Posted by Pfinstegg on January 10, 2003, at 1:16:03
In reply to Re: One year ECT anniversary, posted by Anna P. on January 9, 2003, at 20:28:02
I am inclined to agree more with Anna's general view, rather than Jumpy's. As I have been having my daily TMS treatments, I've had a chance to talk at length with the technician, who also does ECT. She said that they are just not seeing cognitive deficits from ECT treatments the way it is given now- just temporary and fairly minor short-term memory loss- and often not even that. Patients don't lose any important long-term memories- the ones that give you a sense of continuity and of who you are. My doctors here, who have had many years of experience with ECT, consider it an excellent and underused treatment for resistant depression. Some people may need maintenance ECT, like Chloe on the board here, some may need ongoing medication, like Geezer, also on the board, but some, like Anna, may not need anything further. Whatever happens, you are likely to be in such a better position emotionally that you will have the energy and confidence to make much better life decisions.
I chose TMS, because of the ease of administration, but I believe TMS and ECT basically do the same thing. The electric or electromagnetic current helps your neurons and neurotransmitters return to a pre-illness level and manner of functioning. It really helps your brain get healthy again! And there just isn't much else about the treatments to worry about!
Pfinstegg
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:135024
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030106/msgs/135166.html