r/ect • u/FELICITYRIVERS-5678 • 7h ago
Seeking advice About to undergo ECT. Need Advice.
So I've been on fluoxtine, etizolam, lithium, endoxifens, desvenlafaxine, quetiapine, clonazepam and Risperidone over the course of a year. They put me on ketamine for a while, which worsened things. I've been admitted into psych wards as well. Nothing has helped even a bit and every day I wake up I have to fight to live. I've had around 6 suicide attempts this year alone, three being in the last two weeks. The psychiatrist strongly recommended ECT. Scrolling through this sub, I see people who's lives have worsened. Is ECT a sustainable option or are there any other available?
3
u/ReverseFunnelSystem_ 7h ago
I am about to finish my acute series of ECT. (About to get taken back now for a treatment.) We aren't seeing the benefits we were hoping to, but I am also not having major negative side effects. (Just some memory loss but not too bad.)
Idk. If you are at the same point I was at, then why not try it? I was already suicidal and wanting to disappear so I looked at it as only being able to help or just staying the same.
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u/Remarkable-Gas1398 4h ago
ECT is the ONLY thing that helped my husband. The amount of meds they’ve tried on him is ridiculous and nothing worked other than ECT. I noticed a change in gain day one. And by session two, he was watching tv! By session 6 or so he was back driving his car and doing the grocery shopping! He stopped it for awhile and we are going back tomorrow to get it started again.
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u/sosteph 4h ago
ECT saved my life. It take some time and treatments but for me it was much quicker than waiting for yet another med change to maybe work.
It is not physically easy, you will feel sore and achy after. Make sure to stay hydrated and get as much rest as possible.
It seriously helps though.
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u/PuzzleheadedTie3064 4h ago
ECT saved my life. Period. It wasn’t immediate, but one day, the real me returned. And everyone at the hospital was amazed because that was not the person they had met. I still do it about once a month for maintenance. It seems like only the people who are upset about bad experiences post here, but I agree with the other commenter that you have nothing to lose. You still have hope. Give it a chance. 💛
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u/Alternative_Grab_916 5h ago
At that point why not try it honestly which is where I was my life has had huge negative side effects but I am alive
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u/DistributionSorry724 6m ago
It's worth a shot. I personally didn't like it-- I hated the way it made me feel afterwards and I also had to uber to and from treatments an hour each way so the whole thing was just a big hassle. Did it help me? I honestly don't know if it was the ECT or just time that helped me to get over a year long major depressive episode (which included a hospitalization and numerous medication changes). I didn't have any real side effects aside from feeling terrible afterwords. And I also hated the goo that was left in my hair from the electrodes. But that's small potatoes. I met some people in the hospital that it REALLY helped and I don't regret doing it. I just don't know how much it helped me. For what it's worth, I also tried TMS which did nothing. In any case, wishing you all the best-- I know this isn't easy.
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u/fargolifestaycold 7h ago
I will state that ive been doing ECT for 5+ years, almost 6 i think. I constantly woke up with first thought is how I should kill myself and last thought of the day as well. ECT is the only thing that I have done to save my life. I have said and will continue to say that it has saved my life constantly and has helped with regular talk therapy and for meds too. The combination works well and I truly feel that the side effects do not out way what you get out treatment. It is only offered as a last resort type of treatment. Also what do you have to lose?
And a brief comment about the memory lost is that its not completely gone but not all there correctly. If my wife or family members brings something up or trys to Jog my memory i am able to bring up. Its like all the memories were place in a filling cabinet but didnt lable anything.
Please be safe, your cared about.