Posted by alchemy on September 29, 2009, at 17:45:33
In reply to First time ECT, posted by Monica L on September 26, 2009, at 18:59:15
wow, this is the 1st time I've seen so many positive posts about ECT on this board.
There are some negative stories everywhere, so there is some risk. It is the best treatment for a "quick fix". Although the results are usually not completely sustained. I have had 2 times where antidepressants f**d me up really bad. The first time I had about 5-6 treatments and I felt BETTER THAN I HAVE IN MY WHOLE LIFE - for a few weeks. It faded, but I was out of the worst hell that the drug trials put me in. So say that 0 is my usual negative mood, I was a -10 before the ECT. After the ECT I was a +5, but it faded back to a 0.
Maintenance ECT works for some people, even without drugs. I know a nurse that just gets a treatment once a month. But once I was back to a 0, ECT didn't seem to help. But if I get really bad & back to a -10, I know I have ECT to help.
Memory loss - usually. It was just the short term stuff and some things came back (for me). The closer the treatments are together, the higher the possibility.
You go to the hospital, change into the famous gown, get an IV, take a ride on a cart, get put under & I think you wake up like 15-20 min. later. I didn't have much of a headache and sometimes actually went to work the same day (although I would have to get a ride).
poster:alchemy
thread:918623
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090921/msgs/919000.html