I feel like a real space cadet right out of a 1960s sci-fi movie!

I started TMS treatment last week; it is a new method for treating depression for those that are not responding well to medication. So far so good. I am getting up earlier, excited to work on projects and get them done, and no longer wishing I’d never been born.

Ever since BC/BS decided to charge me a $1300 penalty a month to continue my brand name medication, (which worked perfectly!) I have been on 7 different drugs. One actually seemed to be working but I couldn’t leave the house because everything I ate went right through me. Needless to say, the side effects were totally unlivable. The last drug only lasted 4 days, it turned me into a monster. We got a good laugh when I went back through the list of side-effects and it said to call your doctor immediately if you turned into a b…h! Not sure who they were trying to protect, me or everyone around me.

My son heard commercials on the radio for TMS treatment at Greenbrook TMS NeuroHealth Center and thought I should look into it. My gut reaction was pretty negative, it sounded flaky and it is very expensive. But I was impressed when I researched it; it’s FDA approved and covered by health insurance if you qualify. Many research universities have shared studies online, lending credibility.

TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation and while it is unclear exactly how it works, it is helping many people. The Mayo Clinic explains how it works this way:

During a TMS session, an electromagnetic coil is placed against your scalp near your forehead. The electromagnet painlessly delivers a magnetic pulse that stimulates nerve cells in the region of your brain involved in mood control and depression. And it may activate regions of the brain that have decreased activity in people with depression.

Side effects are minimal, I have had a slight headache following one or two treatments but it didn’t last long. I’ll just enjoy that sci-fi feeling!