[vanessaG]

WEll, i finally broke down and am trying ECT. I go 3 days a week (M,W,F) and im on my 8th session so far. The weird thing is I dont notice any change. In fact I feel like im going downhill pretty fast and I dont know if ECT can reverse that. I havent had any memory loss or anything either!

Has this happened to anyone else doing ECT? Did it work? If so, when did you notice a change? Did it not work for some?

I really REALLY hope this gives me some relief.

I've gone through ECT twice, and both time I started improving pretty quickly, withing 3 or 4 treatments. I would think this far into treatment you should be noticing an improvement if it is going to help. It doesn't help everyone though, and perhaps you are in that group. It's great that you haven't had any memory loss. People think memory loss is a given, but it isn't. My first time through I had some slight memory loss surrounding the time of the treatments, but my second time through I didn't have any at all. Everyone's experience is different. I would certainly talk to your doctor if you aren't seeing any improvement by now.

[fishsandwich]

I had ECT, a course of 25 shocks over a nine-month period. It was done against my will. It didn't help, but because it was non-consensual I didn't have much choice in the matter.
For me, the memory loss kicked in after about the tenth shock. I woke up from the anaesthesia and all my memories of the four-five previous years were completely gone. There isn't much research into memory loss and ECT (most docs will deny it causes any) so I don't know if it's a case of 'one shock gone wrong' or some culminative effect.

[nicoleb2]

Originally Posted by fishsandwich

I had ECT, a course of 25 shocks over a nine-month period. It was done against my will. It didn't help, but because it was non-consensual I didn't have much choice in the matter.
For me, the memory loss kicked in after about the tenth shock. I woke up from the anaesthesia and all my memories of the four-five previous years were completely gone. There isn't much research into memory loss and ECT (most docs will deny it causes any) so I don't know if it's a case of 'one shock gone wrong' or some culminative effect.

I can't even remember how many shocks I had, but I too have permanent memory loss. Totally not worth it. I'd rather die than do it again

[hameltsdemons]

There has been quite a lot of research actually since the late 80's, mostly in the North East. There are lots of books about it. The Kitty Dukakis and Larry Tye book "Shock" is very informative. And actually now doctors are very open about the fact there will be memory loss and that they're not sure how much there will be and that there are techniques such as placing the electrodes on the same side of the head to minimize memory loss.
Did your electroshock take place quite a long time ago? I'm so sorry that your experience was so negative for you. It must have been devastating.

Originally Posted by fishsandwich

I had ECT, a course of 25 shocks over a nine-month period. It was done against my will. It didn't help, but because it was non-consensual I didn't have much choice in the matter.
For me, the memory loss kicked in after about the tenth shock. I woke up from the anaesthesia and all my memories of the four-five previous years were completely gone. There isn't much research into memory loss and ECT (most docs will deny it causes any) so I don't know if it's a case of 'one shock gone wrong' or some culminative effect.

[fishsandwich]

Originally Posted by hameltsdemons

There has been quite a lot of research actually since the late 80's, mostly in the North East. There are lots of books about it. The Kitty Dukakis and Larry Tye book "Shock" is very informative. And actually now doctors are very open about the fact there will be memory loss and that they're not sure how much there will be and that there are techniques such as placing the electrodes on the same side of the head to minimize memory loss.
Did your electroshock take place quite a long time ago? I'm so sorry that your experience was so negative for you. It must have been devastating.

I'm not in America so I'm not really up-to-date on all the thinking going on there. In England/Europe, it is VERY rare to do ECT. Almost impossible to find a psych who is trained to do it or has the machine.

The ECT was in America about *counts* five years ago now. There was definitely a lack of informed consent in my circumstance. Not only did they not tell me about any of the potential damage it could do, they went ahead and did it to me despite my lack of consent.

[WikidPissah]

wondering how you are doing Vanessa??

I had about 3 sets of series over the course of about 4 years. I can't remember how many in each series, but I did monthly maintenance for about 6 mos on the last one. Bad memory loss. I did consent to the treatment but it definitely wasn't informed consent. I was really depressed when it started (definitely not mentally capable to consent), and they didn't even discuss it with H, who is my signed medical proxy. It relieved my depression for several mos, then it came crashing back. I have really bad ECT flashbacks now...they are almost as bad as the trauma flashbacks. I feel really humiliated and stupid for signing. I lost certain memories of my kids as toddlers. I have made H promise to never let them do it again, no matter how bad I get.

[vanessaG]

Oh gosh WP I'm so sorry to hear you e had such bad memory loss. I too have had memory loss right around the time I was having them. I stopped at the 8th treatment but there are things now I don't even remember that my kids tell me and look at me crazy like I don't remember. I also will never do ECT again and it didn't even give me temporary relie from my depression at all unfortunatley.

The only thing I liked about ect was going under lol. But I'd rather die than do ect again.

[sobergirl]

I have had ect many many times. This past time was a bit over a month ago and it was a series of 12. This last time did not help at all, in fact I got worse. Plus my doctor did not tell me to have maintainence treatments once I returned to my hometown. I ended up crashing horribly and ending up inpatient. While there I got one treatment which helped a bit. My second maintainence treatment has not been scheduled yet. I have horrible memory loss. Now, I want the treatments once a week and then once a month mostly out of fear of what will happen if my body does not get what it is now used to. I wish you luck, and be sure to enquire about weaning off of them. peace

[jegsu01]

I had ECT done in April of 2009 and it did not work for me. I am still dealing with my depression and at times it got worse.