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Ect treatment?

ChrisSenior Contributor29 July 2016, 4:17 pm AEST

Ect treatment?

My psychiatrist told me this morning i need to be in hospital today to start ect monday. Slight problem no beds!

I cant say that i like the idea, but he seems to think its what i need now. My depression has always been difficult to treat. But this is the worst ive been in about seven years. I had emailed him over the weekend as i felt i could get what i wanted to say, as i usually minimise everything.

Has anyone had ect in recent years. How was it? Any side effects?

9 replies

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In response to: Ect treatment?

ChrisSenior Contributor30 July 2016, 9:23 am AEST

Re: Ect treatment?

The silence is deafening. Is this a taboo subject?

In response to: Ect treatment?

KurraSenior Contributor30 July 2016, 11:59 am AEST

Re: Ect treatment?

Hi @Chris
There's a thread in Our experience and Stories called Another BlueBoard Refugee. From memory you'll find some info about an ect success story there.

In response to: Re: Ect treatment?

AppleblossomSenior Contributor30 July 2016, 12:24 pm AEST

Re: Ect treatment?

Hi @Chris

No I dont have personal experience of ECT in the past or in its more recent applications.

Good Luck .. do your research, talk about it.

Good Luck

I tried to get a bit of sleep, but woken up by son's early return.

Apple

In response to: Ect treatment?

Unknown userMember30 July 2016, 12:50 pm AEST

Re: Ect treatment?

Hi Chris, during my last hospital admission I friended an older woman who had ECT. Even though they do it under a general anesthetic and you don't feel a thing, she said she felt exhausted & foggy for a couple of days and doesn't think she'll do it again. Not sure how she felt long term. I've heard other say it has helped them, others say it saved their lives. If I were you I'd give it a go as things have been bad for a long time. Let us know how it how's, when they find a bed? All the best 🙂

In response to: Re: Ect treatment?

QueenieSenior Contributor30 July 2016, 12:51 pm AEST

Re: Ect treatment?

@Chris : Sorry I had an early night last night and didn't read all the posts I usually do.

I am an ECT success story. Regardless of the all the negativity surrounding the treatment, if I had to do it again, I would in an instant.

I was seriously depressed and was told that my psychiatrist expected the call any day that I had committed suicide. After 6 treatments, I was functioning again and almost smiling. I was back from the brink and all I remembered was counting backwards from 10 (the anaesthesia).

Good luck with all and remember, the light at the end of the tunnel isn't that of an oncoming train. 🙂

In response to: Ect treatment?

XanderCasual Contributor30 July 2016, 5:17 pm AEST

Re: Ect treatment?

I had ect, I've had 11 treatments so far, 1 more to go. Its made an amazing difference to me. I had the worst agitated depression before i started and know i can relax I'm happy in a way I've been before. It does make you feel tired for the day after the treatment but that goes away, I also get headaches but paracetamol makes then go away. I have noticed a bit of sorry term memory loss but it's minimal and slowly coming back now I'm only having maintenence treatments (a bit more spread out).

In response to: Re: Ect treatment?

ChrisSenior Contributor31 July 2016, 8:10 am AEST

Re: Ect treatment?

Thank you all. Your information helps. Still feeling shocked by this, and terrified. Guess its normal really. I go in at 9am tomorrow.

In response to: Ect treatment?

KurraSenior Contributor31 July 2016, 9:24 pm AEST

Re: Ect treatment?

You'll be fine @Chris. It's very common to feel apprehensive about the unknown.
Thinking of you.

In response to: Re: Ect treatment?

AppleblossomSenior Contributor02 Aug 2016, 12:16 am AEST

Re: Ect treatment?

Actually my mother did have ECT of the 1960s version. In the year before her death it was recommended for my son, so she allowed the first brief conversation about her times in psych wards with me. She said on looking back (50 yrs) she was glad she had it as it jolted her out of her terrible depression. My mother did not take medication after her discharges ... apparently .. tho not sure of whole truth on that .. she could be devious and there was some weird competitive stuff between her and my father about meds before he died.

Maybe that is why I went so self experimental.

It was just that my son's first episode was so severe. Anyway the pdocs did not push the point and the son is travelling fairly well considering.

As the ECT has improved a long shot since the more brutal days of the 60s .. I am interested .. it may help me ... but my problem is more over stimulation mentally ... maybe I need a mood stabiliser .... dunno ..

Good Luck @Chris I hope you are ok and come out well from it in the long term.

Apple

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