My DBS experience
Kevin shares his light-hearted personal experience of Deep Brain Stimulation surgery.
I’ve had a slight tremor for most of my adult life, it wasn’t until 2014 I had it diagnosed. Over the last 10 years it has got progressively worse and in 2020 I asked to be referred to a local neurologist who in turn referred me to Kings College London with a view to having Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). It has taken the best part of 4 years to get to the DBS procedure. I have seen a psychiatrist, a psychologist and had a DATScan, all of these to ensure I was a candidate for the procedure. The following is a light hearted look at what actually happened on the day
Wednesday 10th April 2024
Kevin during surgery
08:30 The anaesthetist is checking I’m awake. Of course I’m awake I haven’t slept all night, not because I’m nervous about have multiple holes drilled in my head and wires inserted it’s because every time I dose off someone wants to take my blood pressure, presumably to ensure I’m still alive. An hour later they take my blood sugar levels. Despite all of this I’m very polite to the anaesthetist.
TOP TIP: Be nice to anaesthetists as they can kill you, whereas a surgeon can only maim you.
Kevin after surgery
09:00 A porter appears to take me down to the theatre. Off we go and at that point I realise he’s spatially challenged as we bounce off corridor walls scattering medical staff along the way. He eventually leaves me in the recovery room
Useless Trivia: The last time I was taken to theatre in Kings was in 1973 to have my tonsils out, I was 19 years old, and the porter taking me down was Peter Mayhew, who later became Chewbacca in the Star Wars films
09:30 I’m in theatre and before we start I’m asked what music do I want on, very civilised. We settle for 70’s psychedelia. The nice anaesthetist tells me this is the worst part as she inserts the cannula needle in my hand.
Top Tip: This is the first of the last worst parts
My head is shaved and the lead surgeon injects local anaesthetic into the front of my head before making incisions to bold the frame on. I make the point it hurts on one side and he agrees he’s started too soon and waits before carrying on.
Top Tip: This is the second of the last worst parts.
The lead surgeon explains I need an MRI now the frame is bolted on. He tells me it will take about 10 minute. The nice anaesthetist chimes in with ‘no it won’t, more like 20 minutes’ I realise that the lead surgeon only works in 10 minute slots regardless of how long anything takes.
After the MRI the lead surgeon comments ‘I guess we can get started’. For the next hour the team adjust and fine tune the frame.
More worryingly Stealers Wheel, Stuck in Middle with you is now playing and all I can think about is the scene in Reservoir Dogs where Harvey Keitel starts slicing off bits of someone’s head. This does not inspire confidence.
The frame is finally in place. At which point one of the junior doctors points something out and the senior surgeon comments’ I must need more training’ I comment an hour ago he was guessing and now he needs more training, this inspires even less confidence and I say to the Neurosurgeon that someone should get a grip. He says ‘don’t worry I’ve been doing this for 30 yrs.’ My concern is he’s not doing it, it’s the lead surgeon actually doing it.
The music has moved on to Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd, much more appropriate
We’re now ready to start drillings and the nice clinical nurse specialist is holding my hand. I’m told to keep my mouth open as they start. Interestingly this does not hurt but feels like someone has taken pneumatic drill to my head, but is does mean I’m crushing the clinical nurse specialist’s hand
Top Tip: This is the third of the last worst parts
After a lot of fiddling about they decide to test out the placements. The Neurologist appears and gets me to run though some tests in both hands. It’s promising as the tremor has practically disappeared.
Top Tip: This is the first of the best bits
12:27 Stage one is done and they’ve started stitching up my head. Again I get the impression this team does not take things seriously as the two junior doctors who are stitching up one side each decide to have a race to see who can finish first.
The nice anaesthetist starts pump the general anaesthetic into me and I’m off to cloud cuckoo land.
About 16:00 I wake in recovery. I’ve got no pain either from my head or the implant in my chest and can think clearly.
Top Tip: the is the second of the best bits
I’m taken back to the ward at 17:04; luckily the spatially challenged porter is otherwise detained.
All in all the whole process was pain free, apart the local not quite taking effect. I’m now three weeks in and have had a few muzzy heads but nothing serious and I was turned on on 21stMay.
As of 24th August I’ve had 3 tuning sessions and increased the controller each time, as it stands I most probably have one more tuning session to come. My current situation is my left side is practically tremor free and it should be completely tremor free after the next session. We have focused on my left side as I’m left handed therefore my right side is a little behind, however my right side is showing a vast improvement and I’m confident this side will be tremor free after the next session.
All in all the DBS has been a real success for me and my tremors have virtually gone and I can now do all sort of things without throwing liquids over myself!
Please note: Individual experiences with DBS and other treatments can vary. Please consult your healthcare provider before considering any medical treatment.
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