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Post ECT: brain damage, cognitive impairment and severe memory loss.
Brain & Nervous System | Last Active: Jun 3, 2023 | Replies (17)Comment receiving replies
Hello,
Yes,I read your post and felt it resonated. We live in canada and there is no way we will ever achieve recognition or legal grounds to gain acknowledgment. Also despite our “free” health care specialists are scare. I looked into some sort of brain assessments and rehab but these are private and cost thousands of dollars. So. I am wondering if you or anyone would have suggestions on ways to do brain exercises or anything that would improve concentration, comprehension, focus, memory….while lacking motivation and sky high anxiety (he is reduced to sobbing trying to read a simple instruction on making a simple meal). His self worth is non existent and his hope for the future is gone…he called himself a ghost yesterday.
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Oh my gosh, my heart breaks for him and at the same time my heart breaks for me too. I can relate to feeling like a ghost. In fact I think I have said that about myself before to my husband.
In terms of reading and following instructions I can just say that I understand so much of what he is going through.. I went from being a good cook and following elaborate recipes for my family to now having most of my meals done very simply and with my husband. I can just empathize so very much.
I see the rehab doctor for an evaluation on August 1st. I will share all and any tips I learn from that visit. I also have high anxiety and take meds for it though I am very careful with them as I don’t want to slow my cognition further.
It was recommended that I try Modafinil and Armodafonil (name brands are Provigil and Nuvigil) , to help with brain functioning. They are stimulating however and my body didn’t tolerate them even at a very low dose without raising my anxiety and panic so high that I had to stop. They were helpful though for mood and clarity in thinking so it they might be something to consider for him.
I know speech therapy is recommended for memory and I expect the rehab doctor may suggest that for me. I will follow up with you on that.
I haven’t had a lot of patience with memory games but I’m sure they could be helpful.
Reading is the most disappointing thing to see fall off for me. I loved reading all my life- something changed. It’s partly I can’t remember the storyline but it also just causes me anxiety as I am no longer up to the levels that I once was with it.
I will follow up after my appointment, hopefully I can share something helpful.
I send my best to you and your son. He is not alone although it is a terribly lonely place to be in.
ECT justice is a website he might find helpful. It focuses some on the legal side of things- which was not an option for me as I explained- but it also had personal stories and information. I especially liked information written by Peter Breggin, MD. He is a psychiatrist who has openly spoken out about the dangers of ECT.
💕