Psycho-Babble Medication | about biological treatments | Framed
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Re: Pfin Re: To Pfinstegg » McPac

Posted by Pfinstegg on January 12, 2003, at 10:04:46

In reply to Pfin Re: To Pfinstegg, posted by McPac on January 12, 2003, at 0:19:43

No-one is sure. They have been giving it privately here at the North Atlanta Psychiatric Associates for only two years. They have had people come for a course of it, and then do fine, but others need to come for "maintenance" at about six month intervals. They do keep track of everyone, as they, too, want to know how long-lasting it is.


The side effect profile is non-existent. Because the magnetic coil is able to deliver an electromagnetic current right through your skull, without scattering as ECT does, it is targetted very precisely at the left dorsolateral prefrontal area. It increases the blood flow there, and tends to normalize neurotransmitter function also- this from rat studies. There is some spreading of its effects into the hippocampus, where the same changes have been shown to occur. There is no memory impairment whatsoever (the city is unfamiliar to me, and I'm able to drive around alone and get everywhere I need to). I never got a headache during or after the treatments. The treatments themselves, however, are more painful for me than they are for most people, and I need Tylenol with codeine to get through them. With it, however, I am OK- able to talk to the technician about anything; your mind just goes on working as usual during the treatments.

My insurance covered all my appointments with DR. Hutto, but none of the TMS treatments. They charge for it on a sliding scale here, with the top payment being $150 per session: a typical course of treatment is 15 sessions, so the total full cost would be $1650. To that, you need to add the cost of travelling to Atlanta, plus living costs and a car rental. The Center does help with finding relatively inexpensive places to stay; they suggested a residence motel about 15 minutes away that costs about $200/week- it has a laundry room, small fridge, stove and microwave, so all of that has helped keep the cost down.

If the TMS works well, as it has for me, it begins to seem priceless- more than worth the trouble and expense. I like, also, that they do careful, on-going follow-ups by telephone; you don't just disappear after your final treatment.

Pfinstegg


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