ECT

[KarmaCrazy]

One of the biggest decisions of my life was to undergo ECT. I received 6 treatments so far. It brought me out of my lowest point ever. I began to laugh. Friends would comment that I began to look healthier, dark circles faded from under my eyes, hair shiner and I began to enjoy company of friends again.   It's been almost two weeks since my last treatment. My memory has begun to fail me. I forget little things, eg, where mugs are kept, how to use certain functions on my phone, if I have seen friends, to pass on ph msgs, what day it is, to pick up children from school, where I put things.... It's becoming very frustrating and upsetting .  I feel like the blondest bimbo around.  This last week my mood is becoming worse. I'm getting ****** more often, yelling , swearing more, chucking things, bad thoughts are coming back, I cry often and starting having panic attacks again.  
I'm confused........ I'm scared....... Do I agree to go have more ECT???    Will my memory eventually just fade me? Will I only have good moods while I am receiving the treatment?   Has anyone else had ECT??  Does losing your memory and being confused get any better??    ECT was my last resort. Medication no longer is working for me. I have tried almost all of them. I feel like a freak recieving this therapy. I just want to be normal.  I want this confusin I have to go away.  Does it get any better? Being confused and forgetting is makin me sad!  Should I have a couple more treatments? I don't know what to do :(

[adel_ezz]

it says memory returns after a while. Don't rush it

[Anneinside]

The memory/confusion problems usually get better after you stop treatments. I am lucky as I have minimal memory problems. I am on maintenance treatments, every 3 to 4 weeks since July. I once had maintenance for 18 months. I know I will continue with it until my pdoc says we have to stop.

As for anti-depressants, have you tried an MAOI yet? Yes, it is an old drug but it is also effective. I am on Emsam which is a transdermal patch. There are diet restrictions if you are on an MAOI but I have "slipped" without bad result and I think it may be because I am on the patch instead of a pill. The diet is a low tyramine diet so you can't have aged cheeses, aged, smoked, cured, dried meats, pickled things like saurkraut, soy or soy sauce. I miss soy sauce but the rest of the diet hasn't been bad.