Has anyone had ECT?

[anxiousinMD]

My VA shrink put me in for a consult for ECT. I'm pretty stressed about it and terrified. I've done the googling about it and saw that all the professional orgs say it's improved, safe, and successful...but there's always the horror stories. Also I read it's not permanent. I was wondering if any of you have experienced ECT administered by the VA? I go next week to the consult, if I don't reschedule it again. I'm torn between desperate to feel my normal self and terrified to lose something I didn't sign up for (ECT is known to cause memory loss, supposedly it comes back). I'm guessing they will keep me inpatient for the treatments. I cancelled the first time because I was afraid they would baker act me to force the treatments on me. Maybe that's paranoid but this is all scary to me. Maybe someone here has had a positive experience?

[Gastone]

WTF is an ECT? Get back after you have the consult, with a full description please. I doubt the ECT would be done at the initial Consult, never know though. You can always opt out at the last minute.

Now I have to look up "ECT."

Semper Fi

 

[anxiousinMD]

@Gastone ECT is electroconvulsive therapy, I guess better known as electro shock treatment. I think the consult is to see if I'm a good candidate, not sure what makes me a good candidate but I'd like to not be one.

[Gastone]

Ya, checked it out on line, just trust it's not like we used to see in the flicks. I'd have to pass on the OLD SHOCK Therapy, just saying.

I'd like to talk to Vets that have received it, before I let them hook the Jumper Cables up to me.

Semper Fi

 

[anxiousinMD]

@Gastone that's what I'd like to do...talk to other vets who had it done at the VA. When I had an impatient stay there was another patient that mentioned having it done, but she didn't seem to be in any better shape than me so I'm not sure how great it worked.

[Guest L]

This is the most reliable link I know: updated in 2015 - once in the link click the before and after arrows for other info.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/electroconvulsive-therapy/basics/why-its-done/prc-20014161