My Dad has a deep brain stimulator for his Parkinson's Disease.
It helps regulate the tremors he gets. The battery popped an alert that it needed to be swapped a few weeks ago, and yesterday it failed entirely.
My understanding is that the sheer backlog of people needing care, mixed with the inefficiencies of the VA system have slowed things down to a crawl.
Currently he's not due for a consult until May 16th. Not a battery swap... A consult.
Meanwhile his tremors are out of control.
I was understandably, fairly upset yesterday when I first got the news. However, I've been making an effort to "pull back to the center of the wheel" a bit.
I am concerned. That battery was supposed to last for 3 years minimum, 5 to 6 max, and it lasted for 2.5
His form of Parkinson's is highly aggressive and progressing with rapidity. The fact the DBS is so taxed to exhaust its power so readily is further proof of something we've known for a time.
@NiveusLepus ((💙)). Sending strength to you and your family as you all maneuver through the VA system.
@ACG2 There person I've been staying with these last 5 weeks is also wrestling with the VA trying to get care, which is why it has taken so long.
In my Dad's case, it's also the sheer backlog and the shortage of qualified doctors to treat that are compounding the issue. My mom has become quite deft over the last decade in navigating the system, now we just have to get an opening.