Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy: What's your experience?

Please explain more about what this therapy does.

Yes, Spravato is helping me. I've written a great deal about my journey with Spravato. Perhaps @colleenyoung will help redirect you to some of my discussions. I've celebrated one year with Mayo Connect. Much of my focus has been on the effectiveness of Spravato for ME.

@baseballmom33 and @doloresmacneil, if you click @audriana's name to go to her profile, you'll see the discussions she's started, including some specifically about her experiences with Spravato (esketamine) nasal spray.

For example, see this discussion:
- Positive Awareness+ Medical Intervention (Spravato) + Lifestyle https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/spravatoesketamine/

I've had 3 separate rounds of it...bc I've had very severe treatment resistant depression that started while I was in the military 30 yrs ago....it landed me 115 hospital visits....no, I'm not that messed up...just developed a bad imbalance from too much stress while the brain was still forming( many people don't realize that our brains our still forming until around 21 , and outside factors can influence chemical imbalance 4 remainder of life)
Anyways....just some info so u understand where I started.
The tms took only a couple of sessions to start working...but it was the best treatment ever to happen in my life. The noise is loud...they let me wear my music earbuds as long as they went inside the ear...which really made time fly....it did leave me with a headache each time....no biggie....Tylenol took care no problem...
There's no sedation....drove right off....increased energy and lost that isolative nature I've always had up to then...came out of my shell...started to enjoy things....notice nature around me...which helped depression even more...so it was all positive.
The reason 4 the 3 rounds was bc my Dr felt that my depression was so severe that he wanted the first two back to back to get more at it...and my insurance company agrees bc they didn't want anymore of my 3grand a day hospital bills.
The 3rd round was a year later...and bc it is similar to ect..you might need a " tune up round"... which was refreshing as well.
I still stayed on my meds for the time....it wasn't my goal for then to DC them...just to help the depression. I've been out of the hospital now for 4 yrs....which is the best in my adult life. I used to be in once a month.
I was so grateful to my psychiatrist that I agreed to be his representative for seminars he would hold for future clients interested in the procedure. It felt good to give back, and share my enthusiasm as a success story as a patient others in the past besides him gave up on.
If it doesn't work immediately, give it time. It's changing the chemicals in the brain..and that's not a 1,2 3 thing.
Persistence is the key to recovery, and resilience. Personally, I could have thrown it all away at hospital visit 80 , as I've lost at least 20 close friends along the way who chose the easy way out...and left painful memories I still cry over frequently.
I must have some really Higher reason to find the pathway to peace. It's in all of us, not just some of us. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same, as we are liberated from our own fears.
I dont know who said the last 2 sentences....but it is my mantra. I hold onto it....bc I believe hope is contagious.
Peace to you..best wishes on your journey.
Audrey

Oh...I rambled on and could have answered ur question better.
What it does is tap on your head every 10 seconds...I believe that's what it was...when it does that that, a strong magnet delivers an impulse to the area of the brain responsible for emotions....they will know your area on your skull bc b4 they start...your Dr will do a " mapping" where he tests where on your skull this area is located so they can adjust the settings on the unit during each session you have. A tap hits your head...which hurts a tiny bit...but you get used to it....then in about a half hr ur done. You usually get a headache after...Tylenol takes care of it.
It has no side effects at all...you can drive urself. You have to do it 5 days a week for 6 weeks...thats how my Dr does it.
Like I said prior...it doesn't take effect immediately. They give u a weekly questionnaire to monitor your progress. You have to stick it out for some sessions..but everyone I sent has had positive things to say.
Hope that helps.
Audrey

I was told by TMS treatment team that depression is left prefrontal cortex and anxiety is on right. Hard to believe. Does anyone else know specifics?

Worked for me. 100% resolved

Waiting for TMS for neuropathic pain. No clinical trials yet, to my knowledge. This is coming, however.

Works really well for me, but wears off after about three months. Then we repeat it. Still very worth it to me, as it works better than anything else in over 30 years. And since we now use rTMS (rapid TMS) here in Rochester, I only have to sit there for three minutes. It takes me longer to park!

I've had no side effects, and it's been effective for me six out of seven times over the past five years. The only time it was less successful was complicated by the death of one of my parents.

The only difficulty for me is waiting for about three weeks (that's for me) before I see any improvement.

I used a low level TMS device at home for two months, I don't recommend it. If I did it again I would definitely seek professional support.