One or Two weeks after surgery, return to clinic for programming
with your neurologist.
- In about a one hour appointment, multiple settings will be tested
- You will have a patient programmer to change your settings
- Over multiple sessions every few weeks stimulation settings will be adjusted to maximize benefit and minimize side effects
- We work with you and your neurologist to adjust medications
Dr. Jennie Davis www.mvneurology.com
Programing Time – Day One!
Yesterday afternoon I went in for programing. My Neurologist/Movement Specialist Dr. Jennifer Davis and Medtronic’s DBS Specialist Mallory Robb were there. To start, I gave them a cake I had made for them to express my appreciation for getting me one of the first rechargeable unit that came out!
I was told there could be a few issues IE, it could take a day or two to take over, I could get slight stiffness or cramping, or be fatigued or tired.
I had gone in “free” of any Parkinson’s meds – IE. no Carbidopa/Levodopa in my system for past 24 hours. Then it was time to Program! The DBS was turned on! Tremors were very evident in my hands. Shaking was visible and uncontrollable. I was getting nervous, trying to focus, and paying attention to following the instructions.
Slowly Dr. Davis adjusted the DBS. Her adjustments were reversed from my limbs. Right side brain controls left side of the body and vice versa. Multiple changes, over and over, more and more adjustments! Slowly the tremors stopped and I was able to gain control of my body again… it was working! David was happy! If I hadn’t been there I doubt I would have believed it! I had some left hand cramping or stiffness, but nothing too extreme.
Dr. Davis made a few more adjustments and then stopped for the day. I would go back to taking my meds then do more adjustments in a week.
Mallory then showed me how to charge the DBS unit. She recommended daily charging to ensure in the event of a missed charge, it would still have power. We went over what to do in the event of a MRI or Electro cauterization during a hospital visit. She strongly recommended a medical alert bracelet.
It was time to celebrate… time for cake!!
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