Posted by Enigma on August 20, 2007, at 11:26:13
In reply to IN THIS SITUATION, CAN ECT HURT?, posted by clubfitter on August 19, 2007, at 22:13:06
> A couple weeks ago I was hospitalized, suicidal, etc...as I have suffered from Bipolar/MDD/SAD/APD for the better part of 15 years. I am feeling noticeably better on Lamictal 200, Geodon 80, Lexapro 20 and Klonopin 2mg per day. I want to do ECT just to "re program" and get rid of it all if at all possible. Is this premature or should I just continue to ride the wave Im on. Keep in mind, "feeling better" is a relative term....Thanks
I've been through ECT, twice now. Meaning, 8 treatments over a year ago, and 8 which I just finished. I had more scheduled, but I called the doc and told him I'm done.
ECT, for anyone, is a pretty horrible experience. The usually brutal headaches, jaw-pain, memory loss (permanent), nausea (from the anesthesia), the IV anesthesia burn, the muscle aches, anesthesia disorientation (which can last for 8 hours give or take), etc, are ALL side-effects I suffered on each and every treatment.
My doctor said ECT would AT MOST be 30ish% effective for my depression (and depression in general), THAT'S ALL. He, for some reason, failed to mention this, until I asked him a question on my last treatment.
To go through all the pain and suffering of ECT, in my opinion, isn't worth a "possible", and "at most", 30% recovery, that of course, like the others said, is NOT permanent. You WILL relapse without maintenance ECT treatments. I for one, did NOT want the ECT ball-and-chain tied to my ankle for the rest of my life.
After the 8th treatment, I did see SOME MINOR improvement in mood, but, I must stress.. MINOR. Also, before the ECT, my bipolar symptom of irritability was mostly absent, but came back after ECT. Fluke or side-effect? No idea. Either way, I'm done with ECT for good, and am pretty screwed really, as meds (more than I can count) have really failed me.
So, I'm really at a loss as to what to do with my life now. But, that's a story for another time...
poster:Enigma
thread:777221
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070815/msgs/777340.html