Mr Erlick Pereira 2018-04-16 Person 5 5 0

I was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in August 2012 while living in Bangalore, India. I was treated in Columbia Asia Hospital and by a Parkinson’s specialist, Dr Uday Muthane. After retiring to UK in August 2014, I was referred to Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. In 2017, I was referred to St George’s Hospital in Tooting to consider my suitability for brain surgery. At this stage I had the following symptoms: • Tremors of the left arm and leg. • My left arm hung without swinging naturally as I walked. • My mouth had tremors on the left side. • My speech was slurred. • I had only slight stiffness of the joints. • I was not confident in company because of my condition. At St George’s I had physical and psychological tests to determine my suitability for brain surgery. Mr Periera’s team considered my suitability for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery or thalamotomy brain surgery. DBS comprises a 5 hour operation in which 4 electrodes are permanently drilled into the brain. Later a battery is implanted and a portable programmer supplied so that charges can be adjusted to best minimize the symptoms. Thalatomy is an older procedure in which a single electrode is temporally installed in the brain. In a half-hour operation, the electrode is charged and a lesion made. Thalamotomy is suitable where the symptoms are on one side of the body only. DBS is not normally used for patients older than 70 years of age because of the higher risks caused in particular by the longer duration of the operation. Mr Periera and his team showed great patience and sympathy in arranging extra meetings to allay my concerns that I was not receiving the most up-to-date treatment. The operation was a great success. Not only did the tremors in my left arm and leg completely disappear but so did the tremors in my mouth. My left arm returned to swinging naturally. Although my speech was not expected to improve appreciably, it has noticeably improved. My confidence has returned. Mr Periera and his team attended me diligently after the operation and I was discharged from hospital within a couple of days. I am very grateful for the treatment which I received under Mr Periera.