Posted by Zannah on June 6, 2000, at 19:45:36
In reply to Electroconvulsive therapy, posted by Ginny on June 6, 2000, at 8:14:27
> There is an interesting article in today's Washington Post on ECT: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/health/A4902-2000Jun6.html
Thanks Ginny~
I enjoyed the article. What a thing to go through!
My beloved father, who passed away in Feb., underwent shock therapy about 10 yrs. ago. I and my 2 siblings all lived hundreds of miles away when he was diagnosed and treated. He & my mom made the decision on their own. My dad swore later that he could not believe that he had succumbed to such a treatment. (He signed on the
dotted line, however). I understand his consternation (& fury) as his own dad had died of a heart attack during ECT. (That was in 1946 & ECT was not as much of a well-honed procedure as it is now). My father could not remember how sick he was before & couldn't justify the price he paid for his 'health'. Daddy lost a lot of his impressive vocabulary and memories in the process. Some came back~a lot didn't. It was a painful recovery.
But, he was around for another precious 10 yrs., & managed to escape any more visits to the psychiatric ward. I moved back to my hometown 8 yrs. ago, to be closer to my parents, esp'ly during crises. We celebrated he & my mom's 50th anniversary last Dec.Coulda been a lot worse...Zannah
poster:Zannah
thread:36280
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000603/msgs/36356.html