[jbug]

I just got off the phone with my pdoc's nurse. She told me she talked to him about me last night and he told me that I'm supposed to begin to think about ECT. I would have to go Little Rock to have it done and that scares me.

Have any of you had ECT? What is it like?

Jbug

[MyBestKids2]

Yes, I had ECTs in 2005. My first round was during an inpatient hospitalization. The remaining treatments were done on an outpatient basis. I was in a very severe depression and would NOT have gotten past it without the treatments. Side effects were headaches (nurses gave me percocet) and some scattered memory loss. Nothing too frightfully scary.

Being here today to talk with you about it helps me to know it was all worthwhile. Good luck!

Dee

[timeforsleep]

I just want to warn you that I asked about this a couple months ago and a certain person came on and started ranting about it and arguing against it when he didn't know anything about it and resorted to re-editing all posts to get the last word in and sarcasm. Another person stated that only "less intelligent" people unlike her should consider it. This subject could be a trigger for sensitive people who have utilized it.

[jbug]

Sorry I didn't know all that happened. That is bummer.

I talked with my T about it yesterday and it is still in the we will see mode. My mom is all for it but I want to wait until after my sister is gone and the weather gets nicer since I'd have to drive about 4 hours to the facility that does it.

Jbug

[pachyderm]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
timeforsleep said:
... a certain person came on and started ranting about it and arguing against it when he didn't know anything about it and resorted to re-editing all posts to get the last word in and sarcasm...

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Who is there who can re-edit posts on Psych Central?

[ECHOES]

jbug, I have not had ECT but I do know 2 people who had severe recurrent depression that had ECT in the last year and it helped them a lot.

Both of my friends mentioned headaches and memory loss. The memory loss gradually improved for both with time.

It's a procedure done with anesthesia and it seemed very quick to both of my friends who had it. They had nothing negative to say at all about the ECT.

I hope you're enjoying your sister's visit! And one thing struck me from your post on the other thread... perhaps your plan to talk with her about some memories has stirred things up for you at this time and her visit and you and she talking might make you feel better, so maybe deciding about the ECT could wait a bit...

[mlpHolmes]

Hello JBUG
I've had many ECT treatments to help recurrent deep Depression & it helped a great deal.There is NO pain during an ECT treatment, none what-so-ever. After the treatment sometimes I had a slight headache. The only negative effect for me was a great deal of memory loss that has not come back. PM me if I can help.

[sujunew]

jbug, I too have had many treatments of ECT. If it wasn't for this I don't know what the situation would be like for me right now. My experiences of it were:- done under a general anaesthetic, very quick, and as soon as the GA had worn off I was back up and doing stuff. It did make me sleepy and left me with headaches but that was bearable. The only downside for me is the severe short-term memory loss. People thought I was joking until I told them I was serious- all the usual jokes about bad memory, aging etc... I hope that whatever happens for you it is a good outcome. Good luck.
p.s. I had most of it done as inpatient, but the last of them done at our local hospital. Do you not have a local hospital near by that can do this?

[tulips30]

jbug, I mentioned on a different thread that I have had experience with ECT and would be more than happy to discuss any questions you have. I think it would be better and easier if you PM'd me though.

Just wanted to tell you again in case you missed it. Good Luck!

tulips

[jbug]

The closest clinic that does it is 4 hours away. I'd have to go inpatient and then have it while I'm there. My T has a client that does it where she goes for a week and has it every other day and then gets to come home on the weekend. I am hoping that if I decide to do this that is how it will work. I want to finish my internship if possible before starting. I'm not sure how that would work with me being gone for a week at a time.

Jbug

[pachyderm]

I looked up the subject via a Google search (and found, as you might expect, just about everything). One writer, in the Wikipedia article, said: "Side-effects include confusion and memory loss for events around the time period of treatment. It is widely accepted that ECT does not cause brain damage." To me that is a contradiction.

I looked for studies of patient evaluations of ECT treatments and found only these two, both apparently by the same British researchers:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7403/1363

in which they conclude: "The current statement for patients from the Royal College of Psychiatrists that over 80% of patients are satisfied with electroconvulsive therapy and that memory loss is not clinically important is unfounded."

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/abstract/186/1/54

with their conclusion: "Neither current nor proposed safeguards for patients are sufficient to ensure informed consent with respect to ECT, at least in England and Wales."

[kebsfroggy]

I have had the ECT treatments and like mlpholmes I had a great deal of memory loss. I'm not completely sure whether the memory loss was the result of the ECT exclusively or in combination with the med cocktail I was taking at the time.

The treatments are more or less painless. You won't feel the ECT treatment. You are only "out" about 15 minutes. The worse part for me was the IV. I'm not a needle person and after weeks of 3 times a week treatments they began running out of places to stick me.

Most everyone I know suffers some memory loss but not as severe as myself and mlpholmes. Mostly it involves short term memory like not remembering what you did yesterday. At my age that is an everyday occurrence and has nothing to do with treatments. You may have a sense of confusion more than actual memory loss.

IMO the most important thing is to realize this is not a cure. The effects could/will wear off requiring additional treatments.

In my experience, you have to undergo ECT treatments to be eligible for the implants being developed or currently in use. The insurance co. and implant mfg. require you to have exhausted all other methods of treatment. So for no other reason than to be eligible for something more effective ECT could be worth it.

For me the ECT was probably a life saver but the decision should not be made lightly.

Whatever you decision, I wish you all the best.

[pachyderm]

For one article on the cognitive effects of ECT, you can go to

http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v3...f/1301180a.pdf

This is an Adobe Acrobat Reader document that will download to your hard drive (without asking if you want it to). It is from Neuropsychopharmacology (2007) 32, 244–254.

They say that the effects differed quite a bit depending on treatment details and for other reasons.

[sujunew]

just out of interest, how many sessions of ECT is the 'norm'? Here they reckon 6-8 sessions should be sufficient, with 'maintainence ECT' every so often if absolutely necessary. (I had 26 sessions all up..)

they conclude: "The current statement for patients from the Royal College of Psychiatrists that over 80% of patients are satisfied with electroconvulsive therapy and that memory loss is not clinically important is unfounded."
I think this is why I have had so much trouble getting my severe memory probs acknowledged- because research apparently finds that there is no significant memory loss through ECT, and if any it will be short-term, then the docs don't want to know...

[mlpHolmes]

Really Sujunew. I had ~21 ECT treatments. Concerning memory loss I have lost a Significant number of years. That was one of the major reasons my family had it done on me. 1) Dissolve past memories 2) Alleviate deep depressions &amp; PTSD

Action to be well thought out

love &amp; light,
mp

[JustBJ]

I had ECTs this past summer when I was in the hospital for 3 months, 8 in all I think. The actual ECT wasn't bad because you're out of it. I did have a lot of muscle aches for about 24 hours after. Since then I've had 4 more. I have a lot of headaches and I've lost a lot of my memory and I'm having a hard time learning new "stuff". I'm not sure if it's from the ECTs though.

I can't really say it's helped me one bit. I had a VNS implanted in Nov and it's been off and on ever since. It's off right now because I'm having a lot of reflux at night from it. I'm having it turned back on tomorrow because I'm not giving up on it just yet.

I hope whatever decision you decide it helps you.

[jbug]

What is an VNS? I've not heard of that.

Last night I prayed and was talking to God about it...I know you aren't supposed to talk about that kind of stuff here but anyway..I got this strange peace about it and I'm taking that as a sign I'm supposed to do it. I will wait until my sis goes home in Mid march and then it will be about time for me to see my pdoc and I can explore it further.

Jbug

[kebsfroggy]

Jbug, it is just like the meds, everyone reacts differently to the ECT.

I lost a lot of memory, 25 years and had to learn pretty much everything from scratch. But I'm in the minority. Most people do not have that much of a problem.

The VNS is Vagus Nerve Stimulator. Basically it's like a pace maker for the vagus nerve. That nerve is one of the major nerves that services the brain. It was originally developed for epilepsy but is also considered in the treatment of clinical depression. The vote is still out on whether treatment is successful for depression.

Univ. of FL at Jacksonville is doing research on a brain implant that maybe more successful for the treatment of depression. But it is way, way in the future. I'm not sure whether they have even started the clinical trials.

If you feel comfortable with the ECT then by all means go for it.

I wish you the best of luck.

[socalsad]

ECT is not a decision to be taken lightly. I have had depression my whole adult life (I'm 39) and have tried just about every medication combination out there. last year i spent 1 1/2 months in the hospital. i had a total of 36 treatments, both IP and OP. My memory loss was so severe that my treatments were cut from 3 to 2 a week. My friends still joke and say talking to me was like watching the movie "50 First Dates" with Drew Barrymore. I ended up being on disability for a year because I could not remember how to do daily tasks, and had to stop driving for a long time because I couldn't remember how to turn the car on or push the break. I still have big chunks of memories that are gone. Some memories come back with a little prompting. My short-term memory still isn't as good as it used to be. I now have a hard time concentrating and multi-tasking, I cannot handle stress as well. Also, I am prone to migraines. ECT's definitely made my migraines worse.

My doctor said I am one of the very rare ocassions that has these severe of side effects. When I was on disability, my company required more proof that I was disabled. I had a brain test done that showed slow brain activity/response time. I also had a few brain/memory tests done by different psychologists/therapists. They all showed the same thing. My brain was not functioning normally. My ECT doctor still denies that my problems are as severe as they are, constantly minimizing them. Time for a new doctor. My other doctor suggested that I have my work give me medical accommodations to help me work a little better. I am very close to taking this route, although I do not want the "disability" stigma to follow me at work.

In all of my research about ECT, there are many patients who get much needed help from ECT. There are still those who will not see the level of improvement for which they are looking. I am now just as low as when I started ECT treatments in June 2006. I may even be forced back into the hospital here shortly.

My response is not to scare anyone away from ECT. It can definitely help people. Just don't be upset if it doesn't work, because you are not alone.

If I can answer more questions about ECT for you, just ask. I'll be glad to help with what I can.

[wickedwings]

i just got back home from the hospital. i had surgery yesterday. i got my vns therapy pulse generator implanted. it went really well. it will be turned on in 2 weeks. i pray this works...... too many years of my life has been taken away by my depression.

[wickedwings]

amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!! my vns therapy is SO working! socalsad, don't do any more ect treatments! ask for the vns therapy!

[foreverlost]

where do you get it? I thought it was still in clinical trials? I'm so glad you're having success - good for you!

jbug

I had ECT 2 years ago. I was inpatient and in a episode of depression. I started the treatment in the hospital and had it in the morning. BY dinner, I was fine. Mostly I had headaches and a little naseau. I immediately took a nap after the treatment.
You don't feel anything because they put you out. Actually it takes longer to administer the anesthia than the ECT treatment. They usually only do one-sided treatment, but if you are really resistant, they might use both sides of your head.

I had 12 treatments....8 while inpatient and the final 4 outpatient. I could not drive home afterward and the day was pretty much shot. Don't plan anything....

I had no memory loss or confusion. It helped me tremendously when nothing else was helping.

Good luck deciding.

[ilive4music]

ECT helped me ...my only other option was to kill myself....Aside from the memory loss, I am thankful that it exists.