Posted by donald on September 6, 1999, at 2:44:57
In reply to Re: ECT?--Breggin, posted by yardena on September 1, 1999, at 18:30:21
> Keep in mind that Breggin is anti a lot of psychopharm too.
I had 7 ECT treatments in April 1998. I had been hospitalized at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia. They have a support group for ECT patients there. I found that it was helpful. Some people go in for monthly ECT treatments rather than taking meds.
I struggled with the treatment because the anesthesia made me nauseas. They finally gave me an anesthetic that was less prone to cause this problem. I had to advocate for it. You also do not want treatments more frequently than every other day. Daily treatments can increase chance of memory problems. It did not effect my memory. I do have short term memory problems. This has been an issue since prior to the ECT treatments. They started me on Parnate after the treatments and this seems to have kept the depression at bay.
I was not thrilled aboutthe treatment but felt that it was preferable to continued depression. That is the worst for me. I also have a family and a lot of responsibility. The ECT and medication enabled me to resume a normallife that continues to this day.
You might want to check into the support group at Freinds Hospital in Philadelphia for assistance.
Depression is no fun. You have to cope with a lot of discomfort and inconvenience. it is sort of like being a cancer patient. Just take it one day at a time and keep researching. I continue to hope that someday soon, there will be some new and more effective treatments for those of us who have difficult to treat conditions.
poster:donald
thread:10764
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990829/msgs/11092.html