Posted by Craig on September 25, 2001, at 3:24:48
In reply to Re: ECT, posted by PhoenixGirl on September 23, 2001, at 14:59:32
So far, my mom's friend (who is nearly 80 years old) has only had 2 treatments. She says she doesn't feel any better yet. I'll keep you posted about her condition in another week or so. By the way, she has had to be at the hospital by 6 AM and I can see how that would be a problem for someone who hasn't anyone to help them. She isn't in any condition to drive herself home, so I can see how your circumstances would require you to be inpatient.
I don't know why, but it had never occurred to me that someone 80 years old could have a case of depression so severe that it required ECT. I guess old age offers no immunity. In her case, she had her first episode of depression almost 20 years ago, after being treated successfully for cancer. She's been on lithium and antidepressants ever since and had done very well up until last year. Her relapse into depression doesn't seem to be related to anything and that worries me all the more. I don't like to think that this beast, once tamed, could return in full fury at any age.
======================================I would have to be inpatient because I have no one to help me during the treatments.
Like in driving me to and from, etc. What's the ECT like for your mom's friend?> > What concerns me about the ECT is that I will have memory problems (the nature
of which seems unpredictable), I'd have to be inpatient, won't have much of a support
network, and I'd have to spin a web of elaborate lies because my family and
coworkers will want to know where I am.
> ===========================================
>
> My mom has a friend who is currently undergoing ECT as an outpatient, three times
per week. Why does your pdoc say that you would have to be an inpatient for your
treatments?
poster:Craig
thread:79097
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010917/msgs/79530.html