Absolutely, you are TOTALLY out! I can tell you what happens with me. When I come go into the hospital at the outpatient surgery to have the ECT, nurses do a check-in (blood pressure, temp,...) They confirm with me that I hadn't eaten since at least midnight or taken my meds yet. (You don't ingest anything, including meds prior to the treatment since you are knocked out.)

Then the anestheologist comes in and puts in my IV. As soon as the pdoc is ready for me they wheel me (in the bed) to the recovery room where they have a small room with the ECT machine. Heart monitors leads and EEG leads (brain wave monitor) are put on my chest and head and behind my ears. The ECT machine pads are put on both sides of my temples, that is bilateral ECT (only one pad is unilateral but it is usually less effective). The pads look like larger pain or no-smoking patches. Then the anestheologist put me out with meds through the IV. ....and... I'm out. The next thing I know I am in the recovery room. After I am fully awake they bring me back to my room in outpatient surgery. Twice, 15 minutes apart, they check my blood pressure. Then I can leave. If necessary, you can stay longer but I am usually ready.

You can't drive yourself from the hospital since you were under anesthesia and they prefer that someone take you home but since I don't have anyone, they let me take a taxi to and from ECT. I have never had any trouble with that.

It is not scary or painful. The staff I have been in contact with are always nice and I usually don't have to wait very long to have the treatment... that always depends on how many people are waiting for ECT. The most that have been there when I was there was 6 and the least has just been me. I have to arrive at outpatient surgery by 6:30am. The pdoc (luckily my regular pdoc) arrives by 7am. I have ECT as soon as it is my turn. It probably takes about 20 minutes between each patient as the treatment itself takes only 1 or 2 minutes. What takes longest is putting all the sensors on!

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.