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Experience with ECT?

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Posted 5/29/2012 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Saw my psychiatrist on Saturday, and he suggested looking into ECT because medication and talk therapy aren't working. For the time being he also started me on Viibryd. This is a lot of new stuff for me, and I'm just wondering if anyone has had experience with either ECT or Viibryd. Mostly ECT, though. Can you do it outpatient? What if you don't have someone to drive you to and from your appointments? How many treatments do you need? How often do you go? I've been starting to read some stuff online but am just really confused and wanted to see if anyone else has been in the same boat.

Thanks for listening.

Trish
Posted 5/29/2012 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
HI TRISH HAD ECT IN 2004. SORRY FOR THE CAPS, AM NOT YELLING, MASSIVE VISION PROBLEMS. A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF ECT FOR ME WAS THIS.

1. SEVERELY DEPRESSED AND NOT EATING OR DRINKING
2. RESISTANT TO ALL ANTI DEP MEDICATIONS.
3. WAS AT RISK.
4. ISOLATING

WAS HOSPITALISED AND MY PSYCHIATRIST RECOMMENDED A COURSE. (6 TREATMENTS)
HAD SOME RESIDUAL MEMORY LOSS. DISORIENTATION FOR A BIT AND A SORE HEAD. BUT IT ALL CLEARED UP. I WAS MUCH BETTER. IT DID TAKE A MONTH OR SO TO NOTICE THE EFFECTS. (IMPROVEMENTS) IN SHORT IT SAVED MY LIFE.

HOPING THIS HELPS.
WITH HEALING COMPASSION.

JAMIE
Posted 5/29/2012 10:35 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck with ect...

Hugs, Karen
Posted 5/29/2012 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Trish

I had 18 treatments every M,W, F for 6 weeks outpatient. Hospital made it easy. Usually about 2-3 hours total (hour in recovery). You cannot drive yourself so that could be a prob. Some spotty memory loss and headachy that day. It helped for a little while, but not long. Sorry. I have nothing bad to say about the process, it just didn't take with me but you won't know til you try. What is there to lose at this point, right?

It is a really safe procedure these days and medically accepted. I hope it works, I truly do. Good luck and let us know

Take care

Mags

Posted 5/29/2012 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Trish,

I'm a little hesitant to talk about my negative response to ECT, as I know it can be a life-saver for some.
But this was my experience:
Had 1 bilateral treatment in hospital - Instantaneous response!! But wained after 6 wks.
Had approx. 20 more unilateral outpatient treatments - Sadly, zero response, plus much short-term memory loss AND lost a chunk of my long-term memory (which is something they say won't happen, but it did -- however, this was also back around the late '90s, so I'm sure there have been improvements/more safeguards since then.

You will absolutely need someone to accompany you home from treatments.

Despite my experience, I'd probably still give it a try, as I know many who did really well with it. It's usually a last line of treatment, so your doctors must feel it's warranted.

Best of luck, whatever your decision!
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