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Apr 23, 2010, 07:07 PM
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Member Since: Apr 2010
Posts: 1
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Well, I have mixed feelings about ECT... I had my 1st ECT treatments (TX’s) in Nov. 2008 while I was in a psych hospital for severe depression that was so bad I wanted to end my life. The psych med's I was taking weren't working well enough to relieve my depression, so my psychiatrist suggested ECT. At 1st I wasn't real sure about getting the TX’s done & was rather afraid too. But once the TX’s started working I began to feel better & wanted to live again, which was a miracle. Yes, the ECT TX’s DID MESS w/my memory - long term & short term, but everyone told me to focus on how great they were making me feel. Oftentimes I jokingly compare my brain to a big chunk of Swiss cheese w/SM,MED,L, & XL holes that seem to come & go/move around all the time. Yes it can be/is infuriating at times, especially since I used to have a phenomenal memory. I've been getting ECT ever since 2008 & am currently in what's called a "maintenance phase," which means I get TX's done every 4-7 weeks depending on how I'm feeling. And I use "Beck's Depression Inventory" regularly to help keep track of how I'm feeling. I do still take an antidepressant but believe that ECT literally saved my life & helped me "become myself" again. In fact, my counselor told me the other day, "You're the best I've seen you in 10 years..." Anywho, I believe it works & I'm living proof. True, it may not work for everyone who tries it, but then again neither do all medications. So, if you're at your wit's end & med's just aren't working for you, why not give ECT a chance? “They” say that the memory problems are supposed to get better over time & “blah, blah, blah”, but I’m still not convinced. Yet, I must say, I can’t recall the last time I felt as great as I’m feeling for such a long time; and that’s worth a lot to me… I sure do hope my memory will get better, and maybe it won’t…but I’m hoping that one of these days I’ll get to stop the TX’s permanently (please God, please!!). Well, there you have it folks…that’s my story & I’m sticking to it…LOL!! ;O) So, “mafub,” I hope I’ve been of some help to you, and I wish you all the best in your decision making process. But most of all, I wish you much happiness & relief from your depression!! Tons of Blessings to you & all the rest of us here on “HASMS?” (AKA - “Has Anyone Seen My Sanity?”)…no wait, it’s really “Psych Central”! LOL!! “Silly rabbit, Kix are for Trids…” LOL!! There’s only one other thing I wish was available for ECT patients like me…a support group where we could discuss our experiences & help one another out, and so on… Who knows, maybe I’ll get around to starting one myself one of these days. Ta ta for now…   
Last edited by sabby; Apr 23, 2010 at 08:01 PM.
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