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I hardly ever visit this side of the forum, so I've missed all this. A lot of what Austin wrote was too much for my English skills, but the main points, I believe, I get. You are a brave, stong and considerate (as can be seen in the way you mentioned your fanily) man. Love from Finland.
Thank you, Chaim. That means a lot.
I had my first bilateral/bipolar ECT treatment Monday and I'm doing ok. I did have some serious brain fog yesterday but that is to be expected and things are a little hazy right before my treatment. I also started Auvelity which is a newer novel antidepressant that acts similarly to Ketamine or Spravato. I didn't respond to Ketamine, TMS, and unilateral/unipolar ECT but they wanted me to try it anyway and see if it will help.
I'm just hoping for a last ditch effort because I've been told if this traditional ECT approach doesn't work I am basically out of options and then it comes down to perseverance as long as I can stand it and a hope that one day things will "magically" be better which I know they won't be. And once that clock starts I'm not sure how much I have left in me but I will give it all that I can for my family. I haven't been this low for this long.
In other news, my grandparents (grandma/stepgrandpa) are getting ready to sell their Florida home and have asked me to fly down one last time before they sell it and knowing how fragile things are, I absolutely wanted to do that with them so I will be going to Florida next month after I complete my treatments. It won't be a fix but I'm hoping to put a smile on my face for them and try to have a good time in nice weather.
Thanks for the update, Austin. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with so much. I hope things start looking up soon. We love you!
Thank you, Soda. It means a lot. :heart:
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I wanted to give a bit of an update. I am almost done with my round of traditonal bilateral ECT. I ended up not being able to take Auvelity because of insomnia so they discontinued that med. I have to say I am not that much better than before I'm afraid and I'm told there are no other treatments. So now it's just taking each day as it comes and holding on for as long as I can. I've been in the hospital for this already so that won't do anything other than make me feel like more of a burden to my folks and more alone. I hope a miracle out of the blue happens or some new treatment comes available but until then I'm just trying to hang onto life.
So I have finished my round of bilateral ECT and I'm no better than I was before. But my doctor told me about another center that does an implant in the body to stimulate the vagus nerve to help with depression. It's called VNS or vagal nerve stimulation. Insurance has juat approved me and I will be setting a date soon to have it put in and then another date to turn it on and see if it helps. It's literally my last option and I know I can't sustain what I feel now for much longer so for my family's sake I hope this works. It has been recently approved for being a last line of defense and has some pretty good research backing it. I will keep you all posted.
Best of luck with this, Austin. Ypu know your Border friends are pulling for you to get better.
Thanks Dreamer.
I set a date yesterday and I go July 17th to have the VNS system installed and I go 2 days later to have it turned on in the office and set the strength of it. We will see how it goes. I'm hoping for a miracle.
I’ll be praying for you!Quote:
Originally Posted by WalshFan88
I am dealing with a lot with my elderly mother, and haven't been on much.
Austin, No matter hard things may get, I guarantee your loved ones do not consider you a burden, any more than you would consider them one if your situations were reversed. ":hug:Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things". You're a fighter, or you never would have made it till now. You have reserves you don't know you have. I pray "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind". Stay strong, we love you!:grouphug: :heart::heart::heart: