Posted by SeekingSilverLining on May 12, 2014, at 13:05:15
In reply to TMS = BS, posted by babbler20 on May 2, 2014, at 15:14:48
I've had both TMS and ECT. Last summer I went through six weeks of TMS and by the third week I was feeling pretty damn good. I started gardening and felt more engaged in the world. The good feelings last half-way through the fall and then I started to fall apart. Late fall through spring is never a good time for me, but it was worse because I new how good I could feel and hadn't felt that good for more than a decade.
By January (after dysfunctional family circus holidays), I was so depressed, I went back to the TMS provider and he thought getting a second round would be a no-brainer. WRONG. My insurance denied me and gave me the runaround until my appeals ran out. My pdoc then started the ECT discussion which scared the heck out of me. By March I was waiting for a bed to start my treatment. I had 10 RUL Ultrabrief, six inpatient and four out. I stopped the treatments when I started having cognitive problem that are not tolerable when you're supposed to be job searching.
The problem with these treatment, even when they work, is that we should not expect a cure. The idea is to start to recover and then find a med that will keep us in remission long enough to get into real remission - which I've heard is six months symptom free. In my case that med is Emsam, but when combined with the other meds that I was already taking, is creating other problems that I hope the solve.
If TMS didn't work, it might be worth trying ECT. The approach is very conservative, and it's worth it if nothing else has worked. Best.
If you're ever gonna find a silver lining
It's gotta be a cloudy day
It's gotta be a cloudy day
~ Kasey Musgraves
poster:SeekingSilverLining
thread:1065110
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140512/msgs/1065526.html