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Bob, ( Can't tell which Bob i am replying to.) Pallidotomy recovery time is quite unique. After the first side was done, Nancy got up from bed, in the ICU, 2 hours after surgery and walked without any PD meds. She was released to go home two days later. We went straight from the hospital to the putting green at the golf course and she was able to hold the putter and put very well without any dykinesia. All these events were extremely important to the two of us. Psychologically we new there was reason to be optomistic about the future. Real recovery time takes six to eight weeks for brain swelling to settle back to normal. Fatigue will last much longer many months. In general this was a good sign for Nancy. It was as if she was catching up on years of missed sleep. For Nancy just about all benefits were immediate. Dyskenisia was eliminated, tremor was reduced sleep time for both of us was increased, ability to move in bed was greatly enhanced but required considerable relearning on how to move and get up by her self. Nancy's second pallidotomy was six weeks after the first. We rushed it because her torso while no longer showing bilateral dyskenisia was twisted because the unoperated side was still pulling on her muscle structure. After the second surgery, Nancy was released the next day directly from the ICU to go home. She was able to walk, talk, dress and put on her make up before the doctor arrived at the hospital the next morning. It was really impressive. Again six weeks for the swelling to go down and more fatique for a few months. Driving to events that were close to the house resumed fairly quickly. Three months after the surgery Nancy played 18 wholes of golf using the Parkinson short course rules. This had not been possible for nearly ten years. As I have previouly reported, these great and clearly observable benefits while boarding on the miraculous have not been without pain and lifestyle readjustment. Back, leg and hip pain have intermittently appeared and created physical as well as psychological problems. The desire to be "cured" is a powerful force but the surgery is not a cure. We have sailed through rough seas and I believe we still have many storms to face but through all of it Nancy would not hesitate to do it again. Our latest bout with depression and insomnia was very difficult for both of us but once again we seem to have weathered the storm. While Nancy remains on close medical supervision, she did manage to play some golf today and hit several good shots and plenty of bad ones, but she did it and thats what counts. The post pallidotomy emotional roller coaster for Nancy has been rougher than the actual recovery from the physical aspects of the surgery. Our relationship is going through a significant change. For nine months there was new independence for Nancy everyday. But during the last three as depression and insomnia set in, I became the "old" caregiver and found myself needing a caregiver to help me through this torturous time. The one old PD symptom that is still troubling is the "off" times. There has not been any consistent pattern of improvement yet. On the other hand we have been adjusting meds for a year trying to find the optimal doasage of everything and we still have a ways to go. This is a long answer to a short question. Hope it is useful. Nancy has had PD 21years and is 51. [log in to unmask] -------- REPLY, Original message follows -------- > Date: Thursday, 06-Jun-96 09:40 PM > > From: Bob \ Internet: ([log in to unmask]) > To: Bob Martone \ PRODIGY: (VRGS59A) > > Subject: Recovery Time -- Pallidotomy > I am interested in recovery time from pallidotomy. > > How long in hospital? > > How long till able to resume regular activity? > > Thanks, > Bob [log in to unmask] -------- REPLY, End of original message --------