![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by marie56 on October 6, 2002, at 15:03:42
I stumbled on this board today looking for info on Lexapro.
I am a post Vagus Nerve Stimulator Implant clinical trial patient.
Unfotunately the device was not effective in making any marked changes in my level of depression.
3 months ago the implant was removed.
I have been left with left vocal cord paralysis as a result of the damage to the Vagus Nerve. I have problems with choking, breathing, and very little voice. It will be months before I will have better idea if the condition will correct or is permanent.
This is very depressing in itself.
Posted by Denise528 on October 7, 2002, at 5:57:03
In reply to Vagus Nerve Stimulator, posted by marie56 on October 6, 2002, at 15:03:42
Hello Marie,
Thanks for that information. I'm really sorry it didn't work for you. How long did you have the implant for and did they change the settings at all?
It's good that you stumbled across this board, as this seems to be the best one about. Some of the people on here are really informative and helpful.
Denise
Posted by marie56 on October 7, 2002, at 8:04:22
In reply to Re: Vagus Nerve Stimulator, posted by Denise528 on October 7, 2002, at 5:57:03
The device had many, many setting changes once it was turned on.
I was in the control group the first three months with the device not on.
I made weekly to every two week trips for setting changes.
The depression actually got worse. Not to say the device caused the worsening depression. The point is, it provided no relief, and certainly did not prevent worsening of the depression.
Posted by denise528 on October 7, 2002, at 12:37:02
In reply to Re: Vagus Nerve Stimulator, posted by marie56 on October 7, 2002, at 8:04:22
Hi,
I imagine it would be depressing in itself being in the control group to start with, I would have thought that being in the control group for that length of time would be soul destroying in itself. When they did switch it on, how long did they switch it on for?
Have you found anything else that helps?
Denise
Posted by marie56 on October 7, 2002, at 12:42:51
In reply to Re: Vagus Nerve Stimulator, posted by denise528 on October 7, 2002, at 12:37:02
As I had so many problems with my voice post implant, I was uncertain that it was not on at the start of my participation in the study.
When it was turned on, at the completion of the first 3 months, I knew it was on as the voice changes were cyclic.
I had the implant in a total of 19 months. It was on and cycling about 12 months total.
The only ''thing'' that has ever been beneficial for me has been SAMe.
I am not using anything now.
Thank you for your concerns.
Posted by disney4 on October 7, 2002, at 15:03:50
In reply to Re: Vagus Nerve Stimulator, posted by marie56 on October 7, 2002, at 12:42:51
> As I had so many problems with my voice post implant, I was uncertain that it was not on at the start of my participation in the study.
> When it was turned on, at the completion of the first 3 months, I knew it was on as the voice changes were cyclic.
> I had the implant in a total of 19 months. It was on and cycling about 12 months total.
> The only ''thing'' that has ever been beneficial for me has been SAMe.
> I am not using anything now.
> Thank you for your concerns.Hi,
I have just started Sam-E, and am feeling tired after taking it. I know that is not supposed to happen, but it is. I think it is helping me though.
Any ideas?
Posted by marie56 on October 7, 2002, at 15:18:48
In reply to Re: Vagus Nerve Stimulator » marie56, posted by disney4 on October 7, 2002, at 15:03:50
I found personally the 1600 mg per day dose to be best for me.
Would have an occassional anxiety issue at that dose.
I did not notice periods of tiredness at any time when taking...only tireness from the depression.
When doing better on SAMe, I had some increased ambition to do things and some clearer thinking.
The cost is just so darn prohibitive especially at optimum dosing.
I have used SAMe, off and on for four years.Good luck with it!
Posted by Timidly on October 7, 2002, at 20:16:16
In reply to Re: Vagus Nerve Stimulator, posted by marie56 on October 7, 2002, at 12:42:51
> As I had so many problems with my voice post implant, I was uncertain that it was not on at the start of my participation in the study.
> When it was turned on, at the completion of the first 3 months, I knew it was on as the voice changes were cyclic.
> I had the implant in a total of 19 months. It was on and cycling about 12 months total.
> The only ''thing'' that has ever been beneficial for me has been SAMe.
> I am not using anything now.
> Thank you for your concerns.Marie,
So sorry you're have such difficulties. I'd like to thank you for participating in the research on depression. It takes courage and
character to volunteer yourself as a "guinea pig" for the benefit of others, even more so when surgery is involved. I volunteered for
this study, with my Pdocs support, but was rejected because I had already had ECT with no benefit. My prayers are with you.Timidly
to participate in this study because of
Posted by marie56 on October 7, 2002, at 20:49:58
In reply to Re: Vagus Nerve Stimulator » marie56, posted by Timidly on October 7, 2002, at 20:16:16
I also am a post ECT patient.
ECT that also caused worsened depression and increased memory problems (the reason the ECT made things worse for me).
The ECT failure was one of the reasons I was approved for the study.
Funny how things work in different areas of the country.
Posted by Timidly on October 8, 2002, at 23:14:48
In reply to Re: Vagus Nerve Stimulator, posted by marie56 on October 7, 2002, at 20:49:58
> I also am a post ECT patient.
> ECT that also caused worsened depression and increased memory problems (the reason the ECT made things worse for me).
> The ECT failure was one of the reasons I was approved for the study.
> Funny how things work in different areas of the country.On re-reading my message I noticed that I left out the most important part. I believe you were in the first study
while I tried for the second study. The results of the first study showed that VNS did not benefit patients who had
unsuccessful ECT experience, which is why they rejected those patients in the second study. In an overly simplistic
view it was your experience in the the first study that saved me from an unsuccessful VNS experience in the second study.
That is what I was thanking you for.Timidly
Posted by marie56 on October 9, 2002, at 7:40:53
In reply to Re: Vagus Nerve Stimulator » marie56, posted by Timidly on October 8, 2002, at 23:14:48
I can't respond to first or second study.
The study I was/am involved in is still in process.
This is a study started AFTER the FDA approved further research after the very first studies.
I was the first implant done, at this particular site. I was also the first to be explanted...actually the only one in the current study to request explantation.
Mine went in Dec. 2000. Turned on Mar 2001.
Turned off Apr. 2002. Explant July 2002.
HTH!
Posted by Mr. SadPuppyDog on October 9, 2002, at 12:02:32
In reply to Vagus Nerve Stimulator, posted by marie56 on October 6, 2002, at 15:03:42
> I stumbled on this board today looking for info on Lexapro.
> I am a post Vagus Nerve Stimulator Implant clinical trial patient.
> Unfotunately the device was not effective in making any marked changes in my level of depression.
> 3 months ago the implant was removed.
> I have been left with left vocal cord paralysis as a result of the damage to the Vagus Nerve. I have problems with choking, breathing, and very little voice. It will be months before I will have better idea if the condition will correct or is permanent.
> This is very depressing in itself.Wow Marie, that sounds horrible. I certainly hope that you have contacted a good medical malpractice attorney to file a lawsuit. Dont wait. Do it now. Just because it was experimental doesnt mean they have the right to use you as a guinea pig and ruin your overall health. You deserve significant financial compensation for your injuries. Please contact an attorney NOW.
>
Posted by marie56 on October 9, 2002, at 13:54:17
In reply to Re: Vagus Nerve Stimulator, posted by Mr. SadPuppyDog on October 9, 2002, at 12:02:32
> Wow Marie, that sounds horrible. I certainly hope that you have contacted a good medical malpractice attorney to file a lawsuit. Dont wait. Do it now. Just because it was experimental doesnt mean they have the right to use you as a guinea pig and ruin your overall health. You deserve significant financial compensation for your injuries. Please contact an attorney NOW.
Thank you for your concern.
BUT....my understanding, when you put yourself out to be a guina pig, you lose all rights to compensation for things gone wrong.
I have been told this several times even from one attorney I queried.
If you know something I don't I would be happy to have that information.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.