Posted by chumbawumba on October 2, 2010, at 19:50:57
In reply to Re: rTMS experience or knowledge please » chumbawumba, posted by floatingbridge on September 29, 2010, at 17:59:40
I have not had a follow up yet. It's been about 6 months since my treatments and I am still doing well. I have been able to very slowly reduce the amount of Lamictal and Seroquel I take to 25 mg daily for each with the goal to be psych med free eventually.
I'll probably get another round of 10 treatments after I'm off all the psych meds just to cement all the gains in place and as a little "insurance" against relapse. The ten follow up treatments ONLY cost $3000 lol!
I really hope the cost of the treatments goes down so that everyone who needs it can get it. I would like to see this being the first line treatment for depression not just "treatment resistant" depression. And I think as time goes on and they refine the technology the success rates will only get better and better.
Here's a funny thing...after the treatments I lost my desire to drink alcohol. I still drink a little but nothing like before. I was self medicating with Vodka nightly before the treatments and now I can't stand the stuff. I mentioned this to my pdoc and she said it's happened with other patients. So who knows, there may be hope for this being a treatment for substance abuse as well.
In the end I think even if you pay $8000 out of pocket, think what a lifetime of psych meds costs. Plus the side effects. If it produces permanent remission, a BIG if I'll admit, the cost may balance out or at least be in the same ballpark as being on psych meds for life.
poster:chumbawumba
thread:962770
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100926/msgs/964530.html