![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blueberry on November 3, 2006, at 15:11:58
I went through 3 electroconvulsive treatments per week for 4 weeks, and then 2 per week for 2 weeks, and am now reviewing the experience here for anyone interested.
Depression is now just a small mild portion of my life where it used to be a huge major chunk.
I can even tell something has changed simply by looking in the mirror. My pupils seem larger and blacker. My eyes definitely look different. My eyes look the way they did when I was on amphetamine, cocaine, or on a manic swing. They just don't look right. The centers are too black and too wide. My eyes overall just look too alive or too aware.
I do not remember being so depressed that I was suicidal or crying all the time, but my family tells me I was indeed that depressed most always. There is a lot of memory loss with ECT, and with me that includes memory loss of just exactly how depressed I was.
There is a great deal of memory loss and confusion. I have to keep notes all the time now on basic things such as phone numbers, account numbers, and passwords. Previously I did so much by memory, but now my memory lets me down on even the simplest basic things. I have to keep simple notes on everything all the time.
I have always had ringing in the ears, and many drugs make it worse or better, but ECT has made it worse and constant.
Sometimes drugs gave me impotence sexual side effects, but viagra was always able to easily overcome that. That is, until ECT. Now there is impotence where viagra is useless. When an erection is finally achieved after much effort and focus, the next step of reaching an orgasm is impossible. My sex life has taken a major hit from ECT and I do not know what the future holds.
Basically I say that if someone is extremely depressed ECT should be attempted simply because of how abruptly it can take depression out of the mainstream of your life. I mean, it can so completely cut depression down to size that you can't even remember how bad the depression was. But whatever side effects there might me deserves some respect and caution. One needs to keep a sharp eye on that. One needs to be willing and able to change schedule on a moment's notice. For example, if everyone seems to think you should get ECT Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for a few weeks, be prepared to change that in a heartbeat to just Fridays, or whatever, based on side effects and effectiveness and the overall effect on your lifestyle.
If I could offer anyone some personal advice on ECT, I would say these things: 1)It can be highly effective; 2)Side effects can be dramatic and unexpected, so be prepared for that; 3)Be prepared to change your treatment schedule on the fly, as determined by progress, effects on your lifestyle, and side effects.
If I could go back with the benefit of hindsight and start it all over again, would I? Hmmm. The side effects on my ears, my memory, and my sex life have been rather intense. With the benefit of hindsight, I think I would do it just on Friday once a week or once every two weeks, and see how that goes. The schedule they had me on...3 times a week...was too much.
Posted by tgo on November 3, 2006, at 16:59:13
In reply to ECT Review, posted by blueberry on November 3, 2006, at 15:11:58
Thanks for your insights on it, blueberry.
Posted by Phillipa on November 3, 2006, at 19:30:33
In reply to ECT Review, posted by blueberry on November 3, 2006, at 15:11:58
Blueberry at least I know you're male now. But seriously do you remember that you were a lot like me in that you didn't tolerate high med doses. You took very tiny doses. But you remember babble. Thanks for the update. Love Phillipa
Posted by blueberry on November 4, 2006, at 10:43:03
In reply to Re: ECT Review » blueberry, posted by Phillipa on November 3, 2006, at 19:30:33
> Blueberry at least I know you're male now. But seriously do you remember that you were a lot like me in that you didn't tolerate high med doses. You took very tiny doses. But you remember babble. Thanks for the update. Love Phillipa
At least I know I was male before all this ECT stuff, but now I'm not sure what I am.
You're right, I've never tolerated high doses and I still don't.
All things considered, looking at the whole big picture, I was better off pre-ECT than post-ECT. I'm wishing I had not done it. And each day I have a fair amount of anger at the doctors for not being more careful with me.
They should have been asking me questions along the way, interviewing me, having me fill out surveys, or whatever, anything to get an idea of what was improving and what was going wrong...but they didn't do anything like that.
Love,
Blueberry
Posted by pseudoname on November 4, 2006, at 13:29:57
In reply to ECT Review, posted by blueberry on November 3, 2006, at 15:11:58
Posted by bassman on November 4, 2006, at 17:51:18
In reply to ECT Review, posted by blueberry on November 3, 2006, at 15:11:58
That was really great to here from someone who has gone through it...you here the extremes of ECT being a miracle (more these days) to it being inhuman and ineffective. Thanks so much.
Posted by Phillipa on November 4, 2006, at 19:35:25
In reply to Re: ECT Review » Phillipa, posted by blueberry on November 4, 2006, at 10:43:03
I really wish you could figure out how to turn on your babblemail as I would really love to talk in private with you. I would give you my e-mail but not publically. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.