Has anyone ever heard of a Vagal Nerve Stimulator or have one, it is used for Treatment Resistant Depression.?
I have depression that has not responded to many anti-depressants, it involes a small pacemaker-like appliance surgically placed in the left chest and a wire is placed around the Vagal nerve and runs up into the brain. It gives small impulses to the brain to produce the chemicals that are either absent from the brain or are not responding. It does not produce any drug into the body. This isnot like electric shock treatments, which I have had,never again. I have had just about every treatment for depression and this has been FDA approved to alleviate TRD. I am at the end of the rope and this seems like it will give me a quality of life back. My insurance has denied this much needed treatment, does anyone have any ideas to help get the denial overturned? I am very serious and would appreciate only concerned helpful help. If you think this barbaric or funny , I don’t. It beats thinking about suicide. Thank you very much.
Posted in depression cognitive
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July 29th, 2009 at 8:57 am
That is very interesting. I am familiar with VNS but in my experience it was used to relieve seizure disorders. It’s an amazing device.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Hello,
I have a VNS. It has changed my life. I was part of a study at the University of Texas, Southwestern. There were five of us in that particular study and two of us had outstanding results, one had good results, one didn’t seem to have any improvement and one had the devise removed shortly after it was turned on.
I have severe, treatment resistant, ultra fast cycling bipolar disorder.
The result has been amazing. I still take medication, but no where near the previous number of pills.
My depression, while still a problem, has lifted to the point that I now can function normally. I do not think I would have been able to survive without it.
The dose is set at thirty seconds on and ninety seconds off. I am sorry but I can not remember the power setting, I think it is 275.
If you can get the VNS I think you will find the results wonderful. As I said, I still take medication, Lamictal 400 mg, Seroquil 900mg, and Pristiq 50mg. The Pristiq is a new drug, my last antidepresant was no longern effective.
I still can not hold a job but I am able to function normally in every day life.
My major problem with the Bipolar was depression and the VNS has improved that beyond my dreams.
I hope you will be able to get the devise.
Take care, Rosemary
You can write me if you wish, mrconway@earthlink.net