Posted by PhoenixGirl on February 3, 2002, at 12:15:34
In reply to Re: Update on my ECT adventure » PhoenixGirl, posted by Mr. Scott on January 31, 2002, at 21:38:47
It was 7 initial unilaterals (like 3 a week). About two weeks of good feeling after that, then the mood slide. I'm considering trying reboxetine because it's similar to desipramine, which I've gotten the best result from among all the meds I've tried, but reboxetine has less of a side effect problem than desipramine. I think I get better results from noradernergic meds than serotonergic ones. I wish they would come up with some good dopaminergic meds.
> > Well it's been awhile since I updated people on my ECT journey. I had been getting it once a week for about a month, and now it's been spread out to once very two weeks. According to their literature that they gave me, the once-every-two-weeks schedule is generally supposed to last for four months. I think the goal is to spread it out to once a month. Since they spread it to once every two weeks, I have been doing pretty much the same - moderate depression, able to feel good sometimes. I've been on this schedule for about a month, and have kept my meds the same - 75 mg of desipramine, 300 mg of Wellbutrin SR, 50 mcg of Synthroid. That is until about a week ago, I started Alesse birth control pills in hopes of controlling my PMS symptoms, but I think they are responsible for an increase in depression. I stopped them last night. I don't know for sure if they worsened it, it could be a coincidence, but I am not going to experiment further with them. Some bad things have happened to me in the last few days which have pulled my mood down. My car overheated and I had to pay $300 to get it repaired. The mechanics tried to rip me off, but my dad helped me since I don't know about cars. Then today I was turned down for a job I really wanted, and have no more job prospects out there right now, so I feel stuck in the miserable job I've got. An unhealthy romantic relationship I was beginning is starting to crumble, and that has me feeling down and lonely. I still have no friends and don't have much fun. Things like this cause depression for me, and no amount of electricity will erase them. To sum up: I felt best during the week after the initial intense phase of the ECT. Like I was not depressed anymore. Then I started sliding down into depression, and started on maintenance ECT a few times a week for a week (I think), then once a week for around a month, and now once every two weeks for the past month. Who knows how long I will be getting ECT. Many of my "issues" still exist, the worst of which is loneliness. I'm working on my problems in therapy and it's slow-going. I've had a scary mood slump in the past week which I hope will stop soon and is not a result of the ECT effect wearing off, but a result of recent problems and med changes (fingers crossed). I'm not having many memory problems, thank goodness. By the way, I started a drug called Urecholine, and it has helped with the sexual problems that desipramine gives me. I'm very inexperienced and I'm not getting laid yet so it's hard to say how much dysfunction I have. Overall, I've been doing relatively well with the maintenance ECT. Will keep you guys updated.
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> I don't think we've met yet (on Dr. Bob's playground), but I'm glad to hear you're doing well. Keep up the good fight.. and I look forward to reading your input elsewhere on the board.
>
> Scott
poster:PhoenixGirl
thread:92225
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020131/msgs/92703.html