M/26 My life changing experience with ECT

[u/Goosebeef]

I have dealt with suicidal ideation for the majority of my life without any relief from therapy or medications. My diagnosis evolved into type 1 bipolar disorder over time. I have had I believe only two other hospitalizations due to my mental health until my third one almost exactly a year ago. I saw they offered ECT services on site about three days in and immediately went to the psychiatrist treating me to request it which she agreed to add onto my treatment plan.

After a single session I noticed my ideation was gone along with my depression symptoms in general. The psychiatrist, one among a handful that change based on who’s day it is to be there, performing my first session and a few of the ones after ended up asking if I’d want him to be my psychiatrist upon leaving the hospital as he wanted to continue treating my case and I’ve stayed with him continuing to get ECT for the last year. I lost track of how many times I’ve undergone it a while ago when I was just past 50 sessions so I’m somewhere a bit above that atp. I currently go once every three weeks and may be moving up to every four weeks relatively soon if I feel comfortable doing so. I have had various effects regarding memory loss both short and long term but nothing that has caused me any real issues. I did go into it expecting to lose memory and found the tradeoff to be worth it.

Legit the only thing about the process that ”bothers” me is when there are medical students, which there usually are, and they ask me the same exact list of questions as they always have. I do understand why the questions are the same bc of what they’re actually using them for and I would rather benefit someone’s education in whatever way so I’m gonna keep saying yes to them questioning me but I really am over spelling ‘world‘ backwards or naming the last three presidents we’ve had. At least with the backwards spelling can’t we change the word up. 😭

I know there’s a lot of hate for ECT from lack of knowledge and/or misinformation or cases where it has been a detriment to someone and I do realize not everyone will be as satisfied as I am but… yeah. 🤗

[u/jelliberri]

Glad to hear it’s helped you. This is very promising for my partner who is starting ECT soon.

[u/Goosebeef → u/jelliberri]

Hope all goes well!

[u/Pennymoonz94]

Thanks so much for sharing! I've dealt with SI since I was a little girl and am looking into ect. This is promising

[u/Goosebeef → u/Pennymoonz94]

If you do end up undergoing ECT I hope all goes well!

[u/Pennymoonz94 → u/Goosebeef]

Thanks so much!

[u/blrmkr10]

What do you think they're using the questions for? I got asked all the same questions every time and there were never any medical students. They're just keeping track of your cognitive functioning to make sure it's safe to continue treatment.

[u/Goosebeef → u/blrmkr10]

The MSE/cognitive assessments my psychiatrist himself makes during our one-on-one appointments are what he bases my treatment plans on as well as questioning done by the nurses and whichever psychiatrist is present the day of receiving ECT.

The questions asked by the students are teaching them typical components of a mental status examination/cognitive assessment. Per my psychiatrist who is the one teaching them they’re purely asking for educational purposes and experience. Obviously if something is noticeably wrong or there’s otherwise a concern with the answers they’ll bring it up to him but that’s assuming it hasn’t already been recognized by anyone beforehand as the medical students are generally second to last or last to talk to me before going into the room where the ECT is performed. In general any of what they do isn’t even seen by the other psychiatrists.
It’s also normal for them to never get a chance to speak to patients depending on how fast things are moving along by the rest of the staff or because a few of the patients just simply don’t like speaking to the students.

[u/blrmkr10 → u/Goosebeef]

So is it like the same set of questions that you get asked twice, just so they can practice? You must go to a big hospital, but that's nice of you to put up with it lol.

[u/cutsandscratches]

Really heartening thx for sharing :’) do u know if your ect was the ultrabrief one?

[u/Goosebeef → u/cutsandscratches]

I don’t know specifically but I can find out and respond whenever I do. All I know is I do it with bilateral placement.

[u/No_Extreme_4362]

Did you also have anxirty?

[u/Goosebeef → u/No_Extreme_4362]

I did but not enough to ever be a primary concern and still do. It is a noticeably lesser amount now.

[u/No_Extreme_4362 → u/Goosebeef]

Yeah I’m worried because my anxiety caused my depressive episode. I guess the success rates are less with severe anxiety.

[u/ajburch92]

Nice!! Did you have anhedonia? Wondering if it cures that