So that's why I couldn't sleep!
 

Now that it is turned down I don't have to take ambien every night. So much to learn about this!

I'm sorry your both having trouble I hope it starts to work better.

Donna

Hi,
 

I slept better last night. Didn't have the breathing problems.

Ada

Good hoping that you can now find some relief for the other things too.

Donna

Hi,
 

I just wanted to say that I am still having breathing problems and some eating problems with the VNS. After we turned it down I thought I would get back to where it was before in helping me but since we turned it back down, my depression has been worse.

It's been kind of frustrating for me what is going on with the VNS with me.

Ada

Hi,
 

I just wanted to update on my VNS.

We have left it turned down until I get use to my CPEP machine for sleep apnea. It got worse after we turned up the VNS. I have also been sick all month so we want to wait until my stomach calms down also.

It still isn't helping me but with it being turned down it's not unusual. It doesn't bother me though anymore when it goes off. When I am stressed I notice it going off a bit more. It goes off for 10 seconds out of every 5 minutes.

Glennablom, I hope you are having better luck with yours now.

Ada

ect before vns
 

Hi My name is Jill, I just signed up for this forum. My docter is wanting me to try VNS. I have been treated for severe depression for approx. 18years, medication just does not work. Currently Iam receiving ECT's. I was getting 3 a week now thankfully Iam down to 2 a week. I was hoping that the vns would free me from ect's. I have read what ya'll have wrote, I am wondering if anybody has gotten ect's before getting vns?

Hi Jill,
 

I never got the ECT's. They were offered to me and I said no.

I have delt with depression all the way back to when I can remember. Around 7 years old. I will be 56 this month.

I have spent over 8 years in councelling and couldn't take any of the depression meds. I took zoloft for 2 years and it made me more suicidal and then Prozac did the same thing. After I had my gallbladder out, it seemed I couldn't handle any of the meds.

I haven't given up on mine. I went back in Friday evening and my Dr. turned it all the way back down to where it was when we first turned it on. I thought it was there anyway but he had left one setting up on it.

Turning it up was a nightmare for me. It has affected my breathing and also caused me to have sleep apnea. They are wanting me to have a second sleep apnea test because they are worried about my breathing.

I didn't have any trouble getting approved for mine. The insurance approved it the first time. The Dr. told me that the insurance companies are getting behind the depression issue. We thought we'd have a fight on our hands but they didn't.

There is a phone no. on here that I put on for everyone and a lady named Kathy is the one that fights the insurance co. to get it for you. She is great.

The company is very good. They have helped my Dr. with every issue we have had with it. They are hands on.

I'm one of these people that if it can go wrong it will so these issues I talked about may not happen to you.

As I said, I haven't given up on mine. I am determined to give it every chance.

Hope this helps. If you need the phone no. again, let me know and I will put it back up here.

Ada

Ada

I really hope you get your issues straightened out. I'm so sorry that things
are still not exactly right.

Its just so frustrating I know.

I know that my sister is using a different doctor at this point because she had
to find a doctor that could regulate all her medications together, and he
happened to be able to do the VNS too.

It seems to be working much better for her. And her psychiatrist is much happier I think with it this way.

I'm wishing I could find someone like this for my Derrick, doesn't seem
his doctor has a clue at times for him.

Donna

need vns so bad
 

but my insurance company keeps refusing to help with that. i have had depression for 15 years. now, it's to the point i can hardly get out of bed. i really feel that it's safer than the electrock treatments. i already have brain damage and i don't want more from electroshock. i tried a long list of medications. they either don't work or work for a very short period of time. therapy never got me out of my depression. i did everything i'm supposed to do, including lifestyle changes. i think my hubby and i will go bankrupt for this treatment. we'll pay for it, albeit by making monthly payments. i'm dying all the time, just dying. drowning. :thud: