David L.
Community Member
Replied to New Stanford SAINT protocol showing 90% remission rates — what it means for patients
Friend just finished SAINT-style at a research site for free. Remission at week 1. Will report back at month 6.
Replied to Struggling with the waiting period before TMS starts
@above — I see you. The waiting room phase is its own form of suffering. Please tell someone today.
Replied to How long do TMS results typically last?
Two and a half years and counting. Best money I ever spent on my brain.
Replied to Just finished my 36-session TMS course — here is my honest review
Three weeks post-course here. Sleep is the cleanest improvement. Mood is more like a slow climb than a switch.
Replied to Struggling with the waiting period before TMS starts
I'm starting next week and reading this thread back-to-front. Thank you all for being here.
Replied to Just finished my 36-session TMS course — here is my honest review
Just hit session 30 myself. Mirroring a lot of what you described — the cumulative effect is real.
Replied to TMS for anxiety (not just depression) — my experience
Important — many providers won't bill 'TMS for anxiety' because insurance won't cover it. They bill for comorbid depression and treat both. Ask explicitly.
Replied to Struggling with the waiting period before TMS starts
Walking 30 min outside every morning, even if I cried while doing it. The structure mattered more than the mood lift.
Replied to Headaches after TMS sessions — when do they stop?
I clench my jaw during sessions without realizing it. Once my tech pointed it out and I focused on relaxing, the temple soreness dropped 70%.
Replied to Just finished my 36-session TMS course — here is my honest review
Reply for above — I had mild fog weeks 2-3 then it lifted. Provider said it's the recalibration phase.
Replied to From barely surviving to actually living — TMS changed everything
What surprised me most was the small stuff coming back — laughing at a podcast, wanting to cook dinner. Those felt bigger than the depression scores.
Replied to New Stanford SAINT protocol showing 90% remission rates — what it means for patients
SAINT is incredible but the cost is the issue — most clinics offering it are charging $20-30k out of pocket since insurance is still catching up.
Replied to Free virtual Q&A — "Ask a TMS Specialist Anything" — April 19
Will the slides be posted? The bit about cortical excitability and motor threshold went over my head and I want to revisit.
Replied to Struggling with the waiting period before TMS starts
Therapy intensification while waiting saved me. Twice-weekly CBT instead of weekly. Felt like I had something to do with my hands.
Replied to Just finished my 36-session TMS course — here is my honest review
Thanks for the detailed write-up. Did you continue any meds during the course or taper off?
Replied to New Stanford SAINT protocol showing 90% remission rates — what it means for patients
The MRI-guided targeting is the secret sauce, not the dose schedule. That's what most clinics offering 'SAINT-equivalent' are missing.
Replied to Can I do TMS if I have a metal dental implant?
Thank you Dr. Wong and Dr. Martinez — this is exactly the reassurance I needed. I'll bring this up at my consultation but I feel much less anxious about it now.
Replied to Headaches after TMS sessions — when do they stop?
I barely had any headaches, but I did get this weird scalp soreness at the treatment spot. Almost like a sunburn feeling. That also went away after a couple weeks.
Replied to Just finished my 36-session TMS course — here is my honest review
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.
Replied to New Stanford SAINT protocol showing 90% remission rates — what it means for patients
Do the 90% remission rates hold up long-term? Or is it possible that the accelerated approach wears off faster? I'd rather do 6 weeks if the results last longer.