ECT Treatments

[Donna]

Anyone out there ever have ECT treatments while really depressed at any point during your illness. I have had ECT multiple times, but would like to hear from you to see what if any long term effects you may be having from the therapy

[My idol]

Hi Donna, yes I had a total of 18 ect treatments 7-9 years ago. The treatments worked great for my depressions. The only problem I was left with is a really lousy short term (and occassional long term) memory. It's pretty embarrassing actually. I still don't regret the treatments, though.

[Donna]

that's my biggest problelm. Memory loss. both short term and long term. But I, like you don't regret the shock treatments at all. They saved my life.

[My idol]

I'm glad they were successful for you, too, Donna. How many treatments did you have?

[Elena]

Hi Donna,

I had 5 ECTs back in 1977. I had been hospitalized for almost 5 months. I had gone from extreme manic psychosis to a catatonic depression. The insurance money was running out and I was to be transferred to a State Hospital shortly. The ECTs were offered as a possible way to avoid that out come.

It worked getting me out of the catatonic state, but the depression lasted for months. I was 22 and I think that quite a bit of that lengthy depression was circumstantial.
It's my feeling that they really did help and kept me from commitment to a dreaded State Hospital.

I have lots of gaps in my memories of my childhood. Family members will say, "Remember when..such and such" and I have no clue what they are talking about.

Other then that I don't recall being debilitated memory wise afterwords. And these last 32 years I have functioned just fine.

[Donna]

I don't remember how many I had, but I know I was getting them once monthly when I found out I was pregnant with my 7 year old which was very scary. My doc said it is safe to have ECT during pregnancy, but I chose to stop them for the rest of the pregnancy. I haven't had any in about 5 years. knock on wood.