Posted by PhoenixGirl on May 26, 2004, at 13:55:08
In reply to Re: treatment resistant depression, posted by LindaGail on May 26, 2004, at 11:05:34
Hi Linda. I totally feel your pain, I've had almost the exact same experience as you. I'm 26, and have been fighting depression since I was 12. I've been on almost everything, except an MAOI, which I am now about to try.
Have you thought about trying TMS (Trans-cranial Magnetic Stimulation)? I know you can get it in Atlanta, and there are some other places too. In Atlanta, there is a psychiatrist who does it, so you don't have to be in a study. It is still investigational, so insurance does not cover it, but the only side effect is a temporary headache. You have to get it done fairly frequently and keep getting it done for it to keep working. Of course when we suffer from treatment-resistant depression, we're willing to go to these lengths.
There is also VNS (Vagal Nerve Stimulation), in which they put a "pacemaker" type of device in you. It was originally meant for people with epilepsy, but it has been found to help people with depression too. I almost participated in a study for it in Atlanta, but the last time I looked there weren't any ongoing studies for it. I would check to find out anyway, though. It's also not approved for depression, and can have more side effects than TMS.
If I were you, I'd search for information on both of these options on the internet. Find out if and where you can try them.
poster:PhoenixGirl
thread:349830
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040521/msgs/350809.html