Vagus Nerve Stimulation Relieved Her Depression

VNS uses a stimulator that sends electric impulses to the left vagus nerve in the neck through a lead implanted under your skin. It was an outpatient procedure, and the device looks just like a pacemaker in your chest. My insurance covered it, but if they had not, it would have cost $70,000. Medicaid and Medicare don't cover it.

After three months, I started to feel better. After six months, I came off most of my medications, and I started doing things like get up in the morning and get my kids ready for school. People may not think that is a big thing, but for 10 years I could not do that.

It took about a full year to get the full effect, and now I am 110% better. See, I still get down, and I still have problems; the difference is I can deal with it now. The VNS allowed me to be in the real world, taking responsibility for yourself. People tell me that's a normal life! My husband says this is the first time in 10 years he has seen his wife laugh.

Long-term, I don't know how this will work out, but I lost 110 pounds with gastric bypass surgery, something they wouldn't let me do when I was depressed. I was 210 pounds, and I am now 107 pounds, and I am 5'1". I can exercise and function. The best part of all this? Now I'm just a normal mom.