Deep Brain Simulation Surgery

CHARLIE GOES UNDER THE KNIFE for an update see below:

Sunday, July 1 - Thank God they let me out of the hospital. I couldn't stop moving and still really can't. It feels good to have room to move. The doctor said the fact that I can't stop moving is a great sign, and I still don't understand why. But I'm enjoying the fact that the Parkinson's symptoms have died down. The symptoms of overmedication continue with very little middle ground. When I'm undermedicated, it's not that bad. I can handle the overmedication, but in the hospital it was hard because it would set off all kinds of machines and keep everyone and myself awake. I feel much better than I did before the operation, but this is still a work in progress. The device is going to be programmed in two or three weeks. I'm going to go back to Sacramento to get the stitches removed, and then they're going to program it. It may take awhile to get it right, but I'm counting on the chief surgeon's opinion that I'm really going to do well with it. I'll let you know that date when that's going to happen, when I find out. If this sounds confusing, it's just as confusing to me.

Thursday, June 28 - Well, it turns out I don't have the miracle just yet, but it's just as well because we don't want things to be too easy. Here's my phone number at the hospital: 916-973-4314. You can call between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. (I can't call out). It looks like I'll be going home tomorrow. Keep the faith--Iowa, here I come!

Wednesday, June 27 - I woke up at 2 a.m. after having slept through the day. It was long (12 hours), it was grueling, and I slept the rest of the day. I woke up at 2 a.m. in a strange dream--I dreamed that I was in a hospital, which is where I really was, but didn't want to be. I tried to change the dream because I didn't want to be here, because I'm used to changing dreams when I wake up, but I couldn't do it, because I was really here. So I realized that I just had to be here.

All through Wednesday, I've been instructed to sit on the bed and not move from it, and that's a big drag, because I'm so overmedicated. I was overmedicated all day, and I stopped taking the Parkinson's medication hours ago and I'm not feeling any symptoms--just of overmedication. The doctor said, in a way that I didn't really understand, that I might be one of the people who somehow gets rid of the Parkinson's--that I'm all better and won't have to take pills at all. I hesitate to say this at such an early point in the procedure--I'm actually not supposed to be feeling better yet. But I am feeling better. By taking the medication I had a lot of dyskinesia today. I'm waiting for it to wear off completely to see how I feel. But even if it's not happening, it has to at least mean that I need less medication now. Could this really be true? It's still very early, and I'm waiting to see what kind of lasting improvement there is. It looks like I made it, and I don't know if I could have without your help.

I think I'm going to be able to go home tomorrow.

Love and blessings,

July 5, 2007 - Boy I made it through my Independence Day with flying colors. Let me explain. The device is working before it's even been connected. I definitely still have Parkinsons but overall it's less inhibiting. Lighter and fewer symptoms than before and my whole energy feels lighter - like there's more space inside. Right now I'm shaking as this is being typed for me but my attitude is upbeat and I get to experience being formatted next Wednesday.(Prayers purely optional). That means they connect the battery and tune up the levels. So Thank You for all the prayers and good thoughts. I'm sure they definitely helped. We're over the hump and it looks like clear sailing ahead.

Note: Some of you have heard that I've been having trouble going to the computer - it exacerbates my symptoms and stiffens me to the point of excruciating pain in my shoulder and neck. I want to thank Elissa and Briana for their help with typing and editing. Future blogs will be limited to only the most newsworthy events.