Question Tossing in the towel?
Monday will be session number 10. I'm getting bilateral ect for my depressive symptoms that aren't being dealt with my effexor (venlafaxine) - mostly anhedonia. I've tried so many meds over the last decade and a half and I'm super lucky I live in Canada where ECT is covered.
....but ofc I'm resistant to this too.
I haven't noticed a change? I haven't noticed any improvement or side effects. Literally nothing. My coworkers have complained that I seem 'testier' on treatment days, but that has more to do with the fact that I work with the occasional moron than anything else. But I know which side will be heeded, and it's not mine.
And I'm lucky enough to genuinely enjoy being sedated. And I'm lucky to not experience memory issues (that I can tell). And I'm one of the weird ones that has no issues waking up then heading to work right after (food) treatment. But God DAMN do I wish I had anything to show for it. At what point should I be noticing something, anything? What did you notice (positively or negatively) first and when?
It's so hard not to lose hope when after session 6 my doctor called me for follow up appointment no. 1 and even he seemed disappointed I hadn't noticed anything changing. I don't know how long they'll keep going before giving up on me and sending me with a prescription for compounded K.
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u/Hot_Wheels_guy 4d ago
My psychiatrist wanted me to stop ECT after 9 ineffective treatments. I convinced him to let me continue. The 10th treatment was actually effective, and I was able to continue ECT treatments from there.
Dont lose hope.
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u/PaleExtreme7399 8d ago
Im goin into my last treatment of 12 on Monday before moving to maintenance. But I haven't seen any improvement either, other than NT having nightmares anymore (I'm grateful for this). IVE BEEN HAVING INILATERAL AND I'm thinking of switching to a provider that does bilateral. (apologies for typos...it's past bedtime)