Help experience or knowledge about ECT or Ketamine treatment?

[manic]

hi so basically i have a bad case of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder and ive tried almost every single treatment option and my therapist is now recommending ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) or ketamine treatment since its more new and apparently helps with treatment resistant depression or something (works as a mood stabilizer so apparently i wont get manic either) but i would have to inject it myself- i am a little scared with these options and my therapist said "why are you scared when you want to die? these wont kill you" but then i explained to her that im scared of the treatments working "too well" and that ill actually become stable. my family doesnt want me to do it either but since im an adult idk how that works. i am not sure about how i feel with these as my last option but it feels like theres no more hope for me.

 

[alienfreak]

I researched ECT when I knew someone that was considering it. I found a dominating amount of negative stories where people general said their memory was strongly impacted in a negative way. It seems to me that the medical literature downplays the risk of serious memory problems. Old memories can be lost, and the ability to form new memories can be decreased, I think it should really be a last resort and done only if you accept that risk.

Ketamine can be helpful and is extremely safe. At least recreationally it is nice and relaxing in low doses so i see no reason to be scared of it.

 

[divinemistress36]

I got a lot of memory loss from ECT wasnt worth the temporary relief . Ketamine didnt help but it helps some people

 

[Unspoken7612]

I've recently been looking into rTMS (a less intrusive version of ECT) and ketamine. A clinic in Oxford offers both.

rTMS costs slightly more initially, but has slightly lower maintenance cost.

rTMS requires 5 sessions a week for two weeks, taking three hours a day - very intensive. Ketamine is one session a week for six weeks, taking about two hours a day.

Ketamine is supposedly better for younger people, while rTMS is better for over 60s.

About one in ten people have a bad experience of their first ketamine session, but 50% have a good one. That said, the infusions are done by professionals there - it's probably lower without that.

 

[Hollowman]

The Most Dangerous Thing You Will Ever Do

"I've been watching my profession deteriorate." Psychiatrist Peter Breggin: The most dangerous thing you will ever do is see a psychiatrist.

www.madinamerica.com

 

[broken_stoic]

I tried ketamine, only managed to make it through a couple of sessions. At a good clinic and with the help of a psychotherapist I think it could have been extremely useful, but I got all kinds of side effects (but I usually do even when other people don't for pretty much any medication). There are risks, but if you have the option and a good supportive clinic (or at least a friend to go with you) I would say it might be worth a try.

Definitely be careful what clinic you go to. Also there is a big difference between the nasal (spravato) and IV (injectable) versions. Dosage really matters on the later.

 

[graveface]

My partner went through ketamine therapy for CPTSD and it worked really well.