Hi All,
 

My surgery is scheduled for April 11th. I'm am excited but scared. I think this is the scarest surgery I have had. Just not knowing what the outcome will be scares me. Also the RSD part.

It's set up so I have to go for it though.

Now I am dealing with my CFS again and that is getting to me. It started about a week ago and I am so tired I can't think straight.

Hope this is it. I hope you get your surgery lined up soon and we can compare notes.

Only difference is they'll be pumping meds into you to make you feel good from the pain and mine will be wires.

Thank all of you for your support.

Ada

Hi All,
 

Thank all of you for your support and helping me to get through the depression and getting through this surgery.

I had the surgery yesterday and it went great. As I told Chemar in her post that it won't be turned on until the 23rd when I heal from the surgery some but I'm excited but again scared. The fear of the unknown I guess.

I will keep you up on how I do with it.

Thanks again for the support.
Ada

Ada

I'm sorry I missed the date of the Surgery and that you had
already had it. I didn't mean to just disappear.

I just have been very busy. But you will do just fine.

And it will come and go very fast. We will be ready.

But I will probably disappear again for a while, I've got two
very busy weeks.

I'm a parent advocate, and I'm training this next two weeks.

Its been a long haul to get the parents I need to get this
chance.

And I'm also traveling to finish the year for trainings.

So I'll be looking to see how your doing.


GOod Luck.

Donna

I am up and runing. The VNS was turned on today. I feel like I have a tickling in my throat otherwise it's ok. It will go off 30 seconds out of every 5 minutes for now.

I'll keep you up on how I do.
Ada

It shouldn't last for long the tickle in your throat.

Donna

Thanks Donna,
 

It is less noticable as time goes on.

I have to go have some test run for my heart. Do you know wheather this interfers with any of the test that I will be taking. I know there will be an echocardiogram, angiogram, stress test and whatever else goes with the workup.

Thanks,
Ada

I have VNS from 5/19/06 for TRD - bipolar rapid
 

I was implanted 5/19/06, however pdoc got mixed up and so only recently "turned on". So I have about 6 weeks therapy - not helping. What settings are optimal do you think? I would like to hear some success stories!! I'm really depressed and ultra-rapid cycling!!!

HI,
 

I just wanted to update you on my VNS. We turned it on about 2 weeks after it was put in. I saw some difference with my sleeping and anxiety right away. I also was less stessed. The depression still came and went.

Two weeks ago we turned it up for the 1st time and I am having problems with my sleeping and breathing at this point. I had a sleep study done for sleep apnea and they said that the machine showed that the VNS was causing me breathing problems. I haven't slept good since we turned it up. At this point I am aggrevatd with this. I called my Dr. today in hopes that we can turn it back down.

I do have sleep apnea but since my body jerked all night they want me back in to see how much worse I am then what they were able to read. I never went into REM sleep.

I don't want to give up on the VNS but at this point I most likely want let them turn it up again. If I can get him to turn it down I will leave it there.

Hope this helps and all of you start seeing better days.
Ada

VNS better now that turned down
 

I'm at .75, 250, and 5 min. Anything higher - can't do - swallow wrong way and get manic. I don't know if it helps = 7 months. Still waiting for vast improvement.

Hi Glenna,
 

I am at the lowest possible setting again. I went in this evening and he turned it down. He said it could be that it don't take a very high dosage of meds for me then this might be the same way.

My depression is still there. I don't think I ever had a day that I don't wonder what I'm living for and deal with suicidal issues. They said it could take up to 6 months to see any results and maybe even a year.

I also felt like my throat was stopped up at times. I had trouble eating with it up higher, I have lost 7 lbs since we turned it up so I hope it continues to help with that part.

I was having the hardest time sleeping. After turning it up 2 weeks ago the sleeping problem go so much worse. I woke up this morning thinking I can't take it much more. It was turn it down or turn it off. Of course I am determined to give it longer as long as it don't cause me any major problems.

Good luck with yours.

Ada