Have any of you ever had TMS or ECT treatment before?

A

AttitudeEra

PEB Forum Regular Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
If any of you have ever had TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) or ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy) for depression or any other mental disorder, can you tell me how well the treatment worked for you or any side effects you had afterwards?

Also, can you tell me how you were able to actually get scheduled by your mental health or BH provider to get these treatments done? I've gone inpatient to a civilian psychiatric hospital and a military and all they do is isolate you from the public and give you pills that don't work.

My depression is getting out of hand and no medication has worked for me. I don't know what else I can do to make me stop feeling so terrible all the time.

Thanks!
 
Bring the topic up with your psychiatrist. In my area, only a few providers offer TMS, but we have had a couple of very depressed soldiers have good results. ECT has become more recognized as a tool for intractable depression, and also is being used more frequently. I have not hear of significant side effects with TMS. With ECT, there is often short-term memory loss. If you have been treated longer than a year, and nothing else is working, it should be a topic your provider will address- either to refer or to tell you why you aren't a candidate. Best of luck.
 
PsychOfficer said:
Bring the topic up with your psychiatrist. In my area, only a few providers offer TMS, but we have had a couple of very depressed soldiers have good results. ECT has become more recognized as a tool for intractable depression, and also is being used more frequently. I have not hear of significant side effects with TMS. With ECT, there is often short-term memory loss. If you have been treated longer than a year, and nothing else is working, it should be a topic your provider will address- either to refer or to tell you why you aren't a candidate. Best of luck.
Click to expand...

Thank you for replying. They do offer TMS where I'm stationed and I have been seeking BH treatment for well over a year. I saw my psychologist last week and mentioned it but the conversation didn't yield any results. I see him again in a couple of days and I plan on bringing it up again. I have heard about the short-term memory loss associated with ECT, so I'm going to see if my doctors are willing to try TMS treatments first.

On another note, since my MEB package is now in the IPEB stage, will seeking more intensive treatment have any effect on my med board?

Thanks again!
 
AttitudeEra said:
Thank you for replying. They do offer TMS where I'm stationed and I have been seeking BH treatment for well over a year. I saw my psychologist last week and mentioned it but the conversation didn't yield any results. I see him again in a couple of days and I plan on bringing it up again. I have heard about the short-term memory loss associated with ECT, so I'm going to see if my doctors are willing to try TMS treatments first.

On another note, since my MEB package is now in the IPEB stage, will seeking more intensive treatment have any effect on my med board?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Good. I haven't seen TMS work for everyone, but for some it does make a dramatic difference. On the IPEB, it shouldn't, but if you get TMS, I would have your PEBLO forward that information up so the VA can consider it in any rating. Good luck!
 
PsychOfficer said:
Good. I haven't seen TMS work for everyone, but for some it does make a dramatic difference. On the IPEB, it shouldn't, but if you get TMS, I would have your PEBLO forward that information up so the VA can consider it in any rating. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Would I be able to just forward documented TMS sessions directly to my IDES claim in E-Benefits where it said 'Upload Documents'?
 
I want to try ECT as nothing is working for my depression and I guess some short term memory loss would be better than drinking myself to death which so what I'm currently doing.
 
tony292 said:
I want to try ECT as nothing is working for my depression and I guess some short term memory loss would be better than drinking myself to death which so what I'm currently doing.
Click to expand...
I feel ya man lol. If TMS doesn't work, I'll try ECT. Losing a small part of my memory is better than wanting to jump off a cliff all the time. Constantly talking myself off ledges is becoming too exhausting and I just wanna stop feeling so terrible everyday. If that means losing some of my memory, then so be it.
 
Attitude, I am done with the military and DOD docs and have tried 14 different psych meds in 4 years to include SSRI, SNRI, benzo, and finally tow mood stabilizers. I would truly rather die that live through that 4 years over again. I hope ECT can give me back some of my old self.
 
My psychologist is going to talk to the doc in charge of TMS treatments to see if he thinks I'll be a good candidate for it. I'll get a definite answer from my psychologist this week. :):)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top