10/16/25 TMS and Gastric Bypass Update

10/16/25 TMS

Many of you know that I’ve suffered from depression for a very long time — in fact, it’s been 42 years since it started. It has taken different forms over the years, but the depression itself has never really changed. I have my good days and my bad days, and it’s been that way for as long as I can remember.

I take 50 mg of Zoloft and 1 mg of Abilify every day, and that combination keeps me fairly regulated. Even on bad days, I can usually function, and most people wouldn’t even know I’m depressed if I didn’t tell them.

One afternoon, I was scrolling through Facebook and — lo and behold — an ad for TMS popped up. Because it mentioned depression treatment, I immediately looked into it.

TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation, and it’s been around for about 10 years. It was developed at UC Berkeley through the Department of the Navy. Why I had never heard of it, I have no idea — but it’s becoming more and more popular. And thank God I happened to be looking at Facebook that day.

I can’t really explain how it works here — you’ll have to Google it — but I found a clinic right near me, and my insurance covers it. Two days ago, I started my treatment. The only side effect I’ve noticed is a slight headache on the side of my head where they do the stimulation. Yesterday I took two ibuprofen, but today I didn’t even feel like I needed them. So far, I’m tolerating it well.

I do have some worries about the process, but the research shows that it’s 83% effective for people with depression — and about half of those patients went into remission.

There is no cure for depression, at least not yet, but those numbers are encouraging. I’m hoping to be in that 40% who go into remission. The effects can last up to four years, and insurance will cover maintenance treatments yearly. Even if I needed to repeat it every year or two, that would be amazing.

To qualify for TMS, you must have major depressive disorder (MDD) and have tried at least four medications at standard doses without success. I’ve been on about ten different antidepressants, so I had no problem qualifying.

I’ll definitely update you when I notice any changes — hopefully good ones — in my depression.

What I’ve learned after 42 years of living with depression is that hope is everything. Sometimes hope is the only thing that keeps us moving forward. I’ve tried therapy, medication, meditation, supplements — you name it — and now, here I am trying something new again. Because I still believe there’s a version of me who doesn’t have to fight this every day. And maybe, just maybe, TMS will help me find her.

10/16/25 Gastric Bypass Update

It’s been over three years since my gastric bypass, and I’ve kept off 105 of the 110 pounds I lost. I feel really good about that.

But as many of you know, it hasn’t been an easy journey. On most days, my stomach would feel horrible after eating and wouldn’t settle down until I either digested or got high. I even ended up in the ER once — and the CT scan showed nothing.

Once I moved to St. Louis, I decided to finally get serious about figuring out what was wrong. I had a colonoscopy a month ago and an endoscopy yesterday — both came back perfectly normal. I also met with a gastric dietitian who specializes in bypass patients, and she suspected acid reflux. Since I already have GERD, that made sense.

So I started doing my own research on ways to ease acid reflux beyond the medication I already take. One thing kept popping up again and again: licorice root.

At first, I went the fun route — I got a bag of licorice Jelly Bellys and started eating them. It actually helped! So I figured I should find a proper supplement form of licorice root. There are two types: one that can cause dangerous side effects (like dropping your potassium, raising your blood pressure, or triggering arrhythmia), and another that’s safe because that harmful compound has been removed. The safe kind is called DGL, and you can easily find it on Amazon.

I’ve been taking DGL for about a month now, and my stomach has been nearly perfect. I still can’t eat more than about a cup and a half of food, but I’ve learned how to pace myself and not overdo it. Yesterday, I found out that my stomach is the size of a baseball — enough said!

I’m so glad I did the surgery. Actually, I’m more glad now that I’ve finally figured out how to manage my stomach issues.

If there’s one thing this whole experience has taught me, it’s that healing doesn’t happen overnight — and it doesn’t happen by accident. You have to listen to your body, ask questions, and never stop searching for what works for you. For me, it took three years, a move across states, and a handful of licorice Jelly Bellys to finally feel normal again. But today, I do. And that feels like a victory worth celebrating.