Posted by Justherself54 on May 31, 2008, at 21:26:56
In reply to I'm curious, too, about the effects, posted by Racer on May 31, 2008, at 17:36:09
> If anyone has had a positive response to ECT -- even if temporary -- would you be willing to report on it? Just how bad is the memory loss? I've heard that it's horrendous, that the ECT itself isn't helpful, that it's a mistake -- but I've also heard that it's been a life saving choice for some people.
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> And I have heard doctors admit that they downplay the memory loss.I had ECT...only 5 treatments as it stopped me from sleeping. The memory loss for me is more of an annoyance. If someone is talking to me about something and I don't remember I find that if they start at the beginning and give details, the memory comes back. It's not like I lost treasured memories...just day to day stuff that happened while I was in the hospital.
An example..my neighbour was in the hospital for gall bladder problems and we watched a movie...I remember watching the movie and the name of it, but I had no recollection of her being with me...
Desparate times mean desparate measures...I hold no grudges and have just learned to accept it. I've had more severe memory loss from being in the horrid depression than I did from ECT...
I have a friend that the only thing that helps her depression is ECT...she goes for maintenance treatments and is doing fine...
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>I can't really say the outcome was positive as it was short term and didn't work for me...My pdoc didn't downplay the memory loss...at that time some memory loss was OK by me...better than the alternative. Given my circumstances I still don't feel it was a mistake to try it...
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poster:Justherself54
thread:832202
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080528/msgs/832286.html