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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxime on August 22, 2006, at 14:10:36
Okay. Meds and I don't really get along. They poop out on me. But I can't live like this because it's not living.
ECT. Anyone who has had ECT, please tell me your experiences .. the good and the bad.
Tell me if you had unilateral or bilateral.
How much memory loss did you have?
Are you still on antidepressants?
How many sessions did you have?
Do you regret having it?
Would you have it again?If there are any practicing psych nurses tell me what you have observed.
Thank you.
Maxime
Posted by invisibleman15010 on August 22, 2006, at 16:35:37
In reply to ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by Maxime on August 22, 2006, at 14:10:36
Hey,
I am there with you with the same dire questions. I am sick of changing meds., my Dr. has been pushing ECT for me for over a year. I have read that it is safe, usually short term memory loss, which returns, is a short term fix, must have followup treatments after initial series, usually is followed up with a new med., which they say will work better after ECT........then I have talked to people that have said that they have had complete parts of their memory wiped clean, depression is no better in the long run.........is it worth it? is it a short term fix? is it worth the possible boost to get back on track, only to possibly fall off again, always have the stereotype of having ECT......watch out for nurse Kratchett......My Psy Doc. said it was the hip thing to do now? Go figure? I thought Hip might be partying with Ziggy Marley?
e
Posted by Maxime on August 22, 2006, at 17:14:06
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by invisibleman15010 on August 22, 2006, at 16:35:37
I know. I have two personal friends who went through ECT and lost long term memory ... my psychiatrist denies the possibility of that happening.
Maxime
> Hey,
> I am there with you with the same dire questions. I am sick of changing meds., my Dr. has been pushing ECT for me for over a year. I have read that it is safe, usually short term memory loss, which returns, is a short term fix, must have followup treatments after initial series, usually is followed up with a new med., which they say will work better after ECT........then I have talked to people that have said that they have had complete parts of their memory wiped clean, depression is no better in the long run.........is it worth it? is it a short term fix? is it worth the possible boost to get back on track, only to possibly fall off again, always have the stereotype of having ECT......watch out for nurse Kratchett......My Psy Doc. said it was the hip thing to do now? Go figure? I thought Hip might be partying with Ziggy Marley?
> e
Posted by invisibleman15010 on August 22, 2006, at 18:40:45
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING! » invisibleman15010, posted by Maxime on August 22, 2006, at 17:14:06
But then my Psy. doc says that he does not make anymore from going all the way to the hospital at 6:00 am to do ECT, than he does seeing someone in the clinic for 5 minutes.....$150 either way......My therapist says that she would not suggest it unless someone was truly suicidal...last resort etc.......was is the last resort after trying all of the meds?....my friends tell me to start smoking pot again......been a long time...hey it's natural....gotta be better than laying on the floor, shaking, sweating, puking, runs, brain zaps.....from good ol Paxil or Zoloft or.......and who knows what it is doing to our liver, brain, ruins sex lives,.......ruins lives....depression and anxiety ruins lives...meds ruin lives.....maybe ECT will to......ah what the hell...roll another...just like the other one.......but do I want to go to jail for wanting relief from my depression and anxiety?........guess it is electrodes and shaking, sweating, puking, brain zaps...........
e
e
Posted by Phillipa on August 22, 2006, at 19:22:21
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by invisibleman15010 on August 22, 2006, at 18:40:45
Well you did say practicing RN's at the time I was practicing and a patient myself a lady had it was fine before it they sent her home the next day and a few days later was back. She was not the same person. She repitiously kept folding clothes. I personally wouldn't do it. Love Phillipa ps My pdoc suggested VNS no way
Posted by Maxime on August 22, 2006, at 23:26:22
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by Phillipa on August 22, 2006, at 19:22:21
> Well you did say practicing RN's at the time I was practicing and a patient myself a lady had it was fine before it they sent her home the next day and a few days later was back. She was not the same person. She repitiously kept folding clothes. I personally wouldn't do it. Love Phillipa ps My pdoc suggested VNS no way
But Phillipa, that's just one person. I'm not saying that ECT is the answer, but I need a larger sample size! LOL!
Maxime
Posted by Maxime on August 22, 2006, at 23:33:38
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by invisibleman15010 on August 22, 2006, at 18:40:45
Dude, we are so not on the same wave length.
Just because something is natural, it doesn't mean it's good for you.
And I've never had a brain zap, although everyone talks about them. Meh, I'm a freak.
But you are right about the meds ... what are they doing to our organs?
I *know* people here have had ECT ... I hope they post.
Good luck to you dude.
Maxime
> But then my Psy. doc says that he does not make anymore from going all the way to the hospital at 6:00 am to do ECT, than he does seeing someone in the clinic for 5 minutes.....$150 either way......My therapist says that she would not suggest it unless someone was truly suicidal...last resort etc.......was is the last resort after trying all of the meds?....my friends tell me to start smoking pot again......been a long time...hey it's natural....gotta be better than laying on the floor, shaking, sweating, puking, runs, brain zaps.....from good ol Paxil or Zoloft or.......and who knows what it is doing to our liver, brain, ruins sex lives,.......ruins lives....depression and anxiety ruins lives...meds ruin lives.....maybe ECT will to......ah what the hell...roll another...just like the other one.......but do I want to go to jail for wanting relief from my depression and anxiety?........guess it is electrodes and shaking, sweating, puking, brain zaps...........
> e
> e
Posted by deniseuk190466 on August 23, 2006, at 11:20:21
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING! » invisibleman15010, posted by Maxime on August 22, 2006, at 23:33:38
Hi,
Part of me wants to do a full course of ECT as well, my mother just thinks I want it because it's drastic, I just think why not go for the extreme.
I sort of hope that as you do the course you would be aware of the memory loss you are having and it's affects and if you don't like it you could stop the treatments before the affects get worst. Maybe I'm wrong.
Denise
Posted by invisibleman15010 on August 23, 2006, at 11:38:18
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by deniseuk190466 on August 23, 2006, at 11:20:21
On the other hand there is so much that I wish I could forget....but then of course memory loss is not selective......hmm maybe some day.........
My Grandmother had ECT back in the early 60's after loosing 2 adult children and my grandfather all within a year...then falling into a deep depression......she went through a series of ECT then was on a MAOI for the rest of her life......ECT seem to do the trick for her back then.......at least now they put you under and supposedly are much more knowledgeable about how much volts to zap you with....My Psy doc says that most only have a bit of a facial tremor when their brain seizes.......not the full body One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest contortions.....at this point in my failure in treatment.......what the hey......I would though had to end up back in the hospital folding sheets as one of the earlier posts said......I don't like hospitals and I don't like folding laundry......
e
Posted by Maxime on August 23, 2006, at 11:38:45
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by deniseuk190466 on August 23, 2006, at 11:20:21
True. But how do you know what you lost? :-) It's like being in denial. How can you know you're in denial if you are in denial.
But I guess if you started to become really confused you could stop.
Maxime
> Hi,
>
> Part of me wants to do a full course of ECT as well, my mother just thinks I want it because it's drastic, I just think why not go for the extreme.
>
> I sort of hope that as you do the course you would be aware of the memory loss you are having and it's affects and if you don't like it you could stop the treatments before the affects get worst. Maybe I'm wrong.
>
>
> Denise
Posted by invisibleman15010 on August 23, 2006, at 16:20:05
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING! » deniseuk190466, posted by Maxime on August 23, 2006, at 11:38:45
I think in the case of trying ECT and worrying about severe memory loss is to put your trust into someone, such as family, that really understands what you are going through, problems you are having before ECT, how you are acting and handling your depression. Then maybe they can help you evaluate the success or failure of treatment. It is hard, after mental health issues go on for so long, you loose your faith and trust in people. When in fact it seems that we need just the opposite. I find myself becoming much less trusting, more cynical, less caring of others and their issues, the harder it gets....the harder it gets....Will ECT help someone to break out of this cycle?
e
Posted by Maxime on August 23, 2006, at 19:22:11
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by invisibleman15010 on August 23, 2006, at 16:20:05
I couldn't tell you ... my family doesn't give a sh*t. As far as my mental is concerned ... I have to deal with it. I was in the hospital for over 2 months and they came to visit me twice. Guess it was too much for them to handle. *huge roll of eyes*.
*Pauses for a minute*
Well if the ECT helped, you wouldn't be depressed and so the irritability etc. would go away as well ... hopefully. :)
Maxime
> I think in the case of trying ECT and worrying about severe memory loss is to put your trust into someone, such as family, that really understands what you are going through, problems you are having before ECT, how you are acting and handling your depression. Then maybe they can help you evaluate the success or failure of treatment. It is hard, after mental health issues go on for so long, you loose your faith and trust in people. When in fact it seems that we need just the opposite. I find myself becoming much less trusting, more cynical, less caring of others and their issues, the harder it gets....the harder it gets....Will ECT help someone to break out of this cycle?
> e
Posted by invisibleman15010 on August 24, 2006, at 8:42:06
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by invisibleman15010 on August 23, 2006, at 16:20:05
There are certain things in life that seem to drive family and friends away like we have the plague....divorce, job loss, unemployment, bankruptcy, and mental health issues. Let's see what did I forget.......that is about what drove most of my friends and family away....if I was to stay in a Mental Hospital or Clinic....yes, I would be there on my own....my previous posting about support....was a dream for me...my a realism for others....oh I forgot, I am sure my ederly Mother would call, she hasn't dumped me, but it isn't quite the same.........Family,friends, coworkers....all gravitate, for the most part, to successful, upbeat, finanical well off people......like magnets......I know when my Father developed and suffered and died from Alzheimers, his family and friends fled like Mexicans out o Mexico....no one but me and I was 1000 miles away would come near or try to help my Mother cope......once he was in the end times nightmare alz hospital ward.....knowing that he was dying, only my Mother, brother and myself would go....the general public must think mental health issues are like the bird flu or west nile virus.......oh well......with socail anxiety, I would rather not see most of them anyway........
e
Posted by strugglingsteve on August 25, 2006, at 0:42:31
In reply to ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by Maxime on August 22, 2006, at 14:10:36
> Okay. Meds and I don't really get along. They poop out on me. But I can't live like this because it's not living.
>
> ECT. Anyone who has had ECT, please tell me your experiences .. the good and the bad.
> Tell me if you had unilateral or bilateral.
I had bilateral
> How much memory loss did you have?
I still have memory problems 6 months later
> Are you still on antidepressants?
yes
> How many sessions did you have?
9
> Do you regret having it?
yes
> Would you have it again?
no
>
> If there are any practicing psych nurses tell me what you have observed.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Maxime
Posted by exquilter on August 25, 2006, at 23:55:49
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by strugglingsteve on August 25, 2006, at 0:42:31
> > Okay. Meds and I don't really get along. They poop out on me. But I can't live like this because it's not living.
> >
> > ECT. Anyone who has had ECT, please tell me your experiences .. the good and the bad.I had ECT in the 1980s because I hoped they would make a mistake and kill me. I had no hope at all that it would help. They use a short acting anesthetic and paralyze you so you no longer break teeth and bones like in the old days. I woke from every treatment with the most incredible headache and very confused but I suppose there must have been some improvement or treatment would not have continued. I had several series of six or fewer I believe But can't remember for sure.
> > Tell me if you had unilateral or bilateral.
Bilateral
> > How much memory loss did you have?
Still discover memory holes for events before treatments. Much of my early married life is gone, along with some earlier times. Short term memory loss around treatments was severe - would wake up not knowing how I got to the hospital - and one time I forgot how to cook which was distressing for my whole family!
> > Are you still on antidepressants?
yes> > How many sessions did you have?
about 20
> > Do you regret having it?
yes! But I have also seen it save lives, especially in frail elderly patients.> > Would you have it again?
no
> > If there are any practicing psych nurses tell me what you have observed.
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> > Maxime
>
>
Posted by invisibleman15010 on August 26, 2006, at 9:14:37
In reply to Re: ECT .... TELL ME EVERYTHING!, posted by strugglingsteve on August 25, 2006, at 0:42:31
Well....I have decided to have it....it sounds as though the benefits out weigh the possible side effects....shocking isn't it?
e
This is the end of the thread.
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