Tag: stanford

OCD update ( over a year after TMS)

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends ! Some of you may remember that in February of last year  I participated in a OCD study at Stanford. ( You can read some of my posts about it HERE,HERE and HERE) I thought I would be a good time to update all of you on how my mental health is doing over a year after participating in the study and receiving TMS treatment. Without further delay here we go !

 

OCD update ( over a year after TMS)

Not that long after the treatments I wrote a post ( You can read it HERE) about the positive impact that the TMS treatment had on my mental health. I wrote about how my OCD symptoms had been greatly reduced and that my overall mental health had improved. Well I’m very happy to say that things have stayed that way .  OCD does not control my life the way it used to before I got treatment at Stanford. I feel much more in control of my mental health and my daily life in general. I’m able to brush off OCD’s attacks quickly. I still have some rough days like everyone dose but those seem to be few and far between. I’m so blessed that I was given the chance to participate in this study it has truly changed my life for the better.

Rock On – Christina Epperly

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My 2nd MRI

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends ! Yesterday I got my 2nd and final MRI for the OCD study at Stanford. As always I’m excited to share my experience with all of you. Here we go !

 

My 2nd MRI

 

Things have changed a bit since my last MRI. After the TMS treatments my relationship with my OCD has changed in a huge way ! I’m now in control of my everyday choices instead of my OCD. I feel so free now. I wonder if the MRI showed any change . The MRI was just the same as before. I changed into scrubs and got some ear plugs. After that I got into the machine. I felt really cozy in the MRI machine and towards the end I almost fell asleep ! After the scan was finished I had a call with a doctor to discuss how I was doing after the TMS treatments. On the way home we stopped at this huge whole foods and I got this very cute dog cupcake Overall I’m doing really well right now and I’m so glad that I took part in this study.

Rock on – Christina Epperly

 

TMS day 5 ( the last day !)

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends ! It was a long week but I did it ! I completed five days of TMS treatments. I can’t wait to tell you about my last day so here we go !

 

TMS day 5 ( the last day !)

 

I was very excited for day five because I was going to be going home that evening . I was missing my bed and my cats a lot ! As always the day followed the same pattern of treatments as all the days before . I was feeling pretty good about how I was handling my OCD. I felt in control for the first time in years . When the day ended I was so proud of myself ! It had been a long week but I did it ! After my mom picked me up we went to the Stanford Shopping center. I went shopping at the American Girl store and I got a quiz book and a cute little lamb from the new girl of the year collection. After the American Girl store we went to Starbucks before making our way home. I was very happy to be back home and to have my OCD in it’s place.

Rock on – Christina Epperly

TMS day 4 ( Valentine’s day)

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends ! Valentine’s day 2019 was my fourth day of TMS treatments. Hold on tight as I tell you about day 4 !

TMS day 4 ( Valentine’s day)

Day four ! It was so close to the end of the week ! Plus it was Valentine’s day and my mom was coming to pick me up and were going to get frozen yogurt ! The thoughts of seeing my mom and frozen yogurt kept me excited for that night. The day of treatments were the same as the days before. I was very used to the treatments by day four . Every hour I went and got my TMS treatments and then I went back to my office and hung out . While I was in my office I decided to challenge my OCD again. Things were going pretty well I wasn’t listening to OCD’s orders any more so I went for it . I went on to YouTube and I watched a horror movie trailer then I watched a countdown about horror movies and I didn’t freak out ! Before I began the TMS a trailer for a horror movie popped up on one of my social media feeds I could only make it through a few seconds before closing the ad . Now let me make this clear I don’t like horror movies and I’m not gonna become a big fan of them but with my OCD I can get very easily upset if I see an ad for one . It can raise my anxiety levels and even make me angry . Now I’m able to work on getting myself use to seeing those kinds of ads with out getting upset.  After the TMS sessions were done for the day my mom picked me up. First we went to Whole Foods then we got some Frozen Yogurt at Pink Berry. It was a great way to end another long day of TMS .

Rock On – Christina Epperly