@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member. My research results about success rates for DBS. Looks like my guess is off...not necessarily wrong though. Here is a summary of DBS:

Summary

There are more medical and surgical treatment options for patients with Parkinson's disease than ever before. Deep brain stimulation surgery offers important symptomatic relief in patients with moderate disability from Parkinson's disease who still retain some benefit from antiparkinsonian medications and who are cognitively intact. Patients who fluctuate between "on medication" and "off medication" states are usually good surgical candidates, as are those who have troublesome dyskinesias. The major risk is a 2% risk of stroke, due to bleeding in the brain. DBS is a relatively complex therapy requiring regular neurological follow-up and battery changes every 3-4 years. It reduces, but does not eliminate, symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The time to consider DBS surgery is when quality of life is no longer acceptable on optimal medical therapy as administered by a movement disorders neurologist.

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A MyParki...

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member
I've used Azilect and I 'm currently on the generic for Selegilne. I am not on a particularly high dose of carbileve but even the small amount I take is prone to giving me bad dyskinesia. as I've been taking it now for about 13 years. My Neuro was hopeful that I'd avoid the dyskinesia and other side effects due to the relatively small amounts i was taking but to no avail. I now take two different inhibitors to keep me steady. This has been important as I have a bad back and can't afford to fall or to damage it or its more surgery for me. That i can do without. I found the Azilect just smoothed things out for me. It didn't completely take away the dyskinesia on its own and we did have to add other medication too , but i was able to relax again and feel my muscles have a little say in the matter - at least while I concentrated on it! I was depressed for a time after my diagnoses and was put on anti depressants which made me positively suicidal. I am prepared to go to any lengths to avoid feeling that way again. The world was such a grey uninteresting place and I felt like a bit of a wisp of cloud or smoke wafting trough my life and having no interest in anything. Thankfully once off the antidepressants i improved enough to recover on my own and visiting a psychologist has helped put things in better perspective. Once i had made the decision to make the most of every day the enjoyment came back but I can't say I noticed a big change in my emotional well being on taking the inhibitors - although I guess there is always a spin off when you start to feel better in yourself.

Hi Stirling:
I'm afraid my idea of pleasure has changed dramatically over the last six years. My wife divorcing me was painful enough, but as time goes by and my meds seem to be losing their potency, I feel like I'm having drug with drawl symptoms, my body just aches and aches. My neurologist has upped my meds, but it didn't help much.

As a result I take pleasure in little things like being able to exercise so I can stay limber, and take care of myself. That becomes a full time job , as you know. Being able to drive my Carissa another miracle. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I thank god everyday for the things his grace allows me to do.

I'm a lot less picky and à lot more thankful, for life, than I used to be. Interaction with friends and family give me the greatest joy these days.

I'm afraid that answer doesn't really answer question, however; it's just a few things that that brighten up my day. Find happiness where you can., and keep smiling it looks good on you.

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member, Your doctor and his medical advice and referrals are of utmost importance right now. If you do not have your PD under control, it will feel even worse to have anhedonia along side it. Eleni...it sounds like you may be a victim of this terrible twosome. You might consider a DAT scan in order to determine just how much of a dopamine loss you have. Whatever be the case, you will probably need more dopamine. A good Internist Medical doctor would be good to have on your team. Ask him/her if you could tolerate more dopamine or if there is some other kind of medicaton to treat anhedonia.? Stay close to us and your medical team. Sterling

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A MyParki...

It certainly does not cause that for me. I take an antidepressant and have taken one for many years before being diagnosed with Parkinson disease.
BTW, despite insurance company warnings, it is safe to take an antidepressant while taking Azilect, and your Movement Disorder Doc is well aware of that. Another good reason to use a Movement Disorder Specialist to treat this disease.
Remember there is a difference between cause and incidence.