Anyone had ECT?

[HVAC]

I hang out at the MS forum. I have had major depression my whole life. Had every therapy, drug, except ECT. Now my Doctor is suggesting it.

I worry because the MS is eating my brain and it seems counter intuitive to mess with my brain any more.

Can you tell me if ECT  helped in the long run or only in the short run.

Thanks,
Alex

[HVAC]

Thanks

Alex

[whodunnit]

Hi,

I too have been offered this, ECT, 10 years back. Said no, eventually but I was ready to do anything at all. My partner changed my mind and I have come back without ECT so it was never my only or last choice as I was told.

I too have spoken to many people, live and online and to be blunt few said it solved their problem other than short term. I know none who say it cured their depression and never returned.

Those that do say it helped regularly need maintenance treatments as well. One treatment consists of 6 - 12 brain seizures over a few days. It seems those on maintenance need it every 6 - 12 months.

I couldn't say it is a solution for anybody but if it relieves the depression for a while and does no other damage, memory loss is admitted by docs, then why not? I have to add quite a few also say other dmage occurs, mainly headaches and migraine type problems.

This is still an experimental procedure else the docs would not ask you to sign an indmnity form excluding them from being responsible for what may occur during this treatment. Ask your doc to explain that to you first. Also ask your doc if he has any patients succesfully treated who may telk directly to you. He will mumble on about privacy etc but the truth is they do not want you to talk to people who've had it for fear of what they may say to you that they won't tell the docs.

Yes I'm anti this but only because it does not do what the docs say. It does not cure depression. Just makes you forget for a while. Which you'd expect with a group of brain seizures wouldn't you?

[Hensley258]

Like you I am also a prime candidate for ECT. I have spent many months doing extensive research into the proceedure.

I have talked to several dozen people that had ECT and also read just about everything I can find of the subject.

After all this investigation I came up pretty flat in terms of the "can it help me factor."

Reason is because 50% of the people I talked to said it saved their life and they are much better for having it done.

The other 50% said it was the worse experience in their life and actually made them worse than before the ECT.

It's like there was no middle ground that I could find.

So I can only assume from all this investigation is that it a **** shoot. You have a 50/50 shot at either getting better or getting worse.