Hi @Queenie, @Catcakes and @NikNik.
I have BPD, PTSD and depression and it is the depression that causes me the most problems. I have long term depression. I first noticed symptoms around the age of 8 and they have increased over time (I'm now 45). I have tried many therapies and medications with little success. I started seeing a new pyschiartrist at the start of last year and after no succes with a range of medications, I asked if I was suitable for ECT. The Dr told me about rTMS and I researched it and was keen to try it.
I am doing my treatment in a private hospital as an inpatient as I want to do therapy at the same time (this hospital has a targeted CBT group for TMS patients). You can also do it as an outpatient privately or in some public hospitals. From my enquiries, if you have no private health and do it privately it is about $150 per session, with an average of 20 sessions. If you do it publicly there is no cost (Logan Hospital does it in QLD). You have to get to and from each session and they do it 5-6 days a week. Most people are fine to drive or catch public transport after the treatment.
The treatment is painless for me but does cause a little discomfort and may cause headaches or neck pain afterwards. You sit in a reclining chair with a neck pillow and the coil sits on an arm over your head and pulses or clicks. Mine is quite fast and sounds and feels like Woody Woodpecker, but the women next to me today had a very slow pulse. The are a few variables which they work out with testing before starting treatment so no 2 are the same. My treatment goes for about 30 minutes. Your head has to stay still so the magnet stays in the correct spot, but you can move arms and legs and talk (I don't think it's dangerous to move it just ineffectual). I've been chatting to the nurse and listening to music with headphones. Some people read, some people play games on their phone.
Some things I found out last week that I didn't know from my research is that it seems to work better for people who don't have success with medication. Having epilepsy, brain injuries or seisures may exclude you from treatment.
I chose to try this treatment because:
1. It was something new.
2. It seems to have few side effects.
3. It is not invasive - ECT is my next step but that carries more risks and side effects.
4. The success rate seems quite high compared to other treatments, especially in conjuntion with medication and therapy.
5. I shouldn't give up until I have tried everything.
I'm happy to answer any other questions you might have, but otherwise I'll give an update in 2 weeks.
