Posted by mashogr8 on May 24, 2002, at 17:51:53
In reply to Re: vagus nerve stimulation » mashogr8, posted by BarbaraCat on May 23, 2002, at 22:35:01
My psydoc undoubtedly attended the same or similar meeting as he brought VNS up for the first time this past week (Maybe when he was at the APA meeting in Philadelphia). He knows there was a study at the local university, but is not sure that they are still accepting research subjects. If they still are, there would be probably little or no charge. I have no idea whether my insurance would agree to the procedure. I like the fact that the implant can be removed. It appears that there are minimal side effects, one being a possible change in the tenor of the voice which my pdoc describes as hoarseness. My job requires a decent sounding voice. This is one reason I hoped to hear from someone who had undergone the implant. Did they have any side effects, in particular, voice change.
In the mean time, I will go to Boston for a second opinion re medication. I think any decision re future treatment will depend on the results of tnat meeing.
I really appreciate the time you and others took to respond to my question. This site is so beneficial and has saved me on more than one occasion. Even when hope has been buried ten thousand feet underground, comments from many to others have helped me to not give up but to try to uncover it. As long as that help exists, and medications don't work long enough, I will be able to hold on.
Ma
P.S. this probbly should be another thread but do you have any info re Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?
"My pdoc recently went to a symposium on new treatments for depression. He thought that VNS seemed the most promising of all including transcranial magnetic stimulation. It's method of action makes alot of sense, even though the little pacemaker implant thingie seems a bit Borg-like. He also said that it will probably be a long time before it becomes a first line treatment because of the expense involved, especially with our current managed care system. You're very lucky if you have an opportunity to have this procedure performed. It seems to be a novel treatment and is reversible.
>
> > Several months ago there was a thread re info on
> > vagus nerve stimulation treatment. The thread seemed to come to an end because no additional information on anyone's experiences was available.
> >
> > My psydoc has suggested VNS as a possible to ECT......
> > Ma
poster:mashogr8
thread:107191
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020517/msgs/107537.html