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Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for long-term depression
Does anyone have any experience with TMS therapy for long term depression? I have fought the demons of depression for years. Some days are better than others, but finding the emotional energy to do anything other than go to work and do the job is next to impossible most of the time now. I have been on several different medications over the years. I can't say that any particular one made a notable difference at all. I am continually frustrated with a lack of energy and a lack of desire to do the things that I once enjoyed, and that I had looked forward to at this stage of life. Every day, I pretty much feel like "this is it" -- as good as it is ever going to get -- and the opportunity of any meaningful contribution of life is over -- done -- finished. Retirement is something that I longed for over the years. As it draws nearer, I fear it because I see myself just fading away and soon gone. So, I ask about TMS therapy. It is very expensive, requires a huge time committement, and is not covered by medical insurance. I have spoken with doctors (psychiatrists) at a couple of top hospitals in the nation and have not gotten stellar reports from them. The consensus was that it works for some but not for others and the success rates are fair at best overall. Having said that, my doc says they have seen amazing results from the therapy and people complete it and the negative thoughts are pretty much gone. He says their success rate is extremely high. I have not done it because: a) too much time away from work; b) too costly and not covered by medical insurance; c) the reports from two docs from world known excellent institutions which were not glowing. I have searched for answers for years, with none. Now, I have developed chronic pain in the lumbar area, legs, neck, shoulders, arms, etc. I am working on the back with a major pain managment group with some injections which I hope will help.
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Good morning @flynnzie
I've been interested in ketamine for years. In 2006, during a surgery, it was part of the anesthesia "cocktail." When I woke up in recovery I felt the closest to feeling myself in years.
I don't want to make a long story longer. Bottom line: Spravato is the brand name for esketamine--a derivative of ketamine. It is a highly controlled medication in a nasal spray and it is NOT an anti-depressant. I take it to help me fight off the suicidal ideations. I also take Spravato in conjunction with an anti-depressant to treat my treatment resistant depression.
I'm not strong in the area of computer literacy . However, I have posted quite a bit about Spravato and MY experience. I think you will find my submissions under the group: Depression & Anxiety.
I hope I've been helpful.
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2 ReactionsHi Shirley,
Thank you, and yes, you have been helpful. Ketamine in a nasal spray. Wow. I don't know, but it's sad that so much of the psychotropics are still trial and error. Then when you find a combo that works, it's temporary. This is the second time meds have lost their effectiveness for me. I take so much medication to manage more than a few medical issues, so the last thing I want is more medication.
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1 ReactionI've exhausted all antidepressant medications where many did not work or gave me awful side affects. Has anyone tried TMS brain stimulation which is approved by the FDA? Several have gotten relief with TMS while others have seen their depression or anxiety disappear with psilocybin treatments. Anyone try TMS, Ketamine or psilocybin treatments??
I have a friend who swears psilocybin micro-dosing - but it is illegal in most states. However, there are medically supervised trials available in some locations. Might be worth researching!
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2 ReactionsFor me you had to have tried at least three medication’s and your doctor referrals TMS my insurance paid for then! Unfortunately I had to treatment would like six years and it didn’t help?
TMS. I was able to relax into a meditation easier but that was about it. It helped my anxiety due to my depression but it was very temporary for me only lasting a few hours.
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1 ReactionA family member of mine did psilocybin treatment two years ago after suffering severe anxiety and depression for 15 years and none of the antidepressant medicines worked. He had two treatments and is depression free for the first time in 15 years from psilocybin
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2 ReactionsHave you tried the ketamine nasal spray or ketamine infusion? It's sad that in America we talk about wanting to do something about the mental health of so many people yet these therapies are not even covered by insurance and many doctors still shun this therapy even though many people that have had ketamine infusion or TMS or ketamine nasal spray have pulled out of depressions they've had for decades and feel 100% better. And then there's people that have no medical insurance and no money to pay for these treatments and they wander our streets today with severe mental illness or suicidal tendencies or tendencies to want to go shoot up different places because their mental health is declined to that point. It's sad in America that we still are not fully addressing mental health even though FDA has approved the ketamine nasal spray.
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3 ReactionsOur culture has shifted from community to the individual. It is the elite individuals or TikTok 'stars' that get all the attention.
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2 ReactionsI agree. Look at all the trillions and trillions of dollars are federal government sends overseas etc or all these pork barrel projects full of ridiculous pork projects here we have Americans wandering the streets many of them homeless and a good majority of them mentally ill and not getting any treatment at all and even people like me and my husband and my husband pays out the back side for his medical insurance that we still have huge deductibles to me and copays etc and then you think about all the Americans that have absolutely no medical insurance and a lot of these treatments that could help them They have to come up with huge amounts of cash just to get treatment to save themselves from either committing suicide or going out on the street and destroying other people because their mental stability has declined. I cannot believe our country is more interested in helping people around the world yeah we even have military veterans that are sleeping under bridges right now, homeless and without any mental help at all. I am so so disgusted with our medical health industry. And the complete lack of care regarding mental health in this country and it's got to do with money money, if you don't have the money you do not get the treatment. Just like me I've suffered for a long time with neurological symptoms and a lot of these debilitating neurological symptoms have now caused me to have chronic anxiety and chronic panic attacks and now full-blown depression with this 3-year covid virus still going on and it's just insanity at this point yet our politicians, almost all of them from both political parties are absolutely clueless and I can bet a good majority just do not give a darn. Follow the money.
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