[charlie0330]

I am looking for feedback from people who have experienced ECT. My doc tells me I "meet the profile" and would make a good candidate. I need more input first.
Help me if you are out there.

Thanks

Originally Posted by charlie0330

I am looking for feedback from people who have experienced ECT. My doc tells me I "meet the profile" and would make a good candidate. I need more input first.
Help me if you are out there.

Thanks

Hi Charlie

i had ECT in 2007 - i think 10 sessions - it definitely helped me out of a deep depression that I went into while on antidepressants and mood stabilizers. i was ready to try anything to not want to SUi at that point and was already in the hospital...i think I lost some memory from it and it gave me headaches the days i had it, but all in all, i think it really helped me. Feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions and I hope this helped.

there is also a thread about ECT here

http://forums.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=168005

[jack123]

I had ECT. I experienced alot of memory loss that I have never regained but they have ways know of minimizing the memory Loss. If I needed it again I would.

I have had two rounds of ECT over the last 6 years (a total of 17 treatments). Both times was for severe suicidality that was not responding to medication treatment in the hospital. The ECT work well and saved my life, and I suffered no long-term effects. I would have ECT again if, God forbid, I was ever in that situation again. I would not have ECT for depression treatment if I wasn't actively and highly suicidal. It is not a cure for depression; it is only a temporary treatment. I know some people do use ECT as treatment for depression, but generally they have to have maintenance treatments every few weeks to have the desired effect. Personally, I wouldn't want to use ECT that often and for that long a period of time (indefinitely in many cases).

[dragonfly2]

I had six ECT treatments in 2003 and it did help the depression. I had a little bit of short-term memory loss (things like, "how long have I been here" and forgetting conversations I had had that morning), but nothing permanent.

The one problem I did have with it was that it exacerbated my dissociation (I have Depersonalization Disorder on top of the bipolar). I think it lifted the depression enough for the meds to finally have some benefit. I would have it again if I needed it. The procedure has come a long way from the 70's. They use a short-acting anaesthetic and you're in and out of the treatment room before you know it. I had a bit of a headache, but nothing that Advil or Tylenol couldn't handle. The worst part of the procedure for me was having the IV put in.

[quiksilver2101]

HI, I had a total of 22 treatments, 6 in 2007, 6 in 2008, and 10 in 2010. THe first time I had ECTs done after about the second one I could definitely notice a big difference. The 2nd set of treatments took about 4 to start to tell a difference, and the last set of ECTs seemed to take longer, but I was also extremely depressed and suicidal. I too experienced a little bit of memory loss, just small things like what had happened that morning, things immediately before and after my treatments, but nothing major. I would recommend ECT's to anyone. They are very easy to do, I will be getting more done if the time comes that I need to get them done again. Oh and sometimes I would have a little bit of a headache, but I didn't think they were bad enough to warrant taking a pain pill or anything. All in all I have had good success with my ECTs and no real unmanageable side effects. Hope this helps and good luck!

[Kmbpeace1171]

I did my research and had a lot of support from friends and decided against it too many awful side effects and my roommate told me flat out he would NOT take care of me. Too many unknowns and really dont want the memory loss.

[charlie0330]

I'm looking for someone who can talk to me about ECT. My doctor days I am ready for it and I am not so sure.

help!!!

[Anneinside]

I have had 3 series of ECT over the last 5 years for severe suicidal depression. The first two times I did not have maintenance ECT. The third time I did. That time we slowly decreased the frequency of the ECT from three times a week down to once every 4 weeks over 18 months. Seems like a long time but I was at once every four weeks for a lot of it. I had minimal memory loss and I really think I had more memory problems when depressed than when I had ECT. When I am severely depressed I think I don't move short term memory to long term memory and there is much that I don't recall from those times. I would be glad to talk to you.. send a private message.

[charlie0330]

[quote=jadedmoonbeam;1871705]Hi Charlie

i had ECT in 2007 - i think 10 sessions - it definitely helped me out of a deep depression that I went into while on antidepressants and mood stabilizers. i was ready to try anything to not want to SUi at that point and was already in the hospital...i think I lost some memory from it and it gave me headaches the days i had it, but all in all, i think it really helped me. Feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions and I hope this helped.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply and additional link. This is a tough decision to make.

[lotusflames]

if you've ever had anaesthetic and had a reaction to it then you won't be able to under go ECT

[ladyjrnlist]

For me, the ECT triggered psychotic episodes and I only managed three treatments. I am bipolar II, for the record.