Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Meltingpot on February 25, 2013, at 16:53:53
Hi,
I hope you are ok.
I thought I'd already posted this question but I can't seem to find it. You said that you had ECT and it made your depression worse and your meds stopped working.
Can you tell me how it made your depression worse and which meds were you on that stopped working after you had ECT? Also, am I right in saying that you have bipolar disorder?
I've been offered the chance to have ECT and although it was me who pushed for it, I'm not doing too badly on Seroxat and Zyprexa (now and again). Life isn't great but at least I'm not in the depths of despair. I would like to give ECT a try just to see if it helps and if it doesn't work then at least I tried it and I know but I would hate it to make the depression worse and my meds stop working.
I'd really appreciate anything you can tell me.
Denise
Posted by gpznos on February 26, 2013, at 5:09:26
In reply to To ChicagoKat Question on ECT, posted by Meltingpot on February 25, 2013, at 16:53:53
Hi, I know this post wasnt directed to me but I just tried 12 x ECT this Dec + Jan. I have unipolar dep.
It worked fairly well after 3-4 sessions so it is fine if you are suicidal and need a quick solution.
But I have forgotten almost everything from the period just before and during the ECT sessions. This is not necessaryly a bad thing but still it is kind of scary.Soon after the last session I had a couple of bad periods which was surprising as I was told the effect would last months, so there would be lots of time for the meds to begin working (I was already on meds when the dep episode came)
Posted by Meltingpot on February 26, 2013, at 5:27:29
In reply to Re: To ChicagoKat Question on ECT » Meltingpot, posted by gpznos on February 26, 2013, at 5:09:26
Hi gpznos,
Thanks for getting back to me on this. Were the bad periods after having ECT any worse than how bad you felt before having ECT?
What meds were you trying after ECT that you hadn't tried before?
I'm not suicidal at the moment as the Seroxat 40mg helps a lot. It keeps me functioning and working anyway, I just never really feel like I'm enjoying anything or looking forward to anything?
Denise
Posted by gpznos on February 26, 2013, at 8:16:57
In reply to Re: To ChicagoKat Question on ECT, posted by Meltingpot on February 26, 2013, at 5:27:29
> Hi gpznos,
>
> Thanks for getting back to me on this. Were the bad periods after having ECT any worse than how bad you felt before having ECT?Oh no. I was way down in late November. I was at the time on 115 mg Nort, 7,5 mg Mirt and 37,5 mg Valdoxan. I have been om drugs for 5 years now. Maybe the Nort pooped on me, Chicagokat thought so...
For me in that situation ECT was maybe the right move but it is no long term solution. Fellow patients had mixed results: One younger girl was very pleased with it. And also 2 elderly ladies. But who knows how they are doing now? Another severely depressed woman in her 40s had no result after 12 sessions. A young man in his 20s had sort of the same experience as me: It helped and got better but soon the effect vanished and it was back to "normal" up-down life.
>
> What meds were you trying after ECT that you hadn't tried before?Lithium 600 mg and I am starting Marplan (MAOi)in 2 days time. For no logic reason I am feeling good right now for a whole week although I have stopped both Lexapro and Mirt (both small doses) because of the Marplam start.
> I'm not suicidal at the moment as the Seroxat 40mg helps a lot. It keeps me functioning and working anyway, I just never really feel like I'm enjoying anything or looking forward to anything?I dont think ECT will bring you there but who knows we are all different...
Please remember (ha ha) that ECT most likely will make you forget a lot of stuff so if you are working or studying it will handicap you some
>
>
> Denise
Posted by Meltingpot on February 26, 2013, at 9:13:13
In reply to Re: To ChicagoKat Question on ECT » Meltingpot, posted by gpznos on February 26, 2013, at 8:16:57
Hi gpznos,
Thanks again for getting back to me. So you have never had to take anything for anxiety? That's my primary problem I think.
I hope it is the lithium that is helping you now, are you bipolar? It might be though that you have stopped all antidepressants for a week. I've had periods when I have stopped antidepressants for a week and I've experienced a kind of rebound feeling good type affect.
Are you working or studying now? Have you ever?
I am working at the moment but it is contract work and should finish by May which is when I hope to have ECT (if I do have it). I've always wondered if it would help me and I kind of feel that if I don't try it then I will never know. So I can tick it off my list It sounds as though the affects aren't too bad from what you have told me.
I am studying as well at the moment but shall try and cram in as much as possible before May.
I just wish there was a cure for this condition, that would be like a dream come true for me.
Denise
Posted by Phillipa on February 26, 2013, at 10:13:48
In reply to Re: To ChicagoKat Question on ECT, posted by Meltingpot on February 26, 2013, at 9:13:13
Sounds more like dysthymia. Have you googled dysthymia and ECT? Phillipa
Posted by gpznos on February 26, 2013, at 13:09:44
In reply to Re: To ChicagoKat Question on ECT, posted by Meltingpot on February 26, 2013, at 9:13:13
> Hi gpznos,
>
> Thanks again for getting back to me. So you have never had to take anything for anxiety?No, no anxiety
That's my primary problem I think.
>
> I hope it is the lithium that is helping you now, are you bipolar?No, not bipolar
It might be though that you have stopped all antidepressants for a week.
No, not all, Nort and Lithium and Valdoxan is still there, I only need to stop Lex and Mirt
I've had periods when I have stopped antidepressants for a week and I've experienced a kind of rebound feeling good type affect.
>
> Are you working or studying now? Have you ever?I am working when I am not having a depressive episode. I now have my third episode in 5 years, but I must be doing something right since I am still at the same workplace
>
> I am working at the moment but it is contract work and should finish by May which is when I hope to have ECT (if I do have it). I've always wondered if it would help me and I kind of feel that if I don't try it then I will never know. So I can tick it off my list It sounds as though the affects aren't too bad from what you have told me.Agreed, but I am suspecting that the chance of a good result and fewest amount of side effects are depending on how skilled the personel are and if the equipment is up to date. So I would check that if I was you...
>
> I am studying as well at the moment but shall try and cram in as much as possible before May.
>
> I just wish there was a cure for this condition, that would be like a dream come true for me.
>
>
> Denise
>
>
>
Posted by bleauberry on February 26, 2013, at 15:47:55
In reply to To ChicagoKat Question on ECT, posted by Meltingpot on February 25, 2013, at 16:53:53
I apologize in advance, I hope you don't mind me jumping in, but I am an ECT survivor and studier, so I know stuff about it that most people don't know.
For the serious sick, I mean people who cannot even bath themselves or live on their own, I think it is a reasonable nuclear bomb approach to help them up. Other than that, I have never seen anyone go into remission and/or keep it. Relapses when successful are usually rapid. Meds are still needed after ECT. I almost committed suicide after my ECT. For a while in the middle of treatment, it did worsen depression and created a pretty strong anxiety/scared thing too.
I must admit, it did work for almost 2 days after the final 12th session. It was a whole new world. I was back. Yeah! Then 2 days later in an ambulance to the psych ward.
Statistics on ECT are either biased or outright false. They make it appear to be very effective and reliable. It is not.
If one wants to lose large chunks of memories of their life, ECT is good to do that. If they want to feel dumber and slower, ECT is good for that.
To be fair, I have witnessed comments from others who favored ECT and were glad they did it. it was not their answer, but it sort of paved a new journey for them, ended the old journey. Not that the journeys were better or worse, but different. Different is good. Actually, despite my failure, I'm sort of in a way glad I did it too. Not really, but sort of. Still thinking about the thousands of dollars of co-pay it cost me. Here's what it did for me....erased some bad memories (erased some good ones too), and basically closed an old hopeless chapter and opened a new chapter. The new chapter did eventually end up being a good chapter, but not for a few years when I figured out psychiatry was not the primary best way to beat depression.. It was sort of like a new start. A lousy start, but a new one, a clean slate to work with.
I'm sure once in a while ECT works great for someone. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day. Anything is possible. Those types of success stories are sort of rare, maybe even more rare than remission on meds.
Posted by ChicagoKat on March 7, 2013, at 10:27:05
In reply to To ChicagoKat Question on ECT, posted by Meltingpot on February 25, 2013, at 16:53:53
Hi Denise,
So sorry I hadn't replied for so long, but the depths that you spoke of, that's where I've been, hiding from the world.Perhaps you've made your decision about ECT already, but I just wanted to respond to your question.
My mind changed so very much after ECT. Actually, the depression didn't change as much as the anxiety. I was coping, not great, but was able to function and work pre-ect. But after ect I became coompletely debilitated by disease. Overwhelming annxiety, mixed with depression. I can honestly say that I have changed b/c of ect, and not in a good way. Having said that, I know ect has helped many people. I am definitely not one of them. And yep, I'd been on Lexapro before the ect, but after I had my 5 treatments, Lexapro became ineffective. As have most other drugs. And no, I've not been officially diagnosed with bipolar dissase, but some people are suggesting that might be the case.
Good luck whatever your decision is/was. And again,I apologize in taking so long to reply. :(
Kat
Posted by Meltingpot on April 11, 2013, at 14:30:42
In reply to To ChicagoKat Question on ECT, posted by Meltingpot on February 25, 2013, at 16:53:53
Hi Chicago Kat,
Thanks for responding and sorry it has taken me so long to respond. Didn't think that you were going to reply.
I really hope you get out of this bad spell of depression, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Have you tried Zyprexa? That always seems to help me when I'm feeling like I can't go on anymore.
Denise
Posted by Meltingpot on April 11, 2013, at 14:49:50
In reply to Re: To ChicagoKat Question on ECT, posted by Meltingpot on April 11, 2013, at 14:30:42
Sorry Chicago Kat, I've just seen another thread of yours where you say that you have already tried Zypexa.
What kind of ECT did you have, bilateral or unilateral?
Denise
This is the end of the thread.
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