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Anyone tried ECT

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Posted 8/20/2009 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All-

It's been awhile since I have posted.  My husband has been through many medications and many hours of therapy inpatient and outpatient.  We are on alomst a year of this and they are now talking about doing ECT as he seems to be medication resistant. 

Has anyone here tried this?  If so, what sort of response did you experience and what sort of side effects?

Any insight here would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.....Jenn

Posted 8/20/2009 10:20 PM (GMT 0)

JD

I know some of our members have had ECT and one said it worked well for him.  I am sure he will post. 

Good Luck,

Kitt

Posted 8/21/2009 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Kitt....I sure hope something works!!
Posted 8/21/2009 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jenn,

Jamiee just posted about his experiences with ECT to another member. Here's the link to his posts (you'll have to navigate through the other posts, but he has 2 posts in there that I think are relevant to your question):

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=19&m=1549104&p=3

best wishes for you & your husband,
Frances
Posted 8/21/2009 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
hi jd68, wrote an extensive post on ECT. a very safe and effective treatment that works on resistant depression and when you are at the level of not eating, drinking etc. certainly saved me. advise if you can't find the post. jamie
Posted 8/21/2009 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you I found it.....I may have questions if you are open to that?.....Thanks to both of you Frances_2008 and jamiee for leading me to these posts.

Jamiee please let me know if it is alright for me to ask questions should I have any. I really appreciate it!
Posted 8/21/2009 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
ask away. i am an open book!! glad to be of help. jamie.
Posted 8/21/2009 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jaimee-

I read your post and it is encouraging......How long did the memory loss last? Do you now have any side effects from the ECT or did they all resolve over time? My husband is so worried that he won't remember people, places or happenings and that he will never regain that.
Posted 8/21/2009 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
hi jd68, short term memory loss is common, esp whilst receiving treatment. for me, a bit foggy for a week. after a treatment you are tired, very groggy and  dazed, this is common. short term memory loss comes back after the final tratment quickly. also after a treatment you pick up rather quickly. a mate of mine always had a ciggie after; they like you to rest for a bit first. for me an hour or so i would pick up-yet not to a hundred % but as the day passed i would come good. ect is not recommend for epileptics. hop this helps. jamie.
Posted 8/21/2009 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Jaimee!! It does help....I will pass this info onto my husband!

Thanks again.....Jenn
Posted 8/22/2009 9:33 AM (GMT 0)
and thank you jenn. thanks for positively highlighting ECT in the light that it deserves. and all the best to your hubby. with loving compassion, jamie.
Posted 8/24/2009 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
I had months of ECT untill my insurance changed. It seemed to help but if there was a long period of time between treatments, I could tell my mood was getting worse.
I actually had ECT for Non Epileptic Seizures (NES). It basically has cured those.
I'll explain my experience of a day of ECT.
You go in and get am IV,and they lay you flat, take off your socks (they tell the intensity by the curling of your toes.
Then, depended on what part of the brain your doc feels needs the 'shock' they will wipe the area with alcohol and put sticky electrodes in that area. Just a hint, don't look when they pick up the intrument that does the "shocking". That was a little scary.
after they put you to sleep you may wake up with a headache, and memory loss.
My doctor would order a shot of stadol in recovery.
For me the worst thing was the memory loss. i lost about a year of some memories, and got really bad in some cognitive things like directions, etc.
So thats my story.
Ang
Posted 8/24/2009 8:30 AM (GMT 0)
thx for that, ect is done differently in different locations. here in australia, u are firmly out before anything is done. you feel the sticky electrodes and sometimes whilst putting on a heart monitor-otherwise you see nothing else. yeah i have seen the chair whilst i was going out to it!! jamie.

a topic that needs further exploration. with compassion. jamie.

Posted 8/24/2009 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
I believe here the patient is put under all the way as well before going into the room. Thanks Ang for your information as well. Every bit helps!

-Jenn
Posted 8/24/2009 6:57 PM (GMT 0)

Jenn,

I am so grateful that you did get good response to your questions.  I had a friend that became so depressed she would not eat and her weight dropped to 90 lbs.  She was in and out of the hospital until the decision was made that if they could not control the depression she would never get well.  She had the ECT treatments and would be a bit foggy right after but the treatments worked for her.  She actually was able to leave her husband who verbally abused her and take her 2 children and made a new home for them. 

She also had IBS and her husband had Crohn's but would not see a doctor until he was in a debilliatated state.

It was very sad to see her struggle so but really good to see the treatments helped her.

Depression is a nasty disorder and you work at it constantly to pull yourself back and control your world.

I wish you and your husband the best.

Hugs

Kitt 

Posted 8/24/2009 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Kitt!! Again another example of where it helped. There are so many horror stories on the web, but I knew if I asked here I would get a bit more accurate information. All so far have stated the short term memory loss, but have since recovered for the most part. And it seems so far it has helped everyone. I really hope that if he tries it offers him some relief, as you know the neagtive comes easily for those that are depressed so he already has it all figured out......he will be one of the ones it doesn't help. We did get news today that his testosterone is low and he will be getting shots for that.....maybe that will offer some relief as well. I have read that this to can cause or exacerbate depression. Time will tell.

Thanks for the information and support!!

-Jenn
Posted 8/25/2009 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
jenn, i am testosterone deficient due to a genetic condition. yes lower levels of testosterone can cause depressive symptomology and acute bouts of rage. if not too low the jabs will be okay, albeit i am on the testogel, this is far better, started on the jabs at 13 at 15 the subcutaneous implants and 2 and a half to 3 yrs ago the testogel. hoping all works out. jamie. yes we are out to it for the ECT as well.
Posted 8/25/2009 7:17 AM (GMT 0)
again that was just my experience.
Posted 8/25/2009 8:36 AM (GMT 0)
dear angmichelle, thank you for highlighting your experiences with ECT. from reading your last post you sure have had a lot of medical issues-proceedures and ops. hoping that resolutions come quickly for you with them. i sense that you are strong, obviosly you have faced a lot of hurdles, you certainly have a wealth of knowledge to offer people with similiar experiences, and life in general. i admire your courage, keep fightin'. with loving compassion. jamie.
Posted 8/25/2009 11:22 AM (GMT 0)
Jaime-

Wow you sound like my husband at this point!! That's encouraging! He had his first shot yesterday and said it was not bad at all. So that is the route for the next 3 months anyways until the check his levels again. ECT is still in discussion but I am guessing they will wait a bit to see what elevating his testosterone will do. Time will tell. Hope all continues to be well with you.......Jenn
Posted 8/25/2009 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
cheers. if he has type 1 diabetes, male pattern baldness and is a big softy-..........well lol big time!!!

tongue   tongue tongue jamie.

Posted 8/25/2009 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
LOL......Nope none of those!! Thanks for the giggle! Jenn
Posted 8/26/2009 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
lucky for you!!!!!!!! LOL real big time!!! yeah yeah yeah jamie
Posted 9/1/2009 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
Well here we go again.  Up and down-

DH informed me yesterday that he is NOT going to ECT got on some site that had only bad reviews and it doesn't matter what anyone says he is not going to do it.  This is all without even talking to me.  So now my choice is stay with him the way he is (which is not pleasant nor any fun) or get out and save my sanity.  I emailed his therapist that we have been seeing together and filled her in on the happenings of the week, he had also informed me last week that the only reason he was seeing the therapist is that he had to to get his meds from the DR.  I told her I didn't think I would be attending the seession this evening as I am worn out and am not sure I have any more to give someone who gives nothing in return.

She asked that I attend so that we can get things laid out on the table.....I have already expressed everything to DH last night that I emailed her today and he could care less.  I honestly do no know what else to do and that sucks.  I have been so supportive and honestly whatever decision he makes about ECT I would support provided he included me in the decision making.  However he always makes all his decisions single handedly....to me if you want to live your life like that then what are doing being married?

Thanks for the ear everyone.....I do not know where else to turn or what else to do.  Right now I am so angry and will withhold making any decisions until I calm down but he is pretty much placing the writting on the wall for me.

-Jenn

Posted 9/2/2009 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
yeah, not fare jenn. good idea to calm yourself a bit. maybe a little think time for dh may be good to. hoping the situation improves soon, for you and dh. he may be a tad frightened about the ECT. all the best, jamie.
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