Posted by Pfinstegg on May 9, 2003, at 22:44:41
In reply to Re: To Pfinstegg, posted by denise528 on May 9, 2003, at 13:13:44
Hi Denise..I'm glad to hear that Dr. Hutto responded. From what I know, TMS, like ECT, acts to calm down the overactivity of the HPA axis and increases blood flow to the left frontal and hippocampal regions. Because of these effects, sometimes AD's will work better afterwards.
As to my own experience, I had partial responses to Prozac, Paxil, Zyprexa and Wellbutrin. However, I never felt well on any of them, and was always functioning at 25-30% of what I knew I had once been. The TMS gave me a sense of being really in remission. Dr Hutto advised me that I should follow up with AD's, and that I might have to return for "booster" sessions -they give those twice a day for 2-3 days when they are needed.
I did not go back on a major AD, but do take tianeptine, fish oil, synthroid and Cytomel. I am also having psychotherapy to try to deal better with the original abuse issues. So far, everything has gone so well- I really feel that I have a complete remission- lots of energy, confidence and interest in things outside of myself. This is from someone who a year ago was taking six hours to climb out of bed and brush her teeth!
Having the TMS has given me a much more optimistic outlook- I know I can return for boosters if I need to, and that having it will help any AD that I take be more effective. Before, I just felt so helpless and pessimistic.
It is a long way to Atlanta, although the flight cost does seem very reasonable. Dr. Hutto's offices are north of Atlanta, about an hour's drive from the airport, so I rented a car to drive from the airport and then from my residence motel to his office. Dr. Hutto's office gave me the names of several motels which were a 5 or 10 minute drive from his office. As I had three weeks of treatment, having a kitchen in the motel was very helpful. I don't know whether driving on the right would be a problem for you or not, but I think it would also be possible to use taxis, provided you arranged for them in advance by phoning.
I was extremely impressed with Dr. Hutto's extensive experience with ECT (20 years) and TMS (2 years). He knows exactly how to give the TMS, and spends a lot of time finding out at just which point he wants to give it- then you spend the rest of your visit with a large indelible black mark on your scalp!
I am familiar, also, with the studies idicating that TMS is no better than sham, but from what I have read, the people working with it at NIH and Yale have a much more positive view. One thing that often happens- and did with me- is that one converts from a DST non-suppressor to a suppressor- the best possible indication one could have that the HPA axis is no longer in overdrive.
I hope you will keep in touch with me about what you decide. I think that if you see Dr. Hutto, you are seeing the very best; even if you don't get into a complete remission, the TMS should bring your brain more towards normal functoning- and this could make all the difference in your ability to benefit from AD's and psychotherapy.
All the best in your search.
Pfinstegg
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:225118
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030505/msgs/225495.html