Posted by lcat10 on March 24, 2007, at 23:01:56
In reply to Re: ECT/Lcat, posted by stargazer on March 24, 2007, at 17:49:11
I think I could have worked on the days I was not getting treatment, but due to the nature of my work, it could have been dicey. I was in the hospital from March 1st until March 17th. So, of course I was not working. I have not worked the past week either on recommendation of my ECT doc. I have had ECT on March 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, and 23rd. I am scheduled to go back on Monday, March 26th and then on the 30th, and then April 2nd. I do not intend to go on the 26th as I am physically ill with the flu--diarhehea and vomiting and fever. I will try to go on Wednesday and only Wednesday next week. So, as you can see I have had seven ECT treatments. I have not had problems from any of them until this last one (done by the other ECT doc). After this last one I experienced confusion and some disorientation that cleared by today. Still, I did not like the feeling. My regular ECT doc is going to be on vacacation this coming week--another reason to hold off maybe. He thinks the confusion could be due to a longer seizure or to some medication I took the night before (Seroquel). I asked him how many more I would need and reminded him he never answered this question before. His response was: "And I'm not gonna. I also hope you won't need more than 12, but since my crystal ball is in the shop, I can't predict and therefore...won't. As they say: Better to be silent an d be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and confirm it. I would suggest that a more reasonable stance at this time is: No more than 12 if side effects are terrible and response poor--or if response is satisfactory. If in between, play it by ear and make the decision then." So I have had seven and will go for number 8 next week. I should be doing 8 and 9, but as I am ill, I think it will be only number 8 next week.
Could I have worked, I think yes on the days I was not getting treatment. My ECT doc thinks it best that I not work during the time of the ECT's. So, I am not working. My husband does not want me working either during this time.
I have had some minor memory problems around the time of the treatments. And, I have had the aforementioned confusion primarily related to my orientation in space so to speak. I am thinking this may be due to the ECT being Right Unilateral. As far as med's are concerned, I am on no antidepressant medication. This is how they prefer it. I took the Seroquel once, and that is it. Do I think it is helping? The answer to this is that if it is, it is helping only marginally. Some of the people in the hospital thought I looked better. I can't say I feel that much better--i.i., less depressed, but then I am also feeling physically ill. Dr. D, my ECT doc, told me he had one person he did 20 treatments with but added this is rare. He anticipates no more than 12 it seems.
poster:lcat10
thread:741825
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070320/msgs/743964.html