![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by deniseuk190466 on January 4, 2007, at 11:29:32
Hi,
I keep being told that ECT is not indicated for my type of depression, which is classed as not severe as I am still able to function. I do have suicidal thoughts though every day. I have been told that it doesn't work for people such as I. I did have two treatments of Unilateral ECT last year and gave up as I was anxious to get back on medication (at the time wasn't on any).
I was wondering if anyone on this board with non-severe depression has had a full course of ECT and if so if it helped in any way.
I'd be really grateful for any feedback.
Kind Regards.....Denise
Posted by blueberry1 on January 4, 2007, at 14:52:41
In reply to Anyone with low grade chronic depression had ECT, posted by deniseuk190466 on January 4, 2007, at 11:29:32
Avoid ECT like the plague. Personal experience and opinion.
Posted by med_empowered on January 4, 2007, at 19:44:30
In reply to Anyone with low grade chronic depression had ECT, posted by deniseuk190466 on January 4, 2007, at 11:29:32
I understand you want an adequate treatment, but I really don't think ECT would be good. It has a pretty high relapse rate whenever its used, so it would be excessive for someone who isn't in the throes of an intense depressive/manic episode.
Posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2007, at 21:32:57
In reply to Re: Anyone with low grade chronic depression had E, posted by med_empowered on January 4, 2007, at 19:44:30
I think there is a website ECT.org. Why not try that and see what those who have had it say. And there must be a lot of threads in the Archives here on ECT. Google them. Love Phillipa
Posted by deniseuk190466 on January 5, 2007, at 12:08:12
In reply to Re: Anyone with low grade chronic depression had ECT, posted by blueberry1 on January 4, 2007, at 14:52:41
Thanks for your advice, you are not any worse than you were before having it though are you? I mean that's the main thing.
Denise
Posted by deniseuk190466 on January 5, 2007, at 12:10:34
In reply to Re: Anyone with low grade chronic depression had E, posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2007, at 21:32:57
Hi Phillipa,
Thanks, I've been to that site many times over the past five years, it just leaves me feeling more confused, there are so many mixed messages. Again it seems like a crap shoot and the only way to know is to try it.
I suppose when I ask the question, I just want to read people saying "Yes it works! It cured me for good!" :-) They are the words I'm looking for.
Denise
Denise
Posted by deniseuk190466 on January 5, 2007, at 12:24:04
In reply to Re: Anyone with low grade chronic depression had ECT, posted by blueberry1 on January 4, 2007, at 14:52:41
Sorry Blueberry, just saw your other post on ECT and it obviously has affected you for the worst, cognitively.
Are you working? What medication are you on now? and how would you rate your depression on a scale of 1 to 10?
Thanks....Denise
Posted by blueberry1 on January 5, 2007, at 23:04:15
In reply to To Blueberry, posted by deniseuk190466 on January 5, 2007, at 12:24:04
Yeah, I feel slow. Kind of foggy and blurry in the brain. I wonder if ECT did permanent damage?
I work as a Department Manager at a store. When I feel half normal (seldom) it is an easy and fun job. 90% of the time I am so weighted down it is very very hard. It is an escape. I hate days off. Days off give me a chance to reflect on just how bad I feel and then I get even worse.
On a 1-10 scale, with 0 being perfect and 10 being suicidal, I am usually in the 8-9 range. I have been a 10 several times and always feel like I am right on the edge of it.
Medications. One week on 25mg amisulpride. Just went to 50mg today. It worked pretty good for me 10 years ago when combined with prozac (back in the good ole pre-ECT days), so I have no idea how it will work now or by itself. If I need a sleep aid I take benadryl 25mg. I only used it once and it knocked me out like zyprexa used to do. I got a great response my first day on amisulpride, probably that dopamine rush, and it hasn't done much since.
Today I actually put away some dried laundry, did a couple more loads of laundry and hung them up, cooked for the kids, vacuumed the living room, cleaned up some clutter. It was quite an effort, but I must admit that doing all that in the last few months has been impossible. Not sure if it is a one-day wonder from upping my dose and it won't last (happens a lot with me), or whether I might actually be on a path to getting a little better. I'm afraid to think about it. My hopes have been shattered so many times.
> Sorry Blueberry, just saw your other post on ECT and it obviously has affected you for the worst, cognitively.
>
> Are you working? What medication are you on now? and how would you rate your depression on a scale of 1 to 10?
>
> Thanks....Denise
Posted by deniseuk190466 on January 9, 2007, at 14:51:41
In reply to Re: To Blueberry » deniseuk190466, posted by blueberry1 on January 5, 2007, at 23:04:15
Hi,
Thanks for responding. I hope you start to feel better soon, this condition is awful and it's the not knowing whether you will improve that's hard and not knowing what it will take to make it improve.
I know this sounds awful but I often think I would have been better off if I'd have died five years ago (something did anyway). At least then I would have died fairly ignorant and contented.
All we can do, is keep plugging away and try not to lose hope.
Denise
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.