ECT anxiety and memory loss....

[Ktufff92]

Has anyone here (I'm sure) received ECT treatments? I did two-three treatments a week from October 2014 - December 2014. My depression is basically gone, even though I haven't done a treatment since the second week of Dec, it's like a miracle. However, I'm not sure if the trade-off is worth it. I can't concentrate on anything anymore, especially tv, reading and conversations. I feel like I've had a minor lobotomy almost for lack of a better way to describe it. So many of my memories long ago and recent are gone, which I knew going in toot would happen. But not being able to remember someone's name right after they told me isn't something I was prepared for. I can't think anymore also, even doing simple math, which I think is a side effect from not being able to concentrate. I always feel cloudy which I know is partly due to my severe anxiety it I know it isn't all from that. I'm only taking 150 mg of Wellbutrin and 200 mg of Trazodone (which is nothing for me, I use to take 650 mg of seroquel and 300 mg of Trazodone at bedtime) Has anyone experienced this or something similar?

[Ilovemountains]

I'm Bipolar and none of the drugs were working so I was the one who asked about having ECT because I wanted to get better and go back to work.  In my case it was the worst mistake I've ever made and I made some bad ones in the past during my manic phases.  I understood I could potentially have memory problems but I got more than I bargained for.  I went back to work and I couldn't remember how to do some of the new procedures on the computer so I asked and wrote it down.  I had to look do it again so I looked the paper and it didn't make sense.  I used to be a math wiz and I still have difficulty doing very basic math without writing it down or using a calculator and it's been 8 years.  My husband tells the doctors that I could do complex mathematical problems in my head faster than he could enter them into a calculator.  I have some long term memory loss but the short term is very bad.  I use my phone and refer to it as my brain.  It has all my contacts, phone numbers, addresses, birthdays, appointments, numerous reminders, notes for Doctor appointments and what they tell me, mapquest to help me get to the right location if it's one of those days, all my medicine and reminders it's a handy little app.  I have one app that my husband and I can accesses from our phones and our computers which has a calendar so we can see each other's schedule so we don't overlap, it has a shopping list so we both can add things, birthday, contacts and as many to do lists as you want to create.  That's nice for anything from running errands all day to planning and packing for a trip.  i may forget watching a show so when we start to watch the new episode it doesn't make sense.  My husband stops it and we go back and watch the previous episode and then the new one.  I may forget watching a movie.  When my husband has talked to my doctors and me too, he said he would have thought I had early onset Alzheimer's if it hadn't happened after the ECT.  I'm very fortunate to have a patient and loving husband who puts up with me using the wrong words, when I'm asking him what something is because I can't find the write word, watching the show again, dealing with me when I'm grumpy, mad and hold me when I break down in tears.  The vast majority of people  are helped by ECT but I am one of the rare cases.  We ran across a Canadian study about the problem of short term memory loss like mine when using bilateral ECT in patients with Bipolar Depression.  They found that using bilateral was the problem.  it was from whatever the name is of Canada's Government Health.  The author said he never did bilater because ther was no need to do it but that's what I received.  I clearly remember meeting with the doctor, going over the forms and being told that I would have some memory loss around the time of treatment and it could last up to 6 months but that was unlikely.  I was never told there was a rare chance this could happen.  They didn't do an EKG or do labs that day which was right before my treatments began and I do remember receiving treatments although there may be other details I've forgotten.  

[persephonedemeter]

Sorry for the typos. It's late, and I am tired. I hope you were able to comprehend it as is.

[persephonedemeter]

I hope someone in your life is watching out for you, or tha you are safe in a hospital or residential facility, I noticed no one responded to you, so I will let you know what I know.

I did not have ECT, but I know a few people who were in the same stage as you, They had memory problems too, and describing it like a minor lobotomy is apt. I am glad it is working for you.

During ECT and 6 months after you will have major short term memory loss, and some long term. I am really surprised you are able to come on Medhelp so soon after a treatment. Most people can't handle the computer or electronic devices so soon after. So, I am hoping you see this. Hang up the next 2 sentences in big letters on your bedroom door or bathroom door  or have someone tape it to the door for you:

The short term and long term memory loss will get better. It is normal to have memory problems during ECT and  6 months after ECT treatment are done.

You will likely forget what I just told you, i know people after they had ECT a year later, They seem to be fine, but some  do not remember me, althoufh I look pretty familiar to them. They are only acquaintances, so that would b expected. I wouldn't know they had ECT if I didn't know anything about them. A couple of them told me their memories have come back, but they don't remember a whole lot about the ECT. Well, you are given ativan or versed IV and it can give an amnesiac affect. The anxiety and fear you are going through at this time is common, Going over it, over and over again, and asking the same question is common.

Also, some have told me that they do have some "holes" in their long term memory, but they couldn't really elaborate because they couldn't pinpoint it, Some memories just come back. It wasn't so bad and  it didn't devastated their lives. i read a book by a mental health activist and she had ECT. It covered her struggles and course,and it was very good and nicely written. It had a lot of insights and "meat" in it. She said she worked through it. She asked the same question you did, "Was ir worth it?" For her, she thought so.

[Ktufff92]

Bump?