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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lydia on May 4, 2005, at 5:14:32
A family member of mine has ECT once every three weeks, no matter her mood- to help gaurd from more bouts of depression. Her doctor and everyone else in my family agree that this is the best thing for her, although none of us are sure if it's actually helping. Or, alternatly, if its HARMIng her. SHE is completely ambivilant and very suggestive- she'll do anything her doctor says.
I am wondering how common this is? She's had "maintinance ECT" for the past two years.
Her memory is absolutely horrible, she often gets really frusterated trying to remember words or decide how to phrase things, im convinced its worsening, and isnt the logical conclusion that its a result of the ECT?? Her doctor and husband seem unsure, but don't seem alarmed by it...
It seems excessive and just WRONG for her to have repeated shock treatments when we can't even decide what they are actually doing to her.Has anyone even HEARD of the term "maintinace ECT"?
Posted by Lydia on May 4, 2005, at 15:28:01
In reply to Long-Term ECT/ maintinance ECT??, posted by Lydia on May 4, 2005, at 5:14:32
Posted by linkadge on May 4, 2005, at 17:00:15
In reply to ECT AGAIN AND AGAIN ANYONE? (nm), posted by Lydia on May 4, 2005, at 15:28:01
I've never heard of it done this frequently. I've only heard of it done once every 6 months or so.
This does seem excessive. Are they sure the frequency can't be decreased with taking medication ??
Linkadge
Posted by Lydia on May 4, 2005, at 17:31:11
In reply to Re: ECT AGAIN AND AGAIN ANYONE?, posted by linkadge on May 4, 2005, at 17:00:15
She's on SO MANY meds,
too many if you ask me. we're sort of at a point where we dont know what pills are doing what, if anything, and her mood can be is so volatile so we're afraid to make any adjustments right now to her med cocktail. This is frusterating for me, because i love her to death and feel that she's wrecking her brain. i have hurt her feelings more than a few times bringing this up. my dad just isn't sure, she isn't sure, the only sure person is her doctor and we trust him very much because he's helped her for more than 15 years.
my mom...shes become such a little girl in the past two years. she used to be so outgoing and full of confidence, and now she's SO timid, ambivilant, needy and very loving. shes extremely sensitive, her feelings get hurt so easily. she cries all the time. its hard to live with her because i must be wary of every expression on my face, the inflection in my voice, so as to not make her get defensive and feel that i'm mad at her.
her next treatment is tomorrow, so i'm mentally preparing myself - she's especially emotionally vulnerable on her treatment days. it's so stange, the transformation that our family has made; i never thought i'd be taking care of my mother while i'm still a teenager. our parents arent supposed to need us to help them remember names and faces and words until we are at least middle-aged. thats the way it should be anyways. wow i am still typing, this is a lot.
Posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2005, at 17:38:04
In reply to Re: ECT AGAIN AND AGAIN ANYONE?, posted by Lydia on May 4, 2005, at 17:31:11
Has her doctor ever considered that some of her meds may be causing her depression? I know that a lot of things like BP meds, etc can cause depression. What kind of meds is she on, and how old is she. What caused her doctor to start ECT? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Lydia on May 4, 2005, at 17:50:25
In reply to Re: ECT AGAIN AND AGAIN ANYONE? » Lydia, posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2005, at 17:38:04
> Has her doctor ever considered that some of her meds may be causing her depression? I know that a lot of things like BP meds, etc can cause depression. What kind of meds is she on, and how old is she. What caused her doctor to start ECT? Fondly, Phillipa
I'm not sure that he's considered that, but I mean, I would assume he has! To be honest I wish I knew more about whats going on. My dad is the type who broods silently, hates talking about things, especially my mom's health problems- but he's the only one who talks to her doctor! so i feel very..distanced.
she is 43. she takes budeprion, provigil, topomaz, lamictal, seroquel, xanax and ambien.. and a couple more fore thyroid problems. i'm not sure of the doses/.she started ECT two years ago after she attempted suicide and was catatonically depressed.
she responded well to it at first- her mood gradually got better. but she still had big ups and big downs.
then, last summer she attempted suicide again, and has been having maintinance ECT ever since.
Posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2005, at 18:15:59
In reply to Re: ECT AGAIN AND AGAIN ANYONE?, posted by Lydia on May 4, 2005, at 17:50:25
Wow, i'm so sorry. I hope someone with more knowledge answers your Thread. We're here for you. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Declan on May 4, 2005, at 23:40:21
In reply to Long-Term ECT/ maintinance ECT??, posted by Lydia on May 4, 2005, at 5:14:32
Hi Lydia
My mother was dignosed with agitated depression. After admission the order of things was:
Aurorix/moclobemide......no use.
Zoloft......worked a bit but caused a tremor, discontinued.
ECT...many treatments, >10
Effexor.
Eventually something worked and, interestingly, it was only when maintenance ECT was being recommended by her psych that she very slowly began not to get worse, and then to get better. I was absolutely appalled, and would have had more faith in her doctors if they had not been so, for want of a better expression, psychologically illiterate. Nobody could talk properly to her. Because I had been depressed/drug addicted and had 15 years psychodynamic therapy (I suppose) I was able to better understand her distress. She wasn't psychotic, but certainly could have seemed so. Anyway what I'm trying to get to is that I had the idea that the depression just burned itself out. And maybe also Effexor. She was in the psych hospital 9 months. She was lucky it didn't take longer to get a bit better, but even so I think ECT took slabs away from her and didn't give her much relief beyond 2 days each time. She thought it was murder more or less, and that may have been something that gave her some grim satisfaction. All very bitter. I feel for you and would be beside myself with worry in your position. When you see the person you love being treated with so much uncertainty, inadequacy and guesswork. (No blame implied) Wish I could help.
Declan
This is the end of the thread.
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