Posted by Chris O on November 20, 2014, at 17:05:43
In reply to Re: rTMS after two weeks--Meh. Wish it weren't so. » Chris O, posted by phidippus on November 20, 2014, at 15:06:31
Wow, that's quite the cocktail. But if it works, and the side effects are not bad, then that's awesome. My psychiatrist's flexibility and lack of pushiness have suited my fear-based personality well, but I sometimes wish he'd dole out some poly-pharmaceutical suggestions, in a compassionate way. He's definitely suggested adding Abify multiple times when I was taking an SSRI, but I always chicken out after holding on to the samples for a couple of months.
Just curious (and feel free not to answer if this is too personal): Are you able to work full time, make enough money to survive on your own, and manage your life well with this combo? That's really what I'm searching for. Right now, I just get too overwhelmed when faced with the prospect of managing finances, etc.
Anyway, the rTMS is definitely having a noticeable (mildly) antidepressant effect on me. I have found it much easier to talk to people the last few weeks; I am less codependent about their reactions to me (I am hypersensitive to people's facial expressions and moods), I feel less guilty about asserting myself (which for me just means talking to people), and I have slightly more energy. Sleep has improved a bit, though my sleep apnea sometimes makes it hard to know how much. I don't think it's placebo, but I wouldn't rule that out completely, as I am getting some attention everyday, and I am hoping/supposed to be "getting better" That in itself is a powerful elixir.
Also, my insurance did approve 15 more sessions, and I had more first one in that group today. The doctor advised doing a bilateral rTMS this round (half the 40 minute session on the left DLPFC, half on the right DLPFC), but I have to say, I felt worse after this treatment (I was feeling better before). And since the doctor wasn't there, and it is just the lady in the office who does the rTMS, I wasn't sure if she even did the treatment correctly. Not sure if it's supposed to be low frequency rTMS on the right side (many studies used low frequency rTMS for the right DLPFC treatments, high frequency for the left DLPFC), or if it even matters. As to your earlier comment (that you can't believe rTMS is even considered a valid treatment), there do seem to be too many variables to even know what's going on. My feeling thus far is that there is an overall lack of professionalism in the administration of rTMS, but ... I have too many thoughts about this topic to share right now.
Anyway, sorry for babbling. Hope you are doing well. Thanks for interacting with me.
Chris
poster:Chris O
thread:1073437
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20141120/msgs/1073622.html