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If you are nervous about brain surgery and do not know what the procedure entails I would suggest reading: http://neurosurgery.mgh.harvard.edu/pallidt.htm the pallidotomy info is about halfway through this page. And, also, http://axonet.com/FN_Neurosurgery.html this one is an easier read. My mother had a pallidotomy for her right side about a month ago. She is so happy with the results that she is anxious for the second pallidotomy but the neurosurgeon told her she was going to have to wait several months. My mother was in such bad shape prior to the surgery that she was ready to die if she could not have the surgery. Medications hardly worked for her. She refused to go with any other form of surgery like the stimulators. She was more afraid of the electrode left in her brain than a permanent hole. (Go figure.) But, fortunately, so far so good. With everybody else's input I'm sure it must be confusing and frustrating but the best thing you can do is educate yourself as much as possible. Teresa, Daughter of Mama (57/43/38) -----Original Message----- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Philip Connors Sent: Saturday, June 26, 1999 12:03 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Pallidotomy or Tasmar ???? Carol, my wife of almost 40 years, faces a very difficult decission and I sollict your input. I have been mostly, but not exclusively, lurking from the inception of this List. I have learned more about PD than I ever wanted to know, but also many useful things also as my wife, Carol's PD progressed. Again I ask for some timely input. (ASAP as u will c below.) Quick Background: Carol is 62, basically good health, X-cpt for... She is a young onset, symptoms mid to late 40's. Always a very active, driven person. We live in rural New England town, 3,500 popul. near Worcester, but with no public transportation. She has her driver's license, but has stopped driving. Her main problems are Freezing, OFF periods, and dyskinesia. We live in a 125 year old Victorian 3 story house in the center of the town. The most serious thing facing us is that Carol's neurologists suggested that she see the MGH surgeon, Dr. Reese Cosgrove, and he strongly suggests a pallidotomy. (It would be done in the Fall.) It will be her decision and it is not clear or easy. (I ask that anyone who feels that they can contribute or constructively kibitz to do so as we prepare for next TUESDAY's app't with her neuro at Fallon HP.) An interesting spin occurred when Carol & I visited my sleep apnea doctor, a neuro, and when we were discussing things in my life that could cause stress - Carol's situation, including the potential pallidotomy, came up. He asked if we had considered Tasmar and when we said that we had and Carol had used it, but her neuro had taken her off it when the liver damage fatalities had come up. He said fine compared to another drug, but now we were comparing the Tasmar risk (which has apparently not continued with many patients using it under close liver function monitoring) to BRAIN SURGERY. He then backed off and said that he did not want too interfere in some other DR's area, but suggested that we rethink it and discuss it (the possibility of restarting Tasmar) with Carol's local (15 years) neuro who we are seeing next week.