Focused Ultrasound for Parkinson’s

@jflamini Could you talk more about your wife's DBS experience ?Did she chose which to implant bilateral GPi vs bilateral GPi + bilateral STN (asleep w/ MER)?
Did this surgery affect her language function? Thanks !

Hi, @show - if you'd like to read more about others' experiences with deep brain stimulation (DBS), you might check out these discussions on Mayo Clinic Connect:

- DBS Surgery https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/dbs-surgery/

- Our journey w/DBS for Parkinson's https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/deep-brain-stimulation-dbs/

- How effective is DBS and at what stage of PD should it be performed? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-effective-dbs-at-what-stage-of-the-pd-it-should-be-performed/

@patjack2 and @beachpebble9 - wondering if either of you decided to go ahead with high focused ultrasound (HIFU)?

It was for my husband and decided against it. His neurologist was not a fan of the procedure.

@patjack2 - did your husband decide to proceed with another therapy instead?

No. He’s just taking pills and going to PT twice a week.

@patjack2 - thanks for the update. How are the medications and the PT working for your husband?

@lisalucier Thank you, Lisa, for finding so many useful links. Ever since I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2009, I've been hoping to find a support group for fellow patients. However, language barriers have been elusive. For the past 17 years, I've been struggling alone. Sometimes, when I'm tired and want to rest, or when I'm feeling down, I want to talk to someone, but no one understands what I'm saying. I feel so lonely. Thankfully, translation software is so advanced these days, allowing me to communicate online more easily. Now, I've finally found a support group.

I’m so pleased for you. My husband feels his voice is going. I think we should get a speech therapist. Did you try that? This disease can be so isolating.

@patjack2

I have had speech therapy, and it has made a significant difference. It helps with the quality and volume. Several things I learned from working with a speech therapist were the value of reading out loud. It's something that we generally don't do unless we are reading to children, but it offers value to adult speech.

Often, with PD, there are also swallowing problems, and a speech therapist can help with this as well.

There are also some great YouTube videos with speech therapy exercises. Here is a link to one that I really like,

Thank you so much. My husband is going to start soon!