DBS has been a life changing benefit for me. It seems to have slowed the progression of the disease and I have benefitted greatly by this amazing procedure. My surgery was done at the Cleveland clinic. I have been followed at the clinic for 25 years and have the utmost respect and confidence in them. Research DBS and ask for people you can talk with to benefit from their experiences. Good luck.

I was diagnosed at age 35, twenty-five years ago. I had DBS 14 years ago at age 46. My primary symptoms are bradykinesia, rigidity, and micrographia. I'm sorry that PD has affected your life so profoundly.

I can only tell you what my experience has been. It has taken me quite a while to accept it, as it caused me a tremendous amount of angst, worry and heartbreak. I was in the prime of my life as well. I felt cheated. It wasn't fair, I would think. I was angry, hurt, and depressed. I had three sons, a beautiful wife, a beautiful home. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. It's not the way I had planned it.

I sought answers. I needed hope. I did three things. I relied on my faith, sought professional mental help, and decided to quit being angry at the world. In the past 14 years, I went on social security disability, ended my marriage of 28 years, sold my house, watched 2 of my three sons walk down the aisle, had DBS surgery, bought a home by a lake, met a community full of nice people, and most importantly, accepted PD as a part of my life.

Is it easy? Hell no. But I ask for help, like when I am fighting trying to put on my coat. I continue to do things I am interested in. I push myself. Parkinson's is a disease I have. It does not define me. Yes, it limits what I can do. I have found other ways to find joy in my life. Accept it for what it is. Be thankful for what it is not. It is not ALS. It is not cancer. It is not a myriad of other terrible things I could have ended up with.

I hope you will find your way through this thing we call PD. Don't give up. Don't ever give up. Good luck to you.

Patrick

A couple more thoughts on DBS. It helps to be close the hospital as there is a period after surgery during which the programmers do their magic. There are literally more than a million different combinations of the settings of the DBS . Through trial and error, they will fine-tune the settings to optimize the benefits for your DBS system. In the first three months, I was going to Cleveland 1-2.visits per week. That may sound like a lot. As part of your due diligence ask what the providers have experienced and what you should expect.
DBS has made a significant impact on my condition. My experience has been very positive. I have had three battery changes so far and the results have been tremendous. Take your time and ask lots of questions. There are risks involved. Be knowledgeable about the risks and make an informed decision. Would I do it again? Yes, without hesitation.

Though my Dad had DBS when he was in his early 70s, I've always heard/read the earlier the better if you are deemed a good candidate. It has made a huge difference or him. His main symptoms are extreme rigidity, cramping, and shuffling gate. He does not have a problem with tremors but I have seem it work even more effectively for those folks. Best of luck, beautiful!

I was a YOPD but recently had dBS, and the bark was worse than the bite. Now, 6 mos in, I feel better than ever, no tremor - 17 years after diagnosis - went right back to exercise. :)