How is your memory? The only thing i am worried about is forgetting things with/about my kids.

That was one of the first things I gave them. They are so interested, the nurse I was talking to on the phone was almost yelling she was so excited. LoL I'm trying not to get my hopes up to much, but if this does not work then I will go the depression rout. I hate to do that, but I hate not being able to be the mom my kids need even more. Its not fair that they have a mom who is cranky all the time, and can't run after them. So I will do whatever it takes, but if I can just get enough of them excited about it then maybe just maybe we can do it without going through everything else.

Here's the scoop I've gotten on memory. For most folks the only memory loss involves the period in which you're being treated and relates to the details of events during that timeframe. For instance, you might not be sure which specific day that you did something. Or you might not be sure where you put something. Now I don't know about you, but for me these are everyday occurrences and not something new - LOL. It just goes along with the age. My ECT specialist says that's what virtually all his patients say. It's also possible that you might have a bit of trouble committing something to memory. So far - and remember I've only had one treatment at this point - I haven't felt any impact at all. Matter of fact I've been surprised how clearheaded I've been. Like anything else, I suspect it's likely to vary a bit from individual to individual.

To minimize and mitigate the effect on memory there are sedatives being used, it's being done as a Right Unilateral treatment (staying away from the language centers of the brain on the left side for a right-handed individual and the higher memory impact of Bilateral treatments), and finally they're using the minimum amount of current necessary to generate the required seizure in the brain. Turns out its quite a bit less for us girls than it is for the guys.

Here's something else for you to ponder in terms of getting this done. I suspect that all this is just as new to the insurance companies as it is to those of us interested in being treated here. And my experience with trying to get insurance companies to approve payment for a treatment that they don't already have on the list of approved/known treatments for a given disease/syndrome has been that it's challenging at best. And usually before they do so they want to see double-blind placebo type studies - which I don't even know how you could construct under the circumstances. So I suspect there would be a billing issue if you wanted to pursue this under a label that is new to them. For me personally it didn't matter and I just wanted to get treatment as quickly and expeditiously as possible - while I still have insurance, which is only for about another 6 months unless something else happens here.

So very happy your muscle soreness is only related to the sedative
I am truly looking forward to hearing more and more about your progress
This is very exciting news for all of us.
Much thanks to you and Mike and to all of us for putting up with this for so long


Peace

GnP

I don't have insurance, so it will all be out of pocket for me. I can't get coverd on any insurance since I got this when I was 15, and on my dads. So that does not matter. It is all just getting them to say yes.

Second treatment was this morning and it's WORKING! Right now there is no pain and I am able to walk normally with no assistance. This is the first time since 2006 that I am able to put full weight on the knee and take a normal stride. Range of motion is much improved and something I think I can now work on with PT again.

WAHOO!!! After having spent weeks and sometimes months in unending level 9 and 10 pain this is amazing!

Michael - I cannot thank you enough!! Excellent work my friend!

YA!!!!! I'm doing a happy dance for you! NO PAIN?!?! What is that like? I'm so happy for you I'm crying! That is so amazing!

It's surreal, let me tell ya. It makes you just pinch yourself and wonder was all of that really real? It's just GONE.

Now I just wish the same for the rest of you ...

The nurse called me back today. She says that when she brought it up to the doctors they told her "We have heard of it, and [I]we[I]do not do that! It is for people with [I]other[I]issues" I started to bawl on the phone with the nurse. So on to plan B. I'm going to call every hospital in america and some European countries till I find someone that will do it. I'm not dep[ressed by any means so I doubt I could get it done for that.

The day after the second treatment this time is MUCH more comfortable. I think they gave me Toradol this time and whether it's responsible or not - I don't have the extreme muscle soreness that I did after the first treatment.

If the rain will hold off here, I think I'll go work my RSD knee in the pool this afternoon. Need to build up some strength.

WOOOHOOO!!!! How exciting! I"m happy your not as sore this time! I hope they found the right mix of things.