Posted by PhoenixGirl on September 19, 2001, at 15:24:43
Okay, I'm trying to start a new thread with this, accidentally made it a reply before. Please read this post, I think people will find it very interesting. I gave an update on my situation, but I think it left the
board quickly because it was last period. Anyway, here's what's happening: I saw the Emory hospital docs about
ECT. I'm a candidate and they recommend I get it. One of the Emory docs is doing a study on Transcranial Magnetic
Stimulation, but I can't participate in it because I'd have to go off all my meds and might get the placebo (I would
probably get dangerously depressed if I did that). However, there happens to be a doctor in Atlanta who is doing
TMS already and he's not doing a study. TMS hasn't been approved by the FDA, and it's rate of effectiveness is
unclear, but it seems to be safe. What happens with TMS -- the doc uses the TMS machine to create a magnetic field
in your brain (something like that), which may relieve depression by altering brain chemicals. You are fully awake and
there is no pain, but the sensation that a woodpecker is working your head. Memory isn't affected, you can continue
working and driving. The doctor doing it says that TMS appears to be less effective than ECT, but more effective
than medication generally, with few side effects. As with all treatments for depression, the effect does not last
indefinitely, and you have to keep getting it done. Initially, I'd get 5 treatments a week for 3 to 5 weeks (a treatment
takes approx. 30 minutes), then taper it down to a "maintenance" schedule like with ECT.
Okay, so here's my dilemma: I have about $1900 to spend on TMS and/or ECT. The TMS is offering a fee of $50
per treatment, and if I'm not beginning to improve after 2 weeks of treatment, we'd stop. So, the cost of trying TMS
is about $500 (5 treatments x 2 weeks x $50). If it did work, I'd continue the full course of treatment and hopefully
not need ECT. And of course I'd try TMS first because it's much less disruptive to my life, I wouldn't have to take
leave or have memory problems. If TMS fails, I'd be out about $500, so I'd have about $1400 left for ECT. If I do
ECT, I pay $100 for an unlimited hospital stay and 10% of the cost of ECT. Each ECT treatment costs $1100, but
my insurance company negotiates the fee down, and I'd pay 10% of the negotiated fee. I have no idea what the
negotiated fee would be, the fee reductions that my insurance company gets for me varies a lot. So the fee for each
ECT treatment is a wildcard. I'll have to get at least 6 initial treatments, then taper to 4 per month, 2 per month, then
once a month. It all depends on how fast I respond to treatment. Therefore I'd need to pay for at least 12 treatments
until I get down to the once a month maintenance. Remember, the initial round of ECT is normally between 6 to 12
treatments, then it does to 4 times a month, twice a month, and once a month. I think that my initial number of ECT
treatments will probably not need the full 12 initial treatments because I'm not acutely suicidal right now. I think I'd
need the initial 6 or so, then 4x a month, 2x a month, 1x a month. So that's 12 treatments before the 1x per month
maintance begins. I hope you're following this! Okay so say the negotiated cost is $90 per treatment for me. Multiply
12 by $90, and the ECT could cost roughly $1200 including $100 hospital fee.
My question is, should I try TMS before trying ECT? Bottom line: To find out if TMS will work at all will cost me
$500, and approx. $800 -- $1300 for full initial course of treatment before maintance. ECT will cost roughly $1200
-- $1700 for full initial round of treatment before 1x per month maintance (probably the low end). Worst case
scenario: I'd try full round of TMS to no avail, then full round of ECT, leaving me with $1000 of debt owed to Emory
hospital, who would let me pay it off gradually. Best case scenario: TMS works and I don't even need ECT. Middle
of the road scenario: TMS fails, but I've got enough money left over for ECT with little or no debt.
PHEW!! So what do you think I should do? I'm thinking that my life is being ruined by depression, has been since age
12, and I should go for it all. That is, I should try TMS first before trying ECT.
Please give me your thoughts on this, and what you think of TMS and/or ECT in general. By the way, I'm so lonely
and isolated and I doubt any treatment will make me truly okay if this loneliness continues. However, they may lift me
up enough that I can start making relationships with others.
poster:PhoenixGirl
thread:79097
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010917/msgs/79097.html