Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Does It Help Depression?

:im_033: Does VNS help depression? After almost 11 years of totally withdrawing from life, wishing that I could die in such a way it would seem like an accident so that my family wouldn't feel any quilt. I wasn't living, I barely was existing. In August 2004, I was taking 16 to 18 different types of antidepressants. That's not how many tablets I was taking, that was how many different types I was taking. I am TRD and I might as well have been taken anything. I won't say what I did, don't want to give anybody any idea's, but I ended up in the hospital in ICU for 7 days, having dyalasis and MRI's because my brain was swelling. I've been told many times that I would have been dead if I'd gotten to the hospital 15 minutes later.

I know my psychiatrist was frustrated and I felt like I had let him down. He had always told me if I attempted suicide he wouldn't continue to be my doctor. He had invested so much time and energy with me, he gave me a second chance.

A little over a year later, he had his receptionist call and tell me about a VNS Conference that was going to be held the next night. I didn't know it then, but that was the beginning of the rest of my life. From the time I went to the conference until I was implanted was about three weeks.

My life is as different as night and day. I planted flowers for the first time in years this spring with one rule: the flowers had to be red, bright yellow, orange, purple, blue, no white, light pink, or peach colored allowed. I bought a day lilly yesterday called Frankly Scarlett it will be fire engine red! My life is no less than 500% better. And it gets better every day. I have talked to a lot of people, but have yet to meet someone with the severety of depression I had. I lost my job. Thank goodness I have a husband that loves me very much; why I may never know, but he is still here and did a wonderful job raising our three chiuldren.

If not for the VNS, I truly believe I would be dead now. I can hardly wait for Christmas this year. Hopefully I'll get a tiny Chihuahua in it!!! :)

Does VNS work for depression? In my case YES!!!!!!!!!

:im_033: Labrat :im_033: : party1 :

In my case no, it increased it two fold. But I am BiPolar not treatment resistant chronic depression. I would like to know and hear about any on this board that have had the VNS implanted to help the depression side of BiPolar disorder not treatment resistant chronic depression..............

Still knowing I was a guinea pig.......................
Anita

:im_033: I have always felt like a Guinia Pig also, that's where the name Labrat came in.

I'm TRD and Bi-Polar I.

How long have you had your VNS? When or if it works varies GREATLY from person to person.

:im_033: Labrat :im_033:

:) I hope things improve for you. :) :im_033:

Labrat, mine was removed for 1000 different reasons. My travels on my VNS journey I believe are still on the board. My reaction to it, it took me to suicidal depression, a place I had not visited in a long long time.........I am so so so glad that you have found sucess with yours. Mine was orginally put in for the epilep. the FDA had not approved the depression application yet.......somewhere on here there is a pinned story of my crazy venture that I love to laugh at now except now the blood clot issue that is left unexplained.............
Praise to you for a peace of mind body and soul. I know the downs, I know the locking up in the bedrooms for weeks at a time. The suicide was the breaking point. I could not live with that.......Keep smiling!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anita :goodluck:

:im_033: Hi Anita,

I just wanted to check in and see how you are doing? I don't know about you, but I'm ready for it to cool down some. Not enough for the flowers to stop blooming, but out of the 100's or over 95 with a 95% humidity :Icky:

I'm set at 2.75 now. I forgot the exact settings, but my doctor says it is off more than it is on. I'm doing great, just still have a lot of tiredness.

Let us know how you are doing, we care a lot !! : party1 :



:im_033: Labrat :im_033: