Posted by gilmourr on January 14, 2013, at 23:20:03
In reply to Re: Anyone know people that have had ECT?, posted by johnLA on January 14, 2013, at 21:22:10
This was a perfect summary.
I as well feel the same way. Depression is destroying my brain and I think it does way more damage than ECT will. I am actually going to try MST (magnetic seizure therapy first) it's ECT but using magnets so the whole brain isnt affected. Should be way less side effects.
I've been throuhg 11-12 meds and I'm young (22) so I want to get a handle on this sh*t before it's too late.
I understand I'd be on meds after, I think Nardil is perfect if MST can get me at least 50% of the way there.
I think I'd be getting a premium service as I'm at the best psych hospital in Toronto.
There's nothing to be ashamed of. ECT is a service for an illness just like chemo is for cancer patients. Never feel ashamed of having that done. Some people will not understand. Make them understand or f*ck them.
I just want a good/effective procedure to get me in remission so I can enjoy life again. I've been mentally messed up for 23 months now, and I'm getting f*ck*ng burnt out.
> hi gilmour-
>
> i had 12 unilateral ect's over 2 years ago. the first few worked. was quite amazing actually. unfortunately the effects did not last.
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> i do not believe i suffer from long-term damage. i did have some memory issues around the time of the treatments.
>
> my actual current depression is causing me more cognitive issues than the ect did. i can be sure of that. how? because i can still mentally do the things i did before ect. my depression though keeps me from doing those things consistently. if i had brain damage i'm thinking i would not be able to do these things even in my limited way now.
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> if you go this route i highly suggest going to a top notch hospital. i did mine at ucla. i will not mention names, but i was surprised at the amount of well known people having the treatment. i believe all were on maintenance ect. these were/are highly functional people.
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> i had ect done very early in my depressive episode. i was inpatient and really scared. i had never had suicidal thoughts before in my life. i still can't believe i had it done. looking back, for me, i think i could have tried more meds and stayed locked-up longer before ect was suggested. oh well.
>
> there is a part of me that regrets having it. mostly stigma and shame. still, i have been playing with the idea of trying it again! the doc wanted to do more, but i had had enough. mostly i think because i had to stop my klonopin abruptly. and, klonopin seems to be the only med i have tried to give me some relief these past 3 years.
>
> the procedure itself is scary the first time. i was crying quite a bit. but, the whole staff was quite kind at ucla. it became pretty routine after #2 or 3. no big deal. no real headache/etc. you are literally out for a few minutes and then waking-up. you do have a 'buzz' going on in your head. a good one. like i said, too bad it didn't last.
>
> finally, almost all ect patients will still be put on meds. i either was not told this or forgot. i was under the impression that it was ect or meds. rarely the case. even w/maintenance ect meds are usually involved. some say meds work better after ect.
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> i can't tell you to have it or not. but, i can tell you that most of what you will read will be negative. hard decision when people are talking permanent brain damage and so on. again, i met people who have been doing ect for quite some time and were highly functional.
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> let me know if you have any more questions.
>
> good luck to us all.
>
> john
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poster:gilmourr
thread:1035478
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20130112/msgs/1035538.html