VNS success?

SallyT Says:

An hour a day is success?!? And I would NOT want something permanently wrapped around my vegus nerve so that some day it can malfunction/break/corrode/destroy the nerve. Thanks, but no thanks.

Herb Says:

Hi Liz and SallyT,

I’d like to interject some thoughts on the topic of VNS and ECT and once again cite some of Liz’s literary style and/or opinions of which she is certainly entitled but which I question.

The first point I would like to make is unlike Liz, in addition to my endorsing education of the patient and his/her support person(s), I do encourage hope and persistence. From my experiences and knowledge of my spouse and from some of those very seriously ill patients, many only have hope left as a last resort before the final option. So why not get one’s hope up while at the same time being educated and knowledgeable of the various treatment options as well as their potential side-effects so that one does not distort the realities of potential efficacy and at the same time giving the patient freedom of choice.

“And given what a racket the ECT industry is…” My experiences have been nothing like the literary or actual sentiments you and a number of your friends portray. My spouse’s attending psychiatrists have always been compassionate and caring of my spouse’s wellness and needs first and foremost. There has never been any deceit, coercion or any unanswered questions on the part of her doctors so I simply cannot relate to the therapy option being a “racket” or for that matter the various medications my spouse has consumed in some four decades as prescribed also by her attending doctors being considered a “racket” either.

Liz, unlike you, I’ve gotten nervous when we’ve exhausted the conventional treatment options and nothing has worked efficaciously to maintain long-term remission and my spouse’s suicidal ideations were her only thoughts and acted upon option. Yes, ECT was effective at the times of its use but the side-effects certainly raised its ugly head and the efficacy was short-lived but it did keep her alive until we ventured upon VNS. My spouse being one of the earliest study subjects for VNS Therapy for TRD.

“I have little faith that other like practices can be offered without similar corruption.” If one peruses the various blogs one might come to the conclusion that the only option is too choose doing nothing. The pharmaceutical industry as well as practitioners is likewise being hammered for corruption and/or improprieties. Since I don’t give advice but prefer to share my experiences, research and knowledge I would opine that doing nothing is as viable an option as any but I personally would only consider that option if the patient is reasonably educated and knowledgeable and has adequate and close by support and supervision.

Liz, I’m glad you too are cynical but in the case of VNS Therapy it took 4 years before my cynicism abated as it relates to this therapy for depression. For almost 4 decades my spouse suffered from MDD. These past 7 years having been nothing short of “pretty remarkable.” My spouse has been almost continuously in remission and depression free for 3 years without medications and these past 4 years with little medication.

To which I’ll add you’ve simply not been informed and/or bothered to read carefully several message forums and/or our website offerings in which you would have learned that some 200 of the leading psychiatrists and thought leaders as well as the APA and numerous patients have shared their knowledge as well as favorable experiences with few or minor side-effects. May I also suggest a reading of Charles Donovan’s book “Out of the Black Hole?”

SallyT, isn’t wonderful to have freedom of choice?

I’m glad that you “would NOT want something permanently wrapped around my vegus nerve so that some day it can malfunction/break/corrode/destroy the nerve.”

But unlike you there seem to be more seriously ill patients who are being denied the opportunity whether through the usual discrimination and stigma attributed to those who suffer serious mood disorders or through financial means that are willing to opt for the opportunity to try this therapy not to speak of the Epilepsy patients also benefiting from the therapy.

“An hour a day is success?!?” As a former DBSA support group facilitator I lost count of how many times I’ve heard the following or similar statement, “What I wouldn’t give to have a minute free of depression.”

I would have to believe it depends upon the individual and how much pain, suffering and anguish one is and can endure. In my opinion, the one hour a day for Mr. Siepmann might not only be the start of a recovery process but sheds light on how good life can be free of depression.

A little side note to this discussion is the fact that more and more evidence is evolving that unlike any of the other treatment options VNS Therapy is yielding longer term remissions rates lasting into several years.

I’m not here to endorse any treatment; therapy and/or product nor am I here to bash or denigrate any of these options or the physicians who ply these therapies but I can assure you there certainly are more than enough blogs, message forums and individuals to go around performing those negative services.

I personally prefer advocacy and pro-activism from a positive stance and not from the negativism and alarmist positions so prevalent from my readings. The field of Psychiatry is so limited in its treatment options that it really haven’t been any new and innovative therapies offered within years other than VNS. TMS was just placed in the “deep six” by the device panel of experts. The so-called newer drugs are nothing more than modifications of the existing drugs, MST and DBS are still be researched and are years off before any possible approval so what does one do other than to remain hopeful and persistent and try or continue with what is available to maintain one’s life.

Warmly,
Herb
VNSdepression.com

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Larry Parker Says:

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is doing considerable clinical trials of VNS devices at its Newark campus. I’ve personally met the doctors (for a freelance assignment) and they struck me as very ethical — though the device maker itself seemed a bit less so in its overblown claims.

Obviously, I hope those in the trials get positive results — though, like Liz, I highly doubt this will prove a “magic bullet” for everyone.