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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by denise1904 on February 4, 2005, at 13:04:29
Hi,
Does anyone know if there are some more reputable places than others to have ECT, with more up to date equipment, better and more experienced operators, that sort of thing.
I keep thinking about having it but if I do I want to put myself in good hands.
Denise
Posted by linkadge on February 4, 2005, at 13:43:31
In reply to Are there good and bad places to have ECT?, posted by denise1904 on February 4, 2005, at 13:04:29
There certainly are. If I were you, I'd stay away from Don's Discount ECT.
Linkadge
Posted by mike13 on February 4, 2005, at 14:51:22
In reply to Re: Are there good and bad places to have ECT?, posted by linkadge on February 4, 2005, at 13:43:31
> There certainly are. If I were you, I'd stay away from Don's Discount ECT.
>
> Linkadgedamn! I just got a 50 percent off coupon from there.
Posted by SadDoggie on February 4, 2005, at 22:29:47
In reply to Are there good and bad places to have ECT?, posted by denise1904 on February 4, 2005, at 13:04:29
Denise,
You are wise to think about this. I was in a hospital where someone else had it done and they were complaining about the experience. The equipment is probably the same in most hospitals and not as important as the operators. Like if they put the electrodes too close to your forehead you'll forget what your name is :) Seriously though, the anesthesiologist is very important also. So you should go to a good hospital.
Also check what type it is, unilateral or bilateral. You should first try unilateral which is one side of the head only, because it causes less memory loss, but it might not be as effective in some people. Let us know how it goes, I was going to do it myself but chickened out at the last moment.
SadDoggie> Hi,
>
> Does anyone know if there are some more reputable places than others to have ECT, with more up to date equipment, better and more experienced operators, that sort of thing.
>
> I keep thinking about having it but if I do I want to put myself in good hands.
>
>
> Denise
Posted by CareBear04 on February 5, 2005, at 18:53:14
In reply to Are there good and bad places to have ECT?, posted by denise1904 on February 4, 2005, at 13:04:29
i was considering ECT in the fall, too, but it's not something you can just request and get. it's important to have a thorough workup and physical, to know what you're getting into, and to have good doctors.
i would recommend a university-affiliated hospital where there are faculty who are involved in ECT-related research. i don't know, but i personally would be wary of county hospitals and state institutions and places of that sort.
on a personal note, seeing my roommate in the hospital after her ECT sessions was enough to knock the idea right out of my head. she was a complete zombie, not just right after but throughout the time we roomed together. her gait was disturbed, she was conked out more often than not, and she had trouble socializing. i don't know how much of this is due to her original problems, but i knew that i didn't want that for myself.
research and talk to potential pdocs who specialize in this.
Posted by SadDoggie on February 6, 2005, at 4:26:23
In reply to Re: Are there good and bad places to have ECT? » denise1904, posted by CareBear04 on February 5, 2005, at 18:53:14
Cmon Carebear you don't want to scare her. It's hard enough deciding whether you're going to do it or not as it is. How is your friend doing now Carebear? Surely the zombie effect went away didn't it?
I was in the hospital and some people were getting it and they were all ok. Just some slight memory problems right afterwards.
Maybe some people may seem like zombies for a short time but I took an antipsychotic once which made me like a zombie too and the side effects went right away after awhile.
ECT takes some sessions to work so when I asked one of them they said they were just OK. Like I said in my other post one of them had complaints about the procedure and didn't want it anymore. That's one of the reasons I chickened out. But I think that person was just a complainer, judging by ongoing complaints about other things. They do say it helps 90% of people. By the way they didn't give me a physical when I was about to get it. They say ECT can be given to people who are too sick to take antidepressants.
SadDoggie> i was considering ECT in the fall, too, but it's not something you can just request and get. it's important to have a thorough workup and physical, to know what you're getting into, and to have good doctors.
>
> i would recommend a university-affiliated hospital where there are faculty who are involved in ECT-related research. i don't know, but i personally would be wary of county hospitals and state institutions and places of that sort.
>
> on a personal note, seeing my roommate in the hospital after her ECT sessions was enough to knock the idea right out of my head. she was a complete zombie, not just right after but throughout the time we roomed together. her gait was disturbed, she was conked out more often than not, and she had trouble socializing. i don't know how much of this is due to her original problems, but i knew that i didn't want that for myself.
>
> research and talk to potential pdocs who specialize in this.
Posted by SLS on February 6, 2005, at 7:47:10
In reply to Are there good and bad places to have ECT?, posted by denise1904 on February 4, 2005, at 13:04:29
> Hi,
>
> Does anyone know if there are some more reputable places than others to have ECT, with more up to date equipment, better and more experienced operators, that sort of thing.
>
> I keep thinking about having it but if I do I want to put myself in good hands.
>
>
> Denise
Where do you live? (+/-)
- Scott
Posted by CareBear04 on February 7, 2005, at 10:23:09
In reply to Re: Are there good and bad places to have ECT?, posted by SLS on February 6, 2005, at 7:47:10
saddoggie,
thanks so pointing out the obvious. i didn't mean to scare our friend; i only wanted to make sure she knew what could happen.
as for my "friend," my roommate in the hospital-- i'm not sure what happened to her. i was booted prematurely from the hospital. she did still have the shuffles and memory problems. i knew memory problems are a real risk, but i was having them already with my meds and was feeling so awful, that i was willing to take the risk.
when i was in the hospital before, they often used ECT on the older women patients. according to my friend, a med student who observed, they could go from dragging and negative and sad to smiling and looking forward to seeing family. that kind of change is worth aiming for!
Posted by denise1904 on February 8, 2005, at 10:20:17
In reply to Re: Are there good and bad places to have ECT?, posted by CareBear04 on February 7, 2005, at 10:23:09
Hi Carebear,
Thanks for the word of caution, I've heard many horror stories before so it didn't scare me. Fortunately my antidepressants are helping me somewhat (although not enough) so I don't have a desperate need to have it like I did before.
Can you tell me where your roommate had their treatment, as I'll make sure I avoid the place like the plague.
Denise
Posted by denise1904 on February 8, 2005, at 10:23:55
In reply to Re: Are there good and bad places to have ECT?, posted by SLS on February 6, 2005, at 7:47:10
Hi Scott,
How are you? Have you managed to get on Mifepristone yet?
I live in the UK in the Midlands but would be prepared to travel further a field to try it if I decided to.
I don't know if you remember but last year I went to Vancouver to try rTMS which was a complete waste of time (for me anyway).
I'm now thinking of Magnetic Seizure Therapy (before ECT) (Like I've got the choice) but to my knowledge there was only one trial and that's in Switzerland and the the Project Owner tells me they're not recruiting anymore volunteers.
Denise
Posted by JohnM4402 on February 8, 2005, at 14:57:12
In reply to Are there good and bad places to have ECT?, posted by denise1904 on February 4, 2005, at 13:04:29
I have just started bi-lateral ECT treatment here in Dallas, TX. So far I have been done two treatments. Not alot to complain about so far, just a little fuzziness around the previous two weeks memory. If you have any more questions about the procedure or my experience, let me know.
Posted by CareBear04 on February 8, 2005, at 21:14:01
In reply to Re: To Carebear, posted by denise1904 on February 8, 2005, at 10:20:17
hey denise,
i didn't mean it as a horror story; it was just a wake up call for me since i'd been willing to go for ECT. it made me decide to exhaust my other options. my roommate wasn't brain-dead or anything. she was just a middle-aged woman with memory loss, and unfortunately, i didn't get to know her well.again, i would just recommend a university-afilliated hospital in a city or near one. at those centers, i know at least that there are usually ECT experts. they might not be the one treating you, but at worst, you can appeal for their consult.
good luck1
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