ECT is generally used as a last ditch Therapy for persons suffering Severe Suicidal Depression, either BiPolar or Unipolar, that is medication and Therapeutic resistant. It can be a very effective treatment, but comes with very serious side effects, so the benefit vs. the cost has to be weighed very carefully by the patient. I've done 3 cycles of ECT, meaning, an ECT Procedure 3 times per week, every week for 12 weeks. I have BiPolar Disorder with Severe Suicidal Depression for 28 yrs. now, I did the ECT in 2010, when all of my other therapies and medications had stopped working and I literally did not move from my bed unless someone moved me, did not eat unless someone fed me, had to have all meds, sharps, etc. removed from my room because the only thing my brain would focus on was my death. I entered the Hospital Psych ward voluntarily, was there for 3 months, started my ECT in the hospital and finished it out patient, going to the hospital 3 days a week for procedures. The side effects were daily severe headaches, nausea/vomiting after procedures, significant memory loss, short term and long term. My Pdoc had prepared me very well for the memory loss issue and had me write down every piece of important information that was in my head, I was a Journal-er, so this was not a big deal to me, the first 3 weeks I was in the Hospital I layed in bed and wrote all day. I also wrote details of things like, when my sons were born, important milestones in their lives, anything that I basically wanted to remember, as after the treatments were completely finished, by having all of the data to read, re-read, and re-read daily I was able to trigger most of the long term memories, somethings I just never got back. Short term memory issues were permanent and still have issues with that.

TMS is not a very well practiced Therapy. It was created for use as a Diagnostic Tool for patients with MS, Stroke, Facial Nerve disorders, Spinal Cord injury's, etc. It's used cross-care for Severe MDD (Unipolar Depression) that is Treatment Resistant. But it's relatively new, only been granted license by the FDA since 2008. If your into your 10th Treatment with no change, then you most likely will not benefit from TMS. There would have been a change in your emotional/mental state by now.

With ECT the problem will be, it doesn't last forever and it can't be used as a Therapeutic Treatment, its just not meant to be used that way. I was able to get my life jumpstarted again, but I'm on my BiPolar meds every day, just as I always have been for the last 28 yrs., I see my Pdoc once a month and see my Therapist when I feel the need. I still have to treat my BiPolar Disorder everyday, the ECT was never meant to be the end all treatment, it was meant to do just what it did, get me out of the Suicidal Severe Depression, back to a treatable, livable, back to work, back to being mom, state of living.

If you have any questions feel free to ask, I'll try to help any way I can.

Take care,
Kat

Wow...thanks for sharing! I'm so sorry to hear of your struggles. I did research on TMS and ECT before I even went for a consultation with the Dr. I spoke with 2 dr's that did each treatment and I decided to start off with TMS. I had watched videos and forums of people that had good experiences doing TMS therapy also I didn't want to inconvenience or be a burden on anyone to take me for ECT. But now I'm starting to feel worse. I just finished my 13th treatment. At the 20th the dr re-maps you for treatment, this is when we will discuss what to do next. I might wind up switching over to ECT. I am fed up with everything. My mind and emotions are on a non stop rollercoaster. I think of not being in this world everyday. I just want this shit to end and try to live a somewhat "normal" life. I just wanna be happy and be successful in my relationships, career, life in general. I do not wanna be a guinea pig any more with meds. I hope your feeling great and having a great day as well!!