ECT Experiences

I've only recently been diagnosed (bipolar 2, depersonalization/derealization, schizoid features), so my journey into the world of meds is only just starting. To be honest I'm really afraid of all the side effects. I've been reading up on ECT, and to my naive understanding it seems to have fewer nasty side effects. I guess I just like the idea of getting a treatment now and then, and then being "done with it" for a while. I also like that there's no risk of damage to my thyroid, kidneys, no risk of weight gain, etc.

I've been kind of hesitant to bring it up with my psychiatrist because I'm afraid he might think it's overkill to start with ECT before giving meds a serious try. I was wondering about other people's experiences with ECT.

• Is it overkill to try ECT without going on meds for a longer time first?
• I've heard about the memory loss side-effect. Does it only affect short-term memories of around the time of the ECT treatment?
• Are there any cumulative side-effects of ECT that I haven't taken into consideration?
• What benefits do you experience from ECT, and how long do they typically last?
• Do the benefits last even if you're not sleeping well? I have a couple of babies on the way so I'm anticipating plenty of sleepless nights. I know lack of sleep has been a major trigger for me in the past, and I don't want to do ECT only to have all the benefits undone that way.

ECT should be a last resort in my book. I had terrible memory loss. I couldn’t remember my kids birthdays. I could drive without a gps because I couldn’t remember how to get places. That includes my parents house and they have lived there my whole life. It caused me trouble at work because if I forgot to write it down I wouldn’t do it. I now do ketamine infusions and it works much better for me.

I’m treatment resistance, unfortunately, ECTs did not work, that being said it is the best treatment to treat depression. I say, have the talk with your pdoc, it can’t hurt.

Best of luck,

Kelly

Thanks for the replies so far! It sounds like the memory loss may be a lot more extensive than I thought. I thought it would mostly be short-term memory loss. I'll bring it up with my psychiatrist, but judging from this it sounds like keeping it as a last resort is probably right.

Hey Fluffy Dinosaur. I don't have anything to add in terms of my own experience. I just wanted to let you know you might find some helpful information about ECT in the Bipolar Treatments sub forum. I know there's an ECT experiences thread. You can find the link to the sub forum on the main Bipolar forum page. Also, there is a Search This Forum link near the top of the thread list that will help you find what you're looking for.

The mods will probably move your thread over to the sub forum, so I wanted to give you a heads up. I hope you find the information you receive to be helpful.

Thanks, I'll be sure to check that out! Also, apologies if this is a duplicate question.

No worries! I just want to make sure you get as many answers as possible. I know several of the people who have tried ECT weighed in before. It isn't like we get a tour guide here to show us all of the tools before we begin I'm happy to assist.

Thank you, I appreciate it!

It’s usually a last resort kind of thing. I mean-it’s no easy treatment. You’re under anesthesia and I lost huge chunks of time while doing it. I couldn’t remember anything hardly of the two months and other things too. It’s also expensive and time consuming.

Please, try meds first.

Ouch, that sounds a lot worse than I thought in terms of memory loss. Thanks for the advice! I guess I'll just have to try the traditional meds first and hope for the best.

Fluffy, I don't see this as a duplicate question, even though the subject line is the same as a previous one. You ask some good questions, whose answers had not been previously explored. I'll respond more later, when I have more time. Thanks for such good questions!

Thank you, I'm glad to hear it's not a complete duplicate after all! I look forward to your input!

I got it done, once every year/month its shocks your body so when you feel the "need" for suicidal thoughts it than shocks the body and you feel like someone hit you. Its only good if you have a cuppa tea and some biscuits afterwards hope this helps you x

Another thing to consider, is that insurance might not cover it until you've tried a couple of medications. They usually don't like to pay for the expensive stuff first. They want you to try the medications first because it isn't as expensive. Medications work for a lot of people. I have trouble with them but I am treatment resistant. I'm still on medications though.

I did 12 ECT few years ago, at this time I was in rehab for alcoholism and I tried everything but couldn’t stop drinking and my depression was getting worse . I was sober for 3 days and my craving for alcohol was so powerful and my anxiety was off the charts so severe that I couldn’t live without alcohol and when I don’t have access to booze I drink everything that contain alcohol and I drank hand sanitizer to get drunk and dr & nurses were in shock because they never had anyone who dank hand sanitizer before so they thought I am suicidal but I told them I am not. Dr strongly recommended ECT- they took time to explain the process of ECT and did bunch of bloodwork . It did helped me a lot, I had no serious side effects like memory loss; it kinda made me feel numb and liked it because it’s better to feel numb than anxious and depressed. And after I completed ECT I came back home and my family was very angry at me and kept asking me- why can’t u stop etc, father of my child took me to court to terminate my parental rights and I relapsed. I hope this helped u to make decision about ECT

I have done ECT weekly , for at least the passed 5 yrs. for a total of 175 times or so.... The ECT has helped put a paused in the loop tape of suicidal thoughts/urges. I tolerate the ECT very well and go to work right after I have the treatment.

The ECT has helped me a lot and I am so happy that my Pdoc has allowed me to have it as frequently as I do. I am being weaned off the meds I have been on for the passed 20 yrs, Abilify, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, and started on Emsam/selegiline patch. I will stay on the clozapine at bedtime. Hopefully this new combo will work magic:-).

Thank you for listening.