Posted by Bob on August 31, 2003, at 16:51:56
In reply to Jerry, posted by Ponder on August 31, 2003, at 14:45:06
> Jerry,
> I can't even begin to express the waves of emotion I felt at reading your post. I, too, have had a VNS implant since December of 2000. Evaluating the efficacy has been nearly impossible for me, given all the med changes that have gone on in the meantime. So, I've wondered if I should keep going around zapping my vagus nerve for the rest of my life thinking that it MAY be helping a little bit, or call it quits and get the thing taken out.
>
> Did you have it turned off for a while to see if there was a difference?
>
> I had some slight, but noticeable improvement in my cognitive functioning when they first activated the device. So now I'm scared to keep it, scared to give it up.
>
> I hope you're doing well. I'll be very interested in your experience with explantation and recovery since that may be in my future as well.Your experience is one of the two scenarios I fear if I get implanted with this device. The other scenario is it actually does "too much" and makes me worse. If this thing ever does get approved, I would assume it is because it is actually helping someone out there, right?
Ever notice how unbelievably difficult the treatment decisions are for the extremely depressed? Often, one knows that a change is needed, as the current regimen isn't cutting it. However, the change itself will bring misery, and so is therefore avoided.
poster:Bob
thread:255190
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030828/msgs/255958.html