Parkinson's and DBS: the skinny
This post is for Parkinson's patients, family, carers, or anyone who knows someone with the disease. My husband, Pete, is into his 15th year. In 2012 things had begun to unravel - he'd reached the end of his 'honeymoon' period with his meds, and was in a pretty awful state. Thankfully, he was eligible for DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) and happened to be offered the new system from Boston Scientific. This was done under the absolutely amazing Neuroscience department of Frenchay hospital in Bristol. We've not looked back; so profound was the change. We owe a great debt of thanks to Dr. Whone and Prof. Gill, and of course Boston Scientific. Over the next two years, I became very curious about the whole DBS thing for PD patients, and with Boston Scientific well under way now in the US to get FDA approval, I wrote a three part paper for those that will be facing this huge - and hurried - decision. I hope it helps! All facts have been checked and I have my sources secure...