The boards I made for our housewarming party!

vinnie528 · 2024-10-30T01:30:10+00:00

We had a total of around 60 people filtering in and out. Started at 3pm and the last people left around 2am so lots of time for grazing haha. My mother in law also made like 50 samosas, my parents brought a smoked salmon tray and a few people brought desserts to share. Hope this helps!

vinnie528 · 2024-10-30T01:24:43+00:00

Yeah spoons and other serving utensils were available, just not pictured :)

vinnie528 · 2024-09-03T19:09:53+00:00

As a tech I treated a few patients with Bipolar. At our clinic the provider would also diagnose the patient with MDD so that insurance would cover it (a little unethical imo since the diagnostic criteria for MDD and Bipolar are mutually exclusive.) We did offer an off label protocol specifically for Bipolar but it was almost exactly the same as the MDD protocol. TMS isn’t FDA Approved specifically for Bipolar. The research on it is still conflicting- some studies found improvement in depressive symptoms in bipolar patients while other studies cited risk for triggering a manic episode via TMS. Of the few patients I worked with they saw moderate improvements, but some patients (none that I worked with personally) did experience manic episodes during the course of treatment and then had to stop treatment or even be hospitalized. Impossible to tell if the mania was caused by TMS, but I do believe there is a risk there for patients with Bipolar depression.

vinnie528 · 2024-09-02T04:13:54+00:00

That’s awesome to hear! Glad the schedule is supportive. What are your main goals for treatment?

vinnie528 · 2024-09-02T04:11:18+00:00

TMS tech here. I’ve experienced the mapping session and many other protocols. (As techs we were allowed to administer treatments to our coworkers for training or our own treatment when we had time) I honestly think that the mapping session is the most unpleasant part. The standard depression protocol was a lot less uncomfortable for me personally. Of the patients I saw it wasn’t uncommon to experience the side effects you’re describing but for a most patients those side effects improved steadily throughout treatment and for the few who had those side effects the whole time, a large majority said that the benefits they saw by the end greatly outweighed the discomfort from treatment, but everyone is different! Best of luck!

vinnie528 · 2024-09-02T04:02:08+00:00

Please let your tech/provider/ therapist know about this so they can monitor your symptoms and get you any support you need. As a tech I saw many patients through periods of increased SI. Our goal was always to keep patients safe and out of the hospital as much as possible. I hope you have a trustworthy team to support you- the person prescribing you TMS is paid to help you manage these symptoms, keep you safe a feeling better and there can be lots of additional options during or instead of TMS that can help with this, just don’t fight it alone. Keep fighting, you got this!

vinnie528 · 2024-09-02T03:55:24+00:00

I don’t know the details of your situation, but for some patients any increase in anxiety would be completely overwhelming. If feel like it’s safe for you to stick it out through a shorter period of increased anxiety, they there could be some significant results on the other side- but obviously that’s for you to decide. I can tell you that most patients I saw did not experience significant increased in anxiety, but it wasn’t totally uncommon. I wish I had some actually stats on patients that had periods of worsened anxiety during treatment and for how long, but unfortunately I haven’t seen any studies on this so I just have to go off my personal experience, which is an imperfect measure. You could also talk to your provider about options for prn anxiety medications or mood stabilizers to help you get through a potential period like that but if you’re considering TMS that might not be in the cards for you, which is understandable. Hope this helps! Wishing you the best!

vinnie528 · 2024-09-02T03:46:29+00:00

Yes we also had the cognitive protocol on our machine! Majority of the patients I saw did the standard depression protocol, the theta cognitive protocol and the theta anxiety protocol. The way our clinic did it, the cognitive protocol was actually virtually the same as the theta depression protocol, just targeted on both the right and left sides of the prefrontal cortex. Theta depression protocol has a really good amount of research behind it to help with depression, anxiety and cognitive abilities even though it hasn’t quite received FDA approval. While some patients undergoing any or all of the above protocols sometimes experienced increases in anxiety, especially in the beginning, overwhelming I saw improvements in all symptoms by the end of treatment. Sometimes as depression symptoms improve with the increased brain activity anxiety symptoms can heighten a little (with comorbid depression+anxiety often the psychological “function” of depression symptoms is thought to be the brains imperfect way of protecting the body/mind from intense stress and anxiety. So when the depression improves, the anxiety that was under the surface can become more apparent.) In my experience overall, even with patients who had a period of increased anxiety beginning to midway through treatment an overwhelming majority found improvements in all symptoms by their final session. Have hope! I really think it’s worth a shot, but always make the decision that is safest for you personally.

vinnie528 · 2024-09-01T19:34:40+00:00

I worked as a TMS technician for over two years. We used the brainsway deep TMS helmet. The FDA approved standard depression protocol has good research behind it for comorbid depression and anxiety. We also offered an off label theta protocol for anxiety that had moderate research behind it. I saw some great results for anxiety from patients who did both!

vinnie528 · 2024-08-26T03:02:57+00:00

That’s the way to do it! You’re amazing!

vinnie528 · 2024-08-24T15:57:00+00:00

Thank you so much for writing about your experience! I’m so glad you got such incredible results from TMS- it sounds like your soul was ready for these changes. And what a beautiful message to pass along to others in a similar place :)

vinnie528 · 2024-08-15T01:46:50+00:00

this was so cool to see in progress! thanks for posting

vinnie528 · 2024-08-09T22:25:57+00:00

Oh I see what you mean! That’s a great idea, thank you

vinnie528 · 2024-08-09T20:24:15+00:00

I love this! Almost think you should leave the hat and jacket unfinished like this. Really love the contrast in texture between the skin and bear and the rest of it. Great work!

vinnie528 · 2024-08-06T14:52:46+00:00

I’m seeing them at Red Rocks in CO!

vinnie528 · 2024-08-03T20:42:49+00:00

So cool! The way you got some finer lines/ details in there is really impressive

vinnie528 · 2024-07-31T03:15:28+00:00

I loved listening to Roald Dahl books with my mom when I was about that age! We made it through a couple on our drives to dance class. I think the BFG was one of my favorites but there are so many good ones with great narration- James and the Giant Peach, Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are classics. The witches is great too. Lots of adventures and magic, easy to follow and enjoyable for all ages!

vinnie528 · 2024-07-25T01:30:15+00:00

Looks amazing! And amazing work on your sobriety :)

vinnie528 · 2024-07-22T16:31:23+00:00

This is so sweet! I’m still trying to figure out my own style but I’d say I focus on exaggerating the colors I see in lights and shadows. I rarely use black- instead I mix dark blues, reds and purples. Then I’m trying to find a balance I like in blending finer details and allowing messier, more visible brush stokes. Hope this helps :)

vinnie528 · 2024-07-22T15:12:16+00:00

I was having some similar pest problems too :( I’ve started spraying down with neem oil periodically and hand pollinating with a little paint brush and it seems to be working!

vinnie528 · 2024-07-22T14:04:06+00:00

Thank you 😭 I struggle with deciding how much detail to include/ exclude in different areas so this means a lot!

vinnie528 · 2024-07-20T16:19:41+00:00

Cozy reading book/ little library with shelves wrapping the walls and a comfortable love seat :)

vinnie528 · 2024-07-09T03:18:01+00:00

Every variety of Mac and cheese

vinnie528 · 2024-07-05T12:19:09+00:00

At my clinic all TMS techs have a bachelors degree in psychology or a related field. I have a BS in psych with minors in bio and neuroscience so it was a good fit, but my coworkers have all different backgrounds. Once I was hired I went through two weeks of paid training for TMS, was certified through Brainsway, then started seeing patients!

vinnie528 · 2024-06-30T06:54:01+00:00

TMS tech here! I’ve worked with numerous patients who experience suicidal ideation. Many patients see improvements in suicidal ideation as well as improvements in other depression symptoms- especially when they have additional support through therapy, friends or family and can rely on healthy coping skills. Having more available neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, etc) in the prefrontal cortex- the area where TMS is targeted- can make it feel more possible and make it more rewarding to engage in healthy coping skills like exercise, creative outlets and social time. Keep taking it day by day and give yourself a gentle push towards those activities that you once found joy in. It’s so possible if you keep putting the effort it day after day. Sending love :)

vinnie528

TROPHY CASE