Hello and welcome to PC!

I am sorry you are suffering.

I suffer from "treatment resistant" depression. I have a diagnosis of BP2.
My depressions have been much like you describe.

For a very long time, I had accepted that I had a treatment resistant depression. I was told this over and over. I felt hopeless .My pdoc had discussed ECT:he later decided it was not the best idea for me. It is, however, very helpful to some people.

I had often heard that when a doctor tells me that my depression is resistant and there is nothing s/hecan do, it is time to look for another doctor. The idea being that we have to find doctors willing to take the time,and withstand the frustration we experience, in order to fully try meds and combinations thereof.

Eventiually, I was referred to a pdoc who was very unlikely to know any more than the pdocs I had seen. I decided to give it a try. She changed up my meds right away, slowly tritrating down with some and up with others.

She put me on Lamictal (lamotrigine), which is often thought to help in making depressions perhaps less frequent and less severe. It has been a year and I have had depression; however, I can get out of bed and can function. Previously, I could not get out of bed and/or function in very basic ways. So I feel this med has been helpful to me. AsBirdDancer has mentioned, we are all different and she cannot tolerate high doses of this med.

This new pdoc had also used a specific med for treatment resistant depressions. It is called: "Mirapex" (pramipexole). It is usually used for other conditions. I have done quite well on this med. I still have some depression, yet am doing much better most days. Now, pdocs/we need to be very careful with this med. It does have the potential to cause hypomania and mania. At the very least, one might need a mood stabilizer on board. If BP1, it is likley there will be additional meds along with those mentioned in the previous sentence. Please consult with a pdoc on this. Pharmacists are also often very helpful. It is my opinion that use of this med needs close monitoring, at least until the client is used to the med and can recognize any mood change very quickly. This med is used more often in BP2 than in BP!; however, it is sometimes used in BP1.

Many here have shared their experiences with ECT. As mentioned above , there is a lot of info here on this. A lot can be found by doing a search. You may also find members might come along and share their ECT experiences.

I was recently at a "grand rounds" presentation on TMS. The take-home on that was: TMS is up and coming and will be used much more in the near future. Some hospitals have already been offering TMS and it is predicted more will offer this treatment in the near future.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation: Transcranial magnetic stimulation - Mayo Clinic

If you hesitate on the idea of ECT, please do see the noted experineces here at PC.
If you hesitate on the idea of ECT, try to find a pdoc willing to continue to work with you on meds.
You may also benefit from therapy, even if just supportive therapy to help you to cope while trying to find help.

I am hoping you have some additional options for further consult(s).

Keep posting here at PC. We will do our best to offer info, experiences and overall support!