Advice on Surgery for TS?

[B_N123]

i was browsing the internet serachin for any posible cures for TS and came across Jeff Matovic who had brain surgery with electrodes

 

I was wondering if anyone had any further information o this?

 

I would be very grateiful

 

Kind Regards

 

B_N123

[Layne]

I saw Jeff interviewed on several shows. His TS prior to the surgery was the most severe I have ever seen. He had to use a child's sippy cup to drink. He couldn't complete an entire sentence due to his vocal tics. He couldn't even work. He had exhausted all of the prescription medications available and none of them helped him anymore. He never mentioned trying any of the natural remedies that are discussed on this forum. He said on the interview that he found this procedure on the internet. It was being used in another country (Europe?) with success on TS patients, but had not been approved to be used for TS here in the states. The surgery was being done here in the US for parkinsons patients, just not for TS patients. He found a doctor who was willing to try this on him based upon the success in other countries. It worked! He was virtually tic free. I haven't heard anything about him lately to know if the he is still tic free. This procedure is used on patients with Parkinson's disease to help control their tremors. I think that if Jeff and others who have this surgery continue to do well, it will be a good "last resort" treatment for TS patients who do not find help with any non-invasive treatments. He said that prior to the surgery, he and his wife had decided that he was so unhappy and incapacitated with the TS, they asked God to take his life while in surgery if it was not going to provide him any relief. After the surgery, things were going so well, they had decided to have a baby. His wife was a few months pregnant when I last saw them intereviewed.

[mrsjpm]

Good Day to Everyone!

 

My name is Debra Matovic, the wife of Jeff Matovic, the man who underwent Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery for his Tourette's Syndrome. I am happy to report that Jeff is doing well and his tics are still very much under control! He is working full time now and is working with two different authors on two different books about his battle with Tourette's and the surgery that literaly saved his life. He is also looking to become a motivational speaker and has already scheduled talks at a few local schools and colleges in our area.

 

Jeff is also very much enjoying being a new daddy! Our son is now almost 8 months old and looks more and more each day like his daddy! Christopher was born on November 11, 2004 at University Hospitals of Cleveland, the very same place that gave his daddy this new life. So needless to say Jeff and I are very much indebt and thankful to all the wonderful doctors and nurses there.

 

Many of you were asking about where you could find more information about Jeff's surgery and how you might qualify for it yourselves. You can go to www.UHHS.com and right on the home page is a link to an article from the hospital and how you can contact them. I know for a fact that they are still receiving requests well into the 100s, if not 1000s, on a weekly basis about the surgery. But I assure you, they answer each and everyone. But I would like everyone to remember that this surgery is still "experimental" in the eyes of the FDA and that a study is currently underway at UH to have it offically approved for regular use in extreme cases of TS.

 

If anyone would like to contact Jeff or myself with any questions, please feel free to write us at Pyewak1@aol.com (my email address). While we may not be able to answer right away, I promise that all questions will be answered to the best of our ability.

 

Thank you for all the well wishes everyone and I hope that this surgery is the the beginning to a cure for TS and all movement disorders!

 

Sincerely,

Debra Matovic

[kim]

Debra,

 

In regards to the email I sent you, I would just like to say thank you, in advance.

 

This young man being able to contact you may very well give him the strength to make it through to this fall, when he will have the surgery.

 

Continued health and happiness to you and your family! and God Bless.

 

Kim

[NJDADDY]

The deep brain stimulation is interesting to me not only because it seems to effectively control even the most severe cases of TS, but beacuse doctors have been able to pinpoint a part of the brain that , when treated, can be made to stop causing symptoms. It would seem to me that, in time, researchers might find less invasive but equally effective ways to treat that same part of the brain. I think--with the right minds working on it--Tourette's Syndrome may become a thing of the past relatively soon.