ECT Treatment First Time Experience

[cal_31]

Hi all, I'm currently undergoing ECT for a bout of depression that set in around early March and still trying to get well. I was just curious to know what people's experience has been with ECT and what improvement looked like for you? I think I can see some positive shift - I just had my 8th session, and I think my mood has lifted a bit but I go up and down throughout the day and sometimes I'm just not sure if I am seeing anything positive. Anyway - don't want to pre-empt anything too much, I'd just be interested to hear your experiences and when you noticed any changes from the treatment.

[CalmCat]

Hi cal_31,

Thank you for sharing something so personal yet important for all.

Your psychiatrists would be the best person to answer these types of question as he or she would have seen and documented the ECT results for their patients. But I have heard that it helps with depression, but haven't had it myself so can't speak from experience.

Good luck with your treatment, I'm sure you'll go amazingly!

Regards,

CC

[Paw Prints]

Hello Cal_31.

I had two sets of ECT some years ago... 12 sessions then a few months later another 4 sessions... the number of sessions needed/given is individual to each person... as is whether a Psychiatrist prescibes ECT or not... I found having ECT very helpful... I am aware of some people on the forums who feel otherwise.

The ECT didn't "cure" my depression... it did help me move from being in a deep dark completely hopeless place to being able to believe that I wanted a future & that things can get better with help & work... it took me some weeks after the sessions for me to be able to judge how they had actually improved things for me.

Knowing what I know now... if I ever slipped back to how I was before the ECT I would agree to have it again...

If you have any questions about any aspect of your ECT don't be afraid to ask your psychiatrist or mh nurse... they are there to help you... and as my mh nurse said to me... there are no silly questions

Paws

[cal_31]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience and for encouraging me to ask questions.

It's so helpful to know I'm not alone.

[geoff]

Hello Cal_31, I haven't had ECT, although I was very close to having it, but didn't, however, it can't be guaranteed to rectify problems with any type of depression and may have the opportunity to increase any anxiety including obsessional thoughts and possibly with an increased risk of worsening of OCD symptoms, these won't be known until you have it.

I know a dear friend who has had many treatments of this method, but unfortunately, it didn't make the anxiety disappear and is now taking new medication, as OCD was the main reason contributing to anxiety and depression.

I haven't spoken with them for a few weeks so I don't know how they are handling the medication.

No one can predict whether or not ECT will work for anybody, theories are good, but from experience, you do not know how many sessions you'll need and if it's a success.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Nevergoodenough]

Hi all,

I had 5 sessions about 2 years ago and the treatment had to be stopped because of 2 serious adverse events that occurred during treatment. I had done lots of reading and talked with many nurses and Psych's to be as well informed as possible and decided to go ahead because after years of heavy duty treatment (trialled nearly 30 meds, long psych hospital stays, my depression was the same as it had been.

The biggest enduring problem for me was the dramatic memory loss. I was told to expect some short term losses but they would return up to about 6 months ahead. Unfortunately, I've lost a period of about 2 years which has never returned. I've had an almost photographic memory for most of my life with almost instant recall for things that may have happened 30 years before but after ECT, that all changed. My wife shows me pictures of things we did with the boys on holidays and I look at the pics and can honestly say I had never been there. Very upsetting for me. I only had 5/12 sessions and that was enough. I also wouldn't continue because on the 5th session, the shock intensity/duration was too long and it snapped my right scapula.

My Psychiatrist said that post ECT my DASS scores lifted somewhat but it was only temporary and then they returned to the standard low levels that they sit at.