Posted by LostBoyinNC1 on July 27, 2002, at 21:27:02
In reply to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation anyone?, posted by deli on July 27, 2002, at 14:04:17
>
> Hello Everyone,
> I am back after a short relapse with my tears saturated pillows and blanket. I had my monthly visit with my enchanting pdoc (Oh, how I love to visit!) Anyways, we decided to continue on with the same concoction of Remeron, Prozac and Topamax. During our unusual conversation and I say unusual because the last few months all I do in his office is sob, I asked him about TMS.
> He said that the research on it seemed promising. He then later added that our University was presently conducting research through the Department of Psychiatry and the Brain Institute.
> I asked him if I should volunteer for the research and he was open to the idea. Anyway, I called and had a preliminary interview over the phone and got an appointment to meet with the psychiatrist conducting the study, for a two hour evaluation. After that, if they determined that I qualify for the study ( I guess am depressed enough) they will perform a battery of tests including pet scan, cat scan, mri, ekg, full physical and cognitive testing to rule out any physical condition. ( how cool is that; that's what I've tried doctors to do all my life)So I am going to be one of their guinea pigs.
> Apparently, TMS is a safer version of ect in that it causes no memory loss and no anesthesia is needed. I don't know anyone that has had it done. So I am sharing this with you in the event someone knows of this treatment and can shed some light on it.
> P.s. Yes, Topamax would be discontinued if I participate in the study.
>
> Love
> Deli;)
I dont know where your Pdoc got his info from, but the research on rTMS for severe depression is NOT promising. At least not compared to conventional ECT. I had rTMS in a clinical trial and it has some mild AD effects but it was nothing great. No side effects, but not a good AD effect either.The good thing about the study is you will get a lot of expensive medical testing done you otherwise wouldnt get. You will get a great free physical out of it. If you dont have to travel and stuff it might be worth it just for that. However, if you have to travel, pay hotel expenses, Id recommend forgetting about rTMS and just going and having old fashioned ECT instead.
ECT results are more dramatic and nothing creates a full remission better than bilateral or bifrontal ECT. Nothing works better on psychotic depression, severe post partum depression or manic depression than ECT.
poster:LostBoyinNC1
thread:113936
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020725/msgs/113968.html