Will Be Starting ECT

Aug 24, 2010, 11:54 AM

Hello everyone,

Everything is being organized for ECT, and whenever they can fit me in for a treatment, it will begin. I'm both nervous and excited, as the thought of feeling stabilized after 2 years of complete instability would be wonderful. If anyone wants to post their stories about ECT, that'd be cool.

I could also use some hugs as I'm quite nervous about this!

lynn P. · Aug 24, 2010, 12:05 PM

(((melissa.recovering))

- the only knowledge I have....is I saw this on a PBS special. There was this one young woman who was a twin - she was very depressed and unresponsive to meds and her sister didn't have depression. She had the ECT treatments done and she felt remarkably better and looked better - dramatic before and after looks.

ECT has been around for many yrs and when I was a kid my sisters MIL had it done but it was performed differently then. Now they give you anesthetic. I pray that you're have positive results like the young woman on the PBS special.

When are you going to have it done??

PromisesToKeep · Aug 24, 2010, 12:15 PM

I am so excited for you that you have this opportunity to receive this controversial treatment. The "earth people" seem to conclude that this is a cruel and unusual treatment, often referring to "One who flew over the Coo-Coos nest" as their justification but what we (those who were once referred to as "Insane Genisuses") is that this is a very effective treatment of drug resistant depression. It is no picnic for the patient having to undergo ECT and the effects on our memories are an unfortunate side effect. I admire your courage to go to any lengths to recover. Your story will be an inspiration to many.
You have my support, prayers and as many hugs that you will allow me. I am proud of you.
Best Wishes,
PTK

ellyb · Aug 24, 2010, 01:48 PM

[QUOTE=PromisesToKeep;1472874]

PTK - Just before I gave birth to my 1st child, I was told that it was "no picnic". ECT's not that bad, I hope!

Aug 24, 2010, 01:55 PM

I have been through two rounds of ECT (total of 17 treatments). It really isn't a difficult treatment at all. You will be put under and you will not go into convulsions (that's old One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest stereotype). I never had any problem with the treatments; anesthesia went well. I remember my jaw hurting one time (no biggie). I may have had a headache on occasion (again, no biggie; they will monitor you for such things and give meds if needed).

I had short term memory loss during the first round, but it corrected itself fairly quickly once the treatments were over. The second round I had no memory loss at all. I've had no long-term problems as a result of ECT.

My husband also went through ECT. He was much more disoriented during treatment as they did bilateral treatments with him. (I had unilateral electrode placements). You should discuss what type of placement you doctor plans to do ahead of time. If memory preservation is important to you, insist on unilateral placement rather than bilateral placement.

I started feeling better pretty quickly, probably after around 4 treatments. That varies from case to case though.

Good luck to you.

thinker22 · Aug 24, 2010, 02:13 PM

I've heard and read mixed things about ECT. I wish you all the best in it as it is one of the few effective treatments for treatment resistant depression. My p-doc suggested it to me after 2 years of not finding a working meds combo. Luckily, by the next visit, I was on an anti-depressant that finally worked. However, if this combo ceases to work, it is likely I will have to do ECT as well. The only thing that concerns me about it is short and long term memory loss. I don't think the brain only loses bad memories. It's blindly stealing memories that are both happy and sad. You have to get to a place where you're willing to risk some memories to start feeling better again. And there is that trade off, but in many cases it is worth the loss of a few memories. Best of luck and get well soon.

Aug 24, 2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinker22

I've heard and read mixed things about ECT. I wish you all the best in it as it is one of the few effective treatments for treatment resistant depression. My p-doc suggested it to me after 2 years of not finding a working meds combo. Luckily, by the next visit, I was on an anti-depressant that finally worked. However, if this combo ceases to work, it is likely I will have to do ECT as well. The only thing that concerns me about it is short and long term memory loss. I don't think the brain only loses bad memories. It's blindly stealing memories that are both happy and sad. You have to get to a place where you're willing to risk some memories to start feeling better again. And there is that trade off, but in many cases it is worth the loss of a few memories. Best of luck and get well soon.

The memory loss is definitely of both good and bad memories, but generally it is short-term memory loss, not long-term. For instance, I lost memory of my time in the hospital and of the books I read while I was going through ECT. I didn't really miss the short-term memories that I did lose as they weren't eventful or positive at that time. (And I got to read the books twice as if they were brand new to me!

) I didn't, however, lose memory of my family or childhood, career skills, etc. Long-term memory stayed intact.

My husband, on the other hand, didn't remember our car, where we put things in the kitchen; directions were a problem so driving had to really be supervised for awhile. But it all came back for him within a short time of ending the treatments.

Anneinside · Aug 24, 2010, 07:03 PM

There are a lot of erroneous things written about ECT. It is best to talk to someone who has had it in recent years or your psychiatrist. I have had several rounds of ECT and currently have it once every 4 weeks. It is NOT scary, it is not dangerous and it IS effective. I have only two treatments left and if my depression returns I will not hesitate to start ECT again. My memory loss has been minimal even though I have been having maintenance ECT for more than a year. Also, when reminded of something I forget it slowly comes back to me. Anything else I may have forgotten is inconsequential.