I have been having electroconvulsive therapy treatments since November and am curious to know if anyone else is having them and if they have helped.

I would have to say that they definitely helped my depression. They haven't eliminated the depression completely but have definitely made a considerable improvement.

[Altered Moment]

I haven't. I don't know why it has never been mentioned to me.

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[TheOriginalMe]

Glad to hear you've felt the benefit. It does seem to be a helpful last resort for many people. It picked me up from rock bottom, enough to get functioning again.

Do you still get anxious about the treatments or have you got over that?

[waterknob1234]

I am glad the treatments helped you.

[Silent Void]

Yeah, and I'll never do it again. It destroyed my memory.

Originally Posted by TheOriginalMe

Glad to hear you've felt the benefit. It does seem to be a helpful last resort for many people. It picked me up from rock bottom, enough to get functioning again.

Do you still get anxious about the treatments or have you got over that?

Yes, I definitely still get anxious about the treatments. It's very nervous-making for me. If I didn't feel like I absolutely had to have them, I'd never do it.

Originally Posted by Silent Void

Yeah, and I'll never do it again. It destroyed my memory.

Silent Void, has it affected your memory permanently? It's definitely affected my memory but I've read that is temporary . . .

[longtime]

yeah, I am still taking it. It's been a year and now I am spread out to four weeks. I only get the "single pole" for depression-its not supposed to be bad for memory; ane I've found that to be the case,although I am still trying to decide how much it has effected my cognitive overall. I take it for
severe depression and that is what it has helped with. I also have some general anxiety, OCD, and maybe some ADHD thrown in for good luck.
I am trying to decide on the ECT. Works better than any medicine i've been on for depression, and i've been on quite a few, but the cost can be prohibitive if it doesn't spread out some more.
I take pritiq 200 mg, buspar 30 Mg 3 times a day, and ativan 2mg 3x a day also.
This is my first real post, so I hope it makes sense.

[Silent Void]

Originally Posted by newgal2

Silent Void, has it affected your memory permanently? It's definitely affected my memory but I've read that is temporary . . .

Sorry, I didn't see your question right away. Yes, my memory deficit is permanent. Both short-term and long-term memory were affected.

I will not have ECT again either. I also have permanent memory loss.

My memory loss was only short-term and very temporary.

I am very sorry to hear of the people who've had permanent memory problems. I sure hope that isn't the case for me, although I've had no choice but to have ECT because my depression was so severe and not responding to medication. I will have to accept what comes my way in terms of memory deficits. I always prided myself on having a sharp mind and good memory so I really hope this isn't compromised.

[Sanora]

I am also looking into ECT. Can I ask what kind of memory problems? Is it more like a piece or is it on going memory issues? I feel like I'm at the end of my rope with meds.

Originally Posted by Sanora

I am also looking into ECT. Can I ask what kind of memory problems? Is it more like a piece or is it on going memory issues? I feel like I'm at the end of my rope with meds.

Hi Sanora, I think everyone's memory may be affected differently but for me, I have trouble remembering random things just from during the time period that I've had the ECTS, not the distant past. One problem I have is remembering directions to places. I have to constantly get directions from mapquest to find my way, even though I've been there numerous times.

Another example is reading. I'm in a couple of book clubs and I have to take notes after reading because I can't remember what I read. It's very frustrating. I'm not working right now but hope to be soon. I hope the memory issues don't pose too much of a problem in the workplace.

Best of luck if you decide to have the treatments. They made a big difference for me.

P.S. I'm having treatments right now 2 weeks apart. Maybe if someone has them farther apart there aren't memory problems?

[imtrying]

It's been a year since I had 23 sessions of ECT. I stopped because I couldn't tolerate having anesthesia three times a week coupled with the long drive there and back and the pressure to maintain a relationship (my boyfriend drove me but never understood how difficult it was). I have memory problems. I'm sure ECT was a factor however depression itself causes memory issues and so does aging. I have treatment resistant depression. ECT definitely helped me. Having ECT was the right thing for me and I'd have it again if I thought I needed it.

For those of you who have ECT, do you have it really early in the morning or is that just how my pdoc does it? Monday I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. for my ECT! Considering it's an hour drive, we have to be up mighty early for it. I sure appreciate that my husband drives me there so early without complaint.

[imtrying]

My appointments were always early in the morning but never as early at yours. At my treatment center, inpatients were scheduled first and then outpatients. I assumed the early scheduling was because anesthesia requires fasting. The long ride to and from treatment is rough, so rough that I asked to be hospitalized. They said no and it was just as well. It forced me to make an effort when I wanted to stay in bed until the next treatment. Many caretaker/drivers (our exhausted heroes and heroines) hold full time jobs and the early hours accommodated their work schedules.

[nicoleb2]

I had ECT a few years ago. My depression was awful. It may have helped a little, briefly.
I will NEVER have ect again because it has so dramatically affected both my long and short term memories. I would rather live with the depression or the consequences of the depression than lose my whole life worth of memories.

I have two treatments a week. I experience some amnesia, but not much. I feel better after the treatments that day, and I'm eating and drinking again (I had quit doing both), but I haven't noticed much other improvements and in some ways I've even worsened.

I have to be in the hospital at 8:30 (AM) for treatments.

To me the whole going-to-the-hospital is more anxiety provoking than the ECT itself, but I have survived medical torture and have PTSD and iatrophobia (doctor phobia) as a result of that, and I had my leg amputated (as a result of damage done by the torture) which was a far scarier procedure. And the nurses and doctors are all very kind.

Originally Posted by Breadfish

I have two treatments a week. I experience some amnesia, but not much. I feel better after the treatments that day, and I'm eating and drinking again (I had quit doing both), but I haven't noticed much other improvements and in some ways I've even worsened.

I have to be in the hospital at 8:30 (AM) for treatments.

To me the whole going-to-the-hospital is more anxiety provoking than the ECT itself, but I have survived medical torture and have PTSD and iatrophobia (doctor phobia) as a result of that, and I had my leg amputated (as a result of damage done by the torture) which was a far scarier procedure. And the nurses and doctors are all very kind.

Sorry it hasn't helped you yet. How many treatments have you had? I think it took me 13 treatments before I felt a difference.

Originally Posted by newgal2

Sorry it hasn't helped you yet. How many treatments have you had? I think it took me 13 treatments before I felt a difference.

Not sure, I haven't been counting. I think I started shortly after you did and I have been having treatments twice a week.

I'll ask my dad if he remembers the starting date and I'll get back to you after I've had dinner (I'll be asking him at dinner).

I've had 12 treatments; the first 9 unilateral and the last 3 bilateral. Did you have no improvement at all until the 13th?

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Yeah, I had no improvement at all until the 13th one and then my depression improved dramatically. It seemed like the severe depression went away completely, but within a few weeks or so it came back in mild form, which is where it is today. I hope you see some improvement soon.

[Youdontevenknow]

Originally Posted by newgal2

I have been having electroconvulsive therapy treatments since November and am curious to know if anyone else is having them and if they have helped.

I would have to say that they definitely helped my depression. They haven't eliminated the depression completely but have definitely made a considerable improvement.

I'm considering it. I've been aggressively txd for MDD since 13 wo benefit. Another member mentioned it causing memory loss. I don't think, for me, it would be a bad thing. Did you have to undergo a bunch of screenings?

They have tried to make me have it numerous times. One time by force, but I was proven sane enough to make my own choice thankgod.

Each time I have done my research and discovered it is not much more effective than med treatment for people my age AND the majority of people still have to be highly medicated after receiving it? I would have thought if it was so good for depression people would be able to live off meds after? I honestly dont see the point if you are still needing to be on heavy duty meds anyway. AND many need repeat treatments throughout their life.

I know of people here who use it as a quick fix. Something bad happens in their life ie a relationship break up, and they are straight back to getting their brain fried as they dont want to use the coping skills and therapy instead - a direct quote "ECT was easier". That is incredibly horrifying that it is available to people like that. ECT should be a last resort, not something patients do to get out of doing the hard yards like the rest of us.

(Post note, I am not implying anyone from this thread used ECT like this, but it is happening and is frightening that people see it as a quick fix when it has a magnitude of side effects and long term issues related to it.)