[Daonnachd]

I realise this will vary from one facility to the next, but I have a few specific questions that, if answered, could help assuage some fear I have going into this.

How soon can a loved one be with the patient? Is this a recovery room timing?

Would a doctor agree to starting the ECT sequence if the patient will need to make a week long trip at some point in the middle of the course?

thanks.

[CANDC]

Some people have relatives wait in waiting room and meet them in recovery. Check with your facility for options.

Depends on how often ECT is being given. Check with doctor.

I never had family with me during ECT, but honestly, I wouldn't have cared one way or another. You are coming out of anesthesia, so you are pretty foggy for a bit.

In my hospital, I had to check in on the psych floor early on the morning of treatment. The nurse who worked with my pdoc would do an assessment of my level of depression, check in my meds to I could take them after the treatment, have me change into a hospital gown, etc. Then when it was time to go to the room where the ECT treatment was done, they'd walk me down to that floor. The nurse and anesthesiologist would set up I.V's, etc., and as soon as I was set up, pdoc would come in, they'd start the anesthesia, and I would wake up a bit later in the outpatient recovery room. As soon as I was fully awake, they'd wheel me back up to the psych floor to be monitored medically for blood pressure, headaches, etc. They wanted to see me eat something (since like surgery you can't eat after midnight the night before), be sure I was oriented, etc.

Because this was done on the psych floor, relatives could not be in there for confidentiality reasons with other patients. I had to stay until around 11AM or so. At that point, a relative or other designated person had to come in and receive discharge instructions before I left. I was not allowed to drive on the day of treatments. So, having a relative around would not have been possible in that set up, nor really would I have cared. I was tired, but not traumatized. I was fine and in good care.

[Fallindown]

You can't eat or drink the night before you get the anesthetic. Ironically the ECT has made me forget the medical term for it. That's the only non-negotiable requirement.

[Daonnachd]

Thank you, all, for giving me a better sense of how it all goes. The hospital site and ECT coordinator were unable to provide me the answers I sought.

This helps quite a bit. Your perspectives give me a chance to approach this differently.

[Sabrina]

Originally Posted by vertigo

I realise this will vary from one facility to the next, but I have a few specific questions that, if answered, could help assuage some fear I have going into this.

How soon can a loved one be with the patient? Is this a recovery room timing?

Would a doctor agree to starting the ECT sequence if the patient will need to make a week long trip at some point in the middle of the course?

thanks.

My husband was allowed into the room as they anesthetized me and he was there when I woke up. He was allowed because I have an adverse reaction to anesthesia and would get hysterical if he wasn't there. I was very grateful they allowed him to be there.

Don't know about breaking the sequence though. You will have to check that with the doctor.

Good luck

[Daonnachd]

UPDATE: I've started the ECT, but nobody ever stays with me. I get dropped off at the hospital and my ride waits for a call from my recovery room nurse before coming to get me.

Unilateral doesn't seem to be helping me much. I expect to do bilateral ECT next time.

[Bird Feeder]

Thanks for the update Vertigo. I don't have anyone with me either, they just wait for the call. I hope the bilateral works better for you, I know that it has saved my life.

Take care.