-
Posts
-
My story is similar to many on this forum. I’ve struggled with depression most of my life and have been on more medicines than I can count. About 1 year ago I finished my first set of TMS treatments and was feeling very good until July 2019. I’m finishing up my second round of TMS treatments and I see no difference. I’ve lost all hope that I will ever be lifted out of this depression and just wanted to post this hoping to feel better!!!
I went on my second round of treatments 6 months after my initial round (a traumatic event resulted in an even worse relapse). The first round was successful but with a delayed response – improvement did not start until at least 2 weeks after the treatments ended, and then it was a slow progressive improvement. I was, finally, at peace (not necessarily happy).
I finished my second round a month ago. Two weeks after the treatments ended, there was enough improvement to make life somewhat bearable, but I still have a long ways to go. I continue to hope for improvement and assuming that it just takes longer to work on me. Time will tell.
How are you doing? I ask because I finished first week of September and just had a massive setback. I can’t do another full round now and don’t think my insurance would cover it so closely to the end. I don’t even know if it stopped working ( I was never 100 percent) or I’d it’s something else. I’m scared.
Thank you for reaching out. I am sorry to hear that you have suffered a setback. It’s such a shame that there are triggers that continue to pull us back into that deep hole. Through my online research, I’ve come to realize that I may be stuck with recurrent major depression. Life is full of triggers. TMS is a temporary aide but is likely needed on an ongoing maintenance basis.
My understanding is that insurance does not cover periodic “maintenance” treatments. To be covered by insurance, you have to go through the entire treatment process again. Ridiculous amount of wasted money and time.
Since you finished your first set of treatments in September of last year, you may very well be covered again since this is a new year. I would make contact with your insurance company to see if that is the case. You can also try getting a prescription from your psychiatrist for maintenance treatments and see if insurance will cover it that way. I do know of one person that worked for. I learned that from this site.
The second round of treatments did not work as well for me as the first, but they did work and pulled me out of the worst of it. My psychiatrist has recommended ECT for future treatment. I am no thrilled with that thought and am going to seek a second opinion – just as if I was going to have surgery.
Please post an update when you can as to how things are going for you.
I will not speak to the psychiatrist. Had I known how horrible she would be, I never would have agreed to the place. A coworker recommend it as she had a positive experience and is in complete remission after a year and a half. I did not realize this was a new doctor. The one she had died suddenly. This doctor has had numerous complaint so it’s not just me. If I go for maintenance I do not have to see her. 9 weeks is terribly difficult. I used all of my vacation by breaking them in half days last year. After 4 weeks of treatment I had my first feeling of relief and then my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer the next day so I’ve been dealing with that amongst ovid and other things
I just found this website today. ECT terrifies me.
Yes, you were dealt a doozey with the diagnosis of your mother. I think when things like that happen, it delays how well TMS works. Just my opinion based on my experience. I’m sorry you have to experience this.
I would find another psychiatrist right away. It would be great if you could find one that is associated with a TMS clinic. If that is not available, find another one.
At least you saw that TMS was starting to work for you. That is a big plus! So I would not give up on TMS and pursue additional treatment. I would not be here today if it weren’t for the second round of TMS – even though a very delayed response.
Not knowing where you work and the size of the employer, you may want to look into the Americans with Disability Act and file for time off from work with that. Not sure why you have to take half a day off from work unless you have to travel quite a distance to get to where you are being treated. Also, 9 weeks is a long time. I’m guessing they tapered you off the last 3 weeks?
Yes they tapered me for three weeks. I have FMLA for migraines so I wouldn’t have other time to pull from. We have very little skck paid time and I have no second income. Being alone is a huge source of my depression.. I work for a huge company impacted greatly by the pandemic. I’m lucky to have a job even though it doesn’t pay well.. I have to hang onto it and the depression is making it difficult to function so that just adds another worry. I work 10 hour days and had to use vacation because the facility was closed by the time my work day ended. It’s a 30 minute drive each way.
Yes, being alone is, as you said, definitely compounds our depression.
The Americans with Disability Act can help protect your job. It has been years since I’ve had to deal with it for employees so I am not up to date on its protection. Mental disabilities ARE included. I’m not sure how it comes into play during these pandemic times. But you may want to Google it to gain an understanding if you are concerned about your job.
I am fortunate I am now retired, as I know I would not have been able to work when I had the worst of my depression, So I feel for you being in that position. The only reason I am looking into ECT is because the only place where I live that took Medicare is no longer providing that service. The other 2 clinics in town do not accept Medicare.
Please keep us posted on your journey. I’m always here if you need someone to talk to. Living alone and not having anyone to share with who truly understands can really pull you down.
I have FMLA for migraines. We only get 64 hours of sick pay a year and I’ve already used 50. While FMLA protects you, if you go on short term disability, it will use up your FMLA without pay and although they can’t fire you for being on disability, your job is not guaranteed. I do not have this luxury. I so often wish I was married to someone with a well paying job and I could use their insurance for help. It’s not that I don’t want to work, it’s just extraordinarily difficult.
Yes, it would be lovely to have the comfort of a second income and a good insurance plan. I’ve never had that luxury either.
One other thought is to make an appointment to speak with your HR manager about what your options are. You said your company is large so there must be someone of that caliber who can help. This might help relieve some of the stress.
Oh, my company is more than large and I narrowly escaped a furlough. I am in one of the hardest hit industries by Covid. I will never be able to retire because I lost all my savings in the recession. Now I make less money and won’t be able to afford to retire with SS. All of this just makes the depression worse.. These are the things that make me unsure if the benefits of tms are gone. Are these triggers just so beyond the normal that I would feel sort of ok under different circumstances?
No, these triggers are not normal, but they are definitely common right now. I think many people are in your shoes. That is why depression is so rampant these days. It sounds like you might benefit from talking to a therapist who can help you work through this. Many are available during evenings and weekends now with so many people needing help.
My experience was in not seeing any improvement with TMS during some bad times. But it did help slowly. I’m glad I hung in there. Everyone is different. So even though you feel you have lost progress with the latest bad news you received, I would hang in there and give it a chance to work. I know it’s hard to be patient.
The topic ‘round two-help’ is closed to new replies.