Hi, everyone and thanks for your good thoughts. I had the trial implant procedure done yesterday and so far, so good. I woke up with a brainwreck, and had to drag myself to the doctor's (we've all been there!) and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It made it a little easier to pinpoint the pain.
The procedure itself isn't unpleasant. The doc numbs your skull where he is going to implant the wires, and then the company rep turns on the stimulator to see if if they are in the right place. All the wires connect to leads that then connect to a a slightly-bigger than-a-cigarette-box size unit that you attach to your belt or put in your pocket. After the doc is finished, a nurse from the company programs the stimulator. I have 8 different programs that send different sensations to different parts of my head. Within the 8 programs, I can adjust the intensity of specific impulses. My doctor chose to insert wires on both sides of my head, not just one. The titanium plate presents a challenge in placing the wire, and the scar tissue apparently interferes with my feeling some of the pulses, even when they are cranked up all the way. Still, today is the first day I have not had to take any medication of any kind since two weeks after my surgery 6 years ago. So, so far, so good!!!
I will wear this contraption until the 6th and then my doctor and I will evaluate whether to go to a permanent implant. In the meantime, I can only take sponge baths and can't bend, twist, or reach, but I drove myself to work today and expect to go about the rest of the day as usual.
I'll keep posting!
staypoz
