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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mags on May 6, 2002, at 11:36:58
Hi all, I have been in the hospital for the last four weeks getting ECT treatments. I have had 6 Bi-Lateral (2 per week). I go back tonight for another tomorrow and Thursday.
I am still waiting for results. One of the things my Phys doc and all the OR staff were really surprised at was how much anesthetic I needed. I needed as much as for a full operation. My doc thinks he knows now why drugs don't work for me...I haven't been given enough!
My memory hasn't been affected too badly...I don't forget too much but it also doesn't seem to be doing too much for me....if any one has specific questions I would be more than happy to answer them.
Mags
Posted by judy1 on May 6, 2002, at 12:55:07
In reply to My ECT experience's, posted by Mags on May 6, 2002, at 11:36:58
Thank you so much for offering us your experiences. I fought ECT like crazy when I was inpatient- went in front of a judge and did my best 'normal' imitation. I was terrified of memory loss, I think you may be in the minority there so I'm happy for you. It's a shame they couldn't figure out you needed more medication before resorting to ECT, but again I'm glad it had no ill effects for you. One of my personal difficulties with it is I've suffered several head injuries with subsequent seizures and certainly didn't want the deliberate induction of them. Take care, Judy
Posted by IsoM on May 6, 2002, at 13:07:07
In reply to My ECT experience's, posted by Mags on May 6, 2002, at 11:36:58
I'm glad there's now a strong clue why meds didn't work for you before. But also sorry that since you've gone to all the trouble of ECT that you're not feeling the benefits of them. It's not something that should take a long time to kick in [in fact, I thought it was almost immediate] but it may vary. I just haven't talked to that many who've had ECT before.
Most doctors want to fall back on meds even after treatment so hopefully the dose can be properly tailored for you now.
Posted by Elizabeth on May 7, 2002, at 1:03:39
In reply to My ECT experience's, posted by Mags on May 6, 2002, at 11:36:58
Hi Mags. I'm sorry to hear the ECTs don't seem to be helping you. Does your doctor think that you may still respond after the next couple of sessions? Do you know what you want to try if the ECT still hasn't worked after next week?
When you say that you "haven't been given enough" medication, do you mean that you didn't get to a high enough dose of the meds you tried? That is a pretty common problem, believe it or not. Lots of people don't have adequate trials of medications, either not trying a high enough dose or not taking them for a long enough time before they give up.
I'm not sure why you might need high doses of drugs in general. Did your doc say anything about that?
Best of luck. I hope things get better for you.
-elizabeth
Posted by Phil on May 7, 2002, at 19:30:29
In reply to My ECT experience's, posted by Mags on May 6, 2002, at 11:36:58
You sound like a fast metabolizer. I'm the same. Have to go to really high doses.
Posted by phoeb on April 8, 2004, at 15:57:38
In reply to Re: My ECT experience's » Mags, posted by Phil on May 7, 2002, at 19:30:29
I really don't mean to scare anyone; this is just a warning to consider if you're thinking about getting ECT.
I experienced several negative effects of ECT without any improvement.
One was that when I woke up from the anesthetic I felt extremely anxious and in general felt worse all day.
The most damaging thing was that I lost about four years of memory. It's almost completely gone except for a few very important events like my wedding, thank goodness. But last May (had the treatments Nov/Dec) I went with my family to Mexico. The year before we had gone to the exact same place, same condo, same restaurants, same staff, etc. I was freaked out when I realized that none of it even rang a bell in the slightest. It was exactly like I was there for the first time. I also don't recognize some people I've known well in the past, which can be very embarrassing. I've also lost the memory of certain important events in my childhood. Any book I read in the past several years, if I re-read it, is exactly like I'm reading it for the first time.
I'm pretty sure that this much memory loss is rare, but it does happen. I know a woman who had ECT who doesn't remember the births of any of her three children.
Don't get me wrong; ECT can be very effective for some people. But I think people should know of the risks, which they don't tell you beforehand.
What would I have done differently? I definitely would have tried an MAOI before ECT. Nardil was considered a last resort, even after ECT. Nardil made the difference. I am completely a-symptomatic now. I'm on nortrypteline and lamictal too.
So don't let your doctor tell you s/he won't prescribe a MAOI and that you should try ECT first. ECT is much more invasive, more risky in terms of brain damage (causing memory loss), and MAOIs are often more effective than other types of drugs, both for atypical and melancholic depressions (Mine is melancholic with severe psychic pain and anxiety but no lethargy or lack of motivation).
This is the end of the thread.
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