ClubTwitch

June 28, 2009

Ty is two appointments into the programming of his DBS device and things are going well.  This is very new territory for us, so we have been reluctant to post things in case they didn’t last, but now I feel I can definitely say that Tyler is doing better.

The neurosurgeon who has begun the programming, and the Medtronic representative who has much experience with DBS devices have told us that this will be a process that could take nine months to a year to complete.  The portion of the brain where Tyler’s implants are located is a “slow to respond” part, and so whenever they make an adjustment Tyler’s brain has to be given time to recognize and adjust to what they have done.  

At the first programming appointment in Spokane, Tyler experienced a definite feeling of relaxation go through his body, first one side and then the other as they worked with the corresponding electrode.  There have not been any dramatic, big, or sudden changes, but as the weeks have gone by, the family has seen significant changes in his mood, his energy level and his ability to recover from/handle the tics when they come.  Ty himself has said, “I am doing better.”  

Tyler and Kassie traveled to Spokane again last week for the second appointment.  They shut off the site on the left electrode which they’d been working with (there are 4 on each electrode), and activated another site.  Ty experienced some Parkinsonian-like tremors on his left side, but these were significantly decreased by the next morning and now are gone altogether.  We are presently in the two week waiting period while his brain adjusts.

Our family is also in the busiest time of our year, when we run our fireworks business.  Tyler and Kassie are operating a fireworks stand in Lolo, and even though he is not where he would like to be with tic reduction, we can tell you it is a whole different picture than last year at this time when he had to be hospitalized right after we got done.  

So, thank you for being patient in waiting for an update.  The changes may be slow, but they are all positive!  Thank you for your prayers-God is so good.

Jonni