Life With a Battery-Operated Brain

by Christensen, Jackie Hunt

• ISBN13: 9781934938263
• ISBN10: 1934938262
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-04-15
• Publisher: Langdon st Pr

Summary

Why would anyone say "Let's stick wires into someone's brain, run voltage through it, and see what happens!"? So asks Jackie Hunt Christensen in Life with a Battery-Operated Brain: A Patient's Guide to Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery for Parkinson's Disease. Author Christensen answers this question-and more-in her unique and comprehensive book, as she has firsthand knowledge of the procedure commonly referred to as DBS. She herself lived with Parkinson's disease for more than seven years before electing to be evaluated for DBS surgery.

Author Biography

Jackie Hunt Christensen is also the author of "The First Year: Parkinson's Disease, An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed" and has published numerous articles and editorials regarding both Parkinson's and environmental issues. In 2006, she won the Milly Kondracke Award for Outstanding Advocacy from the Parkinson's Action Network in Washington, DC. Jackie, her husband, and two sons, reside in Minneapolis.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. viii
What Is Deep Brain Stimulation?	p. 1
Why Does DBS Work?	p. 7
Making the Decision to Be Evaluated for Surgery	p. 8
Work, DBS, and Disability/Social Security	p. 13
The Evaluation Process	p. 15
Choosing the Team That Is Best for You	p. 19
"One Lump or Two?" Who Decides?	p. 24
DBS: The Paperwork	p. 26
"Anticipa-a-tion": The Countdown to Surgery	p. 29
Preparing Yourself Psychologically	p. 35
Logistical Tasks to Be Completed before Surgery	p. 38
Talking to Kids about Deep Brain Stimulation	p. 44
Telling Family and Friends	p. 46
The Big Day	p. 51
Potential Risks and Complications of DBS Surgery	p. 53
Hospital Hints for Care Partners	p. 56
Surgery #1-Implanting the Leads	p. 61
Surgery #2-Neurostimulator Implantation	p. 70
After Your Leave the Hospital	p. 76
Expectations vs. Reality	p. 81
The "Honeymoon" Period	p. 84
"Tune In, Turn On"-The Day You've Been Waiting For	p. 85
The Particulars of Programming	p. 91
"Care and Feeding" of Your DBS System	p. 99
The Annual Maintenance Check	p. 105
Long-Term Side Effects of DBS Surgery	p. 111
"Should I Buy Jumper Cables?" Do You Need Battery Replacement?	p. 117
Alternatives to DBS	p. 118
What If Something Better Comes Along?	p. 119
Bibliography	p. 121
Glossary	p. 123
Resources	p. 128
Appendix A: FLASQ-PD	p. 131
Appendix B: DBS Survey Results	p. 137
Acknowledgements	p. 150
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