Has any one consider...

Hello all...I have suffered from depression since i was a young child...I am bipolar, have PTSD and panic attacks. Four years ago I had a really big break down...Tried to kill my self over 6 times...hospitalized probably around 20 or more times...However during this time my medication was change almost every two weeks...(everything i read stated that how long it can take to work) after realizing that medication wasn't going to work I decided to do Electroconvulsive therapy or ECT. Most don't know that this is still being offered as a treatment for depression. I think most think of the movie one who flew over the cuckcoo's nest. It's not like that anymore...you are put to sleep for maybe 10 minutes while they shock the brain. Has anyone tried ECT? I know this helped me...I did the treatment for 3 weeks everyday and then did every other friday for a month. Only side affects were headaches, memory loss. If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask...I am an open book.

[mjbrown]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I know ECT is usually offered when medications have failed. However, 2 weeks to see if a medication will work it not nearly enough time. But I am glad that this procedure had helped you and that you only experienced what seem to be minor side-effects.

Best of luck...

[whodunnit]

Hi there,

You sound like you've had a truly dreadful time and I certainly couldn't blame you for trying anything that is offered. Any escape from the bottom of the pit must seem like an absolute blessing to you.

I am glad for you that you feel better, for now at least, but would like to make a few anti points. Facts.

Firstly ECT is not offered until we are so far gone we'd say yes to a firing squad. Anything to stop the agony, right? In my view that breaches the ethics of medicinal care and they could be sued for not allowing us to make a proper and considered decision.

I agreed to it in like circumstances, I just wanted something to stop it. Fortunately my partner researched it that weekend and I decided I would not risk it.

Yes it seems different than the old days but the reality is it's actually worse for you and your brain/body.

You see, under the old conditions they simply shocked the brain while we were fuilly awake and aware. Result? Huge spasms and quite often broken bones and so on as well as any mental damage.

Since then they have changed it so we are fully under anaesthetic, fully tied down and physically safe. As a result of that they have also increased the level of electrical charge they put through our brain. More danger in reality if you think about it.

Why do I say more danger. Well this treatment is still officially experimental. They don't know why it works or how it works and they refuse to take responsibility for any negative side effects. To have ECT you must sign a form releasing them from any obligations in the event of serious, or any, harm.

Totally different from any other medical procedure.

So they won't offer it while we are relatively OK, they won't admit to side effectts except "some minor short term memory loss", won't indemnify their work and tell us it is wonderful.

They also don't tell us that an ECT treatment is in fact usually 6 - 12 shocks on consecutive or close to that days. Also they don't tell you that most need maintenance hits as well, about every 6 - 12 months.

Some people have had hundreds of these barbaric shocks to the brain and so will anyone who says yes to it and it doesn't "take" the first time, which is mostly.

To be precise though the "shock to the brain" is in fact an induced seizure. A brain seizure. Which is what is determinedly avoided in all other medical processes. Epilepsy is brain seizure. So is ECT except you say yes to it.

I've met quite a few people who admit to having ECT and only 1 has said it helped him. He actually said it was great. He seemed to overlook the fact that we were sitting in the m,ental ward at the hospital I entered for treatment once. He is there regularly for his "great" treatments.

Yes I sound anti ECT. And I am. Because it is primitive and dangerous. If I lose my memory I lose me.

To those who say they had no other choice I say neither did I, 10 years ago. You know how long it took me with meds to get back on the planet and be able to breathe and live again? About 6 weeks. So when the doc says it's your last hope, call him or her a liar.

[Hensley258]

Actually whodunnit, you would be very supprised at how often ECT is suggested and offered to Depressed patients. In fact many Psychiatrist will offer ECT after only a couple medications have failed.

It is very sad how fast Psychiatrists are now days when it comes to offering ECT.
I was offered ECT before the Psychiatrist even offered an MAOI as a solution.

I later found out why ECT is offered so fast nowdays. It turns out that Psychiatrists who perform ECT at their associated hospital make fat money from ECT. The more patients they give ECT to, the more thay make. Simple numbers.

Let me finish by saying I am not against ECT. I may need it someday for myself, as my condition gets worse every month. I'm just saying that it is "over offered" as a primary treatment by doctors when it should be left only as a last resort.