What about ECT for treatment resistant depression?

[justanotherday]

I was wondering about this too....

 

[k75]

This has been semi-recommended to me a few times by various psychiatrists. It is not something I see as a good option in my case. There are side effects, and I recommend you do a lot of research if you're planning on giving it a try. It seems to work for some people.

There's also TMS, which seems like a better option. I had a therapist once recommend that to me after warning me to stay away from ECT.

 

[eve2004]

I was recommended both. Anyone here have experience with TMS? I hear you have to go everyday for a month. For ECT they have to knock you out. Trying to do that in itself may kill me given my high tolerance to meds.

 

[justanotherday]

I was recommended both. Anyone here have experience with TMS? I hear you have to go everyday for a month. For ECT they have to knock you out. Trying to do that in itself may kill me given my high tolerance to meds.

I am starting to research TMS too.

 

[eve2004]

But in my mind, why bother? What if it lowers the depression and the CTB thoughts but you still have zero pleasure nor motivation. Isn't that even more frustrating?

 

[Kiwi]

I've had ect. It didn't work for me (clearly), however I lost my short term memory for around a year after the fact......maybe more.

 

[justanotherday]

But in my mind, why bother? What if it lowers the depression and the CTB thoughts but you still have zero pleasure nor motivation. Isn't that even more frustrating?

Well, that is a good point.

 

[Qbert]

I've had ECT. It definitely worked but you have to be committed to maintenance ect, which I wasn't. Effects only last so long.

 

[Beautifulletdown]

I've had TMS and TBS. With TMS, you do have to go for a few weeks everyday. The pulse from the coil that they placed on my head didnt hurt but for some it did. You may need maintenance treatments. It did work for me and changed my life for a bit. TBS the pulse is stronger but the treatment time shorter. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. I had two separate treatments of TBS.

 

[Egddios]

Proceed with extreme caution when it comes to ECT. The main thing I liked and looked forward to when I was inpatient receiving treatments was being knocked out with anesthesia. Really. It was as close as I could get to total peace. I love going under. That said...

Was it "worth" the memory loss I'm experiencing now? No. I feel disoriented and I struggle to find the words to even keep up in casual conversation. I'm a little over a month out from the last ECT treatments I had and I'm one of the many it just didn't work for.

They told me going into it that they can't truly explain why or how ECT "works" or helps some people, but that if one is suicidal, the benefits outweigh the risk. Aka, we're going to shock the hell out of you and it might render you completely bewildered, but hey...it's better than taking your own life!

Nah. I disagree with death being seen as the worst possible outcome. If I could turn back time, I wouldn't have gotten the last round of ECT and would have instead ended my life as I was planning to do. Anyhow, my plans have since resumed.

 

[mathieu]

I had a course of it. After a course of TMS. I don't think it's helped me in the long run. Aspects of depression seem worse. Anhedonia particularly.

 

[Rachel74]

OMG, I was wondering this too. It as been mentioned to me and I am currently researching this too, I would give it a shot as anything is better than what I am feeling now.

Proceed with extreme caution when it comes to ECT. The main thing I liked and looked forward to when I was inpatient receiving treatments was being knocked out with anesthesia. Really. It was as close as I could get to total peace. I love going under. That said...

Was it "worth" the memory loss I'm experiencing now? No. I feel disoriented and I struggle to find the words to even keep up in casual conversation. I'm a little over a month out from the last ECT treatments I had and I'm one of the many it just didn't work for.

They told me going into it that they can't truly explain why or how ECT "works" or helps some people, but that if one is suicidal, the benefits outweigh the risk. Aka, we're going to shock the hell out of you and it might render you completely bewildered, but hey...it's better than taking your own life!

Nah. I disagree with death being seen as the worst possible outcome. If I could turn back time, I wouldn't have gotten the last round of ECT and would have instead ended my life as I was planning to do. Anyhow, my plans have since resumed.

Can I ask how severe the memory loss as I am already suffering from this?

 

[Kiwi]

Can I ask how severe the memory loss as I am already suffering from this?
[/QUOTE]


It's fairly invasive and it's pretty much a given. It dissipates in time however in my case it was not a short amount of time, we are talking a year or more.

 

[No hope]

Don't ever have it, it's wrecks lives

 

[Egddios]

OMG, I was wondering this too. It as been mentioned to me and I am currently researching this too, I would give it a shot as anything is better than what I am feeling now.

Can I ask how severe the memory loss as I am already suffering from this?

I don't know how old my partner is, or when his birthday is...can't even recall the month it's in. I made all new appointments with a new therapist and psychiatrist, because I couldn't recall if I had a therapist or psychiatrist, which I did. Didn't know who my primary care doctor was, or if I had one at all. Buildings I've been in before seem new to me, and not in a fun or endearing way. There are people I don't remember at all and events are either lost or scrambled in my mind. Order of events is mixed up. I could go on but you get the idea.

 

[Rachel74]

I don't know how old my partner is, or when his birthday is...can't even recall the month it's in. I made all new appointments with a new therapist and psychiatrist, because I couldn't recall if I had a therapist or psychiatrist, which I did. Didn't know who my primary care doctor was, or if I had one at all. Buildings I've been in before seem new to me, and not in a fun or endearing way. There are people I don't remember at all and events are either lost or scrambled in my mind. Order of events is mixed up. I could go on but you get the idea.

Thank you for sharing this and it really as made me think about not having this. I have enough trouble already with my memory so this would be brutal for me. Sorry you had to go through this x

 

[dandan]

I've had ECT , and it's just not a 1 time thing, you need to go again and again until you (I) can't even remember how many times I went, I don't have many memories around those days, I surely remember I did not felt as bad for a short period of time or maybe even weeks , but did not helped , poor of my mom, she drove me there :(

I wanted to kill myself so badly I was open to anything ;(. I want to cry right now

What if I had Dianabol band testo back in those days ? Would try have helped as it is helping today?

My brain sure got a little wrecked

 

[Thanatos]

I've had ect for the same only it triggered mania and got me a bipolar 2 diagnosis. I was better off before but it's a possible road to recovery for some. Good luck I hope you're able to feel better

 

[Egddios]

Thank you for sharing this and it really as made me think about not having this. I have enough trouble already with my memory so this would be brutal for me. Sorry you had to go through this x

You're welcome, and please feel free to PM me if you have any further questions. They say or claim ECT works positively for some people. I am a bit skeptical of these claims, as I'm not quite sure what "they" consider to be successful ECT treatment.

If one is considering ending their life, and vocalizes this and/or seeks help in a hospital, of course the alarm bells start to go off and ECT is suggested. Doctors would rather resort to what is essentially a type of brain damage than have someone end their life, which is ironic as once the memory is impaired, quality of life decreases. Obviously, there are varying degrees of memory loss, and I've had 20 or so treatments spaced out over the past couple of years. The first time I tried ECT, the only negative side effect I had was a headache. This last time, because I had no memory loss in the past, I figured I'd be alright.

Another ethical issue I find is the consent a patient must give prior to undergoing the treatment. Yes, I signed the paperwork and gave consent, but I was also experiencing a major depressive episode and was actively planning to CTB. Should I have been considered in the "right" frame of mind to consent to such a treatment? I mean, it's pretty major and the risks can be devastating, yet patients who are already in vulnerable positions and may be unable to think clearly are asked to sign their consent? The whole process is questionable. As some have commented in other ECT threads, it will be interesting to see how ECT is viewed decades from now, and if it's even still in practice.

Anyway, you're wise to ask questions and really give serious consideration before possibly trying ECT. Idk if you ever browse Reddit, but there's an ECT sub which is also helpful to read through. If I wasn't planning to CTB, I'd probably take the advice of one user who said to ask for a speech therapy referral, to address what I'm going through now with memory loss and difficulty communicating.

 

[Wolfjob_dayjob]

I d idn't know there was a whole sub. That sounds...one parts barbaric like surgery where we smush things together and "it just works" one part science fiction. I am not seeking it but I had to say, I also love going under. If only drug tolerance weren't a thing, I'd abuse the shit out of it to sleep alllll weekends. Peace.. Ahh~ ^^

 

[sad_frog]

I did ECT for about 3 years and at first it worked but I would never recommend it..

 

[paul29]

I've had rTMS. No effect. Just forced me to be out of bed an hour each day, during a time when I didn't want to be out of bed for any reason. I didn't even understand how it could have an effect. It was just head taps...

ECT is a much greater hell, one which I am very glad I skillfully / luckily avoided.

 

[dandan]

I just coined the term "us, ECT survivors" would never recommend it , unless you got a gun to your head , I did it cause I wanted to die real bad , I threatened my family , mom, and
The doctor saying I'll kill myself, which was true and already had an failed attempt ...

Damm

I feel good now thanks to dianabol and testosterone, but I'm gonna have to cut it down, stop using it in a couple of weeks and I might sink like the titanic?
The doctor says he won't let me sink, that there's treatment, somehow I believe him, he's and endocrinologist.... Another route is to not stop using it.... But it can have consequences, but many people who suffer from sex-change do continue hormones therapy and they seem fine, plus Arnold Schwarzenegger also used a lot of steroids and hes growing old and even a governor , so risks are personal and limited.

 

[moon_r4]

I had 24 ECT treatments last year. At the time I was severely depressed and all I could think of was suicide. I did it because I felt I had nothing to lose. At the time, it genuinely did help me get to a better place. This didn't last though and about a year later I'm still pretty suicidally depressed, but probably not as bad as before treatment.

The major thing to consider is the effects on memory. It will affect your memories, so you have to decide if that's something you're willing to suffer. I found that mine improved after about 6 months post treatment. The more of them you have, the worse the effects are, so i wouldn't recommend doing more than 12.

If you are dead set on killing yourself, it could be worth a try, as it does genuinely work for some people and you don't really have much to lose.

Feel free to ask me any questions about it.

 

[No hope]

24 is alot, I only had 8 I think, how do u function on that many. My memory is so bad I don't remember who I am and I cant carry on