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“For the first time in decades, I’m happy and have hope in my life.”

Linda

After battling chronic, debilitating depression for two decades, Linda now feels that she has something to smile about again. For years, she fought her depressive symptoms by trying medication after medication, talk therapy, and more than a dozen rounds of ECT (electroconvulsive therapy). Unfortunately, any relief Linda felt from these treatments was minimal and temporary. She was hospitalized close to one hundred times in the thirteen years prior to VNS Therapy.

In late 2005, Linda’s psychiatrist told her about a completely different treatment approach for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Linda’s psychiatrist believed that VNS Therapy was an appropriate treatment option for her. Linda researched the treatment and agreed with her psychiatrist.

Linda began noticing improvements soon after receiving VNS Therapy. After several months, the biggest improvement she noticed was a big increase in her motivation and energy level. She now exercises regularly and eats healthier.  Since receiving VNS Therapy in January 2006, Linda has only been hospitalized for 2 days.

Married in May 2006, she credits VNS Therapy for enabling her to commit to a long-lasting relationship. “Without VNS Therapy I wouldn’t feel comfortable entering marriage because it just wouldn’t be fair to my spouse. I have a history of hospitalization and wouldn’t want to burden anyone to care for me through those awful times.” 

“The only side effect was that my voice became very hard to hear during the 30-second ON cycle.  I did not want my voice to become weak during my wedding, so I asked my psychiatrist to turn the system off then. It was off for 11 days, during which my depression gradually increased.  When VNS Therapy was turned back on, I had to start at a lower dosage, increasing over the next couple of months. I again experienced the gradual but constant improvement in my motivation and energy. As an engineer, I consider this proof that VNS Therapy works for me.”

“For the first time in years, there is a floor beneath me that keeps me from falling into dark, depressed states.”  She hopes that she will soon be able to fulfill her goals of obtaining a PhD in biomedical engineering.

Linda feels lucky that her insurance carrier, Medicare, approved her receipt of VNS Therapy. “I hope that most private insurers will soon provide reimbursement for the procedure” so that others who have struggled with TRD will also have the chance to benefit from this life-changing treatment.

 
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