Don Berns 7 1/2 Year Pallidotomy (3rd try)

[Don &/or Karen Berns <dkberns.berns@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

        7 1/2 YEAR POST-Pallidotomy REPORT
(Surgery date 12/1/93)
By  Dr. Don Berns
        United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)
                                                                        On
            Off
      Prior to
Surgery             12/1/93                  -46             -51

        Six Years Post-surgery 12/1/99                    -4              -12

        Seven and one half Years Post-surgery         -2              -12

        How can I say thanks for the radical transformation that took
place in my life 7 1/2 years ago.   When I reflect on all that I have been
able to do as the result of this operation I am overwhelmed and oh, so
grateful.

For those of you who are not familiar with my story.  Let me say that I had
a adrenal graft implant at Vanderbilt in 1987 with minimal benefits.  On
December 1, 1993 I had a simultaneous bi-lateral pallidotomy.  This life
changing operation was performed by Dr. Bob Iacono after others had told me
I would not be a good candidate since my brain was already compromised by
the surgery at Vanderbilt.
As has been my commitment to the larger Parkinson's community I have posted
updates on my condition every year since surgery.   My last update was a 6
year post pallidotomy report.  As I head into my eighth year post-surgery I
continue to benefit greatly from the pallidotomy
               COLUMN CODES
   -1 - SYMPTOM BEFORE SURGERY
    0 - 6 mos. AFTER SURGERY
    1 - 1 YR. POST-OPT
    2 - 2 YR. POST-OPT
    3 - 3 YR. POST-OPT
    4 - 4 YR. POST-OPT
    5 - 5 YR. POST-OPT
    6 - 6 YR. POST-OPT
    71/2-7.5 YR. POST-OPT

                                   BEFORE SURGERY & YEARS POST SURGERY
SYMPTOMS            -1              0                 1               2
             3
remor                  Severe         Gone           Gone         Gone
    Gone
yskinesia            Severe        Gone            Gone         Gone
  Gone
weating               A
Lot          Gone            Gone          Gone          Gone
Sleep
Disturbed              Severe         Gone            Gone          Gone
     Gone
yelids
Open-Sleep           Yes             Closed          Closed        Closed
     Closed
huffle                   Yes             Gone            Gone
Gone        Gone
GaitFreeze             Yes             Gone            Gone            Gone
       Gone
enseSmell            Gone            Better          Better
Better      Better
MuscleAche           Yes             Gone            Gone            Gone
     Gone
ackProblm           Yes             Gone            Gone            Gone
    Gone
yskinesia             Yes             Gone            Gone            Gone
      Gone
radykinesia          Yes             Gone            Gone            Gone
    Gone
exPerfmce            Poor            Great           Great           Great
       Great
tress                    Affect           NoEfct         NoEfct
NoEfct       NoEfct
Drooling                 Rare             Slight          Slight
Slight         Slight
Urgency
Urinate                   Yes             No               No
Slight          Slight
Dystonia                None            None            None
None          None
Shortness
Of
Breath               Yes             None            None            None
        None
oice                    Weak           Better           Better
Varies         Varies
Speech                  Affect          Better           Better
Better          Better
Handwritng              Bad            Normal         Normal
Normal        Normal
On-Off                     Yes            Gone            Gone
Gone           Gone
Appetite                  Poor            Normal         Normal
Normal         Normal
Weight                    Loss            Gain            Normal
Normal         Normal
Sense of
Well
Being               Poor            Exclnt          Exclnt          Exclnt
       Exclnt

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