Posted by alan on July 19, 1999, at 1:45:51
In reply to Re: Toby and Others./ect for me?, posted by Deb on July 4, 1999, at 17:08:31
> I've been following the posts on ect with much interest. I have suffered from depression much of my adult life. But...I had surgery in 1983 for a very large brain tumor, part of which is still in there. Is ect contraindicated for people with previous brain trauma? Been on meds for many years and always looking into new areas of treatment. Any info welcome.
My first and most important bit of advice--and for once, I can speak with authority--is not to take any advice from me: see your doctor, and maybe a neurologist! That said, I think that the fact that some of the tumour is still in there might be a contraindication, but also I think there can be no general answer here. The specifics of your particular case will need to be taken into account by someone who knows what he/she is doing.
This is directed to all considering ECT. Back in the early 50's my uncle-the-psychiatrist and some of his colleagues used to give ECT on an outpatient basis in their offices and without muscle relaxants or anesthesia. Most patients did not make all that big a deal of it, and quite a few who had had them before requested repeats when depresssed again. Maybe that will make it seem less scary. Not that I want it that way!
poster:alan
thread:2360
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990628/msgs/8903.html