[99 FAIRIES]

My doctor suggested ECT to me today. Mostly because Meds aren't bringing me out of psychosis. I want to know everything about it. Anyone with experience?

[CANDC]

I have a close friend that has come out of severe depression with ECT. They had many sessions and some maintenance ECT done outpatient.

Ask if they use one sided ECT which minimizes memory loss.

You might want to ask if TMS is a possible treatment that might help before ECT if that is appropriate to your situation.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation - Mayo Clinic

It is a milder treatment but may not have as good as result as ECT.

They have meds like Aricept that helps with memory issues.

ECT Treatment for my friend was better than constant depression.

[Edgar's Mom]

I just finished a course of 9 bilateral treatments a few weeks back and it hasn't worked on my depression yet. I am going in for another 6 and am optimistic. I've heard great things about it and I hope it works.

My memory loss is just random things that don't matter. I found out yesterday that I made cabbage rolls a couple of weeks ago. I can't remember it at all and had to ask what I put in them because they would have been vegan. I'm told they were pretty good, but have no idea where I got the recipe, what is in them or how to make them again. I plan to look in the history on my computer and see if that yields any results.

That's the first whole chunk of memory that I'm aware of losing, but I don't care. It's a trade off and it's not significant for me to remember every little thing. I will exchange the memory of making cabbage rolls for any relief from this depression any day :-)

[Chris Altman]

I had a friend who did ECT and didn't recognize her high school friends on the street. Did you try clozapine?

I had another friend who loved ECT because she made a list of her favorite movies before the seizure and because of memory loss she came home and watched them again like if it where her first time.

The truth is it's awful, but horrible is living with psychosis. Discuss it with your doctor and ask him what would he do if you were his son..

Best wishes...