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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 invisibleman15010 on October 10, 2006, at 8:43:55
Hi Group!
I just had my 9th bisided ECT. It seems to be leaving me in a worse state than I was prior to treatment and just on meds. My sleep, mood, thought patterns all seem to be getting worse since I started. And I had such high hopes? Anyone else had luck or unluck like I am having? It is such a painful trying experiance to keep doing it with no success! Any other relative experiances to share would be greatly appreciated as I am trying to decide if I should continue. I feel like I am doing more damage than good at this point....at least before I was exercising and thinking about getting a life back together.....now I am just surviving the treatments........
Posted by Phillipa on October 10, 2006, at 10:03:46
In reply to Anyone had luck on ECT?, posted by invisibleman15010 on October 10, 2006, at 8:43:55
I wonder if Blueberry will repond same was happening to him/her. Love Phillipa
Posted by JahL on October 10, 2006, at 10:32:17
In reply to Anyone had luck on ECT?, posted by invisibleman15010 on October 10, 2006, at 8:43:55
Hi there.
I don't like to be negative but my experience sounds a little like yours.
I had 14 treatments about 3 years ago and I'm yet to recover. I had a fairly positive response after treatment 3 but things went steadily downhill from there.
I'm left with a permanently worse baseline depression as well as the type of memory loss - both short and long term - that some of the more recent studies (see English Journal of Psychiatry 2003. It was published a mere week after I finished frying my brain...) discuss.
The Lamotrigine that had been so beneficial previous to the ECT is no longer as effective. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that I couldn't take it as regularly because of its anti-seizure properties. Upon full reinstitution it just didn't confer the same benefits.
For a year or so afterwards I was a complete vegetable and needed a lot of care and attention. Apparently I bought a house 3 months after treatment but I don't remember a thing about it. Your comment about 'just surviving' rings true with me. Before treatment I would regularly lift weights and practise martial arts but it was a good year or so before I started on the punchbag again.
Having said all of that, there's no doubt it can be an absolute life-saver for some, else it wouldn't be prescribed. I have been told of people that have been brought back from the brink of suicide. Unfortunately I also personally know people - two friends with a similar condition to my own - who were, like myself, *ruined* by it.
The pdocs I have spoken to about it consider it a treatment of last resort, or as a treatment for people that pose a very real danger to themselves. I guess that's why the potential side-effects are 'tolerated' by the medical establishment. I suppose it all comes down to a simple risk/benefit analysis, but there are so many unknowns to be factored into this.
What's your dx? From what I've read it's particularly effective for psychotic depression, with the efficacy for other disorders somewhat more ambiguous.
Sorry I can't be more positive about ECT. Please bear in mind though that, obviously, one person's experience (ie my own) is no indicator of success for anyone else.
I wish you the best of luck in whichever decision you make.
Take care,
Jah.
> Hi Group!
> I just had my 9th bisided ECT. It seems to be leaving me in a worse state than I was prior to treatment and just on meds. My sleep, mood, thought patterns all seem to be getting worse since I started. And I had such high hopes? Anyone else had luck or unluck like I am having? It is such a painful trying experiance to keep doing it with no success! Any other relative experiances to share would be greatly appreciated as I am trying to decide if I should continue. I feel like I am doing more damage than good at this point....at least before I was exercising and thinking about getting a life back together.....now I am just surviving the treatments........
Posted by pseudoname on October 10, 2006, at 11:06:38
In reply to Anyone had luck on ECT?, posted by invisibleman15010 on October 10, 2006, at 8:43:55
Hi, invisibleman. (I like your name.)
Blueberry started bilateral ECT a couple weeks ago, but she hasn't updated since this: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060927/msgs/691256.html
I had 18 unilateral ECT zaps 15 years ago. It did ZERO benefit, but I experienced no memory loss or worsening symptoms. Bilateral's so different, though.
I'm really (*really*) sorry to hear about your worsening condition. And JahL's experience.
Still, I think I may sign up for ECT again. It is a path toward getting in the deep brain stimulation (DBS) study. What other choices are there??
Posted by JahL on October 10, 2006, at 11:11:29
In reply to Anybody heard from blueberry? » invisibleman15010, posted by pseudoname on October 10, 2006, at 11:06:38
> I'm really (*really*) sorry to hear about your worsening condition. And JahL's experience.Thanks :-)
Posted by invisibleman15010 on October 10, 2006, at 16:49:21
In reply to Anybody heard from blueberry? » invisibleman15010, posted by pseudoname on October 10, 2006, at 11:06:38
Thanks guys I decided to no more treatmeants....I feel much worse off than prior to.........I most definately have a clear memory block.......all from ECT......before it was just the depression now this blank fug.........ECT is not the way to go .........maybe unless you are really over the edge..I thought I was .....guess not......thanks for being real.....
Big Ed
Posted by Triolian on October 10, 2006, at 18:42:48
In reply to Re: Anybody heard from blueberry? » pseudoname, posted by invisibleman15010 on October 10, 2006, at 16:49:21
Ever read what Dr. Thomas Szasz has to say about ECT ? It's foolish to submit to it, and any doctor who prescribes or administers it should have his/her license pulled - permanently. There is enough cause based on decades of evidence to outlaw the procedure entirely. It's in the same class a lobotomy - phrenology. A quack procedure.
Posted by Phillipa on October 10, 2006, at 19:56:22
In reply to Re: Anybody heard from blueberry?, posted by Triolian on October 10, 2006, at 18:42:48
I'm worried about Blueberry no babblelight ever on. Anyone have an e-mail address? And is it he/ she? Love Phillipa
Posted by gardenergirl on October 10, 2006, at 21:30:52
In reply to Re: Anybody heard from blueberry?, posted by Triolian on October 10, 2006, at 18:42:48
> It's foolish to submit to it,
Please don't post anything that could lead others to feel accused or put down. If you or others have questions about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civilFollow-ups regarding these issues should be directed to Admin and should of course be civil. Dr. Bob has oversight over deputy decisions. Thus, you can always appeal this decision to him, and he may choose a different action.
Regards,
deputy gg
Posted by blueberry on October 11, 2006, at 12:28:53
In reply to Anyone had luck on ECT?, posted by invisibleman15010 on October 10, 2006, at 8:43:55
I just had my 7th ECT today. So far I haven't seen any benefits. They are telling me benefits usually show up between 12 and 20 treatments. They are also telling me that even if ECT doesn't work as good as hoped, it usually makes medications work better.
Posted by pseudoname on October 11, 2006, at 13:09:10
In reply to Re: Anyone had luck on ECT?, posted by blueberry on October 11, 2006, at 12:28:53
I hope it starts to show a response soon. I hope the memory / cognitive problems aren't getting any worse.
No matter what else, trying ECT shows that you're very determined and willing to do what it may take. Good luck. (And please keep posting about how it goes.)
Posted by Phillipa on October 11, 2006, at 20:06:22
In reply to Thinking of you » blueberry, posted by pseudoname on October 11, 2006, at 13:09:10
Blueberry I've been thinking of you. Well the fact that you haven't forgotten babble says you have memory. Love Phillipa
Posted by Crazy Horse on October 12, 2006, at 17:31:30
In reply to Re: Anyone had luck on ECT?, posted by blueberry on October 11, 2006, at 12:28:53
> I just had my 7th ECT today. So far I haven't seen any benefits. They are telling me benefits usually show up between 12 and 20 treatments. They are also telling me that even if ECT doesn't work as good as hoped, it usually makes medications work better.
It's true blueberry..what they are telling you. I had 22 treatments in '97 and my meds began to work better or maybe it was the combination of the ECT and my meds?..all i know is i did get better, and i believe you will too.
-Monte
Posted by Karen44 on October 13, 2006, at 17:17:51
In reply to Re: Anyone had luck on ECT?, posted by blueberry on October 11, 2006, at 12:28:53
> I just had my 7th ECT today. So far I haven't seen any benefits. They are telling me benefits usually show up between 12 and 20 treatments. They are also telling me that even if ECT doesn't work as good as hoped, it usually makes medications work better.
I was wondering about you too and hope you do better soon. Take care,
Karen44
Posted by elanor roosevelt on October 15, 2006, at 21:39:34
In reply to Anyone had luck on ECT?, posted by invisibleman15010 on October 10, 2006, at 8:43:55
I am sorry to hear the ECT has not gone well.
Are you feeling any better?
The literature on ECT gets increasingly positive.
I would have tried it long ago if not for my doc.
thanks for posting.
good luck to you
Posted by invisibleman15010 on October 17, 2006, at 9:11:49
In reply to Re: Anyone had luck on ECT?, posted by Karen44 on October 13, 2006, at 17:17:51
I quit after 9,,,,,,,,it was a horrible experiance...leaving me confused ....depressed..feeling very lost....yes I to was told that the benefits may so up later.....bull sh*t.......it was sear torture leaving feeling like a real "mental patient" and I am not even hopsitalized......I am so sorry I agreed to it...I believe it has left me with permanent damage.......
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