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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lcat10 on February 10, 2007, at 22:57:05
I was wondering if anyone has been able to continue working during the time they are going through a series of ECT treatments. I have one pdoc saying I likely could and the other, the ECT doc, saying I should not, that I should just focus on getting better.
Posted by Reggie BoStar on February 11, 2007, at 16:18:35
In reply to RE: Work while undergoing ECT, posted by lcat10 on February 10, 2007, at 22:57:05
Hi lcat10,
I didn't have the option when the treatment regimens started because I was required to be an inpatient in the behavioral health ward. They did 3 treatments every other day, monitored me in between, and let me out at the end of the week. Then I did 4 more treatments, every other day, as an outpatient.
I happened to be out of work at the time, but I still don't see how I could have gone to work on the off days. I was just too zoned out at the start of the day. By the end of the day my head cleared a bit, but then it was too late to be of any use on a day job.
I think it varies from patient to patient. When I was an inpatient I saw others in the program on the off days. Some of them were pretty coherent, and some were zoned out like me.
So, my unquailified response is that you may be able to work or you may not, depending on your reaction to the treatments.
Oh, one more thing. The actual days of the outpatient treatments I had to have a friend or hospital shuttle drive me home. They told me that after that I should not drive for the rest of the day. So, I suppose that I would not have been able to work later in the same day as the treatment, either.
Again this is an unqualified response. They may do things differently where you are and/or you may or may not be able to hack working after the treatments.
You'll know after the first one, trust me on this at least.
Good luck,
Reggie BoStar
Posted by lcat10 on February 12, 2007, at 17:24:33
In reply to RE: Work while undergoing ECT » lcat10, posted by Reggie BoStar on February 11, 2007, at 16:18:35
Thanks for your response. I will be doing twice per week instead of three times per week. I will also be doing unilateral. Did you have unilateral or bilateral? Just curious. And how was the memory say around one week after the treatments ended? Thanks.
Posted by lcat10 on March 31, 2007, at 20:47:00
In reply to RE: Work while undergoing ECT » Reggie BoStar, posted by lcat10 on February 12, 2007, at 17:24:33
As it turns out, I was inpatient for the first five ECT's and outpatient for the next two. There is no way I could have worked. I quit ECT because the last ECT with a different ECT doc left me with considerable disorientation, confusion, and anterograde amnesia. One week from the last ECT and the disorientation is diminishing. The anterograde amnesia is not, however. I have not returned to work yet and probably will give myself two weeks from the last ECT before I go back to work.
Posted by KonTiki on May 12, 2007, at 0:56:21
In reply to RE: Work while undergoing ECT, posted by lcat10 on March 31, 2007, at 20:47:00
> As it turns out, I was inpatient for the first five ECT's and outpatient for the next two. There is no way I could have worked. I quit ECT because the last ECT with a different ECT doc left me with considerable disorientation, confusion, and anterograde amnesia. One week from the last ECT and the disorientation is diminishing. The anterograde amnesia is not, however. I have not returned to work yet and probably will give myself two weeks from the last ECT before I go back to work.
I think it was wise to wait a bit before going back- everyone reponds so differently. I had a series of weeks where I would have ECT in the morning, my dad would pick me up and take me to work and I was totally funtcional. Except for the fact that I would not remember that I had already told him I was going to be out for a while. In fact I arranged for a meeting with me, my boss, and my boss' boss, so I could sit them all down and let them know I was having a "medical procredure" that was going to leave me in a fog for the next few weeks. I think they knew what was going on, I mean they definitely knew i was depressed. But they politely informed me that we had had this exact meeting a week before, and that they were happy to help in a any way.I think all told I missed about 6 months of my memory, including my cousin's wedding and when "titanic" came out. luckily the latter you can easily rent, i fetl great after ECT- like I was on extascy, but it wore off eventually and then was put on effexor.
Anyway I always tell people as soon as they learn they may have ECT, make a journal. write down stuff that happens in the days leading up to your treatment and anything significant that happened in th 6 or so mos. before.
Many people get their entire memory back. If you don't, having a memory book might be kind of nice. On the other hand, I was so depressed back then, who cares that I misplaced 6 months??
-aeon
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