What does DBS stand for?

I have had many people ask me what is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and what was it like to go through 3 brain surgeries?  Well, lucky you!  I have documented the whole process from my diagnosis to my surgeries.   The top picture, is of me when I had just had my "halo" placed.  This way the doctor can find exactly where to place the wires in your brain.  Kind of scary, but I tried to keep smiling the whole time!

The main concept of DBS, is where a person will have simulators placed in their chest area, and a wire will run from that unit to leads that are implanted in your brain.  These leads will give a continuous dose of electrical current to my brain to stimulate the creation and use of dopamine.  Which is the chemical that is depleted in your body with Parkinson's disease.  You do have to be awake during the procedures to communicate with the doctor if the lead is in the correct place.  Now that may sound totally creepy, but what amazes me, is the fact that someone even thought about running wire up to the brain and running electrical current!  I am glad that I was not the first person to get it done!