 |
 |
Initially, the FDA approved only 10 procedures; they wanted to see how safe it was before continuing. I will be contacting the neurologist i spoke with, a Dr. Kohler, in about a week; he said he should know by then when the research will be expanded, and where else in the country the surgery will be performed. According to Dr, Kohler, the five patients who had the procedure in Kansas City showed improvement. (He said the patient's said they felt "remarkably better", though his empirical side boiled that down to "improvement". In the end, the PD individual, when freed from some symptoms, will feel remarkable. The objective perspective may see otherwise). I believe the turning point in the conversation occured when the doctor asked me if i was informed about Pallidotomy. I procedded to explain the procedure as best i knew (thanks to all on this list!), and said that it never appealed to me because it required the making of an irreversible lesion. He nodded, then said (I'm paraphrasing here) "You do realize that stimulation is not a cure; you will most likely still have to take medication." I replied that i knew that, and what i was looking for was a better quality of life witrh hopefully fewer medications necessary, perhaps resulting in a lowering or even elimination oi dyskinesia and other drug-induced side-effects. I said that the stimulation procedure seemed the safest, least invasive procedure, with the ability to remove the stimulatorn if necessary. I'm not intending to toot my own horn, but the doctor really seemed impressed with the research and knowledge I displayed concerning surgical possibilities, medications and their side effects, and the several qwestions I pre-prepared. (My traveling companion noted this also). I showed i wasn't grasping at straws and looking for anything to "cure" my symptoms. I'll post more info after i speak with the doctor again. Hope this was helpful, or at least readable. :-) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeffrey R. Romanyshyn, M.A, M.H. "Myth Hawk" Email: [log in to unmask] 28/Diagnosed 3yrs/Sinemet 10/100 4x/Permex .375mg 3x/Eldepyrl 5mg 1x/Lift Weights-Cycle--4-5 times per week "Summoned or not, (the) god will be present." (Oracle at Delphi motto)