Mr Hari Prasad, who underwent the Deep Brain Stimulation operation about 3 years back to stall growing symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, is a happy and relaxed person today, sharing his views on PD and DBS.
Hari, how many years has it been since you had the DBS operation?
Exactly three years. (Operation done end of March 2015)
Read how Hari stopped popping pills for Parkinson's Disease every 2 hours
Has it been smooth for you since you had the operation?
More or less. There has been no problem besides one serious hiccup.
Can you please describe the serious hiccup?
In July 2017 I had gone to the USA on a holiday. I had just finished a trip around the East Coast. I was in Washington DC for the last few days before I was to fly to Seattle on the West Coast. I had not believed that my battery would drain off so quickly. In fact, I had with me a small instrument provided by Medtronic that would have told me that my battery is getting discharged. I would probably have changed the battery before leaving for the US. I literally froze when I got up in Washington that fateful day. When we checked with the Instrument it said EOS ( End of Service).
My wife made frantic calls to Dr. Guruprasad, my Neurologist and to Mr. Kishore Kumar of Medtronic. It was decided that we should cut short our trip and return to India as it would be much cheaper to get the battery change in India. The return journey was traumatic to say the least. I must thank my wife Mamta for showing the courage to bring me on such a long flight back. I also wish to thank Medtronic India and Columbia Asia Hospital to take up my case as an emergency and do the operation immediately on my return.
Despite the alleged success rate of DBS, were you ever scared of things going wrong, like aneurisms, speech problems and stroke?
Just before my DBS surgery, my condition had deteriorated a lot. So I guess I was thinking only of success and not a failure.
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What motivated you to overcome the fear?
Belief in the process and the doctors.
What have been the after effects that you have encountered?
After my second operation (for the change in Battery), I did feel a bit dull for a few weeks. (Probably due to the trauma before the operation)
How often did you see the neurologist before DBS and after DBS?
Once in 2 to 3 months before the DBS. Once in 6 months after.
Have you been given a time frame for the DBS to work? Or is it a permanent solution?
No time frame has been given for the DBS. I would like to believe that the benefits are permanent provided the battery works.
Was going through the operation a turning point for you? If so, how?
Yes, it was. My consumption of drugs came down to almost nil and with that the side effects. I started sleeping better and becoming more enthusiastic in life. I decided to quit my job and concentrate on:
a) Improving my lifestyle.
b) Give motivational lectures across India on PD and DBS
c) Travel= My major passion. (I have covered round 12 countries in the past three years and have done two major Road Trips within India of around 42 days each)
Have you met other patients who have undergone DBS? Have your experiences matched theirs?
Yes, I have met and am in touch with many on a regular basis through a WhatsApp group that I manage. Yes, more or less.
What are your tips for patients who have undergone DBS?
Have faith in your doctors and the process. And as life has given you a second chance, do turn the situation to your advantage by giving back to society
