[apsmith76]

I just had my 6th unilateral electroconvulsive therapy treatment two days ago for treatment of a rolling series of major depressive episodes that has gone on for the last two years. After multiple unsuccessful medication trials, my doctors and I decided we should give this a go. I was wondering if I could relay my experience with it to see whether what I am experiencing is "normal."

I have noticed that while I don't have any major memory loss, I do notice that settings that are very familiar to me (home, work, etc.) seem vaguely foreign to me, a bit strange, even two days after treatment. I have to admit that this is a little anxiety-producing. Based on any of your experiences with ECT, does sound familiar? Does it go away?

Thanks for your feedback!

[Wild Coyote]

Hi apsmith76,

The anxiety you are feeling in familiar settings must feel a bit "unsettling?"

Have you mentioned this to your doctors?
Have they been able to help you with your concerns?

I see you have 4 posts at the time I am writing this.
I have just put the term "electroconvulsive" in the search engine here on this site and came up with pages of discussions on "ect." By the way, the term "ect" drew a blank on the search, just an fyi to you if you do a search.

If you cannot yet use the search function, please try if interested, you should be able to by the time you have a count of 5 posts, if not before.

Just an example of one (of many) discussions which came up on a search:
http://forums.psychcentral.com/other...ml#post3334671

There are many more discussions related to ECT.

This post you'd started ended up in the "introductions" section. A moderator will be along at some point to redirect the placement, I believe.

I hope you find the information and the support you seek.

Be well!

My Best to You,
WC

[BlossomingLen]

Hello! It's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to the Forums!

This is a great community full of people who are willing to help and listen. The people of this community are often here because of the struggles in their daily lives. This is a place for giving support and getting support yourself. Please, do lend a hand to the other members of these forums every now and then, if you could. After all, I'm sure they'd love to do the same thing for you!

I'm not too familiar with the subjects you spoke of, but I'll try my hardest to give you an answer.

I've had a lot of experiences with memory loss. I suffer from it daily, unfortunately. But I haven't gone through any treatments, nor do I take very strong meditation. Sometimes things feel very foreign or distant to me, like I'm not actually there or I feel like everything just feels incredibly strange. I believe this ties in with Dissociation? Either way, I've been told to eat lots of fish and seafood, because apparently it helps with that side of the brain and such. So, perhaps you could try eating different kinds of seafood and seeing if that works? I know you said you don't have major memory loss, but I think the feeling of Dissociation would be helped by eating fish as well.

Even if that isn't the case, here, these are some shortcuts to sections of the forums that may help you with your problem;

Coping with Emotions - Forums at Psych Central

Anxiety, Panic and Phobias - Forums at Psych Central

Dissociative Disorders - Forums at Psych Central

Other Treatments - Forums at Psych Central

Maybe this post could help you get some answers, too? Apparently these people had the treatment!

http://forums.psychcentral.com/other...as-past-2.html

Either way, I hope you feel better soon! Have a wonderful day.

[Lost_in_the_woods]

Hi apSmith and to PC!
I can relate. I did a round of ECT yrs back for trMD and although DR/DP was already something i have had bouts of my whole life..the ECT did cause more as a side effect. ECT can be a life saving treatment for those of us who's depression is not helped by meds..but like everything else, it has side effects and what and to what degree is just as indiviual as meds. Most ppl report that the side effects are temporary, but again like everything else no guarrentee... so really it up to you and ur Dr, to discuss, weight, and decide if the benifits outweigh the side effects. Hope it resolves its self soon and glad you found ur way here! Hope you find much comfort, suppirt and understanding in this wonderful community! Be Well and Keep Writing!

[gayleggg]

[Prism Bunny]

I have yet to go in for any ECTs, but anything you are experiencing should be reported by to the doctors. Also, what does it feel like getting the procedure done?

Originally Posted by apsmith76

I just had my 6th unilateral electroconvulsive therapy treatment two days ago for treatment of a rolling series of major depressive episodes that has gone on for the last two years. After multiple unsuccessful medication trials, my doctors and I decided we should give this a go. I was wondering if I could relay my experience with it to see whether what I am experiencing is "normal."

I have noticed that while I don't have any major memory loss, I do notice that settings that are very familiar to me (home, work, etc.) seem vaguely foreign to me, a bit strange, even two days after treatment. I have to admit that this is a little anxiety-producing. Based on any of your experiences with ECT, does sound familiar? Does it go away?

Thanks for your feedback!

Hey AP,

Yes, that sounds very normal and, yes, after the treatments are over you'll settle back into a routine. My last session was 14 years ago and I was inpatient... but after I'd slept off the sedative I had to have help to find my way around for a couple of hours.

I've been having more memory loss during my depression in the past year than I ever had via ECT. The ECT memory loss was more "short-term confusion," if that makes sense?

[apsmith76]

Originally Posted by ciderguy

Hey AP,

Yes, that sounds very normal and, yes, after the treatments are over you'll settle back into a routine. My last session was 14 years ago and I was inpatient... but after I'd slept off the sedative I had to have help to find my way around for a couple of hours.

I've been having more memory loss during my depression in the past year than I ever had via ECT. The ECT memory loss was more "short-term confusion," if that makes sense?

Thanks for your reply! It's helpful to know that what I am experiencing is normal. I, too, feel like I had more actual memory loss while I was in the worst of my depression. Sorry to hear you're going through it now.

[apsmith76]

Originally Posted by Prism Bunny

I have yet to go in for any ECTs, but anything you are experiencing should be reported by to the doctors. Also, what does it feel like getting the procedure done?

What I have read from other people's experiences is true in terms of hassle, stress, and level of pain: a trip to the dentist for a filling is worse than the experience of getting an ECT treatment! I'm having it done at a very reputable hospital in the Southeast, and they seem to be very good at what they do. The only slightly painful part is getting the IV inserted, but that's nothing once you get used to it. After that, the process generally goes like this: they hook you up to the EEG monitor, put a blood pressure cuff on your arm and on your ankle, have you breathe in oxygen through a mask, then administer the anesthesia via the IV. You quickly start feeling yourself go to sleep. Then you wake up in the recovery room. You are anesthetized through the whole procedure. Most people's waking reactions are related to the anesthesia and not the ECT, and that varies by person. I have generally woken up pretty calm but a bit disoriented, which is to be expected. After 30 minutes or so in recovery, they let you go home. They also give you some juice and cookies, since you've been fasting. The very first treatment left me with some upper body muscle aches and a bad headache and a little bit of nausea, but I haven't had any of that since the first treatment, just a slight headache. Pre-treatment, they administer some anti-nausea meds and a pain reliever via the IV, so that took care of that.

In terms of mental health effects, I actually started feeling a lighter mood with the first treatment. Since then, my ruminating has lessened quite a bit, and I actually feel like doing stuff I haven't felt like doing in a while. My anxiety has also not been as bad. I should note that I wasn't in the deepest depressive pit I've ever been in when I started, but I definitely was having some major trouble functioning at work and was having some periods of deep despair every day.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the treatment. It's way less scary than I thought, and this is coming from a total scaredy cat!

Originally Posted by Prism Bunny

I have yet to go in for any ECTs, but anything you are experiencing should be reported by to the doctors. Also, what does it feel like getting the procedure done?

You feel absolutely nothing as you are under anesthesia. Basically, they put in an I.V., place a blood pressure cuff around your ankle, start the anesthesia, and you wake of a few minutes later not having felt anything.

Yep, no concerns for me about the treatment. It has been nearly exaclty a year since I had it. I've really nothing to report other than my memory of that time period being a little sketchy

[Passioncompassion]

thanks apsmith..... I have been wondering If I may need to do ECT, or other types of treatments for my depression. I feel like the antidepressants are not working anylonger and have tried diff ones with diff psyhiatrists....
I am kinda afraid of these procedures, but hearing it s help you is great.
tx

[Bird Feeder]

I have been doing ECT twice a month for 2 1/2 years and it has saved my life. In fact, after my treatment and time in the recovery room, I am able to go back to work.

Everyone is different, but I wish I would have tried ECT sooner for my depression and suicidal thoughts.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

[lunafay]

Originally Posted by apsmith76

I just had my 6th unilateral electroconvulsive therapy treatment two days ago for treatment of a rolling series of major depressive episodes that has gone on for the last two years. After multiple unsuccessful medication trials, my doctors and I decided we should give this a go. I was wondering if I could relay my experience with it to see whether what I am experiencing is "normal."

I have noticed that while I don't have any major memory loss, I do notice that settings that are very familiar to me (home, work, etc.) seem vaguely foreign to me, a bit strange, even two days after treatment. I have to admit that this is a little anxiety-producing. Based on any of your experiences with ECT, does sound familiar? Does it go away?

Thanks for your feedback!

I have had 16 treatments so far and that has never happened to me. I think you should talk to your doctor.