My husband recently had Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery which involves placing probes in his brain that are attached to a battery pack in his chest. It is similar to a pacemaker and stimulates the areas in his brain that are negatively impacted by his Parkinson’s Disease. It has been mostly good, his body seems less stiff and he is able to do things more quickly and with less effort, but there are some concerns. He tells me that he feels a little less steady on his feet at times and complains that his equilibrium is off. I try to stay close to make sure that he is safe, but not hover as we learn what these new changes might mean for him.

The most challenging thing for me is figuring out how to react to the changes. As his symptoms were progressing, I simply started doing more for him. Right after the surgery, his tremor was gone and it was amazing, he could hold me without shaking and there were no night tremors. Now, as the doctor works with programming the device, his tremors are occasionally back but much less prominent. Daily activities like dressing are easier for him and yet I find myself still trying to do things that he should probably be doing for himself. It is like we have stepped back 5 years and I need to be mindful of the help I offer, not to do too much.

I expected adapting to his illness to take me in one direction, now I find it may be something totally different. Just as he has to rediscover control of the movements he had lost; I need to relearn my partner role so I can stand beside him and help him reach his full post-surgery capability rather than stand in his way. It will be an exciting time for both of us as adapt to the new reality DBS has brought to us.