1. < Depression & Anxiety

TMS treatment

Posted by blessedintx @blessedintx, Feb 26, 2023

I have MDD and anxiety and am now, apparently, "Medication Resistant". Dr recommended Spravato but we ran into a stumbling block because I am 65. Also it is almost impossible to get Medicare or Supplement to pay for it. Switched focus to Ketamine infusions. No insurance covers.
I am, though, willing to pay out of pocket for either, even though it would be a stretch on the budget because I am desperate for help at this time.
I feel as if I can't breath at times and as if I will shatter if anyone touches me.
I am a Chemical Dependency Counselor and love what I do, but it takes everything I have to do my job each day. I am struggling. Then I get home and I have nothing left. The "smiling, compassionate, loving" me disappears and I am an absolute bitch to my husband and son. I can pull it together for my 7 year old granddaughter who can always make me smile (outwardly at least).
Has anyone done TMS treatment? I have an appointment for a consult. I figure if it doesn't help, I can move on to one of the other two.
I apologize for rambling and moaning. I have always been one of the "helpers" even with my bouts of anxiety and depression. I just don't know if I can continue to juggle the masks and continue.
I am currently on: Lexapro, Welbutrin (450 mg), Effexor, Trileptal, Trintellix and Trazadone. Crazy # of drugs, right? No way to even begin to know which, if any, are working...it's all such an experiment and I've been on the merry-go-round way to long.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

paktoledo | @paktoledo | Apr 25, 2023
In reply to @blessedintx "12 mental health drugs??? I am on Medicare. TMS is noninvasive, lower risk of side effects...." + (show)
@blessedintx

12 mental health drugs??? I am on Medicare. TMS is noninvasive, lower risk of side effects. It's been around since 1985 and was FDA approved in 2008 for MDD and medication resistant MDD and is covered by Medicare. I just think maybe it is the better place to start for me. I'm doing loads of research on all 3. Now would love to hear from people who have experienced it (good or bad). Thanks for your input.

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What is TMS and MDD. I haven't heard of these two terms before.
Thank you, Pat!

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blessedintx | @blessedintx | Apr 25, 2023

TMS is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a treatment for Medication Resistant MDD (Major Depressive Disorder).

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flagulf | @flagulf | Apr 25, 2023

Hi- I just joined this group. You and I are in the same profession, and I have the same diagnosis. I’m struggling to keep a job in it, I just don’t seem to care anymore. I was first diagnosed with MDD at 21, have had years between episodes without need for meds. For the past 5-10 years I have been on so many different meds, I’m wondering if it’s due to age. I’ve held a full time job for many years at a time, for almost 30 years. Now I can barely hold one for 3 months, I panic the night before going to work. I wake up in the middle of the night, then can’t get up in the morning. I take lamictal and straterra( ADHD too). I’ve thought about tms or ketamine, and I never thought I’d get to this place, I managed most of my life on and off meds, but no heavy hitters. My Dr wanted to try Caplyta, but I declined to start with the anti psychotic class of meds to address depression. I’m just so tired of dealing with it.

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dlpc | @dlpc | Apr 26, 2023
In reply to @paktoledo "What is TMS? I have never heard of it before. Thank you in advance. Hope you..." + (show)
@paktoledo

What is TMS? I have never heard of it before. Thank you in advance.
Hope you can feel better soon! Pat

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TMS is transcranial magnetic stimulation. A series of impulses are transferred into your brain by taps on your skull. It is not uncomfortable for me and the benefits obviously are worth any inconvenience of daily clinic visits. The effect seems like a reset for me (I get them yearly) enhancing my emotional wellness progress. I feel as tho even my meds are more effective. Mine is available by psych referral and testing. It is paid for by Medicare.

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1 reply
paktoledo | @paktoledo | Apr 26, 2023
In reply to @dlpc "TMS is transcranial magnetic stimulation. A series of impulses are transferred into your brain by taps..." + (show)
@dlpc

TMS is transcranial magnetic stimulation. A series of impulses are transferred into your brain by taps on your skull. It is not uncomfortable for me and the benefits obviously are worth any inconvenience of daily clinic visits. The effect seems like a reset for me (I get them yearly) enhancing my emotional wellness progress. I feel as tho even my meds are more effective. Mine is available by psych referral and testing. It is paid for by Medicare.

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Thank you! Helpful info. Thanks for sharing!
Pat

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alina808 | @alina808 | Dec 26, 2023
In reply to @chistiania "Dear @blessedintx, I was able to find what I wrote to a father who was considering..." + (show)
@chistiania

Dear @blessedintx,
I was able to find what I wrote to a father who was considering TMS for his young daughter. I wrote about my experience with TMS. I have copied what I wrote to him then, hoping this can be of help to you. So here, it is:
"I hope TMS is going to work for her. I know it does for many people. I heard about Transcranial Magnetic therapy from a close friend. For her, it worked after only 6 (six !) treatments, so I hope it is going to help your daughter too. I couldn't take it, even though I so much wanted it to work. I know it is NOT listed among the side effects, but all of a sudden I got toothache and I started having such bad pain in the right side of my belly, where my right ovary is, that I had to go to the emergency room after my fifth treatment. I also started getting hot flushes like crazy. When I called the center where they gave me TMS and asked them to check with the doctor if TMS in some way affects the endocrine system they said the doctor had said it did not, that the only side effects they knew of were the known ones: pain at the treatment site, headache, and toothache and they all go away after a little while. Well, to make a long story short: I stopped after my 5th treatment. I kept having a pain in my ovary for a little while after I interrupted TMS, while hot flashes continued bothering me for much longer).
But, as I said, I hear TMS does help many, so I do hope the 36 treatments your daughter is going to take also will help her to get ridden of her debilitating depression and anxiety. I wish you and your daughter the very best and thank you so much for sharing your experience. 😊 Merry Christmas to you and to your family!".

This is what I wrote then, and it is pretty much all I can say about TMS.

I hope the TMS treatment - if you decide to undergo it - will be beneficial to you, with no side effects.

All the best to you. ❤

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Dear @chistiania
I myself have just started TMS treatments and I’m currently on my 10th treatment today. I am also experiencing severe hot flashes and pain on the right side of my belly since the past couple treatments, along with worsening of my anxiety with severe pains in my chest. I am so disappointed because I was very hopeful that this was gonna be what was gonna work for me. I am struggling every day just to get to the next. Since I’ve started experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks, I find myself very sensitive to anything I do or put in my body. And I am still trying to find a treatment that works for me. I’m reaching out to you because you have experienced the same side effects as I and I feel as if I will be needing to stop treatment as well. I was wondering if you mind letting me know what has worked for you medication’s etc.
Thanks

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