To find out if you are a candidate for DBS, ask your neurologist and make sure you are given the Levodopa Challenge Test. It requires that a patient stop taking medication and be examined by the doctor. The doctor will administer levodopa and analyze how much the patient benefits from the medication. Patients who do not respond to levodopa will not respond to surgery.
It is estimated there are more than 4 million people with Parkinson's Disease worldwide, and only about 35,000 have gone through DBS surgery.
Why aren't people with Parkinson's having DBS? Perhaps, they feel it is too risky, and they are afraid. Maybe they are concerned the surgery will have little result. I decided to have the surgery after a long talk with my family. Honestly, after the decision I put together a living will, and expected to meet with angels. I was frightened. I had no idea what was going to happen, nobody alerted me of what I was going to experience. I was also furious they sent me home that same day!
I lacked knowledge, so this is why I tell my story of how much my quality of life has improved. It is important to prepare the patients by telling them what they can expect. I know the preparation is better now. I still wish more could be done to erase any doubts and fears, and replace them with expectations and motivation so more patients choose DBS.
I have a video of myself before surgery. It's impressive how much I have improved. If people with Parkinson's disease could see me before and after, maybe more would choose to have DBS and improve their quality of life... I know I did.