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I've only been on this list for a short while, but I'd like to add my experience with DBS. I was diagnosed with PD in 1995; my first symptoms showed as early as 1990 (loss of sense of smell and a slight tremor in my right ring finger). By the summer of 2002 I was on fairly high dosages of Sinemet, Deprynil, Comptan, Wellbutrin and Adamantine. I was still mobile and reasonably functional, though all the meds had made me very short tempered, paranoid and unmotivated. My family noticed quite a difference in me, even if I didn't. The tremors in my arms, particularly my right arm and hand, had increased to the point where I could no longer type. I'm a writer by trade, and so this was a problem. (Also, trouble with my voice range and pitch had made it difficult to use dictation software.) Even on those rare occasions when I could type, my mental state was such that I didn't have the discipline or the energy or creativity to work. Something had to be done. Last September, I had unilateral DBS on my left hemisphere, controlling my right side. The results were immediate and dramatic: I was able to cut my meds back to nearly nothing -- I've had to increase them since then, but I'm still taking much less, both in doseage and variety than I was before. My dexterity and range of movement remain improved to a great deal even now, over a year after surgery. I still have voice problems, but not as much as before. On most days, no one can tell I have any kind of movement disorder. My neuro and I estimate I've gained at least four or five good years by having the DBS. When I have to, I'll definitely have my left side implanted. I'll do whatever it takes to keep as far ahead of this until someone finds a cure. I'm very grateful that the technology exists to make DBS possible. I can't say, obviously, that DBS is the Golden Fleece. But it has given me my life back this past year and more. Michael Reaves -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn