End of story

I returned my FWS. I am sorry to report that it did not help any of my symptoms. I hope it provides real relief to others, and I hope in some way this blog is helpful to those considering the FWS. As I mentioned in other posts, I tried to highlight some of the positive reports I had come across, so that anyone considering trying the FWS can hear different experiences (see March 30 and April 18). Wishing anyone reading this happiness, restorative sleep, and joy. You deserve it!

Day 43: nearing the end of my Fisher Wallace Story

Yesterday I did not use the FWS, since I felt overstimulated on Day 41 by using the FWS on Level 2 in the morning. Even though I did not use the FWS yesterday at all, I was up most of the night and had a very upsetting dream when I did sleep, that I can still clearly remember. So, I definitely can't tolerate the Level 2 in the morning only. It has been 43 days with no benefit. I will check in with the shrink and report back but I feel this is likely the end of my Fisher Wallace story.

Positive experiences with the Fisher Wallace Stimulator

Since I have only been blogging about my own negative experiences with the FWS, I thought I would post any positive comments I have come across.

I already linked to one in this previous blog post.

Here are some others:

http://forums.webmd.com/3/sleep-disorders-exchange/forum/2076

http://www.depressionforums.org/forums/topic/53512-fisher-wallace-cranial-stimulator/


It seems that some people are finding a genuine improvement in their symptoms from FWS. 

Day 42: Back to square one (or should i say Level One)

On days 40 and 41, I used the FWS at Level 2, in the morning only. Last night I also took a half of a Sonata. I slept for about 5.5 hours, waking up in the middle of a crazy dream involving my mom and missing a flight to Turkey (funny!). In my dream I even remember the items i was packing in a suitcase.

I think this was far from sound sleep, it was stressful--trying to make a flight and the convoluted plans I had to go through in my head and then try to achieve to make it to the airport in time, so I am going to go back to Level 1. It's been 6 weeks with the FWS so far and nothing positive report, and I can't get past Level 1 only once per day before my adrenaline levels seem to amp up. I will be checking in with my MD soon and ask for his analysis of this. Sorry I don't have anything more promising to report!

Day 40 of Fisher Wallace: Now what?

Today is Day 40 of my Fisher Wallace Story. It is 28 days of Level 1, only in the morning.

I haven't blogged in a while....because I don't really have anything to blog about. So far I have not noticed any changes in my symptoms. Today I will try increase from Level 1 to Level 2, only in the morning, and see if that has any effect one way or the other. Last time I tried this it was counterproductive, but I figure it is worth one more try before I bid the FWS goodbye.

I would love it if anyone else who has tried the FWS would write in and share what worked for them. 

Day 26: I kinda wish I hadn't started this blog

Due to my impatience and I guess adventurous nature, yesterday I tried Level 2 in the morning only. I had wicked bad insomnia last night, and remember a disturbingly violent dream. I can't remember having a violent dream since the late 1980s (yes, yes, I am dating myself).

I wish I hadn't started this blog because, according to all the materials I have read, the FWS can offer meaningful relief to people who are suffering from debilitating conditions. At worst it seemed that it should be neutral. According to the Fisher-Wallace company, "less than 12% of our customers return their device for a refund." If accurate, that is a huge success rate. On the Fisher Wallace website, a Dr. Bartky states, "There's no harm in trying the device; it can only help."

Yet here I am reporting only negative effects (don't get me wrong, I am writing this as a report on an experiment rather than criticism). I hope I don't scare away people who may really benefit from the FWS. On the other hand, if you are like me and appear to have paradoxical reactions to many treatments, then maybe this blog will somehow help you. Right before I started trying the FWS, I tried a stimulant that is supposed to offer some mood benefits, and it made me incredibly sleepy and groggy.

The Fisher Wallace website says that the FWS will: "gently activate the brain’s production of serotonin, beta-endorphins and other neurotransmitters required for healthy mood, sleep and pain suppression."

I'd love to know what that means for my own brain. What are the "other" neurotransmitters being activated? Is my challenge these other neurotransmitters, or is it somehow that my wires are crossed and I am having a negative reaction to the activation of the "positive" neurotransmitters? Wish I knew.