My Bipolar Disorder was difficult to manage with medication alone. My Psychiatrist told me about a device that was waiting for FDA approval.
In 2005 the VNS device was approved by the FDA and my doctor had all the information ready to send to my insurance company.
The first time insurance denied the device. Here’s how I got insurance to approve. I wrote a letter explaining what my life was like and how it controls my life and in time the possibility of suicide.
A VNS device looks much like a pacemaker with two leads that attach to your vagus nerves, sending signals to the brain to relieve your depression.
The surgery doesn’t take long, but getting used to the device turned on takes a while.
When you are talking the device makes your voice sound weird but only when the device is sending signals to the brain.
When I had my surgery, no one had seen one implanted which meant the Gallery was full of other doctors. My doctor got to see my boobs, that had to settle in.
After you have healed the device is turned on at a low level so you get used to the feeling of the device working. Then we turned up the level until we found what we thought was the right setting.
I kept it on for years but finally admitted it wasn’t working and had it turned off.
The only pain involved is initial surgery.
I thought this device would change my life but it didn’t work out that way.
This is the notes I made on 12/30/05.
Received a letter today from the insurance company, they approved.
I can’t wait to call my Psychiatrist to tell him the news and to get my surgery date rolling.
2005 has been a rough year but this news is my beacon of hope.
The greatest news all year.
Unfortunately, I was in the percentage of people that the device didn’t work.
I am waiting to hear about new treatments but nothing new for my mental illness.
Melinda
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Thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry to hear that the VNS device did not work for you. However, I am glad that you are still seeking out new treatments and not giving up hope
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I keep my ear to the ground so I can keep up with what’s going on. Have a great day.
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Oh wow! Interesting! I’ve never heard of this type of treatment. Sorry it didn’t work for you. I hope there are some other successful treatments that may cross your path that will alleviate your depression.
I have a pacemaker but it’s not for depression. It’s for my chronic Gastroparesis. My stomach is paralyzed and this pacemaker sends signals to the nerves of my stomach to remind my stomach to digest solid foods. It was either that or a feeding tube for the rest of my life. This pacemaker has changed my life in drastic ways. For the last 5 years I’ve been able to finally digest solid foods. Although here lately my Gastroparesis symptoms have been on the rise and I have a feeling the battery in the pacemaker has died. So I’ll have to make a 5 hour travel to have this one removed and have another one put it. I just hope I’ll be able to recover from the surgery faster than I did the first time and hopefully the pain will be less than it was the first time. These type of pacemakers last anywhere from 5-7 years and I’ve already had it in for 5 years. But with the high voltage I’m on, the battery dies faster.
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Sounds like a complicated. Have a great day. :)
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What a great treatment for you, who wants a feeding tube. Take it totally easy after the battery is changed. :)
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Okay. Thank you so much sweetheart. I appreciate your kind words and support. 🥰💕
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