Posted by Chloe on October 5, 2002, at 12:45:25
In reply to Re: ECT for partial med responders?Geezer, posted by jaby on October 5, 2002, at 0:12:49
Jaby,
I am in the middle of a course of ECT. It has been incredibly helpful. I started with unilateral ECT that had very little effect on my memory at all. After about 5 treatments I switched to bilateral ECT because I was no longer having any improvemnt. Well, the bilateral is extremely effective! I have been receiving treatmtent for mental illness since age 11. I am now 36, and I am finally having some relief from the terrible depression, fury, irritablity and distorted thinking without devasting side effects. I have tried almost every med out there, and I most always experience adverse/atypical reactions. I will forever have TD or tongue movements in my mouth from use of typical ap's in the past....I feel truly blessed that my pdoc OK's this procedure, and the my insurance is covering it...since it is regarded as a medical procedure.
IMHO, ECT is extremely effective, and not very disruptive to one's life. The only drawback is that I am not supposed to drive for the duration of my treatments and maintanence treatments...But that is ok, since my coordination is just the teeeniest bit off. So it's probably better that I don't handle heavy machinery. And it's nice to have the increased socialbility from getting a ride...My memory is a bit more impaired with the bilateral. But it's not really troublesome. And frankly, I feel like it's a blessing to forget some things! It's easy enough to ask someone for a reminder. But I kinda enjoy having my mind emptied of it's troubles :)
Good luck to you
Chloe
poster:Chloe
thread:122007
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020930/msgs/122436.html