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Sleep and insomnia · Michigan

Sleep that has not improved with the usual fixes

EEG-guided TMS for long-lasting insomnia and sleep problems, for ages 6 and older. Off-label, physician-led by Dr. Ramona Wallace, DO, in Sterling Heights and Grand Rapids.

Call (269) 430-7966

New patients: Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern

When poor sleep keeps going

Most people sleep badly now and then. When it lasts for weeks or months, despite good sleep habits, a quiet room and sometimes medication, it is worth asking what is driving it. Persistent sleep trouble often comes with depression, anxiety, PTSD or an old head injury, and sleep itself is controlled by brain activity.

If your sleep has not responded to the usual approaches, you may be asking what else there is. This page tells you what we offer, what we know and do not know, and what it costs, before you decide anything.

Check the basics first. Loud snoring, gasping at night or heavy daytime sleepiness can point to sleep apnea, which needs its own medical workup. We will tell you if something else should be checked before treatment. No sleep study or referral is required to call us.

How we approach it

We start with an EEG brain map, a safe recording of your brain's own electrical activity. Dr. Wallace uses it to personalize TMS, which uses short magnetic pulses through a small coil resting on the scalp. There are no needles, no anesthesia and no medication, and you stay awake and can go back to your day afterward.

What is cleared and what is not. TMS is FDA-cleared for depression and OCD, and the MeRT System is FDA-cleared for PTSD in adults. Using it for insomnia or other sleep problems is off-label, and insurance rarely covers it. We are not aware of a controlled trial of MeRT for insomnia, so we do not promise it will work, and results vary from person to person.

What a course looks like

Many patients see an improvement in sleep in the first two weeks of treatment. Results vary.

1

Call or send the form

Our call center team answers your questions. The first call is free and there is no commitment.

2

First visit

A physician consultation to review your sleep history, medications and anything else that may be disturbing sleep, plus an EEG brain map. A comfortable cap, no needles.

3

A two-week block of sessions

Sessions are Monday to Friday, 30 to 45 minutes each, and you stay awake. The cost is $3,000 per two-week block, paid out of pocket. At the end of the block you and the doctor decide together whether to add another.

If your sleep problem comes with another condition, we treat that too: depression that medication has not relieved, PTSD, anxiety or brain injury.

Request a free introductory call

Tell us how to reach you. We will call you to talk through your situation. No commitment.

Please do not include detailed medical information in this form. A coordinator will contact you to discuss your situation through appropriate channels.

If you miss our call, call us back at (269) 430-7966, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern. Your information is never shared.

Prefer to talk now? Call (269) 430-7966

Questions people ask first

What counts as a sleep problem you would see?

Trouble falling asleep, waking in the night, waking too early, or sleep that does not refresh you, lasting weeks or months. We treat sleep as a main complaint, not only as a symptom of something else. It often travels with depression, anxiety, PTSD or a head injury, and we look at those too. Treatment is for ages 6 and older.

Is TMS FDA-cleared for insomnia?

No. TMS is FDA-cleared for depression and OCD, and the MeRT System is FDA-cleared for PTSD in adults. Using it for insomnia or other sleep problems is off-label. We are not aware of a controlled trial of MeRT for insomnia, so we do not promise results, and results vary from person to person.

How long does it take, and what does it cost?

A course is a two-week block, Monday to Friday, 30 to 45 minutes a session, and you stay awake. Many patients see an improvement in sleep in the first two weeks of treatment. You and the doctor then decide together whether to add another two-week block. The cost is $3,000 per two-week block.

Will insurance cover it?

Insurance rarely covers TMS for sleep problems, because it is off-label, unless you also have a condition insurance does cover, such as depression or OCD when criteria are met. We can bill your insurance for the doctor visits and the EEG, and the MeRT sessions are paid out of pocket. We check your benefits before treatment starts.

Could my sleep problem have a medical cause?

Yes. Loud snoring, gasping at night, or heavy daytime sleepiness can point to sleep apnea, which needs its own medical workup. Untreated sleep apnea is not a good fit for treatment until it is addressed. Thyroid problems, pain, some medications and other conditions can also disturb sleep. We will tell you if something should be checked first.

Do I need a sleep study or a referral first?

No. A sleep study or referral is not required. If we think you may have sleep apnea, we will tell you it needs its own workup.

Do I have to stop my sleep medication?

No, you do not have to stop your medication. Do not change any medication on your own. Our physician team reviews what you take at the first visit and tells you if anything should be discussed with the doctor who prescribes it.

Do you treat children and teens with sleep problems?

Yes, from age 6. A parent or guardian must consent. Dr. Wallace reviews each child's history at the first visit and tells you honestly whether treatment fits.

Who should not have TMS?

TMS is not right for everyone. We screen for active, uncontrolled seizures and for metal in or near the head, including some implants. Untreated sleep apnea and habitual gaming disorder are also not a good fit. Our physician team reviews your history at the first visit.

More: Cost and insurance · What to expect · MeRT and standard TMS · All conditions we treat

Dr. Ramona Wallace, DO

Dr. Ramona Wallace, DO
Medical Director. Every treatment plan is physician-led. About Dr. Wallace

Individual results vary. TMS is FDA-cleared for depression and OCD, and the MeRT System is FDA-cleared for PTSD in adults. Use for insomnia or other sleep problems is off-label and is typically self-pay. This page is general information, not medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.

Sleep still a problem? Ask us.

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