new treatment I'm trying -- TMS

Hi, new here.  One week ago I began a new treatment called TMS, transcranial magnetic stimulation.  Basically, they hook you up at the temple to a magnetic strip, which is controlled by an MRI type machine.  For anywhere from 35 to 45 minutes, you receive strong pulses, which feel like hard "pecks" to your head, followed by 30 seconds of rest, then the pulses start again.  It is uncomfortable, actually moreso than I had expected.  You receive 30 treatments, every day for 6 weeks straight.  This was FDA approved several years ago, but few people get it, because few insurance cos. cover it.  It is not shock treatment or even similar.  It is done outpatient.  My depression was very bad, rock bottom.  I had been suicidal in the past.  This was a last ditch effort for me.  I keep trying to find others who have had it but no luck really.  It is costing me $10,000.  As you can imagine I would have to be at the end of my rope to do this without ins. covering.  If anyone else has had it or has thought about it, please put it out there.  Thanks.

Hi cookfan56,
I have no experience or knowledge about TMS, but I just had to comment. I'm feeling desperately low today and decided to look for a depression forum for the first time ever. I chose the 6th one that came up in the google search for some unknown reason. Your post was the first thing I saw on this site. I am a BIG Cook fan, and I'm just assuming it's the same Cook for you. Anyway, I saw it as a sign.
I'm very curious to know how the TMS works out for you. Are you on medication also?
I know new music would help :)

Post Edited (joyc) : 10/14/2010 1:38:44 PM (GMT-6)

Hi CookFan and Joyc,

Cook - how long have you been undergoing treatments?  I have heard of it - exactly the way you are having it done.  It sucks insurance doesn't cover it, but they don't cover a lot of things they claim are "experimental."  The titanium disc they used in my neck wasn't covered either.  The op was, just not the disc.  Cost me nearly $5,000 for the disc, but I was desperate too.  I had two discs pressing against my spinal cord, and I had constant pain, stinging, tingling, and burning ravaging me.   Please keep us informed of what changes you see.  I'd like to learn more about it.  I hope it works for you!

Joyc - That you picked the 6th depression forum maybe was meant to be.  This is the forum I chose too after looking at a number of others.  Compassion - this one had it.  Love - this one showed it.  Cariing - none of the others seemed to come close.

Welcome to both of you.

Scythia 

Hey everyone -- so amazing to see people's responses! I had put this out on another forum a while ago with nothing. Joe, sorry it didn't work for you. But it's so great that you didn't give up. Thanks for the support, everyone. And yup, it is the exact same thing as you've mentioned. It's been 5 treatments for me, and I also take wellbutrin, lamictil, just off prozac, two thyroid drugs, and lunesta for sleep. Anyway, I am praying it makes a difference. I'll be seeing you all around here! You are right about this board, love, compassion, and caring for sure.

Maybe the implanted thing was electrical stimulation instead of magnetic? I've seen the miraculous cures that deep brain (electrical) stimulation can bring for tremors. I don't know if that is the same kind of implant for depression. The old time electro-convulsive therapy was terrible to see, and the short term effects I saw were awful, but maybe they had good long term results for depression. I guess they still do ect? But the magnetic stimulation seems like it would be a lot less severe. Wouldn't that be great if you could just wear some kind of super-magnet hat or something.
Wellbutrin used to work fairly well for me, but I've been on it for several years now and it just doesn't seem to work any more, but I'm also terrified to try to go off it. Saw a counselor a couple years ago, explained my situation, he didn't think I needed therapy, so just saw him twice. He suggested that I get exercise 5 or 6 days a week, which is so hard to make yourself do when depressed.
I watched my Dad suffer through several years of depression without any treatment. Then when he seemed to be doing better he was diagnosed with cancer and only had another year to live. So sad that he spent his "good" years depressed. I don't want to follow in his footsteps and waste my "good" years.