Posted by almondjoy on December 30, 2003, at 10:02:37
In reply to Re: ECT Treatment?, posted by Asian Girl on December 30, 2003, at 7:38:23
Hey asian girl,
i had ects a few years ago, and it didn't help, only left me feeling slow and stupid (basically). i can't remember much of 2000 after march and still have problems with verbal skills. not only that i'm still dealing with depression now.
don't let a doctor rush you, there's no reason to rush a decision that will affect you (positively you would hope) for the rest of your life.
the reason i decided to go ahead the the treatments was bcos of feeling rushed and desperate but if i had it to do over, i would not go through with it.
get lots of information and don't pay as much attention to advertisements (or biased "information" supplied by doctors, pharmaceutical, or medical supply companies), and uninformed nonexperienced though well meaning peers.
i believe ects cause permanent brain damage and if you do a google or search in any other engine about it there's no shortage of information supporting that view. even if you are desperate consider the possibility that you take an action that is NOT REVERSIBLE.
"What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?
During the ECT procedure, an electric current is passed through the brain to produce controlled convulsions (seizures). " does this simple explanation sound good or kind or helpful?
possible negative side effects:death, brain damage, epilepsy, memory loss...not as mild as from medication, which usually reverses once you stop taking it.
true, meds may not help for everyone, but as i told another poster, thats just the way the cookie crumbles i guess. almost everyone has to deal with some adversity...and medical problems make life difficult for people with diabetes, amputated limbs, and mental illness. this may just be something you have to aspire to live the best you can with...and that doesn't mean the end of the world.
so no matter where you are in the process with your doctor, maybe see another doc for new treatment ideas, and tell your doc to give you 3 months to get information and think it overtake care
d
http://www.ect.org/
http://www.medicinenet.com/Electroconvulsive_Therapy/article.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy
poster:almondjoy
thread:294379
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031225/msgs/294640.html