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My wife Joan had deep brain stimulation of the subthalmic nucleus on April 23 and the stimulator was turned on a month later. This is a progress report. Unlike some surgery you have seen on TV, the patient does not get up off the operating table and dance down the hall. Recovery takes one or usually two days in the hospital and rest at home to get your energy back. One month later the stimulator is activated. Tremor may immediately decrease, but it may take 4 weeks to see the impact on other symptoms. (Three weeks so far.) Specifically in Joan's case: Immediately after surgery (before stimulation): No tremor on the left side (operation was on the right brain to help the right side) No dysconesia on either side Immediate speech improvement which faded (as predicted) as the brain healed Since stimulator turned on: Some speech improvement but not 100% Balance, mobility and stamina definitely improved but not 100% normal Freezing was not much of a problem, but may be improved. Joan's surgeon did not expect improvement in balance, gait or speech until the operation was performed on both sides, and then would not promise results because there is inadequate clinical evidence to be sure what to expect. Symptoms may continue to improve over the next few weeks. Joan still has PD but quality of life has definitely improved. She plans to have surgery on the other side in a few months. Jeff