My doctor has said, that if none of the medications I take for depression have helped, then ECT may be an option. What are your opinions? Has anyone ever gone through it? I've tried plenty of anti depressants, none have seemed to work, so the likely hood of ECT is high.
I could really use some input, the thought of it scares me a little.
"I'm afraid that if you look at a thing long enough, it looses all of its meaning"
~Andy Warhol
Personally id be scared shi*less.How old are you?if your brain is still developing then it could damage you for life.
If you are over 20 say then I saw that woman from cornation st on tv.Liz or whatever .She had electro shock and it cured her.Nothing else worked .Tbh if I hadnt seen her on tv then I would say 'no way' but it obv works for some people .I would read up on case studies ,and get more than one opinion.In my experience doctors are scare mongers ,will you the very worst of a situation .When ususally things arent that bad.
It became like a sort of prison. Encased in a silver shell, words so full of bleeding need spilled like drops on dry leaves. And all the while laughter prevailed a long way from here. Nowhere land, nowhere time, nowhere space.
I think I read somewhere, and I'm really sorry if I'm wrong, that you're only 16.
Your brain is still developing and stuffs, so it's really important that you consider that.
I've never had ECT, but the thought of it scares the hell out of me. I think you should talk more to your psych and discuss more intensive psychological treatments, and maybe a med change way before you even consider ECT.
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Make us all feel wonderful. We'll never forget."
If you are only 16 then it is very very wrong for your dr to suggest ECT.
I have had four courses of ECT. The first course i had 12 treatments, second course 14 treatments, and the third and fourth over 30 treatments each.
Yes it works but the reason i have had so many courses is cos the effects wear off. So say six weeks after your last shock you are right back to square one feeling exactly as you did prior to treatment. this is especially true if you do not respond to medication like i dont.
As for the memory loss it is terrible. As more time goes by i begin to realise how much of my memory has been affected. Their are so many gaps... when i was feeling better i didnt mind now that i feel terrible again i hate the fact that it has taken my memory from me.....
The procedure itself isnt scary tho. PM me if you want. There is heaps i would like to say but not on the forum....
Thank you all so much. I've been debating about it with myself and my doctor, and yes, I'm 16. I really appreciate the advice, without it I would have followed my Doc's suggestion without considering the other sides.
xx
"I'm afraid that if you look at a thing long enough, it looses all of its meaning"
~Andy Warhol
Hey there - I had five sessions of ECT, and it's really not that bad. I just intenseley disliked the feeling of going under anesthesia, so I backed out after that. However, practically every doctor (except the one) refused me because I was only 18. My psychiatrist recommended it after years of meds and therapy and two hospitalizations weren't helping and I had not moved from my bed in four days.
My friend had it. She said it really messed up her memory and it didn't help. It's hard to say though cause she stopped taking meds about 6 months later and last I knew was pretty recovered. She was 19 I think. I do think 16 is too young. Also know it probably will mess up your memory for a while and that it's not a long-term answer, just something to try to get you in the right direction. Probably get the opinion of several doctors before you decide.
I've had it several times. Yes it helped with my depression but only in the short term, and it really messed up my memory, to the point where I've forgotten things from the past and still have a terrible memory (several months later after this latest course).
I had treatment of ECT that consisted of 12 session in a month. I was also medication resistant. It was the best treatment i have used yet. It has been 18 months and i am so much better. I am constantly improving, i don't even rate on a K10 anymore. I still take anti-D's and a mood stabiliser but these keep me stable rather than treat an existing depression. I did have some memory issues but they were only related to the time surrounding the treatment and a few weeks before. They could have been related to how depressed i was rather than the treatment. I was severly depressed with some psychotic symptoms.
How age effects effectiveness, or side effects is not some thing I know about, maybe you could get a second opinion. I am 35 rather than 16.
Yes it was scary but it got easier to tolerate with each session. I had a mad headache/migraine after the first one but by the last one i returned to the ward ready for lunch. (I tolerate anesthetic really well).
Hope you find a med that helps first, but i would do it again if necessary (touch wood).
Hope this is helpful. PM me if you have any questions?
It became like a sort of prison. Encased in a silver shell, words so full of bleeding need spilled like drops on dry leaves. And all the while laughter prevailed a long way from here. Nowhere land, nowhere time, nowhere space.
PM me if you have any questions?
