[beautifullybroken1]

I've been depressed since I can remember. Looking back, I was depressed as a small child. I've been on various antidepressants for over 10 years, have a vegal nerve stimulator implant, have been in therapy for the better part of 25 years. I've read many books about depression, have been hospitalized. I have so much I am grateful for in life, I practice CBT, etc. I am being considered for ECT. I try not to feel hopeless, but I am experiencing the worst depressive episode with no specific trigger.... no breakup, death, etc. I have been in an outpatient program for the last two weeks, and have started an MAOI. It is frighteninng to realize how fragile I was. I'd been doing well for several years and have reached a low I never thought I would see again.

Anyone with decades of similiar experience? Have you tried ECT?

[Suki22]

I've had decades of depression, meds, therapy. I'm glad you're in a program. it seems to me my meds have fueled a lot of my ups and downs. I'm tired of the roller coaster and would like to get off already (wait, that sounds worse than I meant). I mean I wouldn't mind riding the boring old train at this point.

I've seen some talk of ECT in the other treatments section. I can guarantee you some girl will post that the CIA will put a tracking device in your brain if you get ECT (seriously, she pops up in every related post with that comment and it cracks me up!). there seemed to be 1/3 positive comments and 2/3rds negative comments relating to it. you need to seriously investigate it and think hard. it sounds very extreme, but that may be what you need. what does your docs think about it? have they had a lot of positive results with it?

[beautifullybroken1]

My doctor considers it an option if MAOI'S don't work for me. I've already tried numerous SSRI 's and combinations. I'd always ruled it out in the past, but I am running out of treatment options. Research shows a very high success rate, albiet results are not permanent. I'd be grateful to feel marginally good if only for a time. Potential memory problems do scare me. Thank you for posting!

[KazzaX]

Me - 20 years of depression. Here you can't get ECT unless you are basically catatonic. Not eating/sleeping/responding etc. I am close but not quite.. lol. I tried really hard to get ECT with no luck. I believe that memory and cognition impairments are a small price to pay for mental health. Not that it happens 100% of the time but still. My life is a living hell.

[nicoleb2]

I have treatment resistant depression, and have had ECT.

For some, it is a lifesaver. For me, it was not. It really didn't help at all, but caused long and short term memory loss that has never gotten better. It was NOT worth it to me, at all.

[Anneinside]

I am one of those with a positive story. I have had 3 series of ECT treatments and maintenance treatments two of those times. I am currently having ECT every 4 weeks. I have minimal memory loss and I usually can recall the memories when reminded of them. However, when I am very depressed I have severe memory problems and never regain the memories - I know this because I re-read journals I had written when depressed (and not having had ECT) and I remembered very little of what I wrote about.

Since diagnosed, the longest I have gone without depression/mania is 9 months and that happened after my last treatments of ECT. When the depression returned at a severe, suicidal level I asked for ECT. My pdoc does it on Wednesdays and another pdoc does it on Mondays and Fridays so I always try to get scheduled for Wednesdays.

Oh, I am also on an MAOI, the Emsam patch. I do have to be on the low tyramine diet but I have accidentally eaten something I shouldn't a few times and had no reaction. I think, from what I have read, that since the MAOI is absorbed through the skin instead of the digestive track there is a bit less sensitivity to the food. As time goes by I find it easier and easier to stay aware of the diet restrictions and stay on the diet.

[bipolarmedstudent]

Can you list all the medications and medication combinations you have been on? Perhaps there is something you have missed that is worth trying?

[icinggurl]

I agree with nicoleb2. I do believe that ECT is a lifesaver for many, but aI had 18 jolts and really didn't have any improvement. My short term memory has never recovered despite doing brain rehab exercises (I'm a musician). It's embarrassing when people point that out to me. I found the experience utterly terrifying. Of course it was physically pretty easy and there was no pain. It was psychologically terrifying and I'm not sure why other than the idea of being put to sleep while an electrical current goes in my brain to cause a grand mal seizure. I always woke up in a panic.

I hesitate to discourage you from pursuing ECT. I just wanted to tell my own personal story.

[Altered Moment]

Treatment resistant depression my whole life. Last desperate attempt was TMS and it didn't work. Never tried ECT (yet). I have had recent good success with Fetzima after many years of meds so you never know.

[Jolisse]

I've had treatment resistant depression for years, been on every med out there. I haven't tried ECT, I'm afraid to go down that path.

[Fuzzybear]

I have been in a horrible bipolar depression for over 13 months now and am on my sixth antidepressant. If the psychiatrist I see on Monday agrees to it, I plan to have ECT. I'm desperate. Good luck to you.

[TheOriginalMe]

I would probably have ECT again if it were on offer, but it isn't. It worked for me without too many side effects and those I had were temporary. I'd say it was less scary and less troublesome than some of the meds I've been on and certainly much quicker to act than meds. Good luck with your choices.