Has anyone here had ECT? How'd it work for you?

Audacious · Jan 27, 2016

I had an assessment for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) two weeks ago, and after a physical this coming Tuesday, a 12-lead EKG and some blood tests I'll be ready to get it. I really doubt anyone in this thread is gonna change my mind (I'm a very informed patient), but I'm interested in other people's experiences with it regardless.

I've been on 14 medications, seen 8 therapists and 3 psychiatrists, and been through cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectic behavioral therapy. I graduated high school by the skin of my teeth, and am on medical leave from college since I effectively failed out of it due to depression. ECT has a 50% chance of long-term remission for treatment-resistant depression, and it's my best chance at getting my future back, so I'm doing it -- with full knowledge of the risks involved.

Tempura · Jan 28, 2016

I'll tell you what I've seen. It didn't work for me, but it worked for someone else.

In my case, my depression and anxiety seemed to be more like an emotional response to things around me and within myself. I didn't deal with those things properly. I believe I have now, at least to an extent. Anyway, my situation was probably one of those that can't be "cured" with ECT. What I experienced was this: sometime after I got the shocks, I woke up (they put you to sleep for a while, at least they did here, so you won't be awake during the procedure, you probably know this but some who read this may not), and my memory was fuzzy. That happens, you don't remember much for a few hours. Then, when the memories came back, I remembered all the things I hadn't dealt with, and it freaked me out a bit. It's like being free of something for a while, and then having it slap you in the face. I didn't do the whole procedure, I believe I was to get 6 shocks, I quit it after two of three, so I have no way of knowing if it would have in fact helped me in the end.

I don't believe I got any ill effects from the treatment itself. My memory nowadays is crap, but that has nothing to do with it, it has everything to do with the amount of alcohol and especially benzos I have consumed in my life. I didn't feel less healthy after it. I'm not afraid of it. Of course I was afraid of it beforehand, because the idea just seems so weird - letting people to channel electricity through your body so that you'll get a little seizure, it is weird! But it's not a horror movie, it's just a simple procedure and you won't be aware of it. The people around me in the ECT treatment room didn't seem to get any ill effects either.

Now I'll tell you about someone else. I went to some non-institutional care place, and there was an older woman. Not that old, just older than me, in her 40s or 50s. She was very depressed, crying all the time and she didn't know what was happening to her. It was probably something that just started to hit her at some point. Everyone has problems, she did too, but this was probably closest to those "chemical imbalance without no real reason" type of depressions I have ever seen. She was an absolute mess. Think of the most miserable depressed mess you can, she was it. Then, she went away for a couple of weeks to get ECT. When she came back, it was like night and day. She smiled, she was calm, she was happy. I'm not saying that she was like a brainwashed happy shell of herself out of some horror movie dealing with mental institutes, I'm saying that she was so much better in a natural way. She was herself, only relieved, and so much better. While my case was different, I will always remember that woman. It encouraged me. I was happy for her.

Go do it, I'm not about to talk you out of it. It just might do something! Said a prayer for you, God bless brother.

blessedbethyname101 · Jan 28, 2016

I was supposed to receive ECT for non-compliance with medications. The thought was if she can't take her medications, then she will with ECT. What? Anyways, I decided to take my meds faithfully and never had ECT. I was scared by the thought of receiving ECT since I heard that one's memory may become impaired. This is what I heard. It may not be true but don't know. I am doing fine now due to my compliance. I think the threat of ECT was good for me since I take my meds now without any problems. I did not take my meds for four years and was hospitalized each year off meds. Then, they came up with a final solution of ECT. Even with my discombobulated mind, I figured I was at the last stage of receiving help. I did my best to recover quickly. Now, it has been three years since I was hospitalized and am planning to stay away from the hospital as long as possible. If I were you, I'd ask as many people who had ECT and find out the long-term effects as well as side-effects.

dysert · Jan 28, 2016

Audacious said:
I had an assessment for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) two weeks ago, and after a physical this coming Tuesday, a 12-lead EKG and some blood tests I'll be ready to get it. I really doubt anyone in this thread is gonna change my mind (I'm a very informed patient), but I'm interested in other people's experiences with it regardless.

I've been on 14 medications, seen 8 therapists and 3 psychiatrists, and been through cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectic behavioral therapy. I graduated high school by the skin of my teeth, and am on medical leave from college since I effectively failed out of it due to depression. ECT has a 50% chance of long-term remission for treatment-resistant depression, and it's my best chance at getting my future back, so I'm doing it -- with full knowledge of the risks involved.

I had ECT. What a mistake! I too had taken many drug cocktails, was in long-term therapy, did CBT, etc. Nothing was working. My psychiatrist at the time said, "Why fool with all these failed medications when there's ECT?" So I learned about it, and pulled the trigger.

Worst 3 months of my life (I had 11 treatments, one/week), and I've been paying for it ever since. My memory is shot, my ability to concentrate is shot, and I'm no closer to being "healed" of depression than I was taking drugs. I will always advise against ECT because of what it's done to me. I sincerely hope your mileage varies.

Eddih · Jan 28, 2016

very interesting info

Eddih · Jan 28, 2016

yes, i like this

Jeshu · Jan 28, 2016

Eddih said:
very interesting info

I had ECT and it was the first treatment that had positive results, it broke the back of my depression and took many of my voices away. I do have to say that I had 18 session with the dial on max and that I lost my memory almost completely, I couldn't even remember how many kids I had. Loosing my memory had a lot to do with me getting better as I have been badly assaulted when I was a kid and suffered from PTSD and all of that inner upheaval lessened enormously after my 18 lightning strikes and I could rebuild my life on a more stable footing. Over time most of my memory has come back, only around the time of the ECT I can't remember much at all. However I do have a bad memory now instead of a good one and forget things more often than before ECT.

However the cost was well worth my while, all in all I improved quit a bit from it.

Extraneous · Jan 30, 2016

blessedbethyname101 said:
I was supposed to receive ECT for non-compliance with medications. The thought was if she can't take her medications, then she will with ECT. What? Anyways, I decided to take my meds faithfully and never had ECT. I was scared by the thought of receiving ECT since I heard that one's memory may become impaired. This is what I heard. It may not be true but don't know. I am doing fine now due to my compliance. I think the threat of ECT was good for me since I take my meds now without any problems. I did not take my meds for four years and was hospitalized each year off meds. Then, they came up with a final solution of ECT. Even with my discombobulated mind, I figured I was at the last stage of receiving help. I did my best to recover quickly. Now, it has been three years since I was hospitalized and am planning to stay away from the hospital as long as possible. If I were you, I'd ask as many people who had ECT and find out the long-term effects as well as side-effects.

No way in hell anyone is going to do that to me. Thats messed up.

Ada Lovelace · Feb 3, 2016

I don't have any experience with or knowledge of ECT so I unfortunately cannot provide a useful post about it, but I was just reading this article in the Washington Post about a treatment that has been hailed as a "miracle" for treating severe depression. I popped back online to share it with you.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...0b5145e8679a_story.html?tid=pm_national_pop_b

I'm sorry things have been such a struggle for you. For what it's worth, I've always liked you and enjoyed your posts, and I hope for you all the best.

heaLsEarch · Feb 4, 2016

Have you tried Anafranil (clomipramine) via intravenous drip? I couldn't really find a good article, but I've read about one psychiatrist who recommended the use of anafranil IV for severe depression. He was writing daily or every other day IV anafranil for a week or so lifts severe depression and it should be tried more often before considering ECT. (He was writing positively about ECT.)

The only article I could find was http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=204286, but trying IV antidepressant before ECT wouldn't hurt, I believe if your doctor would make an allowance.

Sapiens · Feb 4, 2016

Have you done it yet? If I were you, and this is my advice, I would take some more time to consider this.

Having jolts of electricity going through your brain is no light thing.

I am personally strongly against it and find this a very barbaric and cruel practice that has nothing to do with either science or medecine. I have only heard horror stories about it and my own aunt has gone through it. I consider this an inhumane torture.

I hope you didn't receive it yet and if so, that it didn't harm you. In any case, I strongly suggest that you research on it and ask carefully and directly to your doctors about it and the side effects to make wise decisions for the future.

Here are some questions you could ask them:

Why is this even practiced? On what basis? How is it supposed to help you? What do the studies say? What does experience say? What is it supposed to do to you?

To my knowledge, it only kills brain cells. I may be wrong, but it's what I've heard and I say these things desiring your good.

Please give us some news about it.

RuthD · Feb 4, 2016

I am deathly afraid of anything electrocuting my brain. My brain has enough problems already.

Audacious · Feb 8, 2016

Sapiens said:
Have you done it yet? If I were you, and this is my advice, I would take some more time to consider this.

Having jolts of electricity going through your brain is no light thing.

I am personally strongly against it and find this a very barbaric and cruel practice that has nothing to do with either science or medecine. I have only heard horror stories about it and my own aunt has gone through it. I consider this an inhumane torture.

I hope you didn't receive it yet and if so, that it didn't harm you. In any case, I strongly suggest that you research on it and ask carefully and directly to your doctors about it and the side effects to make wise decisions for the future.

Here are some questions you could ask them:

I had my first treatment out of no less than six (but possibly more, depending on how it goes) today, and i think it went really well. I haven't forgotten anything (yet), as far as I can tell, the nurses and doctors were all really great, and I had some idea of what was going on every step of the way.

I wasn't in any pain when I woke up, but I did have some motor control problems (terrible balance and coordination). I'd recovered a bit by the time I got home, and completely by the time I woke up from the nap I took to recover from the anesthesia.

Why is this even practiced? On what basis? How is it supposed to help you? What do the studies say? What does experience say? What is it supposed to do to you?

I was a psychology student before I had to go on medical leave due to depression, and I do have some idea how it works. They put you under anesthesia so you don't feel any pain, and they attach these electrodes to your head and your chest; some for an EEG to measure your brain activity, two to induce the seizure and a few on your chest to measure your heart and make sure nothing bad happens when you're under. They give you IV muscle relaxants so you don't seize everywhere and bruise or break anything; I woke up aching like I'd spent a while working out or something, but nothing bad, and it's mostly gone now (I do have an ache in my arm like I got my flu shot today, though I didn't.). Then, once all the drugs are into you and you're hooked up, they run electricity through those two electrodes on your head for 5-10 minutes to induce a seizure.

When I woke up, I didn't even know that anything had happened. I was waiting for them to get it over with and was wondering why I was so drowsy, lol. I was tired and that was about it; I was also getting these really vivid sort of afterimages when I closed my eyes, and I think that was because they used ketamine (horse tranquilizer) as the anesthesia because it helps to prevent relapses.

My understanding is that the seizure-inducing electrical current resets how your brain deals with certain neurotransmitters -- it sort of sets the settings back to the default, making you less depressed. And it really works! 50% of patients last a year or more without needing further treatment -- more if you do certain things like take lithium paired with an antidepressant post-treatment.

To my knowledge, it only kills brain cells. I may be wrong, but it's what I've heard and I say these things desiring your good.

I'm not sure how "x kills brain cells" is a clinical term.

The main risk is memory loss, if you're not a heart patient, and I haven't had much of that so far (that I can tell.). My mind is doing fine.

I'd hardly call it an enjoyable experience, but it's much better than being depressed for the rest of my life. This is my best chance (after 14 medications, cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectic behavioral therapy) to get an actual life that's worth living, and I'm taking it. I don't even care about the consequences, really -- it's not like things can get much worse (though ECT hasn't made anything worse and I hardly expect it to.).

I'm prepared to cope with the memory loss, but for now I'll take it day by day.

Tempura · Feb 8, 2016

Good to hear from you, and it's encouraging that you don't have the negative reaction to it that I had. Funny how it affects us in different ways. My memory was shot for a few hours, but my motor functions were alright. That is, if I remember it correctly. Hee hee.

The first time is always the weirdest. It just might go well in your case, good luck with it. God bless. Oh, and love that profile pic. Watched that movie again last week.

Audacious · Feb 9, 2016

Tempura said:
Good to hear from you, and it's encouraging that you don't have the negative reaction to it that I had. Funny how it affects us in different ways. My memory was show for a few hours, but my motor functions were alright. That is, if I remember it correctly. Hee hee.

The first time is always the weirdest. It just might go well in your case, good luck with it. God bless. Oh, and love that profile pic. Watched that movie again last week.

We used right unilateral ECT, whereas about 80% of places that do ECT in the US do bilateral, which has a lot more problems with cognitive deficits and such. So that may have been your problem. Young people also do better than older people on the whole side effects thing, and I'm 21, which is really young for ECT.

Have you found anything that works for you, if ECT didn't? Since you said your problems were situational, did therapy help you?

Thanks for your concern!

Tempura · Feb 9, 2016

Audacious said:
We used right unilateral ECT, whereas about 80% of places that do ECT in the US do bilateral, which has a lot more problems with cognitive deficits and such. So that may have been your problem. Young people also do better than older people on the whole side effects thing, and I'm 21, which is really young for ECT.

Have you found anything that works for you, if ECT didn't? Since you said your problems were situational, did therapy help you?

Thanks for your concern!

I have no idea which one I got. "Electricity" was enough for me. There weren't types of this treatment to choose from. It was here in Finland. All I remember is that the anesthesia nurse was pretty, and the doctor was russian and smiled a lot! Hah. I was about 30 when I did it. Or "tried", not did. Two out of six wasn't really doing it.

I guess life worked for me, in the end. Just enduring, searching for God and finding certain honesty within myself, especially related to my weaknesses. Allowing myself to be weak, and looking up to something unflinching, true and loving - God. Letting go of some things, because they were burdens for burdens' sake. That's why I love the part in Matthew, where Jesus says: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I always go to that one nowadays. We like to burden ourselves, don't we?

Therapy helped a little too, and a few people. Met the most kind and sincere soul I could have ever imagined, even. That happens even to the sorriest of bastards like me sometimes! Some meds (mostly benzos) got me over the worst. I just managed to quit depression meds, and benzos are next on the list. That might take a while though, since the addiction is real. But many things, many things helped in the end. Probably even some of the hospital trips I truly hated, and still do when I think about some of them. It's usually only long afterwards when we can see how it really went. Lost of places, lots of people, lots of treatment. Some nice, some not. And some life in there too. That's a journey too, I guess.

Jeshu · Feb 9, 2016

Audacious said:
We used right unilateral ECT, whereas about 80% of places that do ECT in the US do bilateral, which has a lot more problems with cognitive deficits and such. So that may have been your problem. Young people also do better than older people on the whole side effects thing, and I'm 21, which is really young for ECT.

.....

Yes they started off with bilateral, I'm in Australia, but found that my skull was to thick - no surprises there ^_^

- so they did unilateral on max to get me to convulse - I had 18 sessions in all - because it really reduced my voices - my memory loss was not much fun and took a long time to come back to some normalcy - it doesn't come back fully, neither does your concentration loss improve any - but I was terribly depressed at the time and like I said before the loss was worth the gain.

I really wish you God's blessing on this endeavour and I really hope that you will find lasting benefit. I have heard that some people go for 1 or 2 sessions a year and it keeps their depression completely at bay, maybe you will be so lucky.

I reckon you made a wise choice anything to help you along, and the stats are good, often better than that of psych medications.

Seldom is ECT enough though, keep working on it, there are many good treatments coming out at the moment. Have you heard about probiotics? New research has found clear links between gut health and mental health. Eating Greek style yoghurt and home made sauerkraut is making a world of difference on many people with mental health issues. I have been eating home made yoghurt for years, because I love it and it makes me feel good, and plan to add home made sauerkraut, so as to get the real stuff, and see if I can improve even more than I already have when it comes to my mental health.

Sowing good/true/loving thoughts in your heart is also very helpful. Do some research on brain plasticity and you will see that we can rewire our brain to process information, especially about ourselves, in a different fashion than we are used to doing. The bible calls it - to be renewed in your mind - an new way of thinking. I bet you that almost all depressed people who have overcome depression did that, they changed their thinking, on some essential points. The biggest one accepting ourselves, mistake and weaknesses and all, and giving ourself slack when we fall, relying on grace and letting Christ fight our sins, and blessed on our way with a completely new life. The promises of the bible are great to see come true right within.

Sapiens · Feb 9, 2016

Audacious said:
I had my first treatment out of no less than six (but possibly more, depending on how it goes) today, and i think it went really well. I haven't forgotten anything (yet), as far as I can tell, the nurses and doctors were all really great, and I had some idea of what was going on every step of the way.

I wasn't in any pain when I woke up, but I did have some motor control problems (terrible balance and coordination). I'd recovered a bit by the time I got home, and completely by the time I woke up from the nap I took to recover from the anesthesia.

I was a psychology student before I had to go on medical leave due to depression, and I do have some idea how it works. They put you under anesthesia so you don't feel any pain, and they attach these electrodes to your head and your chest; some for an EEG to measure your brain activity, two to induce the seizure and a few on your chest to measure your heart and make sure nothing bad happens when you're under. They give you IV muscle relaxants so you don't seize everywhere and bruise or break anything; I woke up aching like I'd spent a while working out or something, but nothing bad, and it's mostly gone now (I do have an ache in my arm like I got my flu shot today, though I didn't.). Then, once all the drugs are into you and you're hooked up, they run electricity through those two electrodes on your head for 5-10 minutes to induce a seizure.

When I woke up, I didn't even know that anything had happened. I was waiting for them to get it over with and was wondering why I was so drowsy, lol. I was tired and that was about it; I was also getting these really vivid sort of afterimages when I closed my eyes, and I think that was because they used ketamine (horse tranquilizer) as the anesthesia because it helps to prevent relapses.

My understanding is that the seizure-inducing electrical current resets how your brain deals with certain neurotransmitters -- it sort of sets the settings back to the default, making you less depressed. And it really works! 50% of patients last a year or more without needing further treatment -- more if you do certain things like take lithium paired with an antidepressant post-treatment.

I'm not sure how "x kills brain cells" is a clinical term.

The main risk is memory loss, if you're not a heart patient, and I haven't had much of that so far (that I can tell.). My mind is doing fine.

I'd hardly call it an enjoyable experience, but it's much better than being depressed for the rest of my life. This is my best chance (after 14 medications, cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectic behavioral therapy) to get an actual life that's worth living, and I'm taking it. I don't even care about the consequences, really -- it's not like things can get much worse (though ECT hasn't made anything worse and I hardly expect it to.).

I'm prepared to cope with the memory loss, but for now I'll take it day by day.

Well, I'm still highly skeptical about this "treatment". In any case, you seem well informed and the choice is yours in the end.

The only thing that I would like to know, and that would convinve me, aside from the studies, is understanding exactly what it does and how that is supposed to "heal" a person of unhappiness. Perhaps I'll know someday. And I would certainly require knowing it before doing it.

That has something to do with the fact that I don't believe in the mega emphasis put by the medical field on the cause if mental illness as being primarily biological in origin. It's not surprising however, since most of them don't believe in the human soul.

Well keep us updated brother, and if it really does you good, then good!

Extraneous · Feb 11, 2016

I suffer with all kinds of dark things. Trust me, i know what it feels like to stand on the edge of sanity. I cannot say my problems are the same as others. but i can say i know what it feels like to be tortured by depression, anxiety, voices from the past haunting me, satan trying to kill me.

I find relief by giving it all to God. I accept that hell is my fate, if it is. I know this sounds anti faith, but for me its really just humble submission. I accept that God can kill me anytime he wishes, and i wont fear anymore. However, i also feel his loving grace. When im really feeling bad, i cry to the Lord. Maybe not in tears necessarily, but i cry within. He helps me.

Hang on brother, hang onto the Lord and refuse to allow depression and fear to rule you. If we die we die, we cant stop it. No reason to fear the unknown. Just move forward and hope in the Lord. Find peace and love in the Lord. I believe its there for us all.

Sapiens · Mar 21, 2016

Audacious said:
I had an assessment for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) two weeks ago, and after a physical this coming Tuesday, a 12-lead EKG and some blood tests I'll be ready to get it. I really doubt anyone in this thread is gonna change my mind (I'm a very informed patient), but I'm interested in other people's experiences with it regardless.

I've been on 14 medications, seen 8 therapists and 3 psychiatrists, and been through cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectic behavioral therapy. I graduated high school by the skin of my teeth, and am on medical leave from college since I effectively failed out of it due to depression. ECT has a 50% chance of long-term remission for treatment-resistant depression, and it's my best chance at getting my future back, so I'm doing it -- with full knowledge of the risks involved.

Hey man, so how's it going?

Has anyone here had ECT? How'd it work for you?

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