Posted by KonTiki on May 12, 2007, at 0:56:21
In reply to RE: Work while undergoing ECT, posted by lcat10 on March 31, 2007, at 20:47:00
> As it turns out, I was inpatient for the first five ECT's and outpatient for the next two. There is no way I could have worked. I quit ECT because the last ECT with a different ECT doc left me with considerable disorientation, confusion, and anterograde amnesia. One week from the last ECT and the disorientation is diminishing. The anterograde amnesia is not, however. I have not returned to work yet and probably will give myself two weeks from the last ECT before I go back to work.
I think it was wise to wait a bit before going back- everyone reponds so differently. I had a series of weeks where I would have ECT in the morning, my dad would pick me up and take me to work and I was totally funtcional. Except for the fact that I would not remember that I had already told him I was going to be out for a while. In fact I arranged for a meeting with me, my boss, and my boss' boss, so I could sit them all down and let them know I was having a "medical procredure" that was going to leave me in a fog for the next few weeks. I think they knew what was going on, I mean they definitely knew i was depressed. But they politely informed me that we had had this exact meeting a week before, and that they were happy to help in a any way.I think all told I missed about 6 months of my memory, including my cousin's wedding and when "titanic" came out. luckily the latter you can easily rent, i fetl great after ECT- like I was on extascy, but it wore off eventually and then was put on effexor.
Anyway I always tell people as soon as they learn they may have ECT, make a journal. write down stuff that happens in the days leading up to your treatment and anything significant that happened in th 6 or so mos. before.
Many people get their entire memory back. If you don't, having a memory book might be kind of nice. On the other hand, I was so depressed back then, who cares that I misplaced 6 months??
-aeon
poster:KonTiki
thread:731727
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/work/20061208/msgs/758050.html