New treatment for depression and anxiety

[ckahern]

I have started a new treatment for depression and anxiety due to living with Fibromyalgiafor 30 years now.
It is called TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) there are no side effects and no medication! It has an 80 percent success rate. If you're interested just Google it for treatment in your area.

 

[sunkacola]

I have started a new treatment for depression and anxiety due to living with Fibromyalgiafor 30 years now.
It is called TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) there are no side effects and no medication! It has an 80 percent success rate. If you're interested just Google it for treatment in your area.

TMS has been known to help a number of people who suffer from extremely medication-resistant chronic depression. At this point, my understanding is that it's not widely available to people, and only available to people who have already tried every other medication and therapy that is available to treat depression, so I think it's not something you can just go into a doctor's office and request and get right away.

there actually are side effects, but they are reported to be mild ones such as slight short-term disorientation and headaches.

I am very glad to hear that it is helping you, @ckahern !
I would like for information to be more widespread about it, and for more people to have access to this treatment, since it does seem to be very effective.

It's also very expensive, I hear, and not covered by many insurance plans.
On the other hand, if it were to work, what does it even matter what it costs, when you think about how much depression takes from our lives?

Has anyone else on the forum tried it? Or does anyone have any other information about it?

 

[ckahern]

I want to respond to the concerns about the cost of TMS. It is covered by insurance if you have not responded to medication. The name of the place I went to is Greenbrook and they handled the pre-authorization with my insurance. I didn't have to go through a doctor to get a free consultation. I have suffered with depression for years and tried different medications that only gave me side effects.

 

[sunkacola]

I want to respond to the concerns about the cost of TMS. It is covered by insurance if you have not responded to medication. The name of the place I went to is Greenbrook and they handled the pre-authorization with my insurance. I didn't have to go through a doctor to get a free consultation. I have suffered with depression for years and tried different medications that only gave me side effects.

Interesting.
I have had chronic depression for decades, and there's never been a medication that works for me.

The best that any medication has done is one that I have now been taking for a long time because it allows me to sleep. I was born with chronic insomnia (yes, that is possible), which I think heavily contributed to the fact that I have been depressed most of my life. I have periods of remission, but not for more than a few months at a time, at most.

I have heard about TMS and wondered if I should try it, but was put off by what sounded like a long process to get to it, and wondering if, due to having fibro, I even have enough energy to try.

I think it would probably depend on what insurance you had and maybe where you are as well, how easy it is to get it.
(Also, it sounds a little frightening to me.....but I suppose that's silly.)

 

[ckahern]

I had all the same concerns as you do. It is an 8 week commitment and you go everyday, but it only takes 15 minutes each time. I also have chronic fatigue along with fibromyalgia so I was a bit concerned with whether I could make it. So far I have no regrets and I am feeling better than I have in years!! It is worth the time and effort.

 

[sunkacola]

Driving all the way to town every day for 8 weeks would probably not be something I could do.
Normally I drive to town once a week at most.
I did not realize it was every single day.
Oh well.

 

[Sharkman]

..

 

[JamieMarc]

@sunkacola I felt the same way when I first heard about it, so I haven't tried it either. I will be following this thread though because I am still interested.