Some of you may already know that back in August, I was implanted with the deep brain stimulator. On August 26, I was at the Vancouver General Hospital getting my brain drilled open. It was an interesting operation, as I had to be awake for the first half of the operation. It was quite interesting listening to my head being drilled, and listening to the two doctors discuss what they're finding.
The second half of the operation involved putting in the controller and the wire running down from my head. They put me under for that part.
On October 7, they turned to the stimulator on. The implant is on the left side of my hypothalamus, so it controls the tremors in my right side. The stimulator does a lot to control the large tremors, but it isn't able to do much for the small tremors. So, I am still finding out what it helps with and what it doesn't. Things involving fine motor control, like typing and working a mouse, still aren't very good. That said, it has done a lot to help me with my work in the shop and around the house. I am now even able to cut my own meet at supper. It isn't easy, but I'm doing it.
I guess this officially makes me a cyborg. Unfortunately, it does not help me pick up the mothership. :-) In November, they will fine tune it to little once everything gets settled down. I have a remote to turn it off when I'm sleeping, or not doing much. This helps conserve the battery as well as make sure the brain doesn't start working around the stimulator.
Rainer