![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 PC_Load_Letter on August 22, 2010, at 13:26:39
This is a new form of ECT that apparently results in significantly less deleterious effects on memory and cognition than the standard versions. Its use is not yet widespread, however. I would appreciate any first-hand accounts of this form of ECT.
I will be undergoing this form of unilateral ECT in the near future, October most likely. I've tried just about everything under the sun to ameliorate my MDD, by the way, including all the MAOIs, most tricyclics, as well as several neuroleptics and mood-stabilizers.
Posted by Phillipa on August 22, 2010, at 13:34:29
In reply to ultra-brief pulse ECT anyone?, posted by PC_Load_Letter on August 22, 2010, at 13:26:39
Have not heard any reports on here of it if new welcome to babble. Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on August 22, 2010, at 16:26:39
In reply to ultra-brief pulse ECT anyone?, posted by PC_Load_Letter on August 22, 2010, at 13:26:39
> This is a new form of ECT that apparently results in significantly less deleterious effects on memory and cognition than the standard versions. Its use is not yet widespread, however. I would appreciate any first-hand accounts of this form of ECT.
>
> I will be undergoing this form of unilateral ECT in the near future, October most likely. I've tried just about everything under the sun to ameliorate my MDD, by the way, including all the MAOIs, most tricyclics, as well as several neuroleptics and mood-stabilizers.But not antinbiotics? Doxycyline? Antifungals? Diflucan? DLPA? LDN? How do you respond to opioid pain killers? Was tramadol on the list of meds you've done? Zoloft+Nortriptyline combo? Prozac+Ritalin? Modafinil?
I mean, when someone says they tried just about everything, unless they have actually tried attacking the major causes of depression instead of just the symptoms, then they haven't tried everything. Thus the mention of ABX and antifungal which cover a lot of bases. And the mention of LDN, DLPA, and challengef tests of opioids to cover the endogenous endorphine angle, almost always neglected. Just some ideas.
As for the ECT, well, as an ECT survivor I wouldn't recommend any form of it to anyone. On the good side, it can be sort of like closing an old chapter and opening a new one, even if it doesn't work well. It can at least give hope. Sometimes it even works. When it does work, most people here have said it didn't work for very long, but did get them over the hump and buy some time until they found something else that did help. That's the new chapter thing.
We all have our own unique journeys and decisions. I'm just saying I don't think ECT of any kind is a good idea if creative diagnostics have been overlooked. They almost always are overlooked. We always assume that since it is depression, it must be in the head, right? Well, wrong. Serious causes of depression can come from places away from the head. The head is just the place that takes the pounding.
I have been in your shoes and believe me I know where you are at. So I do wish you well whatever you do.
Posted by PC_Load_Letter on August 25, 2010, at 8:06:42
In reply to Re: ultra-brief pulse ECT anyone?, posted by bleauberry on August 22, 2010, at 16:26:39
> > This is a new form of ECT that apparently results in significantly less deleterious effects on memory and cognition than the standard versions. Its use is not yet widespread, however. I would appreciate any first-hand accounts of this form of ECT.
> >
> > I will be undergoing this form of unilateral ECT in the near future, October most likely. I've tried just about everything under the sun to ameliorate my MDD, by the way, including all the MAOIs, most tricyclics, as well as several neuroleptics and mood-stabilizers.
>
> But not antinbiotics? Doxycyline? Antifungals? Diflucan? DLPA? LDN? How do you respond to opioid pain killers? Was tramadol on the list of meds you've done? Zoloft+Nortriptyline combo? Prozac+Ritalin? Modafinil?
>
> I mean, when someone says they tried just about everything, unless they have actually tried attacking the major causes of depression instead of just the symptoms, then they haven't tried everything. Thus the mention of ABX and antifungal which cover a lot of bases. And the mention of LDN, DLPA, and challengef tests of opioids to cover the endogenous endorphine angle, almost always neglected. Just some ideas.
>
> As for the ECT, well, as an ECT survivor I wouldn't recommend any form of it to anyone. On the good side, it can be sort of like closing an old chapter and opening a new one, even if it doesn't work well. It can at least give hope. Sometimes it even works. When it does work, most people here have said it didn't work for very long, but did get them over the hump and buy some time until they found something else that did help. That's the new chapter thing.
>
> We all have our own unique journeys and decisions. I'm just saying I don't think ECT of any kind is a good idea if creative diagnostics have been overlooked. They almost always are overlooked. We always assume that since it is depression, it must be in the head, right? Well, wrong. Serious causes of depression can come from places away from the head. The head is just the place that takes the pounding.
>
> I have been in your shoes and believe me I know where you are at. So I do wish you well whatever you do.
>
>
>
>
Thanks for your suggestions. Unfortunately, I have failed trials of the combos you mentioned, as well as tramadol and modafinil. I have not tried LDN or any of the antibacterial/antiviral options you listed, but I have been on various antibiotics in the past and noticed no effects on my depression. Non-psych-related trials of opioids have produced some modest transitory improvement, but good luck getting any doctor to even consider prescribing these to treat a mental illness.It seems to me that a significant bacterial or viral connection to psychiatric-related conditions would have been discovered by now, given the millions of people suffering from these afflictions who are also being prescribed antibacterial or antiviral meds to treat infectious conditions at any given time.
I'm sorry to hear that your experience with ECT was not a positive one. Was your ECT unilateral or bilateral? Ultra-brief pulse? I agree that, in non-crisis situations, ECT should only be considered if virtually all other possible options have been exhausted. But desperate times, as they say, call for desperate measures, and these are desperate times for me.
Posted by morgan miller on August 25, 2010, at 19:43:10
In reply to Re: ultra-brief pulse ECT anyone?, posted by PC_Load_Letter on August 25, 2010, at 8:06:42
You tried all of those combos? Wow.
Chronic infections like Lyme go undetected pretty easily. Lyme is a pretty sly one, it is very good at hiding itself and still getting away with some mischief. Tests for Lyme are not always reliable. Have you had an Igenex western blot done? Even if you have, it still may not have given you an accurate result.
I think what BB is trying to say about ECT is that even if it helps, it may only make you feel better for 6 months to a year, and after that your brain may never again function the same. That is the risk that he is warning you about.
I was going to have ECT at one point, things were really really bad. I'm really glad I didn't take that risk. While the ultra-brief pulse sounds interesting and may be a step in the right direction with ECT, I still am leery of the treatment and will not consider it unless I simply can barely talk or move or it has been proven to be safe and effective without any of the current risks.
Posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2010, at 23:47:52
In reply to Re: ultra-brief pulse ECT anyone? » PC_Load_Letter, posted by morgan miller on August 25, 2010, at 19:43:10
I've been positive for lymes for years now. Lymes is kind of becoming a catch all as so many new bugs and strains of illnesses out there according to my infection control doc. Have had pic line antibiotics, oral pulsing three months at a time for two years and recently about 8 weeks of doxycycline. No changes in how I felt. So my elevated IGG is most likely to remain high for years. I chose to get off the antibiotics as lost taste and smell 7 years ago the infection control doc feels due to biaxin xl. So seriously antibiotics can also be harmful for some. I have no joint pains, cerebral spinal fluid clesr, non of the classic lymes presentations. Doc said treat the damage lymes has done. Thankfully my heart and fine. Ect might just work for some. I thought this type sounded very promising. Phillipa
Posted by emmanuel98 on August 26, 2010, at 19:37:59
In reply to Re: ultra-brief pulse ECT anyone?, posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2010, at 23:47:52
I had unilateral ECT two years ago -- not brief pulse, I don't beleive. I had absolutely no problem with it. No memory loss, except briefly when I woke up from the anesthesia and couldn't recall where I was. But it didn't really help me. I didn't feel less depressed, though some people swear by it. I stopped after 10 treatments because I was getting this weird feeling like deja vu, but it was instead this constant sensation that I needed to remember something. It went away when I stopped the ECT.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.