Posted by SLS on July 1, 2009, at 23:08:54
In reply to Re: ECT - Linakdge, posted by Ant-Rock on July 1, 2009, at 20:28:49
I know you have been working and working and working to get well. It sounds like your doctor has your best interests in mind.
Have you discussed with your doctor:
1. Unilateral vs. bilateral vs. bitemporal?
2. High dosage vs. low dosage?
2. Unilateral left or unilateral right?
I don't know what to think about ECT anymore. I do think that *some* people come to blame ECT for memory difficulties that are, in fact, symptoms of the depressive illness itself. I know one person that I believe fits in this scenario. However, it is hard to ignore the horror stories that are present on the Internet. I would like to believe that ECT is safe. I do not know anyone personally who has had ECT and reported a horror story.There is one person who posts here who was excited to have ECT performed on him. He reporting having a bad experience with it. I don't know if there are any residual memory or cognitive issues with him, but he is quite vocal about his bad experience with ECT. Yet, I have met people who do well on ECT. Many of these folks do go for maintenance treatments. In this regard, it is really no different than treatment with medication. If you don't take them every day for maintenance, you relapse.
Without researching the latest and greatest protocols in ECT, I guess I would go for high-dosage unilateral right and try to avoid bilateral.
Like I said, I can neither endorse nor condemn ECT as a treatment. I am very ambivalent regarding this.
My only recommendation to you is that you research the recent advances in ECT protocols and discuss what you find with your doctor. At least you will feel more confident in whatever decisions you reach. If you have already reached a decision, then forgive my butting in.
Good luck to you.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:901064
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090630/msgs/904369.html