Depression Support Group

I am surprised that Trazodone worked for you while all other much stronger antidepresants did not help. trazodone is very week antidepresant but it is calming. if that helped to you try Elavil because it is simulare action but stronger. Also try stop Seroquel when taking it. I considered ECT because of obsessive thoughts. I assume that Seroquel did not remove your obsessive thoughts if you still consider ECT. If you stop Seroquel and other neuroleptics and take just Elavil it will remove obsessive circling thoughts.

Nothing was removing my thoughts in fact neuroleptic for some patients make obsessive thoughts worse. if you are that case than Elavil taken by itself will remove them. After that I took Remeron to deal with depresiion because Elavil is not strong for depression.

I would like to know if there was any pain involved and if a person is awake during the treatments?
I have always been terrified of the thought of ECT but have heard some positive reports from other people and thought of it, but I have a terrible fear of it.

When they do the treatments you are put under anesthetic and are out the whole time which is actually a very short amount of time. You asked about pain, I've woken up with a headache but they give me pain medication and by the time the pain medication has worn off the headache is gone.

Thanks for replying. That is reassuring to know.

I had it nearly 12 years ago..It did not work for me..I do believe it did cause my memory problems which I still have ,,can not prove it but i believe it....

I'm on a 2 week waiting list for it. My PD wants to admit me for a month, not sure if it's because I'm so isolated and have no family/friends. Has anyone been admitted before or is it a out patient treatment for most?

I was inpatient before accepting ECT. I think it gives the docs a chance to evaluate all the stressors and see how you do without them.
I had several treatments before being released from the hospital... they really helped me- mostly by wiping out memories. It has been perhaps 3 years since my ECT and my memory is finally starting to kick back in.... I still struggle with short and long term memory problems.... but I do believe that it helped me stay alive.

Voltaire64, When I was inpatient recently there was another lady that was going through ECT while being inpatient. Just this last week I saw her at the hospital where I go for my outpatient ECT.

I saw the PD today and it looks like I'll start at the end of June. Thank you for all the information.