Parkinson's and Angling Updates

It's a great feeling to know that there are people out there who are looking for an update on my health and progress.  So, an update is obviously in order, now that I've had the neurostimulator running for three weeks.  I'm very happy to report that my incisions from the first procedure are almost fully healed.  I still get mild headaches later in the afternoon, which I assume are related to rebuilding bone in my skull.  Nothing the occasional Tylenol can't handle.

I'm also very happy to report that there are no signs of infection anywhere.  The neurostimulator was implanted just south of the left collarbone, and it's deep, unlike my brother's pacemaker.  Yet I have full range of motion and only mild irritation from the incision site.  Speaking of irritation, I don't think anyone will be surprised to read that my scalp itches constantly, with some areas that are still partially numb.


After the Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) system was activated, Lynette and I both noticed that my right heel was no longer dragging and my right arm was swinging when I walked.  The painful dystonia (bad muscle tone) in my neck was also all but gone, and I had been able to stretch the time between doses of levodopa from 90 minutes to 120 minutes.  Then, on or about the fifth day, I notice that rigidity was creeping back into my right arm and leg.  As the days crept forward, I also found that 120 minutes between levodopa pills was not enough to keep my neck pain at bay, and retreated to every 90 minutes.

I was advised by supervising Mayo neurologist to leave the voltage settings alone on the neurostimulator for two weeks.  After that, I could advance as much as 0.1 volts per day.  As I moved up from 1.3 volts, I couldn't feel or notice any difference.  Not until this past Monday, that is.  At 1.8 volts, I thought my right leg and right arm were loosening again.  At 1.9 and 2.0 volts, I can definitely say that my right side has improved.  In fact, I went six hours without medication yesterday and was still able to function.  Fantastic.  Just a couple of months ago, I was wondering how much longer I'd be able to work!

We've also parked the Mobile Hotel® at Maple Spring Campground in in southeastern Minnesota.  Forestville Creek runs right behind our camper.  Over the past two weekends, I've caught some small to medium brown trout.  Very few of these have come from spots where I've caught fish in previous years, yet they've all been caught inside or within 200 yards of the campground.  I have to admit that I'm in love with Mrs. Fading Angler's discontinued Sage ONE 376 (3 wt, 7'6") that was purchased on clearance late last year.  It's an impressive piece of equipment for little creeks.  And I'm equally impressed with the New Zealand Strike Indicator.  It doesn't affect my truly awful casting as much as the bobber indicators I've used previously.

I'm feeling better, having fun, and catching fish.  What more could I ask for?