How Am I Doing?

It’s been five days since the medical staff at Mount Sinai turned on the current in my DBS system.  In general, the time since then has been OK.  For the first few days I woke up, took one pill of carbidopa/levodopa, and walked freely, like a new man, until it was time to take the next pill.  I was supposed to take a single pill three times a day.

However, yesterday and today were different stories.   I took one pill in the morning but was unable to walk down stairs, and my hand tremors were so severe I couldn’t type at the computer.  So I upped the morning pill to two doses, and did the same at lunch and before dinner, and everything was OK again.

I researched the issue online (e.g., Facebook has a group devoted to people who got DBS and now have questions) and realized that it’s going to take multiple sessions with the programmers to adjust how the electrical current works.  Eventually, we’re supposed to hit “the sweet spot” and I’ll be able to audition for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.

Two other observations:

• When the medical staff was adjusting the current in my DBS system, they’d turn it up high and I felt pins-and-needles in my arm. I’d tell them that, then they’d lower the current to where I couldn’t feel that tingling sensation but could still stretch both hands straight out in front of me without any tremor.  Interesting!

• I’m way behind with my physical exercise. I used to ride my spin bike for an hour at a cadence of over 90 rpm.  I stopped doing that once the surgeries began, and now when I get on the bike I cannot pedal for more than 15 minutes.  Yikes!