Posted by bipolarspectrum on March 31, 2006, at 17:00:08
In reply to Re: BP Spectrum -Deep brain stimulation consultation?, posted by Zoomclub on January 12, 2006, at 14:34:01
Hey Zoom,
My understanding is that these PET scans are NOT important in deciding who gets the procedure... ie. the PET scans are not diagnostic... I believe the PET scans are more of an attempt to explain how DBS works... you should try and get ur hands on the original study published last year... alot of it is technical jargon but if i remember correctly, they let people in the study who did have that underactive area... I really think you should pursue DBS if u've failed meds and ECT... I dont think its that scary besides a painful surgery, theres no-reported side effects, and its removable... but if u want it done u gotta be aggressive! fight for ur rights as a patient! good luck
bps> Hi BPS - Thanks very much for taking time to give that information.Also, really glad to here that it sounds like you're getting things under control with the meds your on at the moment.
>
> Sincerely hope that your improvement is continuing, and carries on like that!
>
> The DBS in Canada/USA is very interesting to me,as I'm hoping to get into a research program for DBS over here, but early days yet.
>
> One question I have is how much emphasis did they seem to be placing on the PET /fMri scans? (as the 1st reported patients had prior & after the surgery).What I'm trying to ask is - Was it going to be a condition of you being fully accepted for treatment that when you had these scans they actually showed a similar area of "overactivity"?
>
> As it's this overactive CG25/subgenual cingulate area that they believe may be the cause of other areas "see-sawing" and being underactive, I was just wondering if these scans are actually seen as vital before surgery is considered appropriate.
>
> Sorry for the rambling - it's taken me about 4 days to push myself back on to the board to reply- brain just ain't what it should be at the moment!
>
> Thanks again for any info' you can give -
> Keep up the good work with the meds - No, I don't blame you for not going ahead with DBS if you've finally found some meds that will get things under control, and give you your life back!
>
> All the best
>
>
poster:bipolarspectrum
thread:468837
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060329/msgs/627181.html