Posted by Mags on March 25, 2002, at 18:06:03
In reply to Re: Anyone had success with ECT? » Mags, posted by Elizabeth on March 25, 2002, at 14:59:27
> > I am scheduled for ECT but have to first figure out how to get Lamictal out of my system and how long it should be out.
>
> I'm not sure if there's any washout required beyond the time it takes to get the Lamictal out of your system, which is itself hard to predict because the elimination half-life is so variable. (Two weeks should probably cover it, I'd think. I'll be interested to hear what your doctor has to say.)
>
> > I am BP11 and still in a DEEP atypical type depression. just got out of hospital after four weeks. Am very sensitive to drugs.
>
> Is that one of the reasons you're trying ECT, because you have trouble with medication side effects? I hope that it works for you. Are you going to remain outpatient while having ECT?
>
> It'd be great if you'd post here about the treatments; I think it's important for people here to get real stories from people about what ECT is like from people who've actually had it.
>
> > Any info is greatly apprecited!
>
> Sure. What would you like to know?
>
> -e
Thanks for response Elizabeth,
You have so much information to share. I am not so much looking for info now as I have researched it myself (I think) and have definately decided to go ahead with it.I am really hoping to hear from others who have had ECT.
Re meds: I am very sensitive as in headaches or GI symptoms, or unusual responses(couldn't stay awake on Wellbutrin!)
..if I survive S/E's then I haven't had anything work except as follows:
"four days of major on top of the world happiness" When Lithium was added to Effexor while in hospital due to suicidal ideation...then a MAJOR crash. Then I couldn't take Li anymore (dopey, staggering, shakes,throwing up)Then I got onto Lamictal...25 mg and I was on top of the world for about 6 weeks then an insidious backslide until my next hospital stay due to an OD. Increases in Lamictal didn't help. I am only at 100Mg now and it took four months to get there.
Also tried Prozac and felt very, very good for about a week, then crashed.
Other meds tried with either no response or couldn't take side effects:
Desipramine
Celexa
Zoloft
Remeron
WellbutrinThis has been in the last two years.
So now doc thinks ECT. He is a very young, progressive doc.His idol is Stephen M. Stahl.
He doesn't like labelling patients too soon but he thinks I MAY be BPll due to my responses to meds, my previous history of sexual promiscuity and spending WAY too much (bankruptcy)plus my Mom ,who committed suicide, was diagnosed as BPII. But none of my super happy times seemed manic and did not involve lack of sleep,but my sleep has always been affected by my depression
( can't get to sleep for hours then the 4:00 AM wakeup call)Other than times mentioned above I have been depressed (exhausted, no energy,sleep and eat too much, weepy, withdrawn, anti-social, apathetic, irritable.)But I can respond to events and/or people favourably for a short time and do smile, even laugh sometimes.
My doc is confering with a neurologist to make sure re washout of Lamictal. He will be doing Bilateral ECT twice a week in hospital at first and then as an outpatient.(He wants to keep his eye on me and space out the treatments as apart as we can and watch for memory loss, but doesn't want to "waste" a treatment by trying unilateral)...he calls me one of his challenges due to my S/E's and weird responses.I actually tried Speed as a teenager and slept for three days!I am very lucky to live in Canada where this will not cost me anything, plus I am on Disability through my employer. I am hoping I will respond more favourably to meds after treatments but if not I am prepared to get maintenance ECT.
Sheesh, I guess I really rambled , didn't I? Anyway, I welcome any words of wisdom you may have.
Thanks!
Mags
poster:Mags
thread:97068
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020322/msgs/100101.html