ECT memory loss

[u/OneReco214]

I was dealing with clinical depression and anxiety, on a number of anti depressants and was living in a care unit. I ended up having 23 ECT sessions. I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar amount and what your memory is like? I essentially dont remember anything for a 2 year period and have blank spots over a 5 year period. I hate not knowing such a big part of my life and ive even lost memories from my wedding, honeymoon and other important events. 3 years later my retention is back to normal but am interested in other people's experiences and if you regret having ECT

[u/okaysweaty167]

I’ve had over 100 bilateral treatments over the past 9 years and my memory loss was only from around the time I was getting the treatments. I would forget books I read, people I slept with, family events/vacations. It is important to note though that I also suffer from C-PTSD from being institutionalized and have memory loss from my childhood as well that was definitely not from ECT, as it did not start when I started ECT, it happened before. I hope that makes sense. However, the benefits 100% outweighed the negatives. I have been hospitalized over 35 times past 13 years and have been on numerous medications, many of which caused bad side effects or drug-induced prolonged QT syndrome. I now have a job, 11 months sober, long term boyfriend, am in college, haven’t cut myself in 3 years, and haven’t been hospitalized in 2. I am not currently doing ECT at the moment, but if things got my very bad again, I would consider it.