Does anyone know if there are problems or any issues when someone with severe depression along with DID gets ECT treatments? I noticed at my treatment, today, that I was very dissociated. The staff wasn't concerned, but I was.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

Does anyone know if there are problems or any issues when someone with severe depression along with DID gets ECT treatments? I noticed at my treatment, today, that I was very dissociated. The staff wasn't concerned, but I was.

it is normal to have dissociative like side effects with ECT regardless of whether a person has dissociative disorders. short version ECT is where they introduced an electrical current into your brain to reset how the brain works. think of it like rebooting a computer. when this happens its normal to have a foggy mind, memory problems, spaciness, drugged like feeling, feeling numb, feeling emotionless and other dissociative like side effects.

my suggestion if this continues to bother you contact your treatment providers. they will explain to you what are the common ...side effects... when someone has ECT and why. they can also adjust the dosage of the electrical current so that you dont have so many side effects from it.

But, amandalouise, I was dissociated before I had the treatment. I've been told by other people that ECT can be harmful to people with DID. They increased the dose, since what I was getting didn't help.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

But, amandalouise, I was dissociated before I had the treatment. I've been told by other people that ECT can be harmful to people with DID. They increased the dose, since what I was getting didn't help.

here in my location its not harmful to people with DID. there are special circumstances \things that have to be considered but once addressed its perfectly safe for someone with DID here in my location.

here where I am is that dissociation is a reaction to a trigger. if the patient is calm and not triggered then no dissociation happens.

they achieve this in my location by having many sessions discussing what is going to happen, when and how.

then when its time a sedative/anesthesia (just like when someone has surgery done) is given. the sedative/anesthesia ensures the patient is calm and sleepy, and medically unconscious.

then they are hooked up to the ECT equipment.

then the ECT is administered.

then after the medically induced seizure (ECT causes an epilepsy like seizure) ends the patient is taken to a recovery room, where they sleep off the anesthesia.

when they wake up they are a bit disorented\foggy minded, numb, emotionless, not sure what happened. a family member or friend drives them home where they finish sleeping or continuing on with their life.

since you posted that you dissociated before it was administered, that tells me that maybe they didnt take the time to discussing procedure with you and that you were triggered by something to do with the treatment.

my suggestion talk with your treatment providers, they can adjust the sedative/anesthesia. maybe they will even give you a sleep aid or tranquilizer a few hours before the appointment so that you are not triggered before the ECT treatment even begins. I know someone that gets a valium 2 hours before his ECT. by the time he gets there he is happy go lucky, punch drunk or how ever you want to say it.

Originally Posted by Calista+12

But, amandalouise, I was dissociated before I had the treatment. I've been told by other people that ECT can be harmful to people with DID. They increased the dose, since what I was getting didn't help.

I know a couple of with severe depression where ECT worked very well, very quickly. The idea is quite barbaric to me, but the people its worked for are happy they went for it.

If you are getting ECT, and its not working, then if I were you I would put a stop to that particular type of treatment. Are your treatment providers aware of your dissociation issues as well as the depression? What are they doing to help you recover?

Yes, they are aware. I have DID and major depression.
It really isn't barbaric at all, all though I admit I was scared. They are very gentle and caring. They put you on a stretcher and cover you in a warm blanket, as well as putting heat packs on your arm for the I V. The bring you into the treatment room and give you the IV medication and anything you may need for nausea. They ask you to tell them when you start feeling sleepy. Before or 're you know it, you're waking in recovery and your nurse asks what you'd like to drink. After you're more awake you're brought into the lounge where everyone who is recovering is brought. There are recliner chairs. The bring you whatever you would like to eat and take your blood pressure until it's stable. You then speak to the ECT doc to see how it's going, and then you can leave. It's rather pleasant, actually.
You asked what they were doing to help me recover. Did you mean from the depression or the DID? I have outpatient t and outpatient med management also. Since they increased the dose of ECT I seem to have improved much quicker.

[lolitalempika8]

I have DID and had an ECT like experience since I had a long seizure due to hypoglycemia. An alter took completely over and my dissociation became 10 times worse.

[kecanoe]

My pdoc has told me that ECT is contraindicated for people with DID and treatment resistant depression. Interestingly, ketamine which is known for dissociative effects has helped the depression when nothing else did.