Posted by Bipolarsux on February 27, 2003, at 5:15:37
In reply to Re: ECT - long and possibly very boring - sorry » Bipolarsux, posted by Greg A. on February 26, 2003, at 12:24:47
Hi Greg.
I did not find your experience boring at all. However, it does make me worry that ECT will not work for me either.
We share some important histories: on medication for about the same length of time, pretty poor response in general, bipolar (though my manic symptoms sound worse, my depression less). I have read that one important predictor for response to ECT is response to medication - medication resistance correlates with ECT resistance. My pdoc is certainly adamant about my medication resistance (hence the push for ECT).
I am nervous about coming off my medication before undergoing ECT because, as poor as it is, the pain of completely uncontrolled illness is unbearable. Therefore if the ECT starts to prove ineffective I will be in the same terrible situation that you were. Also, I must withdraw from Klonopin (starting now) again and this is agonizing for me (I've done it before). Even reducing the dose by 0.25 mg every 2 weeks is a hard battle. Seems like you've got to go through a whole lot of hell before you get to heaven eh?
I've heard enough about the memory problems of bilateral ECT: I will not consent to them. If unilateral does not work then I guess crappy medications are my destiny and I'll have to develop some radical new plan to try and get some satisfaction from life.In the meantime, while I am withdrawing from medication I've got to find some good story for the boss so I can keep my job - my one source of stability (not to mention income).
If you have anything more at all to say about ECT or anything else, please do so.
BPsux
poster:Bipolarsux
thread:201088
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030223/msgs/204257.html