TMS

Hi all,

I've been suffering from a bad bout of depression. I've gone inpatient, then was discharged and basically went right back inpatient again. I throttled back to PHP and wound back up inpatient. I went back through PHP and now am in an IOP program. I feel just as bad as I did before the first time I went inpatient.

Nothing seems to be getting better. I'm doing my due diligence and it's so frustrating when there's no effect on my mental health.

I suppose that leads me to my question. My therapist is recommended TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) because of some good results that she's seen. Does anyone have any experience with it for really bad bouts of depression?

Appreciate any input provided!

I’ve never had TMS (not a suitable candidate) but I’ve met lots when I’ve been IP. I’m envious of them. They’re now leading normal lives, holding down jobs, and just being well.
If I could have TMS I would.

I will be starting TMS very soon, probably by end of the week. Fortunately my insurance covers it 100% now (I looked into it about a year ago and insurance would not cover it). I will let you know how it goes.

It's a pretty mundane experience. You sit in a chair sort of like a dentist's chair and they sight in on your head some headgear which delivers the magnetic pulses. Then you do that for an hour at a time, day after day, for several weeks. Sadly, it didn't work for me. The good news is: unlike ECT it didn't have any side effects like memory holes.

Sorry it didn't work for you. I figure I have nothing to lose trying it, since my insurance covers it at 100%.

I did develop a great friendship with the technician who ran the machine. That part was certainly good.


I would definitely recommend you try it with insurance paying 100%. I don't look back on it as a waste. I needed to give it a go before doing ECT. Given the memory issues surrounding ECT I wanted to be sure I had explored all my other options first. ... Now I'm a regular ECT patient.

I have not had TMS, but I would if I was in a deeply depressive state and my insurance covered the treatment. I wouldn't hesitate.