DBS

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure used to treat several disabling neurological symptoms—most commonly the debilitating motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), such as tremor, rigidity, stiffness, slowed movement, and walking problems. (I have had all of these to some degree or another) DBS uses a surgically implanted, battery-operated medical device called an implantable pulse generator (IPG) - similar to a heart pacemaker and approximately the size of a  stopwatch to - deliver electrical stimulation to specific areas in the brain that control movement, thus blocking the abnormal nerve signals that cause PD symptoms. Don't ask me how it does it, the answer is they don't know exactly. It looks like whenever they run the leads into the brain, stirring the pot, it makes things happen. Over the last 20 years of  stirring the pot, they’ve become proficient in making good things happen.  Any success I receive I owe to the many who have undergone the procedure ahead of me.

The first stage of this procedure at Vandy is called Bone Markers and Imagines.

It was a 6 AM show, to be processed and get prepped. I put my stylish gown on, and jumped into bed. Various doctors came by to talk to me about the events of the morning. Real nice staff, very professional. Before I knew it, I was rolled down to the radiology department, met a few more people, and was told to breath deep as a mask was held to my face. The next thing I remember is a nurse ripping some tape off my chest, I yelled I'm not paying for a chest waxing. I was back where I started, about 4 hours had passed. During that time I received a CT and MRI scan, as well as 4 screws in my scull, just under the scalp.  

Not Growing Horns!

Some medical centers I understand have a marathon surgery and complete all stages in a long 13 + hour day. That's harsh! Also, other groups combine Stage I and II. I could see that, but if Vandy has come up with a successful formula that produces good results, I'm happy to spend the extra day going to Nashville. Also, that gives me more time to go out in public places and scare little kids! Just kidding! I think that precise placement of the electrodes is a huge key to success in DBS, and stage I lays the framework. The scans they performed on my brain is made into a 3D model that they use to map the implantation. Some other real smart people take this data to custom make a platform that fits on the marker screws, which allows the surgeon to precisely align the electrodes to the sweetest spot, I'll call it.

Back to recovery, my mouth is so dry I drink everything they'll bring me and take my PD meds. I give them their gown back and get a wheelchair ride to the front door where my very supportive wife Donna is waiting for me. We're on our way home by 12 noon. Here is a funny for you, looking back it's funny. We both were hungry so we went through the Chick-fil-A drive-thru. We get our food and suddenly I need a bathroom. Remember I was drinking a lot just thirty minutes ago. Chic was way to crowded for me to maneuver in, I'm still not completely "on" yet. We roll into KFC next door. I jump out with my cane and freeze in place. I shuffle a few inches at a time and get some steps going.Workers inside come and open doors for us. I'm praying to get in there in time. Well, I made it! Got to laugh! Just another day with PD.

Looks like I got my forehead pierced.
Never thought how much we use our forehead in expressions.

The blog is caught up to date now. My next trip to Vanderbilt Medical center will be for Stage II electrode implant. I appreciate all the good words, comments, prayers and likes, thanks so much, thats very kind.

                                                     Getting Started


Vanderbilt medical center does the procedure in three stages, and I'll post about them as they take place.
1. Bone Markers and Imagines
2. Deep Brain Stimulator Electrode Implant

3. DBS Generator Implant and Wire Hook-Up

I did get selected as a good candidate for DBS and was scheduled.  It's a bunch of trips to Vandy to complete all of the necessary things required in this extensive procedure, I'm guessing there isn't much difference at other medical centers.

I had a pre-operative appointment one week prior to Stage 1. It consisted of a nurse going over the instructions, do'S and don't'S for Stage 1. They also do another medical history review with you. They don't want any surprises and neither do you. Last item is go to the lab and give a bunch of blood . One of the preparatory items is to get a burr haircut within 3 days of your hospital visit. Not really a big deal to me, but I can see ladies having a harder time giving it up. My barber was trying to have some fun, that's as close as I come to cracking a smile!

Evaluations

DBS is not for everyone and there is an evaluation process to go through which isn't any fun. It has several parts 

Physical therapy- The team needs to see you unmedicated to see how bad your PD really is and compares on video different movements when you get back on your meds.

Neuropsychological testing- These are a series of memory tests, interpretations of charts and graphics.

Psychological- They're checking for someone that's motivated and stable. After all this procedure doesn't come cheap. $100000-$200000?

If you're a good candidate your  insurance company will be contacted for precertification, and you go home and wait.

No Good Options

After a 20-year Air Force career,serving both as enlisted and as an officer flying the KC-135. I was ecstatic to be a new hire first officer at American Airlines. I had done some training at the American Flight academy, so I felt right at home training on the F-100. I spent my probation flying out of Chicago before going down to Dallas on the F-100, loving flying modern equipment. Several years passed before I noticed things happening to my body during long bike rides. I had a weakness in my left leg, tremors on my left hand, and a loss in dexterity. After many tests and several doctors, I was given the bad news of Parkinson’s Disease at the ripe old age of 42. My life was about to change forever. My flying career that I worked so hard for was gone. God had another plan for me. I became a stay-at-home dad, while my wife went to graduate school to start a new career as a teacher. It was an adjustment, but my wonderful, supportive family made the sacrifices. The positive side was that my girls had a father in their lives constantly, and I enjoyed being there watching them grow up. My paycheck wasn't as good as when I was flying, but I was rich in other ways. When I wasn't being a father, I was working out, riding my bike, doing yoga, anything to fight the Parkinson's Disease. I thought I was doing a good job. At each checkup, my doctors would tell me that I looked great. I even talked myself into believing that I could exercise for the rest of my life and keep one step ahead of the Parkinson's. I could ride a bicycle for 100 miles on any given day. I rode with the Air Force cycling team across Iowa.(RAGBRAI) climbed mountains and pushed through the hard parts. For the first 10 years, the disease was an inconvenience. Taking pills is no big deal, right? As the years passed, I ended up taking about every medication there is to offer a Parkinson's patient, but it always came back to sinemet, the gold standard. Years 11 and 12 brought additional symptoms and a small bike accident that started my slide downhill in my battle with Parkinson's. My right knee was injured, and by the time I had surgery eight months had passed without many days of intense exercise, which was my key to fighting Parkinson’s. As luck would have it, (Bad) I was also informed that my right shoulder required replacement surgery. The seemingly small setbacks began adding up, and my

health suffered. I was taking sinemet every two hours. I thought I might have a fighting chance left with the new drug Rytary. I was wrong in a big way. I couldn't tolerate it at all. That brings me about to where I stand today. The non-contact boxing program Rock Steady restored some exercise intensity, and I'm back on the bike. The progression of the Parkinson’s is quite evident though. My left leg is shaking before I can get out of bed in the morning and get the meds flowing. Then I wait and see if I get any “on time” from the first round of meds.(On Time is when the medication is working and symptoms are controlled) Some days, I wait until 11:00 or 12:00 P.M. to be “on” enough to be productive. Throughout the day, I struggle with my medication fluctuating or wearing off altogether, turning the simplest of tasks into a struggle. Nothing like freezing in the middle of grocery shopping. By 9:00 P.M., I am again rendered nearly immobile, incapacitated by rigidity and dyskinesia. In my 15-year battle, I'm sure I've had all the motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s. I'm fully aware that DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) will not help all symptoms and that it's not a cure, but I feel it would restore me to a point that I could better resume the fight while I wait for the elusive cure of this terrible affliction.

I’ve given you this background to help you understand my current position. DBS surgery is my last feasible treatment option. I do not take my decision to have doctors drill holes in my scull and probe my brain, lightly. I have utmost confidence in my surgeon and team of doctors. Vanderbilt Medical Center has completed over 1,000 DBS procedures, and as a research facility, they are leaders in this field. That being said, I know that there are always risks involved. Infection, bleeding in the brain, stroke, swelling, and seizures are all possible. I need this operation, I've weighed the options!My quality-of-life will be dependent on the outcome.

Who Am I?

My name is Charles Scott Suffridge. I am a husband. I am a father. I am a veteran. I am a fighter. And I have Parkinson’s Disease. I am writing this blog in hopes that you will have a better understanding of my fight against Parkinson’s, in so doing, allowing yourself to have the knowledge of a disease that plagues 1,000,000 Americans, and an additional 60,000 per year is added to the ranks. If you're a brother or sister in arms with me, I welcome you to my small battlefield. If you learn anything that might help in your  personal struggle with PD from this Blog my time has been well spent. Its taken many years for me to learn that numbers will help my battle with Parkinson's. We all might have different symptoms, different ages, different backgrounds, etc, but there is a certain synergy when we're together, weather its in the gym or at a luncheon.I know its there, the will to never give up. A breakthrough in research can come at anytime, and we need to be as healthy as possible, mentally and physically. If you're newly diagnosed  or if you know someone that is please encourage that person to get into a PD group of some type. They won't regret it!