13 DAYS TO DBS
Sorry I
missed some days, Personal life to deal with !!
As well
as that, I have to interrupt the history and jump immediately to the present
day Tuesday June 12th.
I am
meeting the main man, the bloke I am putting all my trust in to drill my skull,
implant 2 probes into my brain and wire it all up to a battery box in my chest.
Not exactly Steve Austin the $6 million dollar man but it will do me!
The
surgeons name is Mr Chelvarajah and immediately puts me and Maxine at ease by
opening up with, “I felt it only right that we should meet before I go to work
on you”
He
wanted to assess me by seeing my functionality and asking questions about my 10
year history with this condition. It was really difficult recounting the
physical changes and medication changes over that period but we got there.
He then
went on to describe the day of the operation so I will relay this as accurately
as I can. As they say on the News, some readers may find this disturbing – you probably
won’t!
I
should arrive at the QE at 7am on Tuesday 24th June
I
will be prepared for surgery which will start at 9am and should finish at approx.
4pm
Before
the surgery starts I have to have a support cage bolted to my head and go in
for a MRI scan whilst the cage is still attached. The scan showing my head,
brain and cage will be used throughout the surgery to direct the positioning of
probes to the target area.
The
surgery starts by making 2 incisions on either side of my head slightly further
back from my forehead. Then, 2 holes approx. 20mm in diameter are bored through
my skull.
Guide
attachments are then secured to these holes and are used to direct probes.
2
electrodes are inserted that carry an electric current through the tip, 2 small
destructive lesions are made.
The 2
permanent probes are then inserted through these lesions and directed to the target
area. The holes in the skull are then closed using bungs and stitched over.
The
next part of the surgery involves cutting the skin on side of head and down
beneath the ear. The skin is lifted off the skull and the wires inserted. These
wires connect to the probes and are run down behind the ear and neck to the
chest.
The
final part is inserting the battery box in the chest wall where a breast pocket
would be, connecting the wires and stitching up.
All
the stitches are inside and no clips are used. The head is bandaged for 3-4
days to reduce swelling.
All
being well I can go home on Thursday 26th and nothing else is done
for a month when I go back to get switched on!!
Oh
yes I must mention Risks – Can’t ignore them and the outcome I believe is worth
the risks
2-3%
Risks of Haemorrhage or Fitting whilst in surgery. Both potentially fatal
5%
Risk of infection
10%
Risk of Spillage – This is where the electricity being fed to the affected part
of the brain is to much. The spillage could affect other areas possibly speech,
sight or memory
SO WE
DON’T WANT ANY OF THESE THANK YOU
I can
accept the risks, go through the 7 hours of surgery and all what’s related to
the recovery but
the
one thing that really bothers me more than anything is what the surgeon said
about the bungs under my scalp closing the holes in my skull.
They
apparently will be approx. 3mm above my skull so it is going to look like I have
coins under the skin !!!!!
No
jokes please this really isn’t funny today!!
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