[FotoLee]

After an extensive list of meds, on going therapy, multiple hospitalizations, it was recommended to me that I undergo ECT. I would rather give TMS a try but it was not an option.
I went through 6 sessions in two weeks and was hospitalized as a result of worsening depression following the treatments.
A few months later I am reconsidering giving it another go as I do feel a great deal has been lifted off my chest in comparison to where I was at the time but fear that it would just bring on another cycle of worsening depression.
I do believe 19 is way too young to be under going such a procedure, although I am now twenty but age is arbitrary. But I honestly cannot determine whether it was beneficial to me in the long run.

My DBT therapist and others I do not trust with their recommendations as I have been deceived by many mental health care workers lately and as I find personal experience to be more beneficial rather than statistics spoken from those who have only studied such procedure rather than enduring it.

Did you find the experience to be helpful in the long run?
Do you find that the side effects out way the benefits?
I had and still have issues with memory, confusion, though I have noticed quite recently that I am able to make connections that I have not before and can understand information more clearly.

[ChangingMyMind]

I have not tired ECT so I can't speak to its side effects or usefulness from a personal perspective but I am curious why TMS isn't an option. Why can't you try TMS?

[FotoLee]

Originally Posted by ChangingMyMind

I have not tired ECT so I can't speak to its side effects or usefulness from a personal perspective but I am curious why TMS isn't an option. Why can't you try TMS?

The university hospital near me who has a TMS program unfortunately does not accept my insurance.
For some reason insurance approved for the hospital that preformed my ECT treatment to do so and covered it almost entirely but was not willing to cover TMS. At the time I began the treatment I was very unstable and so the doctors wanted to begin immediately and when I did mentioned TMS because it is less invasive and quite frankly less terrifying but they replied that given the senior ECT was a better option because it was more direct and could offer noticeable effects at a quicker rate.

My insurance does change soon, but you gave me the idea to contact the university hospital to see if I would be a candidate and if it possibly would be covered and affordable for me. Thank you.

[Ma4456a]

Thank you for posting, that does seem quite young to start such an aggressive treatment. I've been recommended for ECT, but I'm unaware as to what the TMS alternative is?

If this med and the next one don't work I'll be referred to ECT. I'm 17. I've tried seven meds and all the therapy approaches they have to offer.

I know there are risks and stuff, but honestly? This isn't living. I know it's invasive and everything, but I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

[ChangingMyMind]

Originally Posted by Ma4456a

Thank you for posting, that does seem quite young to start such an aggressive treatment. I've been recommended for ECT, but I'm unaware as to what the TMS alternative is?

TMS right now is approved for major depressive disorder. So if that is what you have then it may be a good option. It's transcranial magnetic stimulation, it uses a magnet to send electric pulses to a very specific part of your brain. This method of treating depression is the least invasive with the least amount of side effects and all of them are acute. Look it up on Google. It's newer so they don't know the long term effects but it's like getting a brain mri which has been around for many years.

I'm doing it now and feel completely normal after 4 weeks. I have 2 more until I'm finished. It typically goes from 4-6 weeks.

[ChangingMyMind]

Originally Posted by Breadfish

If this med and the next one don't work I'll be referred to ECT. I'm 17. I've tried seven meds and all the therapy approaches they have to offer.

I know there are risks and stuff, but honestly? This isn't living. I know it's invasive and everything, but I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Maybe you can do TMS instead... Have they mentioned it?

[Nightside of Eden]

Originally Posted by Breadfish

If this med and the next one don't work I'll be referred to ECT. I'm 17. I've tried seven meds and all the therapy approaches they have to offer.

Honestly, 7 or even 9 meds isn't that many to try. For depression you not only have the SSRI and SNRI classes, but also all the old tricylics as well as the entire atypical anti-psychotic group. Even stimulants, typical anti-psychotics, and mood stabilizers can have their place in a cocktail.

One woman in my real-life support group had ECT and the after-effects were pretty terrifying and debilitating. I guess they're supposed to get better with time, but I'd still call it a treatment of absolutely last resort, especially for someone so young.

Originally Posted by ChangingMyMind

Maybe you can do TMS instead... Have they mentioned it?

No. I don't know if it's done in my country.
Edit: I looked online, it's done in my country but not on minors.

Originally Posted by Nightside of Eden

Honestly, 7 or even 9 meds isn't that many to try. For depression you not only have the SSRI and SNRI classes, but also all the old tricylics as well as the entire atypical anti-psychotic group. Even stimulants, typical anti-psychotics, and mood stabilizers can have their place in a cocktail.

One woman in my real-life support group had ECT and the after-effects were pretty terrifying and debilitating. I guess they're supposed to get better with time, but I'd still call it a treatment of absolutely last resort, especially for someone so young.

Let me think. I took 2 SSRI's, an SNRI, 2 TCA's, 2 atypical antipsychotics, and a classic antipsychotic. And I spent a few days on a ketamine IV. Because of severe, delibating side effects in three of them (a SSRI, a TCA and an atypical) I can't take stuff that works a lot like them - for example, I can't take nortryptiline because of my severe reaction to amitryptiline. I've had zero reaction (besides side effects) to all of them so far.
Three of my organs are damaged from previous med use (I was very ill for three years) which also means I can't have every med.

We aren't getting into this lightly. There's one more med I can try and then it's either MAOI or ECT. MAOI's are impractical/dangerous to me for a variety of reasons

[ChangingMyMind]

Too bad it's not being done on minors. I wish you the best of luck with whatever treatment you end up with. Since you're 17 you're close to adulthood right? Maybe when you turn 18 you can try TMS. In the meantime hopefully another med will work. I hear the relapse rate of ECT is high, just like meds, so I would be curious what you would do afterwards. Not trying yo be negative about it, just curious as I have faced the same question even with TMS, many people go into remission but only 66% do not relapse! which is a great number but one that scares me. I am worried about the relapse but I'll do TMS again if that happens.

Again best of luck to you!

[lozza89]

I was in hospital a few months ago and once again the team suggested ECT. The thought scared me though as I see it as an absolute last resort and I got into the thinking pattern of 'if ECT didnt help me then I was screwed cuz after ECT there is nothing else to be tried..'

I said no to ECT after being pressured into it a lot and am still trying to find that perfect med/meds and doasage.

I wish you all the best in what ever treatment option you choose!

I've experienced ECT, but I am much older. I definitely saw a difference in the depression and I had very few side effects. A slight headache and some minor memory loss in the beginning. Nothing worth complaining about.