From script to scanner: Lord Julian Fellowes shares his journey of undergoing treatment for Essential Tremor.

LJF 1Lord Julian Fellowes is the Honorary President of the National Tremor Foundation

Lord Julian Fellowes, Oscar winning writer, creator of Downton Abbey, and Honorary President of the National Tremor Foundation, has been treated with MR-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) for his Essential Tremor (ET).

Lord Fellowes recently received treatment for his condition at St Mary’s Hospital, London (Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust). His experience has been captured in a short film, which will be shared soon. Many people living with ET may recognise aspects of his journey, as everyday activities like writing, socialising, or enjoying a cup of tea had gradually become more challenging.

LJF 2He got the pleasure of being able to write again

This is no longer the case, as Julian rather poignantly puts it: “Once I got the pleasure of being able to write again, which I now can, this was a big step for me. I’ve essentially cured the tremor of my right hand, and I want people to know that.”

Having struggled with ET for well over a decade, and with medication proving to be ineffective for him (as is the case with approximately 50% of people living with tremor), Lord Fellowes entrusted the team at St Mary’s Hospital to treat him.

LJF 3Lord Julian Fellowes with neurologist Peter Bain

Over the course of less than 2 hours, with a doffing of the cap to the barbering days of the surgeons of old, Lord Fellowes had his head clean shaven, and a headframe secured, before entering the MRI scanning room where the incisionless treatment was performed.  The treatment works by the clinical team directing up to 1000 ultrasound waves through the head, without any incisions, to a 1mm focal point deep within the brain where the neurons that are responsible for sending the faulty signals are located.  The ultrasound waves generate heat at the focal point, which in turn creates a permanent lesion to block the faulty signals.  Rather interestingly, due to the way the brain works, they treat the left side of the brain to control tremor on the right side of the body.

LJF 4Writing before the treatment and after

As Lord Fellowes describes it himself, there is indeed a little more to it than a trip to the barber, and he is keen that those considering the treatment are aware of this, but that the outcome, at least in his case, was totally worth it: “They need you conscious during the whole thing. They need you to answer questions. It does mean you have to feel a certain amount of pain, but it doesn’t last very long”. 

Of the difference he’s experienced in his life following treatment, Lord Fellowes commented: “I’ve got the pleasure of being able to write again, which I now can”, adding, “I think if I was talking to someone who was considering having the treatment, I would say to them really, that for me, my life is much more normal again, because it worked.  For me at least, this was worth it, and I haven’t regretted it for one second.”

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