Posted by Ponder on October 3, 2002, at 17:28:19
In reply to Re: Weight loss, hair loss Ponder, posted by Denise528 on October 3, 2002, at 12:24:00
Hi, Denise.
Technically we're still not supposed to discuss it because the study is ongoing. There are a number of different ways the VNS device can be programmed with respect to voltage output, wavelength, duration of stimulation, and intervals among others. Part of what's going on in the study is trying to figure out the best settings and adjusting them to best serve each individual patient.
Early in the study many people were not receiving high enough levels of stimulation to be efficacious. As this became apparent, patients with suboptimal results were encouraged to "ramp up" with the hope that greater efficacy would result.
As to your question to me, yes, I do think it is helping. The frustrating thing about these psych conditions is that you almost always need multiple treatments going on simultaneously to keep the demon under control. It's hard, then, to say which element of your treatment is helping, which is not, and to what degree. In an ideal world VSN would have completely eliminated all symptoms for me and done away with the need for other treatments. This has not occurred. I believe, however, that VNS is helping to give me more energy and better cognitive functioning.
There. I hope I've said enough to be helpful to you, but not so much as to be harmful to the VNS study.
poster:Ponder
thread:106786
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020930/msgs/122176.html