”To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Well let me back this post-op visit up by three days to 12/25/2023 and Christmas at my brothers. This is the funny for the day. It came time for family dinner and my brother saying the prayer before our meal. During the prayer he proceeds to say and be with Kelli and I as I take her to Columbus on the 28th to get her turned on. There were a few giggles, and of course I couldn’t help but say well there may have been a better way of saying that. After the prayer a nephew says I don’t think I want to hear about you taking your sister to get turned on. My brother says well isn’t that what they are going to be doing? We chuckled about that for a little bit and every once in a while one of us still get a chuckle from it.
My brother picks me up to head to Columbus yet again. This time to get my staples out, to get the unit turned on, get it programmed and to have a CT of the head to check on everything. When we first arrived my mood was that I was super excited to see what this is going to be like and to see how this all works. However, when I checked in she only had me to have staples removed and a CT at a different building. To say I was disappointed is to say the least. I was very upset and must of looked like a kid in a candy store that wasn’t allowed to have any candy. After a little bit of discussion at the front desk and the employee going back to talk to the Nurse Practitioner they figured out how to work me in for the first half of programming. They brought me back for the staples to be removed and then briefly after that brought me back to meet with the Nurse Practitioner and the rep. Now is a good time for me to explain once I was told I was a candidate I was told I got to pick which company for the stimulator I wanted to go with. My choices were Abbott, Medtronic, and Boston Scientific. They all do the same thing, but each have there own different perks. I did a lot of research on all three of them and after much research I decided to go with Abbott. The plus size to choosing them is the representative is a friend. That is a great plus and they have been great. I have the best overall neuro group. My neurologist is Dr. Zachary Jordan, my Nurse Practioner is Rozena Davis, and my Neurosurgeon is Dr. Brian Dalm. Also shout out to Jess and Steve with Abbott.
The Nurse Practitioner comes in and apologizes for the mess up in scheduling and assures us she should be able to do the first half of the programming. So in saying that they first have to do what’s called pairing the unit with a magnet. The only thing I feel when they turn it on is a little tingling in my fingers. It’s not bad. So my job in this is very easy. The NP programs the leads and I have to hold my arms out, touch my nose and touch her finger, hold my arms in, and then of course do the circles and lines. The before and after to see how much better it is. Then every once and awhile she’d turn it up to see where I’d have the side effects. The side effects I’d have were numbness and tingling in my hands depending on which side she was working on and then numbness and tingling in my bottom lip with slurring of the speech which was super weird. My brother was in the room as well and sometimes would be asked the question if it sounded like me or if I was having trouble talking. There were times it seemed hard to talk. It is definitely a weird feeling. At no time did I not believe in the process. I know things weren’t going to be perfect in one visit. It’s just so weird how it all works. When I’d be slurring speech she could just turn it down and it would just click off as quick as it would start. When I left there I was tremor free and it felt good. We headed to get my CT scan and then back home to rest some more. These pictures are before the simulator was turned on and then after.
