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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jota on October 23, 2006, at 16:37:47
I am considering doing a course of rTMS with Dr. Hutto in Atlanta. My biggest concern is what the heck am I going to do every day to keep myself busy. The therapy itself only takes about 1/2 hour. Not having anything to keep myself busy might just make my condition worse. I'd especially like to hear from Pfinstegg.
Posted by Pfinstegg on October 23, 2006, at 19:40:51
In reply to considering rTMS, posted by Jota on October 23, 2006, at 16:37:47
Hi! That was a problem! I asked Dr. Hutto for suggestions, and did quite a few of the things he suggested: exercised in a large, attractive park not far away which had a long jogging/walking path, visited a large shopping center on Peachtree Blvd. which had good stores and a number of movie theaters, visited Emory University to use the medical library, and, when I stayed over the weekend, went to the mountains of North Georgia, which were beautiful. It wasn't quite enough, but it helped. Recently, I have been bringing work to do, and that helps fill the time. I had two treatments per day, which made the whole process go faster, If it's your first time, I don't know if he will do that.
I haven't been for about a year- I'd like to have maintenance TMS, but am doing better, and so am waiting for it to be FDA approved. That is (was?) supposed to be December of 2006, or early 2007. I do hope it works for you, if you go. When it does work, it's such a great treatment- so "clean"!
Posted by SLS on October 24, 2006, at 8:41:43
In reply to Re: considering rTMS » Jota, posted by Pfinstegg on October 23, 2006, at 19:40:51
Hi Pfinstegg.
Sorry this is a bit off-topic. I, too, am waiting for TMS to be approved by the FDA before pursuing it as a treatment. I just don't have the mental energy or monetary resources to travel to have it done. In the meantime, I may try to get tianeptine.
Are you still taking tianeptine? Do you think it would be useful for a depression in which low energy, anhedonia, and cognitive impairment are the predominant symptoms?
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by Pfinstegg on October 24, 2006, at 10:02:57
In reply to Re: considering rTMS » Pfinstegg, posted by SLS on October 24, 2006, at 8:41:43
Hi Scott. I do take tianeptine. It's very short-acting, but I do think it's useful for anhedonia and low energy. It's not a "strong" drug, but it's wonderfully free of side effects. I should say that I also take Lithium 450 mg per day, and Cytomel 5 mcg tid. Altogether, this unlikely group of drugs is working out much better than the
SSRI's. SNRI's, AP's and tricyclics, alone or in combination, did. And I do think the psychotherapy I have been working at has been very helpful, too. When TMS becomes available, I would like to use it on an as-needed basis. It doesn't last too long, but I'm one of the fortunate people who will score a zero on a depression scale for a week or two after even two treatments.
Posted by SLS on October 24, 2006, at 10:28:53
In reply to Re: considering rTMS » SLS, posted by Pfinstegg on October 24, 2006, at 10:02:57
> Hi Scott. I do take tianeptine. It's very short-acting, but I do think it's useful for anhedonia and low energy. It's not a "strong" drug, but it's wonderfully free of side effects. I should say that I also take Lithium 450 mg per day, and Cytomel 5 mcg tid. Altogether, this unlikely group of drugs is working out much better than the
> SSRI's. SNRI's, AP's and tricyclics, alone or in combination, did. And I do think the psychotherapy I have been working at has been very helpful, too. When TMS becomes available, I would like to use it on an as-needed basis. It doesn't last too long, but I'm one of the fortunate people who will score a zero on a depression scale for a week or two after even two treatments.Thanks for answering my questions. I am glad you finally found a regime that works for you. What an oddysee it can be, eh?
I have a few more questions for you that would perhaps be better addressed via email if you wouldn't mind. Of course, I would fully understand if this is not comfortable for you.
- Scott
Posted by Jota on October 24, 2006, at 13:09:30
In reply to Re: considering rTMS » Jota, posted by Pfinstegg on October 23, 2006, at 19:40:51
Pfinstegg, Thanks for your suggestions. One follow-up question: I know you've stated that you get two treatments per day for your maintance treatment. But did you also get two per day for your original?
Separately, I've read that the FDA advisory committee on approving the Neuronetics application is supposed to meet on October 31.
Posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2006, at 18:25:16
In reply to Re: considering rTMS, posted by Jota on October 24, 2006, at 13:09:30
Atlanta is only a few hours from me I think 4 or 5 but if you feel so horrible why do you even care if there is nothing to do? I wouldn't would only want to feel better. Love Phillipa
Posted by Pfinstegg on October 24, 2006, at 23:19:12
In reply to Re: considering rTMS, posted by Jota on October 24, 2006, at 13:09:30
I had my first series of treatments in January, 2003, and Dr. Hutto was only giving one per day to everyone. I read someplace that some centers gave two a day (Dr. Best in Illinois, for one). I asked Dr. Hutto if i could have two a day, and he agreed. In 2004 and 5 I had been going down to have four or six treatments, so it was just two or three days there each time- so much easier than the first time, which was three weeks.
I didn't know about the October 31 date- that's wonderful! Thanks for telling me.
Posted by SLS on October 24, 2006, at 23:51:12
In reply to Re: considering rTMS » Jota, posted by Pfinstegg on October 24, 2006, at 23:19:12
> I had my first series of treatments in January, 2003, and Dr. Hutto was only giving one per day to everyone. I read someplace that some centers gave two a day (Dr. Best in Illinois, for one). I asked Dr. Hutto if i could have two a day, and he agreed. In 2004 and 5 I had been going down to have four or six treatments, so it was just two or three days there each time- so much easier than the first time, which was three weeks.
I wonder how these doctors got to use this treatment on an open label basis.
Do you happen to know what frequency Dr. Hutto is using? I assume he is placing the coil on the left side.
- Scott
Posted by Pfinstegg on October 25, 2006, at 19:12:38
In reply to Re: considering rTMS » Pfinstegg, posted by SLS on October 24, 2006, at 23:51:12
In the three years I have been going, the frequency has always been right in the middle- 10 HZ. But the strength of the impulses has been gradually increasing- from 50% of the motor threshold to 125% of it. I think everyone was concerned about seizures, so they were proceeding slowly. But seizures are apparently not happening even at the higher strengths.
This is the end of the thread.
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