Posted by Pfinstegg on January 20, 2003, at 16:07:53
In reply to Thank you! » Pfinstegg, posted by judy1 on January 20, 2003, at 11:58:35
The TMS was very easy to take. Each treatment consisted of 400 pulses of electromagnetic current to an exact spot over your left dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex- this takes about 20 minutes a day. This spot is located by the doctor before the first treatment, and marked with indelible ink, so the technician can do the rest of the treatments routinely. I didn't ever had a headache during it, or afterwards, was able to talk and think normally while it was going on, and was able to drive myself to and from the treatment sessions; there were absolutely no memory or cognitive problems. Although I was told that most people adjust quickly to the electromagnetic pulses, and that some people even sleep during treatment, I found it quite painful. This was easily overcome, however, by taking tylenol with codeine one hour before.
You are right- having the TMS was the central factor in overcoming my depression, which had been severe. On the Beck Depression Inventory, which was used to see if I was improving, I went in 10 days from scores of 38-41(severe) to no score at all (remission!) I had 15 treatments over a period of 3 weeks.
Some people, who don't respond so rapidly, have as many as 25 treatments. It's also possible to return for brief maintenance treatment, if you relapse. All the other things I mentioned- the tianeptine, T3, T4, fish oil, B vitamins and intermittent estrogen supplementation, are all there in the hope of preventing a relapse.I know I have a crazy board name, but I'm a woman- not a man!
If I can give you any further information about TMS, I'd be very glad to do so.
Pfinstegg
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:136050
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030119/msgs/136771.html