Post ECT: brain damage, cognitive impairment and severe memory loss.

@koerth
Welcome to Mayo Connect!
I’m so sorry to hear what you have been going through after your ECT treatments.
There are still discussions and disagreements about the value and risk of ECT treatments.
We do know that it can make a huge difference in the treatment of severe depression for individuals not responding to other therapy. I’m sorry it did not give you that relief.
There doesn’t seem to be a clear answer to if ECT causes brain damage or just changes in function.
You seem to have significant mental and neurological deficiencies afterwards. Have you discussed this with a neurologist or your psychiatrist? A thorough neurological evaluation should be able to tell you what has been happening in your brain.
Let’s hope someone with similar experience will see your post and respond.

I have had ECT treatment twice, each treatment being a number of shocks. Many years ago. They messed up my brain for awhile, but certainly not two years! That is not right.
In my case it was totally worth it. I was never quite as mentally sharp as I had been, but I got along fine. (I started out with very high IQ and the treatment knocked me down to normal LOL).
I second the opinion that you seek out a good neurologist because you should definitely be clear-headed by now

Maybe the cause of your problems is not depression or ECT but something else entirely, which can be treated

I appreciate the outreach on my post. I have never posted on anything, not even a “google review “ lol. However I took a chance on this as I am becoming so scared and desperate.
My psychiatrist will acknowledge my memory loss and my doctors had to participate in getting me on disability- however none of them will touch the subject in regards to ECT.
I believe it’s because I live in a small medical community mostly run by one clinic.
I would like to see a Neurologist at Mayo Clinic.
It has been the most difficult time in my life and I have lost so much personally and professionally.
Thank you.

Please check for SS

Thank you. Does that mean Social Security?

Here is a link to making appointments at Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments

I agree that you need to find out what has happened to you- such a drastic and devastating change.

I appreciate this very much. Thank you! Would you suggest going straight to a neurologist?

@koerth
I’m not quite sure. You may be directed to an Internal Medicine doctor first. It depends on how many records from your treatments, testing and evaluations you are able to provide.
You can either fill the form for a request or call and speak to a person who can guide you. Just try to get all records that you have access to.
Let me know what happens.

My 37 year old son had 11 ECT treatments 7 months ago for depression. He is also bipolar but depression was his main symptom. He has not been himself ever since. He has trouble with concentration, focus, motivation, anxiety and is fearful of not being able to manage. It seemed the ECT was helping at the start but after about 6 treatments he could barely keep his eyes open the next day and his memory was gone. I talked to the staff but no one seemed concerned. The psychiatrist never returned my calls. Since then he had improved but he knows he is not the same. His doc and the psychiatrist don’t think it was the ECT so dismiss his concerns. I know he is struggling every day. He was a top honours university graduate and now he can’t even cope to read simple instructions without having anxiety attacks.