[ComfortablyNumb5]

I've never had ECT and honestly it's something I'd like to avoid at all costs. But I've always been curious about it. At what point did you and pdoc decide that you're going to get it done? What are the side effects? Did it even help in the long run? Thanks in advance for answering.

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[1278]

I was misdiagnosed with MDD at the time (I did have suicidal ideation though), had no previous experience with pdocs (he was my first and I had only seen him a few times) and fully trusted him, HUGE mistake. It honestly only happened cause my parents and I put 100 percent faith in a doctor and didn't question the rational behind it and get a second opinion. I am lucky that I had no serious side effects (I hope at least) but it honestly didn't help me at all.

Both times I went through ECT, I was inpatient, severely suicidal, not responding to meds, and facing long-term hospitalization if things didn't turn around. I had already been in the hospital away from my husband and children for several weeks, and ECT was a plan for lifting the depression enough so the meds could start finally working and so I could get home again.

Both times it was very successful in fulfilling those goals. My depression started lifting within a few treatments and I was able to go home in a matter of days rather than weeks or months. I had some minor short term memory issues during the time of treatment but they resolved quickly once treatment was over. I was able to get back to work with no problem following treatment.

It wasn't a cure. I still needed meds and therapy, but ECT allowed me to survive and to get home to my family when those odds were very much against me prior to ECT.

[Ocean Swimmer]

I did not deceide.
They got me so over medicated. Then husband and Pdoc got the ECT started. Overall I think I had about 12-14 ECT. Brain fry.
It's been since Sept 2015. I still can't remember tons of things others want to talk about. I don't remember why I did some stuff.

I can't remember who some of the people are who send me emls.
Dr said memory would come back. Bull pucky.

Lost whole blocks of time. Worst experience of my life.
Husband and best friend said I was comotose. I think new Pdoc in hospital had me so jacked up on Meds , that I was like that.
Anyway, one reason I'm here in Costa Rica is so Pdoc can't convince husband to put me thru ECT again.

One danger. I'm on Effexor. I read it takes 6 mo to carefully wean off. And I'm on benzos. So if she try's to munipulate me I'm screwed.

I'd like a new Pdoc. My appt with her lasts as long as it takes her to write scripts. I had talk therapy with my previous pdocs.

[1278]

Originally Posted by Ocean Swimmer

I did not deceide.
They got me so over medicated. Then husband and Pdoc got the ECT started. Overall I think I had about 12-14 ECT. Brain fry.
It's been since Sept 2015. I still can't remember tons of things others want to talk about. I don't remember why I did some stuff.

I can't remember who some of the people are who send me emls.
Dr said memory would come back. Bull pucky.

Lost whole blocks of time. Worst experience of my life.
Husband and best friend said I was comotose. I think new Pdoc in hospital had me so jacked up on Meds , that I was like that.
Anyway, one reason I'm here in Costa Rica is so Pdoc can't convince husband to put me thru ECT again.

One danger. I'm on Effexor. I read it takes 6 mo to carefully wean off. And I'm on benzos. So if she try's to munipulate me I'm screwed.

I'd like a new Pdoc. My appt with her lasts as long as it takes her to write scripts. I had talk therapy with my previous pdocs.

Be careful on effexor, I weaned off it in two weeks, it was the most hellish thing I went through in my entire life. The nausea and vomiting was insane. And the mixed episode I had afterwards

I've gone through two rounds of treatment - they gave me my life back.

On both ocassions the treatment was recommended when I was hospitalized for Depression. I really didn't see any other choice as I was desperate. BUT, they gave me lots of literature, showed me a video about it, and took me on a tour of the ECT Room before I made my decision.

Side effects? I had none at the time other than being a bit foggy immedately following the procedure but within an hour I was up and around. As for long term effects, my memory of the hospitalization is a bit hazy.

My only recommendation to people is to try to have the procedure done as part of in-patient treatment. It is a whole lot easier and less stressful than being an outpatient.

[Roaming_bird]

I had ECT when nothing helped for my depression. I was intensely suicidal and medications were not working. It was a last resort for me.

I lost far more memory than they said I would. I have no recollection of a trip I took with a friend, and that entire time is fuzzy in my mind.

But it worked. It was frustrating and scary but it worked. Most of mine was done inpatient. The funny thing is that I can recall much surrounding the ECT. I remember the doctor's face, the procedure, how my head was sticky from the electrodes and how the hospital let me rest as long as I needed to because of it. After a week or two, I did it outpatient. I remember sitting in a chair in a hallway with other people, and that's it.

I have told my husband and psychiatrist that I never want to do it again, unless it's a life or death matter. This last hospitalization, because it was one out of three that happened close together, the doctor strongly suggested it. I felt I wasn't at that point yet, and wanted to give Lamictal a try.

I would absolutely do it again if I needed to, though. It saved my life when nothing else could.

[wildflowerchild25]

The first time I had it was after a suicide attempt. I swallowed all my meds impulsively and then felt guilty about having my mom find me so I went up and told her. My plan was to get sent to the state hospital (as that was what the Pdoc had said would happen if I showed up inpatient again) and then kill myself there. My ip Pdoc recommended ECT as a last resort. I only ended up doing it because I wasn't confident enough to say no, honestly. It terrified me. But I'm so thankful I ended up doing it. It brought me far enough out of the depression to work on my trauma issues in therapy. I was able to stay stable for six years after that. I did it again In the fall of 2014 for the same reason - I was not responding to anything else and I had no other options. And again, it saved me. I think if my husband hadn't have died I would have been able to stay relatively stable. I did it a third time just now for the same reason, no other depression treatment was working and I was a danger to myself. And it's helped again.

It's very tough on me physically so I don't like to go through it too much. I'm hoping to wrap this session up soon. But there's no denying it works.

The memory loss is very tough though. I've lost memories of vacations I took with my husband, moments of my son's life, etc. plus basic things like how to get around the neighborhood I grew up in and how to do basic paperwork at work. It's tough. One of the reasons I don't like to do it unless I'm completely in the hole.

I would recommend doing research to anyone who is considering it. It's not right for everyone. But honestly, if your only other option is long term hospitalization or suicide....it might be worth a shot.

[Ocean Swimmer]

Thanks for the Effexor tip. I'm not sure it's even helping.
I do go swimming.