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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blueberry on July 6, 2006, at 17:51:31
Thank you all for you prayers, your good wishes, and wondering where I was. You are so kind and thoughtful.
While in the partial day program doing group therapy, the staff pulled me aside and said they could see I was having a real hard time and that I should be in the hospital as an inpatient.
The hospital was excellent (Southern Maine Medical Center). Good doctors, excellent nurses and staff, very professional, clean, and organized. TV room, large kitchen, piano, painting, games, good menus, pretty good food and lots of it.
I was in no shape to go home, but insurance ran out. They started me on 5mg lexapro for 2 days and then up to 7.5mg, along with my 2.5mg zyprexa, and they added .5mg klonopin at bedtime. I'm still extremely depressed with crying spells and wishing to die, but not quite as bad as it was a week ago.
Two doctors and several nurses spoke very highly of the ECT program and how they thought I was a good candidate for that. So I got the preliminary tests done to pave the road. Still thinking about it. It takes a 6 week chunk out of your life since you can't work or drive and will be dazed and confused a lot. But then, that isn't a whole lot different than how I am already or what meds do to me. They say they see a 70% to 90% success rate with ECT in people like me. The lower success rates are with the elderly. ECT has come a long way recently and everyone involved spoke very highly about it.
Still hanging in there. I thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. I have prayers for you all as well.
Posted by Phillipa on July 6, 2006, at 21:17:23
In reply to Back from the hospital, posted by blueberry on July 6, 2006, at 17:51:31
Blueberry I had a feeling that you had gone inpatient. Sounds like the meds are starting to work even though you feel bad. Did you talk to anyone who has alreaady had ECT? I think most people on the board recomend unilateral ECT. I think you should start a thread. What do you think? Love Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on July 7, 2006, at 0:34:29
In reply to Back from the hospital, posted by blueberry on July 6, 2006, at 17:51:31
Will you try ECT?
Maxime
Posted by med_empowered on July 7, 2006, at 1:10:03
In reply to Re: Back from the hospital » blueberry, posted by Maxime on July 7, 2006, at 0:34:29
hey! I'm glad you're feeling better! But...ECT is pretty extreme. Yes, it helps a lot of people, but there are serious problems sometimes associated with it, and psychiatrists tend to seriously downplay the risks involved.
Could you maybe give your meds a while to work before you go for a course of ECT?
Posted by bassman on July 7, 2006, at 13:27:42
In reply to Back from the hospital, posted by blueberry on July 6, 2006, at 17:51:31
Welcome back!! Make that two votes for trying your meds before ECT...
Posted by heaven help me on July 8, 2006, at 11:04:30
In reply to Re: Back from the hospital, posted by bassman on July 7, 2006, at 13:27:42
I'm just glad to hear from you
:)
mary
Posted by helpme on July 10, 2006, at 1:37:20
In reply to Re: Back from the hospital, posted by med_empowered on July 7, 2006, at 1:10:03
Or the less drastic cranial magnetic stimulation, being done in Chicago...hey! I'm glad you're feeling better! But...ECT is pretty extreme. Yes, it helps a lot of people, but there are serious problems sometimes associated with it, and psychiatrists tend to seriously downplay the risks involved.
>
> Could you maybe give your meds a while to work before you go for a course of ECT?
This is the end of the thread.
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