbs in a week. Feel a lot better. Beginning of this week, They did an Echo test. Something like an EKC and an ultrasound. That came back normal. Got the results back from the monitor Thursday. Have to see a cardiologist this Monday. My PPC said that my heart beats too slow at time. Like 33 beats per minute. And the cardiologist might do a cath to look for blockage and a pacemaker.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I started to build fluid around the heart right after Labor Day. Went to the doctor on 9/26. Said that I've gained 10 lbs since last visit. Put me on a water pill and then a heart monitor for a week. Lost that 10 lbs in a week. Feel a lot better. Beginning of this week, They did an Echo test. Something like an EKC and an ultrasound. That came back normal. Got the results back from the monitor Thursday. Have to see a cardiologist this Monday. My PPC said that my heart beats too slow at time. Like 33 beats per minute. And the cardiologist might do a cath to look for blockage and a pacemaker.

My BP is typically low - and my heart rate prior to and during the surgery was under 40 several times. They finally gave me something to boost the rate and get it up over 40. Can't say it was ever under 35, but I recall hearing numbers like 38 and 39.

Just asked the wifey. She didn't have a headache. But said every once in a while, her head will hurt, but it's not a headache.

I've had a headache since after the surgery. The strange thing is, that halo thing they clamp to your head - the screws hit the right front where my head usually hurts the worst when I have a headache, and it was really bad at the right read. The right front still hurts.
They don't want me washing my hair for 3 days (driving me nuts - I hate dirty greasy hair) or even touching up there. Then, no rubbing or scrubbing, only simple washing.


These two spots are where the front clamps went into my skull. There are two in the back just like these. Imagine laying there with your head resting on two small posts.

I suspect the wires are between the two incisions as I have no feeling at all in my scalp in that area.

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