Posted by Chloe on October 26, 2002, at 20:03:54
In reply to Re: re; ECT experiences... » Chloe, posted by Geezer on October 26, 2002, at 15:55:13
> Chloe,
>
> I would think my results with ECT are similar to yours. I had my 6th treatment on Friday 25 and feel the relief beginning. Does your pdoc have any plans for ADs in conjunction with ECT or following your completion of treatments? Parnate has been mentioned to me and that's fine if needed.Hi Geezer,
I am so glad you are having a positive response to ECT. It has been so helpful for me. My pdoc gave me the option of Dialectal Behavioral Therapy or ECT. I was SO depressed, I went with ECT. And I am so glad I did. I was so scared it wasn't going to work, then I would nowhere else to turn (but there are always other options...). But it works so miraculously. Out of all my years of depression and hypomania mood swinging, I have never felt this good and *without* anhedonia. So, like you were saying, I am now more sure than ever that this is a physical problem, in essesence a disease that needs treatment, i.e. chemical changes to the brain and body before any talk therapy can be useful.
My pdoc and I have long ago give up having weekly or biweekly sessions. Because it just doesn't take the pain away. No amount of talking or hospitalization has ever taken the pain away like ECT has. For me this really has brought some hope and purpose back to my life. Now I just have to find a way to have it's effects last more than 4-7 days...Just yesterday my pdoc and edoc added T3 to my lithium, 1.5 mg of Celexa and 60 mgs of doxepin. Unfortunately, too much AD makes me hypomanic, racy, irritable, etc. ECT actually sent me into this amazing euphoria for several days after one treatment. The world was this amazing place for a while...Surreal actually. So again, I couldn't agree more that this problem with mood is of a chemical nature. I would like to see a diabetic go to their doctor and talk about insulin and blood sugar for 50 minutes.
Keep us posted on how you continue to make out with ECT. I hope you don't need the parnate. But if you do, I hope it's the right agent to keep you out of the pits.> I have been getting strong suggestions from the pdoc to start Cognitive Therapy (talk therapy) this is the part I strongly disagree with. It is just my belief this is a genetic, biochemical, and physiologic disorder we have to live with.....I don't believe there is a psycho-social component. It would be most helpful if the psychologists would confine themselves to treating neurotics and stay away from those of us with major mood disorders.
Here, here!
>
> Glad you are making progress.Thanks, ditto
Chloe
>
> Best regards,
>
> Geezer
poster:Chloe
thread:124873
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021025/msgs/125365.html