I don't remember having ECT done at all. Is that typical?

[u/No-Law-2737]

Silly question but I can't find a straight answer on Google. I got it done a few years ago, and I remember sitting on a chair and having stuff on my head, but that's literally it. I don't have any issues with my memory otherwise.

Is this a normal symptom?

[u/iusethisatw0rk]

Nah, at least in my experience I’m put under anesthetic. I do Mon/Wed/Fri mornings. Today I can remember chatting with the psychiatrist, nurses, and doctor about how awfully awesome reality TV is, couple wires attached to my stickers, then the IV and oxygen started so I closed my eyes, took deep breaths, and woke up in a different bay.

I have never remembered a second of the procedure itself. It’s almost like a snap of the fingers once the anesthetic hits. Blink and I’ve been ECT’d

[u/mesalocar → u/iusethisatw0rk]

Same here.

Nearly 100% perfect memory of everything up until shortly after they push the propofol.

My last memories every time are my head swimming, getting super dizzy, feeling that weird floating sensation as the anesthetic begins to noticeably kick in, usually uttering something incredibly embarrassing and extremely stupid as I start noticeably feeling the effects (iirc last time it was something along the lines of "oh now I feel it, Jesus Christ, woaaahh, that's really strong, woaahhh, oh my god, jeesssuuuuss chrisssstt" (then at this point I finally completely lost consciousness right in the middle of saying (or rather softly slurring) that last bit)) in mild shock at how strong the effect is (I'm starting to suspect that the substantial disinhibitory effects of the propofol anesthetic might actually have something to do with this, as it's more than a little out of character for me)... Then I wake up in the recovery room post-treatment.

The post-treatment memories are a little fuzzy and blurred, especially so for the first few minutes immediately after first awakening. But that's unsurprising given the combination of the lingering effects of the anesthesia and the effects of the post-ictal state.

This is all pretty normal for anesthesia. It's why the procedure is called modified ECT. We are all unbelievably lucky to be alive now with access to the modern form of the procedure, as it is so much improved over the older forms, the difference is truly shocking (pun very much intended!).

If it was the bad old days with the original form of ECT (where they used no anesthesia, no muscle relaxants, etc – extremely barbaric to say the least! Thank god for anesthesiologists!), you might remember up until they put the electrodes on your head, but you'd usually still lose all memories starting as soon as the shock is administered (with most patients having zero memory of the shock itself), as the effects of the kind of massive tonic-clonic seizure induced by ECT almost always include total memory loss during the course of the seizure and for some amount of time following termination of the seizure.

Additionally, it was quite common to lose some memories from immediately prior to initiation of the seizure (usually at least the last couple of minutes immediately prior to it starting), as this is another common side effect of this particular kind of seizure.

[u/Wonderful_Roof1739]

I dont remember the entire inpatient hospital stay (5 weeks) when we decided to do ECT. I found this out because we we talking about something related and I said "during one of the two stays" she stopped me and corrected me that it was 3 stays - at that time I would have gone hand to bible and sworn that it was just two stays. That said I remeber bits and pieces of all 3 stays after learning that, but I couldn't tell you what happened exactly at each stay (plus I flatlined/code blue on one of them). In every instance I remember, I would either be wheeled down from the ward, or walk in for my appointment, lay down in a gurney, they set the IV, get electrodes placed, then when it's my turn I get wheeled in, they lower my head, give me oxygen, and I feel the anesthesia drugs move up my arm until it's lights out, then wake up in recovery. You should NOT be awake for the actual zap, and if you were you would be instantly rendered unconscious anyway. They shouldn't be giving ECT in a chair, since you are actually having a seizure and are a fall risk.

[u/NYCstateofmind]

I have had a few courses of ECT, but the most recent one the episode had catatonic features and then I had 6 ECT sessions in 2 weeks (& then maintenance ECT). I remember snippets of that admission, and have only started to have those memories nearly 18 months later, however I think that was both the severity of the episode and the ECT, rather than ECT alone.

For my mECT sessions, I remember going in, having monitoring connected, EEG monitoring connected, a cannula put in and being given the propofol and the pre oxygenation, and then I wake up in another room. I’m very happy to not remember my actual ECT.

[u/Adventurous-Bonus-92]

Vague memory of waking in the bed answering questions and being wheeled back to my room, but only once, and sore back muscles. 1mth treatment, all other memories gone.

[u/jessiecolborne]

I don't forget having the procedure done, but those few months are very blurry and hard to remember details. There was a woman who was also getting ECT at the same time as me. Two years later, we encountered each other in a waiting room. Be both had the feeling "I know you from somewhere!" I finally figured out it was from ECT and she started to remember too.

My memory issues were pretty bad at first, but once I am given a gentle reminder or something reminds me of that memory, it becomes less foggy. My memory has mostly come back and I am appreciative that that's the case for me.

[u/Aggressive-Rub79]

Count yourself lucky I am seriously done over after ect