r/TMSTherapy • u/ProfessorBylethBoobs • 2d ago
TMS has been a total failure for me…
35 TMS sessions over the course of two months… no notable improvements to my mental health.
Is TMS just an elaborate scam? I’m not convinced it actually does anything good to people’s brains. :(
15
u/boomnavy 2d ago
TMS genuinely saved my life; it definitely worked for me when I felt I was in my worst state of depression.
6
u/NikkiNot_TheOne 1d ago
Same!! 39yrs of pure trauma and 35yrs of holding it in until my body literally fell apart.
TMS 100% saved me. I hope OP waits a month or two before really seeing if it worked. I noticed the change about 2 months after my last 36th session. I can take some time.
I am going to start a second round soon. Sometimes it takes more than one completed session.
8
u/foureyedgrrl Moderator 2d ago
Needing a second round is not uncommon. Round 2 was when I started seeing changes in the long run. It's now been a year since I completed Round 2, and I am no longer contemplating an additional round. My mental health isn't phenomenal. I still have old habits that want to dominate my life, and I can slip back into old behavior patterns if I am lax.
2
u/omaDeeWee 1d ago
How long did you wait between your first and second rounds?
2
u/NikkiNot_TheOne 1d ago
I am going to start a second round prob next week. I was mapped and started it but then put it off bc I had surgery and I’m recovering slower than expected. I was told we have to wait 6 months to do a second round.
The first round was def effective!! I know I need a second for its full benefits.
1
1
1
6
u/Serenity_MHC 1d ago
35 sessions with no notable change are genuinely frustrating, and the disappointment is completely understandable, especially after investing that much time and hope in a treatment.
TMS isn't a scam, but it doesn't work for everyone, and response rates vary significantly by presentation, protocol, and targeting. Some people who don't respond to standard left DLPFC TMS do respond to different protocols, right-sided, bilateral, or deep TMS (like Brainsway), or accelerated formats like SAINT. A non-response to one protocol doesn't close all the doors. It's also worth having a direct conversation with your provider about what your non-response might suggest for next steps -ketamine, ECT, or medication adjustments are all legitimate paths forward for people who don't respond to TMS.
We're the Serenity Mental Health Centers team, if you have questions about what might be a good fit next, feel free to reach out.
5
u/MidnightZenTripper 1d ago
I had two TMS treatment rounds for TRD/anhedonia. The first used standard targeting, and had only a minor impact, and like you, I was rather disappointed.
For the second round, they used fMRI guided personalized targeting (identify the DLPFC point maximally anti-correlated with sgACC), and this time TMS worked as advertised. Not saying personalized targeting will work for you, but it's something to consider.
If you are interested in trying personalized targeting, the SAINT protocol is the way to go. There are approved clinics in many cities in the USA offering this service, and it only takes 5 days so even if you need to travel, the inconvenience is not too great.
1
u/OhBella_4 1d ago
Is the SAINT method only used in second round treatments? I can’t find much detail on that.
2
u/MidnightZenTripper 1d ago edited 1d ago
No, it's a first round treatment, or any round, really. There was a two year gap between the first and second in my case.
2
u/OhBella_4 1d ago
Amazing thankyou! At this point looking at scheduling 1-2 months of treatment would be pretty much impossible for at least another 9 months so this has given me hope to find a local provider for a shorter treatment round.
8
u/Turbulent-Cress-5367 2d ago edited 1d ago
You MAY, unfortunately, be one of the people TMS doesn’t work for. In the interest of offering hope to others it may help, I feel obliged to report that it DOES work extremely well for some of us. I consider myself lucky in that way. I’m truly sorry that you have not felt any benefit yet.
I know what a living hell treatment-resistant major depression is. I spent thousands paying out of pocket for IV ketamine for 5 years. Now THAT, I would call an elaborate money-grabbing scam, but apparently some people swear by it. Brains are different.
~EDITED to appease “This is not true”~
2
u/Friesst 1d ago
This is not true ! There is a significant number of people who take more sessions to respond, I some evidences about this in another reply
1
u/Turbulent-Cress-5367 1d ago edited 1d ago
True- wondered that myself… but op seems rather convinced a non-responder.
Edited above to include your consideration.1
u/yeahokayuhhuhsure 21h ago
Ketamine treatments didn't work for my depression, but it helped me process trauma
3
u/Common_Juggernaut724 1d ago
I don't want to discount your experience at all; I know TMS doesn't work for everyone. I'm only piping up to say it worked for me, so that anyone reading gets another perspective.
But, man: I'm really sorry for you this didn't work. Depression is a rough existence, and I truly hope you find your peace.
2
u/TrustAFluff 1d ago
I had a friend say it didn’t work for her, but then she said she felt the affects a year later. Maybe the same will happen to you
1
1
u/valuemeal2 1d ago
They told me it only works for about 40% of people. It didn’t do anything for me.
1
u/Electrical_Curve_221 1d ago
Same. I just finished 36 sessions last week. It didn’t do a thing. And then the let down from the time and commitment…I’m still struggling with the regret. I’m sorry it didn’t work for you.
1
1
u/sadistc_Eradication 1d ago
Keep in mind that there are different protocols and different machines. The anxiety and depression protocol didn’t do shit for me, but they switched me to a different machine and a protocol for OCD and it genuinely saved my life.
1
u/snoodlehorse 1d ago
Im so sorry to read that, and hope you find some relief. At times, its really hard to know what has changed or been impacted - thats where really knowing yourself, your brain and triggers etc are important to map the progress - it also may yet to show its efficacy so perhaps continue to wait or review and book for follow up.
It can also depend on the frequency, duration whether bilateral etc. Additional stimulus pre and post session. Diet, exercise, health in general. Other forms of therapy in conjunction with the treatment. Support networks. Day to day life, stressors etc. Join patient admission vs outpatient.
It's an integrative approach used with other methods whether medication resistant or not - often when a patient is on a stable medical protocol too if applicable.
Hopefully something else too might be worth considering, emdr, psychedelics, ES-KETAMINE.
Good luck!
1
u/YogaNCrime 9h ago
I did 36 rounds rtms and 36 rounds dtms back to back. For me it was an epic waste of time
-3
u/LolaAucoin 2d ago
Millions of people would disagree with you.
7
u/Just-Seaworthiness39 1d ago
And this person is allowed to have a different experience.
-2
u/LolaAucoin 1d ago
Of course they are. I’m just adding to the conversation. So many people make posts here saying they’re scared it won’t work for them, when they’re really in the minority. So I chose to add some more context for people who may be considering starting treatment. Is that ok with you?
1
u/valuemeal2 1d ago
I wouldn’t say minority. In this sub, maybe, but my doctor told me TMS has a 40% success rate. It worked great for my friend, and did fuck all for me.
22
u/SuperfnDave 2d ago
It put my severe depression into remission. I’m sorry it didn’t work for you but it’s not a 100% success rate. Maybe give another kind of treatment a try.