Posted by bleauberry on April 8, 2008, at 15:59:28
In reply to ECT Question, posted by SoulSickness on April 8, 2008, at 5:37:55
> To anyone who has undergone ECT: What was ECT like? Did it work? If it feels like a medication which one does it feel like? Memory problems? Recurrence of symptoms? Thank you in advance
What was it like? I don't remember.
Did it work? For 2 days. Then I was in an ambulance screaming suicide.
Does it feel like medication? Sort of, in that the barbituates drug you out for a while, and while brain/hormone changes are happening it feels similar to a drug making something happen.
Memory problems? I left my career of 10 years, got a new job for lesser pay, but do not remember quitting my old job, applying for the new one, or the 3 interviews. 3 months surrounding ECT are completely wiped from memory. They never existed. A year surrounding ECT is foggy. Some things clear some things faint some things gone completely. After ECT I had to use a map to drive around my town because it looked like I was visiting a new place I had never been before. I have lived here for 20 years and it is a very small town.
Recurrence of symptoms? They never went away. Actually they got worse. Much harder to treat now. Nearly impossible actually. ECT screws up a lot of stuff, as would a lightening bolt to your head.
The hype surrounding ECT is way overblown. People do make a lot of money on it though. Total cost for my 12 sessions was over $20,000.00. Insurance got hit with most of it, but I stil owed $3000.
Don't do it. That's just my caring advice. I guarantee you there are easy common things your doctors are not looking at and have not been schooled to look at. If you want to know more, let me know.
poster:bleauberry
thread:822155
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080330/msgs/822241.html