Posted by jerrypharmstudent on August 23, 2009, at 17:54:39
In reply to Re: Electric Convulsive Therapy!/TCAs???, posted by bleauberry on August 23, 2009, at 15:47:26
> I think you need to keep looking at the combination strategy...TCA + SSRI; TCA alone; whatever + abilify, whatever + zyprexa. Stuff like that.
>
> I think it helps a lot to also start researching other things...candida, infections, adrenal fatigue, heavy metals, importance of food choices, and such. These things are usually downplayed or totally ignored, but are huge players in mental disease.
>
> I am an ECT survivor. This topic comes up now and then. All I can say is, don't do it. Here's why:
> 1. It did not work for any of the 6 of us that got it done (bilateral) in 12 sessions.
> 2. When it does work, the relapse rate is extremely high and occurs soon.
> 3. Damage to memory and thinking ability can be much worse than anyone tells you. A six month chunk of my life is still gone, as well as quite a few other random periods of my life. Wiped out. Even in my worst depression I was a high achiever and A+ student. Now it is a struggle just to be average, I can't remember anything, and everything takes slow thought before I do it.
>
> Benefits of ECT:
> 1. It is good for the hospitalized mental ones who would otherwise never leave an institution. It can get them well enough to at least move temporarily into a halfway house, though never well enough to hold a job or family. It won't keep them out of the hospital, but reduces their stays and length of stays.
> 2. While it erases a lot of potentially good memories, it can also erase a bunch of bad ones...like the last 3 months. That could be a good thing. It is kind of like getting a fresh start. Not in any better shape, but a new start. Some of the bad stuff forgotten.
>
>I agree completely. Don't give up on meds just yet. I had ECT done when I was 23 - I'm 37 now and still have short term memory loss and the ECT was unsuccessful.
I've found adding Geodon to Lexapro has helped me tremendously.
Jerry
poster:jerrypharmstudent
thread:913590
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090818/msgs/913738.html