That's OK, dear.
When I went into the service
I shook with my hands a little bit and always
people would ask me, why are you so nervous?
And I'd have to keep telling him
I'm not nervous I'm fine.
People started nicknaming me Shakey Jake
and it didn't offend me in any way it
just it was just everybody has a
nickname per se.
I was in my 40s and
it was starting to show up more and more
and I started becoming concerned because
I thought you know there's something
wrong here that
I can go and do something
and then the minute I go and do it
it's like why can't I do it?
When we were first dating
I noticed it I think more so because we
would go out for coffee.
The saucer would
fill up with coffee as fast as
him drinking it.
Started doing my medical
with the VA and the VA pinpointed it
right away and said you have essential tremor.
The last three years have been the roughest.
He won't
admit it but I hang around more
to ask him if he needs help
especially working on things that take
a screwdriver.
He won't admit that the
reason that a lot of his projects are
still there is because he can't do it
and his favorite line is
I just haven't had time.
The medication wasn't working
or wasn't doing what it was supposed to.
At that time the doctor told me that my
only other option left was Deep Brain Stimulation.
I've always enjoyed thoroughly being
a machinist. The aspect of being able to
grab a piece of material no matter what
it is, whether it be wood, plastic
aluminum, stainless, I can make anything I want.
There is a possibility with Deep
Brain Stimulation that it does not work
that I would have to give it up.
Can you say, today is a sunny day?
Today is a sunny day.
I want you to let me know
vision stuff, any changes in vision,
sensation change
heaviness or if you
feel weakness or pulling
or if you think your speech is changing.
The major requirements are basically you've
tried and failed medications either because
you couldn't tolerate them
due to side effects or they were just ineffective
and that happens in about 50% of
patients and then also your tremor is
bad enough to make it either very
difficult or impossible for you to get
through your day to day.
I just turned it on
and try to touch yeah and keep going back and forth.
That one's the worst always has been.
This is the worst one, OK.
Can you say, today it's a sunny day?
Today is a sunny day.
I'm just going to put you up a little bit more just to see.
I think you look really good in terms of tremor right now.
I think it's going to significantly help him.
I think he's gonna be able to return to work.
That feels good right there.
Even when he was just in the room he was
able to drink from a cup which was
something he hadn't been able to do in years.
You weren't able to do that?
No no no.
I think even just something as simple
as going out to dinner with
friends is going to be completely
different for him now.
That's just totally cool.
It makes a big difference
a real big difference.
I've done it for so many years that
everything comes natural but it's nice
to be able to hold everything still and
not shake it half to death.
I'm able to hold the paintbrush still.
You know for putting oil on the tool.
I can even reach up there with one hand
and measure it. I have to use both hands
a lot of times put it against my stomach
to hold it still.
If I go to pick up
my coffee cup I just reach over and pick
it up. I still have a bad habit every
once while I grab stuff, I'll grab it
with both hands.
It's probably more
enjoyable now than it ever has been
because it's like going back to when you
were a kid you can do everything
you know I don't want to say indestructible
but that does come close.
The device has been a lifesaver
just fantastic.
I think there's something to be
valued in what you can
do with your hands.