Anyone considering DBS should ask many questions of the physicians who will
be treating them. Here are some of the questions you might ask:
- am I a candidate for this
therapy? Why? Why not?
- what are the potential
risks and benefits of the therapy?
- what are the potential
risks of the surgery?
- what are the side effects
of the therapy? Can the side effects be controlled?
- what kinds of tests will be
conducted before the surgery?
- what can I expect the day
of surgery?
- how long does the surgery
last? Is it painful?
- how long will I need to be
hospitalised?
- will my condition improve
immediately after surgery, or will it take more time?
- what precautions will I
need to take after surgery?
- how often will I need to
return for follow-up visits? How many programming sessions to adjust the
stimulation can I expect?
- will I still need to take
medication after having the DBS implanted?
- will the neurostimulator have to be replaced, and will this require further surgery?
Here are some other
things to keep in mind when talking with physicians who provide deep brain
stimulation:
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Training
|
- what is the
physician's training and how many years has he or she been in practice?
|
|
Experience
|
- what is the
physician's experience in implanting the DBS system?
- how would the
physician describe the satisfaction level of implanted patients?
|
|
Location
|
- how frequently will
you need to follow-up for programming?
- where will the
follow-up take place?
|
|
Comfort Level
|
- how comfortable are
you with the physician?
- do you feel your
questions and concerns are addressed?
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