My rTMS Treatment Experience

I had my first treatment today and it was painless and interesting. Effects aren"t felt for at least 2 weeks so I might give an update then.

Hi @MaryMahem

I know many will find an update useful.

I know that it can be frustrating for some to not see results straight away, but hopefully in time you will see a difference.

Good to hear it was painless - it's often one of the first questions people ask about the treatment.

Keep on persevering!

Nik

Hey @MaryMahem, how are the treatments going? It was given as a treatment option for me at one stage, but I told them I doubted I could sit still that long (I was told it is 20-30 minutes per treatment, is that right?). I like to get up and move around a lot. Pity really about my inability to sit still as I've heard it works miracles.

Hi @Queenie, @Catcakes and @NikNik.

I have BPD, PTSD and depression and it is the depression that causes me the most problems. I have long term depression. I first noticed symptoms around the age of 8 and they have increased over time (I'm now 45). I have tried many therapies and medications with little success. I started seeing a new pyschiartrist at the start of last year and after no succes with a range of medications, I asked if I was suitable for ECT. The Dr told me about rTMS and I researched it and was keen to try it.

I am doing my treatment in a private hospital as an inpatient as I want to do therapy at the same time (this hospital has a targeted CBT group for TMS patients). You can also do it as an outpatient privately or in some public hospitals. From my enquiries, if you have no private health and do it privately it is about $150 per session, with an average of 20 sessions. If you do it publicly there is no cost (Logan Hospital does it in QLD). You have to get to and from each session and they do it 5-6 days a week. Most people are fine to drive or catch public transport after the treatment.

The treatment is painless for me but does cause a little discomfort and may cause headaches or neck pain afterwards. You sit in a reclining chair with a neck pillow and the coil sits on an arm over your head and pulses or clicks. Mine is quite fast and sounds and feels like Woody Woodpecker, but the women next to me today had a very slow pulse. The are a few variables which they work out with testing before starting treatment so no 2 are the same. My treatment goes for about 30 minutes. Your head has to stay still so the magnet stays in the correct spot, but you can move arms and legs and talk (I don't think it's dangerous to move it just ineffectual). I've been chatting to the nurse and listening to music with headphones. Some people read, some people play games on their phone.

Some things I found out last week that I didn't know from my research is that it seems to work better for people who don't have success with medication. Having epilepsy, brain injuries or seisures may exclude you from treatment.

I chose to try this treatment because:

1. It was something new.
2. It seems to have few side effects.

3. It is not invasive - ECT is my next step but that carries more risks and side effects.

4. The success rate seems quite high compared to other treatments, especially in conjuntion with medication and therapy.

5. I shouldn't give up until I have tried everything.

I'm happy to answer any other questions you might have, but otherwise I'll give an update in 2 weeks.

Hi @Soulless,

It has been just over 2 weeks and I am 2/3s of the way through my treatment. Other than a mild headache most days I have had no other side effects.

I am pleased to report I am feeling better. I am not crying everyday, the weight of hopelessness has lessened and I feel I can think a bit more clearly. I am not cured, I am not happy but there is a definate improvement in mood and thought. It may be wishful thinking or the placebo effect as everyone who knows me wants this to go well but I don't mind why I'm feeling better, just that I am.

My psychiartrist said not to expect to be happy if happy is not a state I generally feel. I may still need medication and defiantely still need therapy, but it's like getting a jump start, almost literally!

I will update when I have completed treatment and left care. Thanks to all of you who have shown interest, it has made me feel the experience can be helpful for others even if it wasn't to have worked for myself.