Just finished my 36-session TMS course — here is my honest review
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Sign in to commentThank you so much for sharing this. I'm starting my sessions next week and I've been so anxious about it. The fact that it took until session 15 for you to notice changes is really helpful — I'll try not to give up early.
Great to hear about your progress. The timeline you describe is very consistent with what we see clinically — most patients begin noticing changes between sessions 12-20. The key is completing the full course. For anyone reading this, the early sessions are building a foundation even when you don't feel different yet. The brain needs time to form new neural pathways.
This gives me so much hope. I'm on session 22 right now and feeling about a 5/10 compared to my starting 1/10. The non-linear part resonates — I had a terrible day last Tuesday and spiraled thinking it stopped working. Good to know that's normal.
Can I ask which type of TMS machine your clinic used? I've been researching the difference between standard TMS and deep TMS and trying to figure out which might work better for me.
@Rachel — they used the NeuroStar system. My doctor said it's the most studied one with the strongest evidence base. I didn't look into deep TMS much but I know some clinics offer it.
Both NeuroStar and BrainsWay (deep TMS) have strong FDA clearances. The choice often depends on the specific condition being treated and your provider's experience with each system. Deep TMS uses H-coils that reach broader and deeper brain regions, while standard figure-8 coils are more focal. Neither is universally "better" — it depends on the individual case.
Bookmarking. About to start my course on Monday. Your week-by-week breakdown is more useful than anything I got from the consult.
Thanks for the detailed write-up. Did you continue any meds during the course or taper off?
Did you have any cognitive side effects? Brain fog? I've read mixed things.
Reply for above — I had mild fog weeks 2-3 then it lifted. Provider said it's the recalibration phase.
Honest reviews like this are gold. Saved this thread for when I start in May.
What was your insurance situation? Curious how the 36 vs 30 session count was handled.
Honest reviews are gold but please update us at 6 and 12 months. The durability question is what worries me most.
Curious about your work schedule during treatment — did you take time off or work through it?
I had the same 'cumulative click' you described — somewhere around session 22 my baseline shifted permanently.
Did you continue therapy alongside? Curious how you split the work.
Just hit session 30 myself. Mirroring a lot of what you described — the cumulative effect is real.
Just finished session 36 today and reread your post. So much of it tracked. The taper feels weird — like I'm waiting for it to wear off.
What was your PHQ-9 before vs after? Trying to track my own progress.
Three weeks post-course here. Sleep is the cleanest improvement. Mood is more like a slow climb than a switch.
Bookmarking this. The honesty about the rough patches mid-course is what I needed to read.