ECT, I wish I had it years ago

[dwondercats]

I do not have a question, I only want to remark and write how great ECT worked for me. I have Bipolar 1 Disorder and for almost 25 years it has robbed me of my life. I have been severly depressed for most parts of a year with small intervals of mania, hypomania and have had hardly ever a normal period. There are not words to describe the pain of depression.

Two years ago I changed to a new psychiatrist. He was the first to let me be active in my treatment and he was the first to try to give me QUALITY O F LIFE rather than just keeping me breathing. My depression continued for 6 months with the new treatment he gave me and then he offered me ECT. He explained to me what it was and what to expect and where I could find reading material regarding it. I  read as much as I could both positive and negative and I decided that my depression was as close to death as one could get many times and I was willing to try anything to get better. I wanted to live again.

My ECT treatments were on M/W/F. On my first I was severly depressed and was crying when I arrived. When I left on my third I was talking to the nurses and felt better. When I returned on Monday I was cheerful. By the time I had my final treatment (12th) I did not recognize myself.  I had been depressed and crying so many years I did not remember how it felt to be strong and confident. I could not get over the astonshishment that I felt so well. Three weeks after my treatment I had my first appointment with my doctor. It was the first appointment I had in many years that I did not cry and sob my pain and it was my first appointment that I could tell my doctor that I actually went out of my house and did something recreational. My depression has kept me at home almost constantly for 10 years with the exception of the small hypo/mania episodes that were rare. After ECT for almost a month I kept thinking to myself WOW! is this really me again!!!

Finally I must add that never, not once did I forget anything. I would try everytime I had a treatment to see if I had forgotten any short term memories and long term memories and I didn't forget anything; even small details. I would have not minded forgetting the depressions but I still had those. I asked my doctor why I didn't have any memory loss and he said one reason was I had a good baseline. I am not quite sure what this meant but I think it has something to do with brain waves.

I have had maintenance ECT and it only required 3 treatments. It has still worked great for me. Please note that I write that it worked for me. ECT is just like our medications, some work for us and some don't. I know I have taken about 20 different medications and none has made me well at all except to maybe keep me alive. Some of the medications have been retried in different combinations.

I will ask for ECT as soon as depression approaches. I don't want to be like I was. I like laughing and having friends again. So many years I have lost and year my 2 children were at home.

Please if you have any questions, ask. I am sorry this is so long but it seems like I only read negative things about ECT.  Many of the posts are from people who do not have a mental disorder or know the pain and suffering it brings, have not had ECT, are not in the medical profession but are still determined to decide what treatment we should and should not be able to obtain. There were a lot of others having ECT on the days I had it and all (6-8 people) said they would have it again (we were out-patients). I hope my doctor never leaves this area.

Diana

[RubyShooz]

Thank you for your post! All I read about is negative things about ECT.  I want to ask my doctor about it.  One thing, does insurance cover the cost, I hear it is very expensive, like a hospitalization. God bless.

[xanweaner]

Before anyone embarks on ECT based upon the excellent response that Diana has been fortunate in receiving, it's important to remember that you are not being treated by her psychiatrist. So, besides having different biochemistries, different depressions, etc., you also do not have the benefit of receiving the same ECT techniques.

Before going down this path, I encourage you read anything you can from Dr. Peter Breggin, noted psychiatrist, and any other information  that you can locate in your background research prior to your considering any treatments.
My best to all of you...

[dwondercats]

Ruby,

I have Medicare through Social Security because my bipolar is considered a disabliity and I also have insurance through my husband's employment. The first time I had ECT I did not have any cost because my deductible had been paid. I never received a bill from the hospital or doctor so I didn't know how much it cost.

When I had my second series my deductible (Jan/Feb 2008) had not been met. I know I will have to pay the first $500 but I don't think I will have to pay more.

There are a lot of charges initally such as x-rays of your back, blood test and an EKG. Medicare paid for all of this. The treatment itself consist of the hospital bill, the anethesiologist bill and the doctor's bill. You can check with your insurance to find out what part you are responsible for.

I read xanweaner comment and he is correct. I am fortunate to have a very good doctor. He has a private practice but he his also heads up the hospitals Psychiatric Department and is also the head of Behavioral Health. I was not trying to promote ECT but only to let others know that it is not always a negative experience and that it does work for some people. I have 2 daughters with bipolar disorder and several other family members also. Our bipolar disorder illness is so different that I wasn't sure the doctor's had diagnosed my daughters correctly.

I have had some pretty lousy doctors in the past and I can tell you there is no way I would have considered letting them treat me with ECT.  

I hope this is helpful.

[dwondercats]

Xanweaner

I want to thank you for your comment. I was trying to present another side of ECT but I failed to note the things you mentioned. I would not want someone to get ECT and not have the advantages I had.

When I had the ECT the first time it was a last resort for me. I felt I was loosing the battle to fight suicide. It was only after it worked so well for me that I had wished it was a first line of treatment. You can't know this until you have your first treatment so I took a risk and it worked for me. I can now make an informed decision but that does not mean that in the future that ECT will work in the same way. I could have some types of memory loss and the ECT also may not work as well. It is not only different for different people; it can be different for the same person when you have more treatments. Great results does not guarantee that it will happen again and again.

Everyone please take the advice given by xanweaner and research ECT, ask questions about what kind of results your doctor or whoever is given the ECT gets and ask about anything and everything you can think of, good and bad. Make an informed decision and not one based on my results. The internet wasn't very helpful to me because I basically only found negative information. When we are well we don't write about our illness or our treatment and that may be one reason why we only find negative comments.

Thanks,
Diana

[xanweaner]

I was glad to read your post so others will give this the careful consideration and research prior to undergoing this procedure.

You are so correct in that it becomes very difficult for patients to find accurate information only using the internet. What makes it particularly challenging is that the medical information can sometimes be too technical for a layperson to understand. I wish there were more mental health patient advocates available to help patients and their families weed through the information as they try to make the best decision for themselves and loved ones.

I hope that you continue to feel better.

Best,
-xan-

[cluj]

Is there any certain information you could get from your doctor about techniques or variables regarding ect that he would recommend if you have to get this?  there must be some criteria for best practices?  Or could you disclose your drs name so we could get a referral?
Thanks,

[ILADVOCATE]

You might be interested to know there is a new procedure that is FDA approved that has a safer side efect profile than ECT but works on treatment refractory depression in a different manner than ECT but appears to be quite effective called trans cranial magnetic stimulation:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/MY00185