New Here... Going for ECT in a few weeks!

Hi... I'm relatively new here, but am 29 and have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder since I was 20 or 21. Since then, I've been on basically every and any medication out there and basically, they work temporarily, if at all, and then I'm back to square one, miserable and at rock bottom, self injuring and/or back in the hospital. It's been 10 years of this almost and I am literally at my wits' end... as is I'm sure, everyone else around me that loves me.

My doc finally recommended ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) treatments. I had a friend in high school who had it done and she came out wonderfully... So, after much more personal research, I decided to go for it and have a consult scheduled for March 27th. I was just wondering if anyone had any personal experiences they wouldn't mind sharing with me and/or advice that would help me know a little more what to expect. I know what the medically stated side effects are, but I was wanting to get some more support and advice from a first-person-patient standpoint.

Please, constructive advice and comments only. Both positive and negative accounts are welcome, however if you are simply coming here to say "I wouldn't want to get electrocuted and you are crazy for having it done" then please, refrain. Thanks!

have no personal experience sweetie, but just here to wish you luck whatever you choose to do.

Thank you so much, hon!! I really appreciate it. Will keep everyone posted.

Sorry babe, me neither........but I did have a very good friend who went through it and I was part of her "treatment" team.........she did well with the outcome and as far as i know, she is not on any meds.

The difference is that she has severe, chronic depression......not bipolar so I have not heard much in that regard.......only that it is used sometimes.

She had short term memory loss for a day or so.........so she would get upset with me for not visiting the day before!!! When I had been with her for the whole day.......it was quite traumatic for me but she seemed oblivious. She had 9 treatments........So go for it Eddie!! If it helps, why not??

My sympathies for your position: I'm afraid I haven't anything to offer on the subject of ECT, but I saw your nick-name, and since I live in Hollywood, thought I'd say hi, and wish you the best possible result, with whatever you decide.

All the best, Keith

Hoping all goes well for you... and please, if you feel like it, drop back in and tell us how it went.

I've been on ever med and they work and stop like with you. Please let us know how ECT goes. I want it myself, but no insurance...

I have had three series of ECT over the past 6 years. Everyone has been effective. The last time I had maintenance ECT from May 2009 to Oct 2010. Yes a long time but decreased in frequency from three times a week down to every four weeks. Before this series the longest I had maintenance was six months. I would do it again if I needed it for very strong suicidal intents. I had minimal memory loss and regained most memories when reminded.

I was faced with this decision about 1 1/2 years ago but my post-ETC meds couldn't be anticipated b/c they were not stablized at the time (pre-ECT). I don't think I'd have any qualms should this come up again. Also, I saw an acquaintance struggling like you who had ECT done about 10 months ago. I saw her in March and what a difference! She looked great - she was already fulfilling her dream of going back to college and starting a new career (40's) That encounter spoke volumes. So best to you.

I want to share with you the effects I've had from ECT. Over the past 10 years, I've had many ect treatments. As a result I have severe short term and long term memory loss. There are many major things that have happened in the past and I remember none of it. For example, I live across the street from a large lake. At one point they drained it and you could walk on the bottom of the lake. I have no recollection of this and thought my neice was pulling my leg when she told me about this. Then my brother came in and he confirmed that this really had happened. There is so much I can't remember. How could I forget something like that.
My short term memory is also very impaired. I find that events of a months prior are not reliably and this makes me very frustrated and depressing. For myself, I would never agree to have ECT again.
But you also have to take into consideration that I had alot of ect treatments. I would advise you to go online and get some info about the effects of ECT, short term and long term. I've been doing alot of reading online and I've found many articles on Ect and memory loss and brain damage. Again, I've had alot of treatments over the past 10 years and the memory problems might be from how many treatments I've had.
I would say you should do some research before you have any treatments and go into it fully aware of what the pro's and con's are. One more thing. While the ECT helped alot, it was only a short term gain. The depression always returned. I now go and Adult day treatment program and I've found this to be incredibly helpful. Much more then ECT. While in the past I've been in the hospital two or three time a year, since going to this program I've only been the hospital once in the last 3 years. Just make sure you make an informed decision before you have any treatments.
I hope this information is helpful to you. Denisemicah.