Vagus Nerve Stimulator Trial (& Review)

Hey All,

Hope you are well.

Recently, I got to try a new type of nerve stimulation called the 'Vagus Nerve Stimulator', by a company called GammaCore which is actually from New Jersey, America (where else would it be eh?). If you have been reading my blogs for a while or seen my videos, you'll know I have a Gastric Pacemaker already. It helps with nausea to a degree but not for pain at all which we understood would be the case. From having it off, we know I most certainly benefit from having it on. My specialist decided I should try a new type of non invasive treatment. It has no side affects, is painless and doesn't involve popping more pills.

Vagus nerve stimulation sends electrical signals along a nerve, called the vagus nerve, parts of which run through the neck to the brain. For many years, vagus nerve stimulation has been used to treat various disorders, such as epilepsy and depression, in thousands of patients and is now branching out and being used for other conditions.

It is a relitively small device that you place on your neck over a conductive gel. You position so that it is on your Vagus nerve, which I got shown how to find by a very nice gentleman from the company over a Skype session along with how to use the

device itself. Did you know that the Vagus Nerve is only 3mm wide? It can be a little tricky finding the exact positioning which I think may hinder the way it works a little as you don't end up getting the full dosage. You know when you have hit the right spot as your lip drops to the side a little and looks a bit like if you have a stroke but doesn't hurt. It just feels like a tingle. The device itself has a self timer and each 'dosage' is 90 seconds, which you have to do on each side of your neck. You are also able to control the stimulation level with the two blue buttons on the device. I would usually get to about level 30 and that would be strong enough for me. So, the maximum I got to was 6 minutes on each side at around level 30 or so.

This is the device and
conductive gel you are provided

You pop a little of the gel on each of the sides before placing
it on your neck

The advantages to this treatment are:

• Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Technology
• Non-Pharmaceutical
• Minimal Side Effects
• Control over your treatment

• Direct to the nerve itself

The disadvantages to this treatment are:

• Hard to find the nerve in the 90 seconds as well as receiving the treatment
• Needs to be repeated throughout the day

• Expensive as the device only lasts a month at a time

I was fortunate enough that my specialist managed to get me a free months trial of this device. The company are trying to branch out in what the device can help with, so it meant that it was a win win for both of us.

During the first 4/5 days it seemed to show some positive results and looked to be hopeful. The pain wasn't as bad or didn't start straight away so I had time to move somewhere more comfortable than the kitchen chair. I have spent hours sitting on the same kitchen chair after eating because the pain is that bad. It give you a very numb bum that's for sure.

The lip drops when you hit the spot...SEXY!

Unfortunately, I found that even when we were increasing the amount of times I was repeating it during the day, the symptoms just seemed to come backwards to where they were. I was struggling to eat because of pain and even fluids were becoming an issue. See, in theory, the idea of stimulating the nerve directly is a fantastic idea that should have great outcomes. I do think the fact that you don't know if you hit the right spot before starting the timed treatment hinders it. Particularly at the start of it all. If you turn it on and then have to move it around slightly or at a slightly different angle until you are in the exact spot, you don't receive the full treatment and therefore how are you able to get the full benefit?

Also, another thing I don't understand with using the device for Gastroparesis, is that you're only getting the treatment 2-3 times a day (give or take), What about the rest of the day when there is no stimulation happening? How is the stomach going to digest the food without any aid? It isn't like the pacemaker device that is working 24 hours a day.Don't get me wrong, I was more than happy and hopeful in trying it, but I also had my doubts. It was like I had woken up in heaven the first few days when my symptoms were less and more under control. I just don't understand what is there to help in between each time of doing it.

Overall, I really do think this treatment has the potential as it is direct to the source of the problem. However, unfortunately, for me, it didn't work aside from the initial 'hit' from the direct stimulation. I think there are things and way they need and could improve how it works so that you can get the full benefit and throughout the day. It has only been trialed in a handful of Gastroparesis patients and from what I understand, they've all had various responses to it. I do know that my body has a tendancy to react well to things initally and then stop working after a week or two. That could be the reasoning behind the device not working well enough for me, who knows!

I really hope that they make some adjustments and I can try it again in the future. Maybe with better results.

I am very grateful I got to try the device and a huge thank you to GammaCare (not that they are reading this) for letting me trial it. A big thank you to my specialist Professor Epstein (again not that he is reading this) for setting it all up for me.

Well, that is all for this post today.

Question:

Have you tried this device if you are a fellow Gastroparesis sufferer? Or what do you think about the device if you are a non-sufferer.

Any more questions that I didn't cover within this post? Let me know in the comments!!

Stay Strong

<3