Other Health Appointments when you have a DBS system.

”If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.” – Beyonce

I am writing this post to inform those who may still be following this blog as to what you do when you need other tests and procedures done after having your DBS placed. I turned 51 this past February and was running a year behind to get my colonoscopy screening. The main reason being last year I was going through all my appointments to get the DBS surgery. Well this week I was scheduled for my first ever colonoscopy. My instructions for the DBS were to put it on surgery mode during the procedure. Let me stop there as I am not sure I have mentioned in any of these posts that I have a controller (which is just an iPhone) and also have the app on my personal IPhone. So I have the capabilities to turn the DBS system off and on all by myself. There is a mode on the program that is called surgery mode so once I got all worked up for the test I switched it in that mode. Once I was done and waiting for discharge paperwork then I was able to switch it back. Now in saying that I have the Abbott system so if you are reading this and have one of the other companies I am sure that it’s probably the same instructions, but just make sure with your surgeons office or representative.

Now if I need to have any MRI’s in the future I can have one of those also. My device has what’s called MRI mode. So before I go back for the MRI all I have to do is switch it to that on either my remote or the app on my phone. Once I am done with the test then I can just switch it back. Same instructions if you have any other company please make sure your instructions are the same before having one.

Any elective surgery you would need down the road you would also need to set your device in surgery mode. A physician should document the DBS settings prior to surgery in case the device resets during the operation. Seek physician suggestions if you have any questions.

For routine x-rays, CT scans, ultrasound, and mammograms you don’t need to do anything with your device. However, if you need to have an EKG or EEG you must turn the unit off. You may NOT have electroshock therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Thank you for visiting and until next time.