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I have suffered from depression since 1988. I am now 59 years old. My GP treated me for many years with varying degrees of success. Looking back now he should have sent me to a psychiatrist for treatment. I had to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2011 for a major depressive episode. Initially I was being treated for anxiety. The team in the hospital decided to focus more on the depression aspect of my illness. My GP would have always said that the anxiety was the outward symptom of my depression. I did not need Xanax to treat the anxiety element of my depression. After two months the doctors decided to try ECT and change my melds to SNRIs. The results were amazing. I knew this treatment had worked for me. I know there is a lot of controversy with ECT. I was discharged shortly afterwards.
When I came home I made contact with a clinical psychologist. I attended the psychologist for the next year every fortnight . We used CBT and Mindfulness as our main tools to aid me in my recovery.
Never give up hope. I never thought that I would ever feel the way that I am currently feeling.
Replies to "I have suffered from depression since 1988. I am now 59 years old. My GP treated..."
I was approved for ECT, and really wanted to do it, but the logistics were overwhelming. I would have had to go to Portland, a three hour drive, stay there during the week somewhere, have my drive us home for the weekend, and then back to Portland on Sunday. My wife doesn\'t like to drive particularly, so I would be asking a lot of her for a couple of months. Beside that, she didn\'t want me to have the treatment.
So, as I said, the whole thing became too overwhelming, and I just gave up on the plan. It was a waste of a lot of preparation, consulting and testing.
I\'m glad that it helped you. Do you have follow up treatments?
Jim
Hi Teresa,
Thank you for your kind note.
Padraig
Hi Jim,
Lovely to hear from you. I had six sessions of ECT over a two week period when I was an inpatient. I felt so much better immediately.I have not had any further sessions of ECT since. It was really amazing as I had been so unwell for the previous four months. I am currently on a small dose of a SNRI. My psychiatrist says that as the ECT worked so well for me it will always work if I become really unwell at some stage in the future. This is so reassuring to know.
I would recommend pursuing the possibility of having the ECT if you were approved for it. You will know yourself if it was of Amy benefit to you.
Regards,
Padraig
If my condition warrants it in the future, I hope that I'll be able to make it happen. The hospital (OHSU) was preparing me for 3 treatments per week for 6 weeks.
Jim
@jimhd I had a series of ECT's in 2008. It helped for a while and this was only because I could not remember much of any thing. If that was the goal then ECT was successful. Once all of the memories started flooding back in things were very uncomfortable. I do know they left me with a headache from Hades. They work for some. Since you have neuropathy I would think that might be a problem to have that much juice go into your body. I am not a doctor so what do I know?
@parus
I've been wondering if having a spinal cord stimulator would make ECT contraindicated.
Jim
@jimhd Then there is that...Many things in life are like this. I am still in search of the glass half full. As far as ECT's...we are not all wired the same...pun intended. 🙂
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@padraig
I see this is your first post on Connect, welcome! I am Teresa, a volunteer mentor with Connect.
I appreciate your post. It is a good example of how sometimes it just takes a while to put together the right combination of professionals as well as meds. I appreciate your persistence in finding answers.
I am happy to hear that you are doing so much better. I look forward to your posts in the future.
Teresa