Posted by Druery on July 1, 2005, at 22:29:56
In reply to Lets talk about ECT........., posted by ed_uk on June 24, 2005, at 17:53:58
> Hello,
>
> I'd like to hear from people who've had ECT. I'm not considering ECT myself but I've got a couple of friends who's pdocs have recommended ECT.
>
> If you've had ECT, how were the electrodes placed...
>
> 1. Right unilateral
> 2. Left unilateral
> 3. Bitemporal
> 4. Bifrontal
>I don't know.
> How often did you have ECT during the initial phase? How many treatments did you have? Did you recieve continuation or maintenance ECT? How often?
>I don't remember how many treatments I had. More than average.
> Why were you given ECT? eg. depression, schizophrenia etc.
>
Depression.> Were you forced to have ECT or did you choose to have it?
>I chose to have it.
> How were you treated by your 'shock doc', did they provide you with good information? Did they undermine your side effects?
>Everyone treated me well.
> Did you tell your family/friends/boss that you were having ECT?
>I've told some people.
> Before ECT, were you given a premedication?
>Just the anesthetic.
> Do you have any idea which anesthetic you received? eg. propofol (Diprivan), methohexital (Brevital), thiopental (Pentothal), etomidate (Amidate) etc.
>No.
> How did you feel when you came around from the anesthetic? If you remember!!! :-O
>I felt woozy and foggy and had a headache.
> Was ECT effective in reducing your depression/psychotic symptoms??
>No.
> Do you regret having ECT........would you have it again?
>I don't regret having it, but I wouldn't have the same kind again, as it didn't work for me.
> What side effects did you have from ECT? eg. anterograde amnesia, retrograde amnesia. Did you ever regain your lost memories? Do you feel that you have suffered permanent cognitive damage?
I've lost memories. They seem to gradually be coming back, but it's been only a couple of months. I feel stupider, but depression makes me feel stupid, too. I'm less talkative than I used to be, but again, it could be the depression.
>
> After ECT, what medication did you receive to prevent relapse? eg. nortriptyline, lithium etc. If you relapsed, how quickly?
>I stayed on Marplan.
> Do you believe that your ECT restored the efficacy of a 'pooped out' antidepressant?
>No.
> If your course of ECT was not effective, would you consider having a different type of ECT in future? eg. bilateral instead of unilateral or high-dose unilateral instead of low-dose unilateral.
>Yes.
> If your ECT was effective but caused substantial amnesia, would you consider having a different type of ECT in future? eg. right unilateral instead of bilateral or bifrontal instead of bitemporal.
>
> ~Ed
>
>I don't regret having the treatments. Nothing else worked. Unfortunately, the ECT didn't work either, but I think it was worth the try. There's no way to know ahead of time.
--formerly Ilene
poster:Druery
thread:518256
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050627/msgs/522225.html