Depression Relapse and TMS Again

Trigger warning: self harm, suicidal thoughts [not graphic]

In 2022 my depression came back quick, and in full force. I didn't just have a full depressive episode, I had it with all my old self harming and suicidal thoughts. I'm already in therapy, and the meds don't work. It took months just to get a sleep med that helped my insomnia so I didn't plan to treat this with medication. I knew that for some people TMS only lasts around a year [could be more as well] so I decided to see if I could get TMS again. I contacted a TMS provider, filled out the forms, and we had a telehealth call to discuss them. After that they called to let me know I was approved on their end for TMS so they would send everything to insurance. Soon after that I was told insurance approved me and was fully covering it.

We set a date, and I came in for my first treatment last Friday after waiting two weeks. I decided to document this journey with TMS to show people what it is, since its relatively unheard of. On my first day I came in and we did cortical mapping and a MT [motor threshold] check. This helps the doctor and TMS technician decide where, and at what power, to put the coil [magnet]. The doctor has to find the motor cortex which makes your hand move [but it doesn't hurt] then they move over a set amount to find the area of the brain they want to stimulate or calm down. This process is slightly different depending on the machine you have and which treatment you are getting.

After that is all set up, we then d a test train [set of pulses] and if it feels good, we start my 18 minutes of TMS. During the treatment you need to try and be still so I like to bring a fidget toy. The TMS provider I went to both times has a TV so I watch Netflix during treatment but you can also be on your phone. They usually offer earplugs if you are sensitive to sound. The only things you should watch out for is if your hand moves and if the train hurts. If it hurts, the power is probably too high. If your hand moves, the coil is in the wrong location and they should stop and adjust. Let your tech know if your hand twitches during the pulse when you are doing treatment. It isn't a bad or dangerous thing, it just means they can make TMS more effective and comfortable for you.

I will be documenting each day of TMS I do on this blog. I have photos and videos I will share and discuss and well as information on TMS. This time while I'm in TMS again I asked about what I would do if I need it a third time. I was told I would just contact them and apply like usual, and as long as I get remission from TMS I'll be able to do another round in the future. What is Treatment resistant depression

Comments

Comparing the Two Main Treatment Options for Treatment Resistant Depression [TMS & Ketamine]

Time Commitment Ketamine infusions work very quickly — often within hours — to ease depressive symptoms. The relief from Ketamine, in 99% of cases, will be felt more quickly than TMS. TMS fast and safe for adolescents For the average patient, ketamine infusion therapy consists of a series of six infusions spaced out over the course of two or three weeks, so the time frame is could be 2 weeks or almost the same This initial treatment is followed by a long-term maintenance phase that includes occasional booster infusions as needed. While TMS also has a maintenance phase it is not standard to do a maintenance dose for every TMS patient. Once a patient reaches the maintenance phase, it is quite varied how often they will need these “booster” infusions. Some patients prefer to get 1 or 2 infusions per month in order to proactively prevent the resurgence of their depression. Others come back for their booster infusions 3 or 4 months after the completion of their initial 6-12 infusions. Th

What is Treatment Resistant Depression?

First you need to be diagnosed with depression and have the symptoms of any kind of depression. If you tried treatment for your depression but symptoms never improved, you may have treatment-resistant depression. Taking an antidepressant or going to psychological counseling helps reduce symptoms for mamy people. But with treatment-resistant depression, standard treatments aren't enough. They may not help much at all, or may improve your symptoms, only for them to keep coming back. This shouldn't be confused with persistent depression, which requires you have had depression for at least two years [in a single span of time]. While many people with treatment resistant depression do have chronic or persistent depression, it typically isn't their main diagnosis. My personal experience is that medication does not help, from anxiety to depression to insomnia meds, and I've been in therapy for 6 years but it certainly hasnt relieved my symptoms to the point I'

My Story

Trigger Warnings: self harm, suicide, hospitalization, inpatient programs I have had chronic, treatment resistant Depression and Anxiety, for as long as I can remember. I have also had PTSD and Insomnia since middle school. This combination of mental health issues has mad it very difficult to function and I have struggled with self harm and suicidal ideation from the age of 12, maybe 10. I have had multiple suicide attempts from middle school to high school and college. When I was in college, I started getting therapy and trying medications. I went on medical leave due to depression in 2017 and did my first inpatient program, a PHP, in 2017 or early 2018 and while it helped me learn a lot I ended up continuing to struggle with mental health for the next few years. As I struggled to find the right meds, and became very familiar with common therapy skills, I went on another medical leave in 2019 and entered my second PHP after a lot of personal life changes that triggered a huge relapse

TMS Trials

Search This Blog