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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SoulSickness on April 8, 2008, at 5:37:55
To anyone who has undergone ECT: What was ECT like? Did it work? If it feels like a medication which one does it feel like? Memory problems? Recurrence of symptoms? Thank you in advance
Posted by bleauberry on April 8, 2008, at 15:59:28
In reply to ECT Question, posted by SoulSickness on April 8, 2008, at 5:37:55
> To anyone who has undergone ECT: What was ECT like? Did it work? If it feels like a medication which one does it feel like? Memory problems? Recurrence of symptoms? Thank you in advance
What was it like? I don't remember.
Did it work? For 2 days. Then I was in an ambulance screaming suicide.
Does it feel like medication? Sort of, in that the barbituates drug you out for a while, and while brain/hormone changes are happening it feels similar to a drug making something happen.
Memory problems? I left my career of 10 years, got a new job for lesser pay, but do not remember quitting my old job, applying for the new one, or the 3 interviews. 3 months surrounding ECT are completely wiped from memory. They never existed. A year surrounding ECT is foggy. Some things clear some things faint some things gone completely. After ECT I had to use a map to drive around my town because it looked like I was visiting a new place I had never been before. I have lived here for 20 years and it is a very small town.
Recurrence of symptoms? They never went away. Actually they got worse. Much harder to treat now. Nearly impossible actually. ECT screws up a lot of stuff, as would a lightening bolt to your head.
The hype surrounding ECT is way overblown. People do make a lot of money on it though. Total cost for my 12 sessions was over $20,000.00. Insurance got hit with most of it, but I stil owed $3000.
Don't do it. That's just my caring advice. I guarantee you there are easy common things your doctors are not looking at and have not been schooled to look at. If you want to know more, let me know.
Posted by chiron on April 11, 2008, at 0:17:03
In reply to Re: ECT Question, posted by bleauberry on April 8, 2008, at 15:59:28
My experience with ECT was mostly positive. I have had depression since I can remember, and got into a deep hole from the wrong med mix. I went to the hospital, but left still in pretty bad shape. After talking to some people who had had ect (with good results), I was desperate enough to do it. After only 5-6 sessions I felt better than I have ever felt in my life. Unfortunately the effects started to diminish after about 3 weeks, but I was out of the hole.
I've tried maintenance, which wasn't as successful. I again desperately needed another fix after Geodon. Luckily my dr. called me back on a Sunday, and he could get me in the next morning (My dr. is very kind, respected, and educated.) That series of about 5 sessions got me out of my deep psycho hole as well.
I haven't done it in a while, and I'm not planning on it. I'm hoping increasing my Lamictal dose (along w/ my coctail) will have a positive effect. I've been through the med gamut, with many of them making me worse. But I would do it again if I got as bad as I was.MEMORY - Yip, it affected it. But for me it was only partially, and sometimes I just needed a clue to remember. It sucked, but it was worth it.
During the procedure I guess you are only out for a little while. The only side affects I had were a regular headache & the memory loss. Sometimes I would go to work the same day.
The idea of charging/rebooting my brain with a seizure doesn't frighten me. It usually feels like it needs to be.
It's a hard decision. One book I've recommended is "Shocked" by Kitty Dukakis.
Good luck
Posted by Sigismund on April 12, 2008, at 20:35:13
In reply to Re: ECT Question, posted by bleauberry on April 8, 2008, at 15:59:28
WOW
Posted by Zyprexa on April 12, 2008, at 21:10:26
In reply to ECT Question, posted by SoulSickness on April 8, 2008, at 5:37:55
Major memory problems. Didn't feel like medicine. Probably works so well, because you just don't even know what happened befor the ECT's. Memory-"Delete"!
I had ECT's 10 years ago, just in the last few years I'm starting to remember things from befor the ECT's. I probably had about 30 ECT's in '97. My guess is I would have been alright without ECT's if I was just taking the medicine.
Posted by Dopamine123 on April 13, 2008, at 11:00:34
In reply to Re: ECT Question, posted by Zyprexa on April 12, 2008, at 21:10:26
Check out this person's blog. They have a pretty good description of getting a course of ECT treatment.
What electroconvulsive therapy is like
Treatment 1:
http://angiesmusings.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/what-electroconvulsive-therapy-is-like/Treatment 2:
http://angiesmusings.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/ect-treatment-number-two/Answering questions:
http://angiesmusings.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/taking-a-minute-to-answer-a-few-questions/Treatment 4:
http://angiesmusings.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/ect-treatment-number-four/Treatment 6:
http://angiesmusings.wordpress.com/2008/04/05/after-ect-number-6-and-dont-forget-to-give-blood/
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on April 18, 2008, at 21:06:06
In reply to Re: ECT Question, posted by Dopamine123 on April 13, 2008, at 11:00:34
I haven't had the tx, but I did know a patient that did.
The patient was the most depressed patient that I have ever seen. She was acutely suicidal and none of the antidepressant medications were showing the slightest improvement in her condition. Everyday, she was trying to kill herself in the most unimaginable ways possible in the hospital.
Her treating MD ordered ECT therapy. This woman made a dramatic improvement. She went from being mute, refusing food, not dressing herself, to a person writing, wearing make-up and participating in singing in a group.
While I am sure not everyone's response would be as dramatic as this individual, I think each case should be evaluated with the risks and possible gains of the treatment. Additionally, I think the level of depression and the lack of response to traditional treatments should also be apart of the evaluation process to determine if one is a candidate for ECT therapy.
This is the end of the thread.
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