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.
@PaganMother You are a good and groovy soul and I am so grateful for your friendship and compassion.