Posted by Greg A. on February 17, 2003, at 13:17:29
In reply to Must get ECT. How explain to boss?, posted by Bipolarsux on February 17, 2003, at 4:46:01
I had ECT last fall and was off work for six weeks. I had one previous hospitalization for depression and was open about that with my bosses and co-workers, so I did the same this time. To most I did not give details about the ECT but I am sure the word spread. Your worries about the way people regard ECT are probably well founded. I forgot that this is uncertain and scary territory for most people and while many are supportive there are always some that can’t quite handle it. I know I am regarded in a different light by my management; no longer quite so competent; possibly unreliable; even perhaps dangerous like you read about in the newspapers or see on T.V. Some of this is my own feeling that I am not adequate anymore. But some of it is real.
I used to pride myself on being open about having a mental illness. I felt that if I treated it like any other disease then others would too. I now wish I had been more secretive. Trusted fewer people. One thing the openness with my bosses has done (I think) is to make them ready to believe the worst about me.
Even if I carry on at the same level it is perceived as a prelude to a relapse. My boss told me he now has to worry about covering for me when this happens again. This was stated as if it were some deliberate act on my part like I had chosen to get cancer. Other people may react differently. I can only comment on my situation.
I should add that my ECT series did not help me. Perhaps if it had and I felt pretty good, this work situation would seem a minor annoyance.
Ultimately though, you must do whatever it takes to live. There is no use avoiding treatment that may save your life, to hold onto your status at work. In my case, like yours, all manner of meds and combinations had failed. I had to try ECT. Without treatment I don’t think I would survive. The story I would use with my boss in retrospect would be that I was undergoing a med change and the effects were being monitored at the hospital. Once things leveled off I would be back at work and need only periodic absences for tests to regulate levels. I think most people have far less difficulty accepting the idea of medication than they do with ECT.
BTW - some people on maintenance ECT are able to go to work following morning treatments, so I am told. After 14 of them, I can see this being possible. The memory problems could be a factor so I would wait and see how you react.I wish you the best of luck.
Greg
poster:Greg A.
thread:201088
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030215/msgs/201164.html