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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LifeTime on October 4, 2005, at 0:57:33
In quickly reviewing previous postings I find much information lacking as it regards one of the newest and innovative recently approved therapy options for TRD (Treatment Resistant Depression)
I would like to share a patient and support person advocacy site and message forum as it relates to the VNS Therapy for Depression.
The link to the site is: http://www.vnsdepression.com
I am a support person, care giver and long-time health care advocate to my wife who was one of the earliest study subjects for this treatment option. I and others have begun to share our experiences regarding this option.
I would also like to bring to the readers attention a recent panel discussion by some of the foremost researchers as it relates to this therapy and some 550 psychiatrists:
http://www.vnstherapyvideo.com/video_wm.html
Several years ago I posted some limited information regarding the therapy on this forum although I was bound to not speak publicly about the study or the therapy. Since that restriction has been lifted I can now share our experiences relating to this therapy option and I encourage, first and foremost the education of the patient and/or his/her support people and the making of informed and un-coerced medical decisions in collaboration with one’s trusted, caring, compassionate, knowledgeable and licensed health care practitioner(s).
Lastly, I do wish you all wellness and if I can be of any service in terms of sharing experiences and information I shall gladly do so. I also encourage those who are interested to investigate further at:
Warmly,
Herb.
Posted by 4WD on October 4, 2005, at 21:59:06
In reply to Newest Therapy for Major Depression - TRD, posted by LifeTime on October 4, 2005, at 0:57:33
> In quickly reviewing previous postings I find much information lacking as it regards one of the newest and innovative recently approved therapy options for TRD (Treatment Resistant Depression)
>
> I would like to share a patient and support person advocacy site and message forum as it relates to the VNS Therapy for Depression.
>
> The link to the site is: http://www.vnsdepression.com
>
> I am a support person, care giver and long-time health care advocate to my wife who was one of the earliest study subjects for this treatment option. I and others have begun to share our experiences regarding this option.
>
> I would also like to bring to the readers attention a recent panel discussion by some of the foremost researchers as it relates to this therapy and some 550 psychiatrists:
>
> http://www.vnstherapyvideo.com/video_wm.html
>
> Several years ago I posted some limited information regarding the therapy on this forum although I was bound to not speak publicly about the study or the therapy. Since that restriction has been lifted I can now share our experiences relating to this therapy option and I encourage, first and foremost the education of the patient and/or his/her support people and the making of informed and un-coerced medical decisions in collaboration with one’s trusted, caring, compassionate, knowledgeable and licensed health care practitioner(s).
>
> Lastly, I do wish you all wellness and if I can be of any service in terms of sharing experiences and information I shall gladly do so. I also encourage those who are interested to investigate further at:
>
> http://www.vnstherapy.com/
>
> Warmly,
> Herb
>
Hi Herb,My pdoc is suggesting I look into this.He has just returned from a conference and is going to give me information at my visit on Thursday. I am concerned about the surgery aspect of it. Also, the fact that you have no idea whether it will work until you have actually had the thing implanted. Also the fiddling with the correct settings for frequency or whatever. And finally, anxiety is a big component of my depression. Does it help with that?
I have major depression and am extremely sensitive to medications. The ones which work for depression either don't treat anxiety or make it worse. Others cause intolerable side effects - much more intense than usual.
I'd appreciate any info. And thank you for taking the time to post here.
Marsha
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Posted by LifeTime on October 5, 2005, at 0:49:54
In reply to Re: Newest Therapy for Major Depression - TRD » LifeTime, posted by 4WD on October 4, 2005, at 21:59:06
Dear Marsha,
Your questions are good ones and although I won’t give anyone advice I’ll answer from my experiences and knowledge as I’ve been trained to do. As far as I am concerned all surgery should be considered serious. There are always possible complications but in the hands of a skilled, competent and knowledgeable neurosurgeon that’s performed this procedure numerous times the surgery should go well and uneventfully. Most often the procedure is under an hour and done on an outpatient basis. My wife Joyce was implanted in December 1999 and the pulse generator was replaced in January 2005. Both of her procedures were uneventful. The first procedure was done under the study protocol and she was required to stay overnight. The second procedure was done outpatient in the morning and by about 1:00 PM we left the hospital and had dinner out that evening.
Unfortunately, as I am sure you must know by now with your experiences relating to the numerous treatment options you’ve tried and based upon our experiences there is no way at the moment to know who will or will not respond to any therapy option. The other major problem in my spouse’s case history is that she would respond to a medication and then the refractory issues would surface so that we exhausted many of the conventional treatment options.
I am sorry you did not review the Cyberonics website and note that they present a regularly scheduled teleconference. The subject of anxiety was addressed this evening by the moderating Psychiatrist. His response was in essence that both depression and anxiety generally go hand in hand and his feeling was that if the therapy was efficacious for the depression it too would have a beneficial effect upon the anxiety.
I might also point out, in my spouse’s case history; she has utilized the VNS Therapy as a first line treatment option without the use of psychotropic medications for purposes of depression. Again, this does not mean it would hold true for others.
Since I do invest a great deal of time researching information as well as advocating for my spouse and sharing that information on our website I would encourage you to please post your concerns and questions and at the same time please read the information contained on the website and the message forums. I invested a substantial amount of effort in trying to share our experiences, research and knowledge as it relates to this treatment option. I am an advocate for education and all treatment options so please let me state clearly I am not endorsing, promoting, selling, advertising etc any products or services but I am trying to share experiences and knowledge. My advocacy by way of our website is funded out of my pocket. I do not ask for any contributions or do I advertise, seek advertisements and/or sponsors. I am beholding to no one and share only for the purposes of sharing.
The link to our site is: http://www.vnsdepression.com
I would encourage any others seeking information regarding this therapy option to peruse the site and from there to follow up on the other links offered relating to the subject.
Warmly,
Herb"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us;
what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal"
--Albert Pike.
Posted by 4wd on October 5, 2005, at 22:04:24
In reply to Re: Newest Therapy for Major Depression - TRD » 4WD, posted by LifeTime on October 5, 2005, at 0:49:54
Thanks, Herb.
I did go to the website but didn't notice the teleconference on anxiety. I did notice that apparently there is quite a bit of lag time between implantation of the device and any therapeutic response. I guess you just stay on your meds in the meantime.
Anyway, thank you for your post. I truly appreciate the informationa and the link to the website.
Marsha
This is the end of the thread.
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