Comments for VNS and Me http://vnsandme.wordpress.com My experience with Vagus Nerve Stimulation Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:48:39 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on April Update by Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) « VNS and Me http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/april-update/#comment-14 Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) « VNS and Me Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:48:39 +0000 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-14 [...] am extremely hopeful that I will see even more improvements over the next six to eight months with my VNS! Comments [...] [...] am extremely hopeful that I will see even more improvements over the next six to eight months with my VNS! Comments [...]

]]> Comment on Q&A by vnsandme http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/qa/#comment-13 vnsandme Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:12:03 +0000 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/?p=62#comment-13 Wow, that's a big number!! I am in the Midwest; maybe some of that inflation has to do with where you live? Still, pretty unbelievable. Cyberonics has Regional Case Managers -- here is information on how to contact one: http://www.vnstherapy.com/depression/insuranceinformation/reimbursementresources.asp. More information: http://www.vnstherapy.com/depression/patientresources/teleconferences.asp In my case, my psychiatrist, who recommended the VNS for me, helped me a great deal. She had been through the process with several other patients and even knew the name of the case manager I'd be working with. If you're working with a non-Cyberonics-associated case manager who's never recommended VNS before, s/he may not be familiar with the resources Cyberonics has available. If you check out those links above, you'll be able to call and connect with a case manager. Cyberonics is happy to work with you since they realize that many people are not going to have insurance reimbursement -- so the only way most people can get VNS is by self-pay. Let me know how it goes, okay? Wow, that’s a big number!! I am in the Midwest; maybe some of that inflation has to do with where you live? Still, pretty unbelievable.

Cyberonics has Regional Case Managers — here is information on how to contact one: http://www.vnstherapy.com/depression/insuranceinformation/reimbursementresources.asp. More information: http://www.vnstherapy.com/depression/patientresources/teleconferences.asp

In my case, my psychiatrist, who recommended the VNS for me, helped me a great deal. She had been through the process with several other patients and even knew the name of the case manager I’d be working with. If you’re working with a non-Cyberonics-associated case manager who’s never recommended VNS before, s/he may not be familiar with the resources Cyberonics has available. If you check out those links above, you’ll be able to call and connect with a case manager. Cyberonics is happy to work with you since they realize that many people are not going to have insurance reimbursement — so the only way most people can get VNS is by self-pay.

Let me know how it goes, okay?

]]> Comment on Q&A by sjohnstonhsd http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/qa/#comment-12 sjohnstonhsd Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:59:42 +0000 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/?p=62#comment-12 So glad to hear this has been a good experience for you, in general. I am trying to arrange a feasible self-pay scenario, too. My local hospital quoted me $71,000 (not including surgeon's and anesthetist's fees. Can you imagine??? Anyway, I inquired regarding getting some assistance from Cyberonics to arrange doing the procedure in an outpatient clinic. My case manager replied the company does not have any "program" to do this. Would you mind sharing how you were able to arrange your surgery circumstances with the help of Cyberonics? Thank you so much for any help! So glad to hear this has been a good experience for you, in general. I am trying to arrange a feasible self-pay scenario, too. My local hospital quoted me $71,000 (not including surgeon’s and anesthetist’s fees. Can you imagine??? Anyway, I inquired regarding getting some assistance from Cyberonics to arrange doing the procedure in an outpatient clinic. My case manager replied the company does not have any “program” to do this. Would you mind sharing how you were able to arrange your surgery circumstances with the help of Cyberonics? Thank you so much for any help!

]]> Comment on Q&A by Status Update « VNS and Me http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/qa/#comment-11 Status Update « VNS and Me Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:13:03 +0000 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/?p=62#comment-11 [...] overall, I’m doing really well for the time of the year it is, especially compared to last year.  I do believe the VNS is a big part of that.  I talked some more to my VNS doctor (I have 3 [...] [...] overall, I’m doing really well for the time of the year it is, especially compared to last year.  I do believe the VNS is a big part of that.  I talked some more to my VNS doctor (I have 3 [...]

]]> Comment on Got Questions? by vnsandme http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/got-questions/#comment-9 vnsandme Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:52:50 +0000 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-9 I want to thank you all so much for your questions and comments. Being able to help other people in some small way, even answering questions, helps make my struggle with depression have some meaning, and I appreciate that. So thank you. In response to the questions, I added a new Q&A post to answer them in some detail; I'm also going to do a status update in just a moment. I want to thank you all so much for your questions and comments. Being able to help other people in some small way, even answering questions, helps make my struggle with depression have some meaning, and I appreciate that. So thank you.

In response to the questions, I added a new Q&A post to answer them in some detail; I’m also going to do a status update in just a moment.

]]> Comment on Got Questions? by littlemurry http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/got-questions/#comment-8 littlemurry Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:10:01 +0000 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-8 I wanted to thank you for your blog. My husband is also suffering from depression and has most of his life as well. I totally agree that mental illness should not be considered a defect in people who suffer from it. It should be talked about openly and not be seen or felt as a failure of character. It is a shame that insurance companies won't pay for this treatment since it can be life saving as chemotherapy would be for a cancer patient. I would really like continue to know how you are doing with this treatment and its side effects. Can you tell me how you came about undergoing this surgery and was it suggested by your therapist or you? Thank you again for your bravery to continue to fight this awful and debilitating disease and to share your experiences with the rest of us. I wanted to thank you for your blog. My husband is also suffering from depression and has most of his life as well. I totally agree that mental illness should not be considered a defect in people who suffer from it. It should be talked about openly and not be seen or felt as a failure of character. It is a shame that insurance companies won’t pay for this treatment since it can be life saving as chemotherapy would be for a cancer patient. I would really like continue to know how you are doing with this treatment and its side effects. Can you tell me how you came about undergoing this surgery and was it suggested by your therapist or you? Thank you again for your bravery to continue to fight this awful and debilitating disease and to share your experiences with the rest of us.

]]> Comment on Got Questions? by leaann6419 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/got-questions/#comment-7 leaann6419 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:47:36 +0000 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-7 Hi, I have been reading your blog about your implant as I am scheduled to have the surgery 01-23-09. Your information thus far has been very helpful. But, your last entry was in October and you had said you weren't doing so well. I am concerned for you and hope you are doing better. Please update your status. Take care and be well. Hi, I have been reading your blog about your implant as I am scheduled to have the surgery 01-23-09. Your information thus far has been very helpful. But, your last entry was in October and you had said you weren’t doing so well. I am concerned for you and hope you are doing better. Please update your status. Take care and be well.

]]> Comment on Got Questions? by eric1207 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/got-questions/#comment-6 eric1207 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:11:23 +0000 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-6 Hey, I noticed you don't have any comments so I thought I'd be the first. I also had a VNS implanted, but mine was for epilepsy. I even blogged about it for quite awhile at http://ericsvns.com But.. after awhile, we realized it was really doing anything for me or changing anything so I stopped updating my blog. It sounds like it's working much better for you and your depression, good luck! Hey, I noticed you don’t have any comments so I thought I’d be the first.

I also had a VNS implanted, but mine was for epilepsy.
I even blogged about it for quite awhile at http://ericsvns.com
But.. after awhile, we realized it was really doing anything for me or changing anything so I stopped updating my blog.
It sounds like it’s working much better for you and your depression, good luck!

]]> Comment on Got Questions? by 0loki0 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/got-questions/#comment-5 0loki0 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 03:58:58 +0000 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-5 Have you ever undergone Elctroconvulsive therapy? Have you ever undergone Elctroconvulsive therapy?

]]> Comment on Got Questions? by 0loki0 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/got-questions/#comment-4 0loki0 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 03:56:22 +0000 http://vnsandme.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-4 How much did the procedure cost? How much did the procedure cost?

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