i have never had that.

I have never done it myself but when I was in the hospital people I knew there did...it is something that around here is used for extreme cases I guess. It causes short term memory loss for a bit afterwards.

I would never suggest ect to anyone. I've only heard horror stories about it, even at the worst level of depression, I truly believe something like that could do nothing more than worsen your quality of life. Shock waves to the brain? There is nothing healthy about that at all. There are SO many ways to treat depression now. I've overcome severe mixed manic and depressive bipolar and severe bouts of depression and I'm doing great now. All with talk therapy/psychotherapy/ prescriptions/and holistic methods NO ect for me thank you.

I've not had it, but I have considered it when in manic depressive hell.

I have read about it and don't feel it is barbaric if properly administered AND carefully considered. I saw an interview with Carrie Fisher---and she uses it every couple of weeks. It kills her short term memory but it controls her mood swings and depression.

Have you talked to your pdoc about it? What did they say?

I also would never do it because I saw those people after they got it done. It was scary and I tried hard not to cry, but it HELPED them, or they thought so. They said it wasn't too bad, just the memory thing was.

I wanted to try it as nothing else seemed to work but I have disc issues in my cervical and lumbar region so this has been ruled out. Having said that, I just read an article on the use of ketamine to treat depression. Article can be found here:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/expert.q.a/09/27/ketamine.depression.raison/index.html

I just personally think it helps for a VERY short time and then must be re administered, and in the long run it is very clear that it causes brain damage. There are some who lose memories for good. To me in the end, because of that aspect of it, it truly is worsening the problem forever, rather than truly finding a way to fix it/combat it over a lengthy period of time.

Chailover~ Can post a link to an article wrote by a Doctor that says it causes Permenant brain damage?

I have heard of it for depression but I would try ANYTHING else than that. It's a brutal thing to have to go thru. Think about it b4 going in for that kind of therapy.XO

Never tried it but this one guy at this group was trying it and he was having memory loss... some of which weren't coming back so easily after his second use. (hopes its okay I shared that information).

I will be starting ECT in the very near future. I'm in the process of getting all of the PRE ECT tests. I have been researching ECT for months. It's a huge decission and I believe knowledge is power. That being said, I looked at reputable sites. I looked at the FDA- they are tho ones who approved ECT to be used for depression. I read articles done by Psychiatrists some who have done studies on ECT. Everyone reacts differently to ECT. From the research I've done, Memory loss is a issue. In MOST cases all memory is restored. It may take days, weeks or Months. I personally live a boring life so I'm not worried about short term memory loss. It's a trade off.. take some memory but give me relief from my depressive hell. Any one considering ECT should get as much info as ;possible. Write down questions for your doctor. Remember HE WORKS FOR YOU. He needs to answer all your questions and concerns. I make my doc work for his money lol.

i have never had it but seen people go through it in the hospital. It was terrible they came back crying not knowing who they were or what was happened to them it was like someone had erase their mind for a few hours. I sat with them helped them try to find some memory to hold on to the next day they were themselves but I don't think it helped there depression one guy still had thoughts of sucide and others really regreted signing up for treatment. I know it has helped others but I'd use it as a last resort

I had 34 sessions of ECT in 2009. I had the first 12, then another 12 and then 10 more before I decided to stop it. The first 12 were the major sessions and the next ones are what they call maintenance sessions. ECT did not work for me. It gave me permanent memory loss, left me with a learning disability and some cognitive functioning impairment.

I did see that it works for some other people. The last time I was hospitalized, there was a young man that underwent ECT and I can totally see the difference on him. It worked marvelously on him. It is great when it works for you. It works faster than the medication and you have fast recovery time.