Shuting down my VNS.
 

I wanted to tell you guys that I am having my VNS shut off tomorrow.

I was going to wait until April but I can't deal with it anymore. My heart feels like it's racing now and I am dealing with Panic Attacks over it. My stress level is worse.

I had it put in in April for depression and wanted to give it a year but I am not going to be able to do it. It's stressing me out way to bad.

Ada

Sounds like you're doing the right thing Ada. Thanks for letting everyone know, I am sure they will feel just as sad for you as I do seeing you are having panic attacks now. Take care of yourself. :)

Ada

Sending you some hugs and wishing that I had more to help you through
this time.

You are doing the right thing.

Donna

Dear Ada,
I am sorry that it did not provide some relief for you.
Very sorry about that....
you have tried for so long to be better....
keep doing what you need to be doing is taking care of yourself.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Thinking of you! Panic attack's are awful, I have had them.:eek:

Hoping the panic attacks subside soon. Can they give you something for them? I take Klonapin, it helps. My mom takes Xanax and it helps.

I feel stupid, but what is a VNS?:confused:

Hugs, Nikko:hug:

Oh, dear.
What a disappointment.
Let us know how you are afterwards.
M.

Hi Nikko,
 

A Vegal Nerve Stimulator is an implant that was first used for epselepsy and now used for depression.

I just got back from my Drs. office. The man is one of my best friends and it's funny or not, he thinks this is just a temporary thing. He says it might be good for me to have a break from it. I didn't have the heart to tell him I was done with it.

I told my nurse that if they hadn't got me in I was going to go to the ER to have it turned off. Her words were," they wouldn't know what it was much less how to turn it off." LOL When I told my Dr. the same thing, he said, " they wouldn't know how to turn it off. Kind of shows you how much faith they have in this hospital here. I sure don't have any.

Like I told my Dr. I feel really insecure that there is no way for me to turn the thing off except to use these magnets to turn it off while it is over the box over the chest. The magnet is so heavy that it won't even stay on the area without supergluing it.

I wouldn't recommend the VNS to anyone now. I feel bad in a way because I have people that are watching me with it for themselves or family. I hated to let them down though.

I'm very down over this but I am already drained from what I went through this whole week with the problems with the VNS.

It made my acid reflux worse, my constipation worse, P. A's worse, stress worse, you name it.

Thanks all of you for the support. I really appreciate all of you.

Ada

Ada I'm so sorry that you are having these symptoms and decided to have it turned off. I wish you had some improvement with it. It was supposed to be my miracle and nothing. Mine was turned off on Tuesday because I can't stand it on my throat with this cold I have which I found out today turned into pneumonia. And that's my works fault. I'm so afraid of taking off for fear of being fired I went in with a fever of 101. Then my memory failed me again and I forgot to buy gas and ran out when we were having an ice storm and had to walk 5 blocks. Did they appreciate it? Not one bit. Told me to sit in the back workstation so I don't spread germs around. But I didn't mind it one bit because I didn't have to face any one.

I know the holidays are hard on you Ada missing Bill but I'm glad you have some people around you. I saw my pdoc on Tuesday and told her I'm not sure if I'm having it turned back on. I told her I'd make a decision one way or another after the holidays. I just have to get through the next couple weeks without hurting myself and maybe that will be a big enough accomplishment that I can feel proud of myself and stop looking at the ground so much I walk into walls. But the holidays are bearing down, the carols are playing and the stockings are empty. :(

I'm sorry you both have had such bad luck with the VNS, I hope you start
to feel better soon.

Nikko,

My Derrick has the VNS for epilepsy.

And his magnet is one of the strongest that was ever made, it isn't used
anymore. But its the only one that will activate his. I've had trouble locating
more.

And luckily it works for him.

Donna

Dear MeBP,
Pneumonia! Sounds serious.
I hope that you are taking care of yourself.
Are you staying home and trying to sleep?
Mari

Dear Girlie,
Are you on antibiotics....I agree with mari...sleep rest this weekend.
hugs to you.
I am sorry that you are sick.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

I'm not planning on doing anything today except feed my ferals and fill the bird feeders. This really has me drained and for someone who doesn't normally sleep it's doing a good job. But we're expecting a lot of snow and ice and I have to make sure my ferals are warm and have food. I have a portable heater in the garage that I leave on a few hours to warm it up. I'm taking Erythromycin and Robitussin to help me cough. I'm trying so hard not to suppress it but my chest hurts when I do. And no codeine in this one because she said it suppresses coughing. :(

So I'm going to feed everyone and just do absolutely nothing. I need a break from it all. ;)

Hi BJ,
 

I hope you start feeling better really soon. I could imagine how hard it was to have the VNS going and the Pneumonia. It messes with the throat a lot so that would make everything worse for you.

Like you, I always wait for the next ball to drop. I deal with suicidal tendencies, have forever. They didn't change much with the VNS on though.

What really bothered me was the fact that it was making my acid reflux worse and contipation worse. I had to raise my dosage of Prevacid to try and calm the stomach down.

I went to the VNS website and read up on the VNS and I was surpised at the problems others were having with it.

I really don't want mine back on right now. I think we should have a way of shuting it off ourselves. I realize some people don't see the severity in this but after having 19 surgeries in 12 yrs. I just feel like I want to be able to shut mine down completely in case of an emergency.

I do hope you start feeling better and if you want to talk, call me. I will talk to you anytime. I live alone too and don't see my kids nor grandkids on weekends.

Take care,
Ada