Has Anyone Else Had ECT

Any of you who have done it in the last few years - do you know how much it costs? Just ballpark. Doctors never know how much anything costs. I don't have any insurance coverage right now, but ECT may be my only un-tried option.

I'm sorry, I don't know. The hospital and insurance contact each other directly, it doesn't go through me.

The ECT pdoc wants to go down to treatments every two weeks, probably after tomorrow's session. He also doesn't want to do maintenance treatments because of my age (I just turned eighteen).

I'm not doing well, but as he says, I can't continue ECT forever.

I am considering discontinuing ECT too because I realize that I can't do it forever either. I haven't been doing the greatest over the past couple of days so not sure how soon I'll discontinue.

So Breafish, you don't really feel like ECT has helped you?

I hope that when you stop you won't fall back.

It has done a bit, makes things a little easier to deal with, "copeable" if that's a word.. and in the beginning it removed the psychosis. But since the treatments slowed down I've gotten worse.

My regular pdoc hopes he can convince the ect-pdoc to do maintenance treatments, as he thinks that'll be best for me. We'll see.

I hope you'll feel better soon.

Thanks. I hope you feel better really soon too.

Have you decided anything yet about discontinuing?

I'm now officially down to treatments once every two weeks.

Breadfish, I am giving discontinuation a shot. If I start to feel considerably worse, e.g., can't get out of bed or something, then I will start up again. What I really wish is that my pdoc would try me on a different AD, but for some reason he's reluctant to.

I know you're doing every two weeks now, but do you think you'll be discontinuing soon?

I hope your mood doesn't drop.

Well, you're already on a rather large amount of drugs - maybe he doesn't want to add yet another?

Not sure, depends on what the pdoc wants. My dad spoke with him today, but that was when I was having the treatment so I didn't see him myself and couldn't ask.

I need to update my previous reply which said I was having success with ECT therapy.
My depression got worse when I tried to spread the treatments out to six weeks. They said that this sometimes happens and that I should start back to 3 times a week and work it back out. Evidently, I agreed, but I have no memory of it and my wife said I was acting weird and childish. The Dr. said they had never heard of that happening on the second time. They said it is ECT delirium but they had only seen it happen in the beginning. Needless to say, I am off ECT, and depression is only getting worse. I really hate it when dr.'s say they have never seen that before! Does that mean that I am super weird or that they made a mistake somehow?

I am considering asking about extending my treatments from every 2 weeks to 3 weeks with the possibility of discontinuing down the road. Trouble is I have been treatment resistant in the past and am afraid I will relapse and become suicidal again. I have been in treatment; meds, therapy, hospitalizations, for 40 yrs. Everyone was afraid to try ECT in the past because of a brain malformation I have. Finally a Dr. said he would do it and I have suicidal thought/acting out free for almost 2 yrs. That is huge for me, but I also have had ECT that whole time. I have no memory problems and no side effects from the ECT. I need to talk to my Dr. but have a hard time saying anything besides "i'm fine". I'm afraid of discontinuing ECT but I suppose I can't do it forever............I'm scared already just thinking about all this.

The last week/week-and-a-half I've been less lethargic. I have more energy. I voluntarily leave the bed before 10.30 each day (it's vacation) and I help with chores around the house without being asked. It's easier to do stuff. Now to hope this is only the beginning and that my mood will follow.

I've had them in the past & I'm getting them now. They put me in total remission the first time but I honestly am not seeing the same dramatic results as I did before. I wish I knew what the difference is.

Wow Breadfish, that's fantastic! I hope things will only keep getting better for you!

So very happy for you that ECT helped you. I have never tried it, probably because it's so expensive and I'm receiving disability and the gov't wouldn't pay such an outrageous bill... Hope your good mood continues!!!!

I started ECT again in Aug. ACt first, they worked very well. Then it sort of fizzled out. Last week, I called the hospital and told them I was stopping them. I'm so upset that they didn't keep working. It was my last hope. I had unilateral ultra brief pulse treatments. My memory wasn't affected very much.

Well, as far as memory....I forgot I posted on this thread

Newgal, I was disappointed that I didn't get the same dramatic result after a while. The memory thing is minor. When I had ECT years ago , I had bilateral and my memory did take a hit. I don't really miss what ever it was I forgot. Couldn't have been THAT important. I just wish they'd work for me now as I'm a total slug, dependent on my husband for almost everything. If you have the lose dose (voltage) the memory loss is negligible. Good luck to everyone having ECT.

I wonder if having DID makes a difference when having ECT treatments? Does anyone know?

The way ECT is done its a non triggering procedure. the patient is given a full medical work up and the treatment providers take time to explain the procedure, answer questions, so that the patient is not in a dissociated state of min, everything is done in a calm relaxed non triggering manner, the patient is given anesthesia, an IV and a muscle relaxer, then when the patient is fully relaxed, unconscious the electrodes are placed, and an electrical current given for a designated amount of time and dosage determined by the patients height weight and other parameters, the electrical current causes the patient to have a seizure (the same kind of seizure an epileptic has only its medically induced and controlled,) the whole process only takes about 10 minutes from beginning to end. when the treatment is done patent is brought out of the anesthessia.

those that I know who have had this done say despite the memory loss they feel better, less dissociative because their other associated symptoms of anxiety, depression that were their triggers for dissociating are no longer as severe. other that I know say their dissociative symptoms remained the same. No one that I know has said they have gotten worse. (which falls in line with the statistical data the hospital in my location has for this. that it does not make things worse. either things get better or stay the same because its a non triggering procedure with the patient in an unconscious state, not an aware state where they are at risk of being triggered into dissociating)

but like any other treatment for mental disorders each person reacts their own ways to the same treatment options. to actually know how you would react and how it would affect your own dissociative symptoms you would need to contact your own treatment providers.

I started ECT in Jan. of 2010 and I am currently still doing Maint. every 4 weeks. I have some Memory loss, but have noticed that I am getting back some of my long term back. I have an appointment in April to talk about the possibility of trying TMS. otherwise I will be doing ECT for the rest of my life..