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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kelly on January 5, 2000, at 14:36:08
I'm afaired to tell my DR. that i think my meds stopped working cause i just started zyprexa & been on prozac for a yr now. i've tried almost everything & when i saw him last he was talking about ECT if all else fails. My husband is agains ECT & i'm not sure. I was asked to have it done in 95 so i know all about it & the side effects.Has anyone been there?
Posted by Phil on January 5, 2000, at 18:54:59
In reply to meds stop working-now what ?, posted by kelly on January 5, 2000, at 14:36:08
Kelly, My mother had ECT done around 1981. I didn't know anything about it and I was kinda the only one there-scary.
I don't remember the side effects, except for short term memory loss. It did pull her out of a very, very serious depression.
I hear it is very safe these days but I would definately want to know about the doc and his or her experience.Phil
Posted by Noa on January 5, 2000, at 20:04:20
In reply to Re: meds stop working-now what ?, posted by Phil on January 5, 2000, at 18:54:59
Kelly, there have been posts from people who have had ECT. I suggest doing a search (see search button at top of page). You have to search, unfortunately, by the archive date, and I can't tell you which period of time the posts were in, but during the time I have been here (July to present) there have definitely been a few (not many) people who had ECT and discussed it here. Good luck.
Posted by Noa on January 5, 2000, at 20:06:33
In reply to Re: meds stop working-now what ?, posted by Noa on January 5, 2000, at 20:04:20
Another thought...Have you read Martha Manning's memoir, "Undercurrents"? She is a clinical psychologist who struggled with severe depression, and, at Kay Jamison Redfield's advice, had ECT, and reports that it worked for her. It is a very readable book, btw.
Posted by juniper on January 6, 2000, at 2:36:38
In reply to Re: meds stop working-now what ?, posted by Noa on January 5, 2000, at 20:06:33
i wrote a little about this under the dr. breggin infuriates me thread, i titled it "to judy".
also, undercurrents is an amazing book, if just for the literature and understanding it offers.
i wish that i could be of more help. let us know what choice you make. peace
juniper
Posted by S. Suggs on January 6, 2000, at 5:42:14
In reply to meds stop working-now what ?, posted by kelly on January 5, 2000, at 14:36:08
i've tried almost everything
Kelly: What have you not tried? Hope you have a wonderful day with many blessings!!
S. Suggs
Posted by kelly on January 7, 2000, at 14:59:49
In reply to meds stop working-now what ?, posted by kelly on January 5, 2000, at 14:36:08
> I'm afaired to tell my DR. that i think my meds stopped working cause i just started zyprexa & been on prozac for a yr now. i've tried almost everything & when i saw him last he was talking about ECT if all else fails. My husband is agains ECT & i'm not sure. I was asked to have it done in 95 so i know all about it & the side effects.Has anyone been there?
Talked to Dr. about ECT & we both agreed that if my depression gets as bad as it did in may of this year,& i have to in the hospital again then it might be the best thing for me.But for now he thinks that the meds are helping a little, And i can have my meds raised,"down the road." I trust this Dr. and that alote for me to say about Dr.'s i've seen so many it's not funny. Thanks you all! Coming here to psycho-babble helps alote,even might keep me from going into a deep depression.
Posted by sandi on January 11, 2000, at 20:47:56
In reply to meds stop working-now what ?, posted by kelly on January 5, 2000, at 14:36:08
> I'm afaired to tell my DR. that i think my meds stopped working cause i just started zyprexa & been on prozac for a yr now. i've tried almost everything & when i saw him last he was talking about ECT if all else fails. My husband is agains ECT & i'm not sure. I was asked to have it done in 95 so i know all about it & the side effects.Has anyone been there?
---Kelly, In 1995 I went into a severe depression accompanied by suicidal ideation and episodes of self mutilation. I was hospitalized 3 times that year and had a total of 17 ECT treatments. I did not recall them being of much help and said I would never have another one. Last year I began thinking about my hospitalizations and realized I really did not recall much of anything about it. I contacted the hospital and requested all of my records for that year and found that, amazingly, the treatmemts seemed to work quite quickly. After about 3 treatments, the records show that there was a change in my whole demeanor and subsequent treatments were done on an outpatient basis. Occas. "maintenance" treatments were recommended were you go monthly, bi-monthly, whatever, a get a little jolt to boost you up. Well, after several months I began to get a little depressed and my doc recommended a "maintenance" treatment which I had. One week later I was back in the hospital severely depressed and had another complete series of ECT. Again, I have to say that they did work very well and relieved my depression quickly.The downside, however, is the damage to my memory. My docs told me it would be temporary but I have found that it was not. I still have problems and it has become kind of a joke in my family. When something is brought up that I should recall, I just say, "Well, I guess it got shocked out of me!" People are then able to laugh at something that, were it mentioned seriously, would cause discomfort and uneasiness. My doc did at one time allude to me that ECT does cause brain damage and he seemed puzzled by the look of shock on my face for this was AFTER the 17 treatments. In summation, I'll have to say that if it was between severe incapacitation or suicide, then choose ECT for it DOES work. Just be aware that you do lose some of your memory and some of your brain cells-and me, I need all of the brain cells I can get! Good luck to you and remember there is always a sunrise at the end of every long, dark night and the hotter the fire, the purer the gold.............................sandi
Posted by sandi on January 11, 2000, at 21:50:46
In reply to meds stop working-now what ?, posted by kelly on January 5, 2000, at 14:36:08
> I'm afaired to tell my DR. that i think my meds stopped working cause i just started zyprexa & been on prozac for a yr now. i've tried almost everything & when i saw him last he was talking about ECT if all else fails. My husband is agains ECT & i'm not sure. I was asked to have it done in 95 so i know all about it & the side effects.Has anyone been there?
Kelly, In 1995,I went through a severe depression accompanied by suicidal ideation and episodes of self mutilation. I was hospitalized 3 times and received a total of 17 ECT treatments. My impression was that it did not work and that I would never have another one. Then last year, I began thinking about that time in my life and realized that there was little I did recall about my hospital stays. I contacted the hospital and had copies of all my records for that year mailed to me (at a cost of almost $300, mind you!)
After reviewing them, I was suprised to discover that afer approx. 3-4 treatments, my entire demeanor changed. The depression was almost eradicated and I was soon discharged home to complete the remaining treatments on an outpatient basis. Several months later, the depression started creeping back and my doc suggested "maintenance" ECT where you go for treatments periodically (monthly, bi-monthly, whatever...) in order to maintain a positive and healthy outlook. Well, I had one "maintenance" treatment and one week later I was re-hospitalized for another complete ECT series. ECT DOES work and work rapidly. It's the side effects that are the kicker. Most docs will tell you ECT causes "temporary" short-term memory loss but in my case and in many others, the "temporary" ain't so "temporary." It has become a joke in my family when someone mentions something I should remember but don't. I say,"Well, I guess it was shocked out of me!" and everyone gets to laugh instead of feeling uncomfortable and uneasy were it memtioned seriously. My doc did allude to me that ECT does cause brain damage and was puzzled by the horrified expression on my face. It would have been nice had I known that before 17 treatments! I don't know about you, but I need all the brain cells I can get!!!! In sumation, I would have to say that were it between severe incapacitation or suicide and ECT, I would opt for the ECT. It works well and it works rapidly--just remember there are definite and potentially irreversible side effects and brain damage that can occur. I wish you luck and remember that after every long, dark night there is a sunrise and the hotter the fire, the purer the gold!-----------------------------sandi
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