ECT this week

[nicetry]

Hey everyone. Feeling depressed & tired, hopeless. I’m scheduled for ect (electroconvulsive therapy) tomorrow — number 8 I think — and seriously wondering if this was the right course of action in the first place. Doc says ect can’t make me worse & that I haven’t had enough treatments yet but I’ve cried more than I thought possible over the past couple of weeks. Someone tell me it’s gonna be okay. Someone tell me I have reason to be hopeful. This feeling sucks so much.

[Hidden]

Ya you posted this last time. You gotta practice sending posts that are showing your using the methods it takes to help with depression.

Like if I’m good and I say my affirmations at least 100xs I get to watch a movie. This is a safe place to practice being positive too? There are always more then one side to a person.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Everything is always ok, let’s hope tomorrow is excellent brings new things and new thoughts.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Looks like my comment wasn’t meant to be hurtful yet did get him the attention he deserved plus I have a chat record in messages with him.

Your all fine, doing your supportive roles.

[LiveandLetLive42 in reply to Hidden]

Were allowed to post whatever we want and especially if something in particular is bothering us, we are ok to post it as much as we want. I’m sorry but your comment was a little hurtful and doesn’t help what so ever.

[Hidden in reply to LiveandLetLive42]

You are right!

[nicetry in reply to LiveandLetLive42]

Was my comment hurtful? Ugh. I’m sorry.

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to nicetry]

No your comment was not hurtful. You’re going through a lot. Trust me. No worries.

[LiveandLetLive42 in reply to nicetry]

Noooo someone else's comment was hurtful towards you! LOL. You're good!! We're all here for you!! X

[Melina9 in reply to Hidden]

As everyone else said in this thread, your comment to @nicetry was unsupportive. We are all here for support and can bring anything we are feeling and going through to this safe place. You passed a judgement, which made nicetry feel badly about what was shared in this supportive community, and it caused someone to be hurt. People can post whatever they want to, however telling people how they should process their pain and concerns is completely different from being helpful in a supportive, positive, non-judgemental way.

[nicetry]

What? I’d post something positive if I felt anything positive. I’m not allowed to post something negative more than once? I don’t understand & now I’m sobbing again bc I feel so bad. Sorry.

[Coloradowalker in reply to nicetry]

You don’t have to post anything positive. You just have to be you and this is who you are right now. There is no judgment or expectations. When you start to feel better, you will exude strength and until then, we are here for you. Hoping that tomorrow will be the start of turning this ship around .❤️

[All_alone in reply to nicetry]

We post here to get and receive positive support. That is why you and all of us are here for non judgmental support. I'm sorry for how your feeling now. I've been hoping the ect will help. Are you looking forward to the holidays? For me, I am not and have been struggling still. The day will come for you when you see a small light which will get brighter each day and the weight of your illness will get lighter. We are here for you, please keep posting your thoughts and concerns.

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to nicetry]

Nicetry you’re just fine. You’re mind is very emotional. Lots of extra chemicals. Sending you love and hugs

[Lisha11 in reply to nicetry]

No. Your post was perfectly fine!!! Everyone is talking to unicorn tears who posted to you.

[LiveandLetLive42]

I know you’re having a tough time with the ECT. I’m thinking about you!!

[nicetry in reply to LiveandLetLive42]

Thank you. It helps to know people are thinking of me. ❤️

[NWGal in reply to nicetry]

Hey sweetie - you're on the right path. Stay strong. You are valued and loved. Merry Christmas!

[Hidden]

Hi, I'm praying for you. I had not received ECT in my life but I believe your ECT will benefit you and you are strong 💪 enough to get through this process. Don't worry and don't be scared. You've got what it takes 😊

[nicetry in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much! That means a lot.

[Hidden in reply to nicetry]

You are very welcome 😊

[NeuronerdDoaty]

I hope all goes well my friend.

[NeuronerdDoaty]

Prayers! I’ll be praying for all day tomorrow. Try to let us know how you’re doing.

[tiredswedge]

My husband reminded me that I was super emotional when I went through ect. I did get to the point where my meds were able to do the job, which was a huge relief.

[nicetry in reply to tiredswedge]

That’s so good to know! Thanks.

[Hidden]

Be strong.

[LadyBigFoot]

I’m so sorry to hear of your situation and having treatment at Christmas must make it seem much worse for you.

Hang on in there with the treatment as I’ve heard from medics, that the benefits are definitely felt over time, so you should start to feel better very soon.

Hopefully by the New Year things will start to improve for you.😊and you will have a new start.

Best wishes for Christmas and a very happy New Year. 🌲

[nicetry in reply to LadyBigFoot]

Thanks. The doc told me today that the benefits, like you said, are felt over time so hopefully soon!

[Kkimm]

Hi

I have heard that ECT can be really effective. I think you will start to feel so much better soon.

Thinking of you and really hoping for the best.

Kim

[misterericsir]

ECT has so much stigma against it and is a really hard treatment decision to make. But I can tell you it honestly saved my life! After medication not working for over a year and one failed suicide attempt I began ECT. I felt no different except more tired for the first month of 2 treatments a week. Then the light slowly returned to parts of my life. I wanted to get up in the morning. I began to enjoy watching TV. Finally after 3 months of ECT going from 2 times a week to once every 2 weeks I was able to return to work and feel moments of true happiness. My ECT treatments ended after about 5 to 6 months and I have been free of major depressive episodes for the past 4 years with medication. Even when my wife took my children and moved out I did not sink into hopelessness. ECT takes time to work and it is hard to deal with the side effects. But it does work. Please feel free to let me know about your ECT problems or successes. I would love to help you on this journey thru a difficult treatment.

[nicetry in reply to misterericsir]

Thanks. The doctor told me he doesn’t usually make a judgment until two months, which I’m getting close on now. So good to know it’s helped others.

[cbonne846]

Nicetry, I had ECT last week, 6 sessions and I felt worse than I had been feeling. Now that's just me, it's been helpful to many others. My issues are from PTSD with ECT cannot help. I do have severe major depression but it's because of low self esteem and PTSD.

I hope things turn out for you. I'm gonna try Ketamine, or VNS, or rTNS. Hopefully something will help me soon.

[nicetry in reply to cbonne846]

Good luck to you! I’m receiving ketamine simultaneously to ect so will see how it goes.

[Nutella06]

I tried ECT last year and only did 2 sessions and I was done. Luckily I had a very good doctor and he didn’t try to convince me to keep going. I barely remember last Christmas b/c of ECT but, everyone is different and responds differently to different methods and treatments. TMS has helped me significantly and I prefer Neurostar over Brainsway but, If you are not having significant memory loss which is the main side effect of ECT stick with it. If you are not improving stop immediately and try more advanced treatments like TMS, Ketamine and I personally feel magic mushrooms are a way to reconnect and create the right connections in our brain that make us understand our place in this world and the universe... Brainsway TMS May be a great option for you. It was to intense for me but, way less than ECT. Plus no anesthesia is required with TMS. You don’t have to get up at 4am in the morning and be at the hospital by 6am. Most people I know with mid to major depression are not morning people. You can schedule whatever time to get the TMS treatments and you don’t need anyone to take you to treatments. Lookup TMS on YouTube... Good luck...

[nicetry in reply to Nutella06]

Thanks for the info. I’m beginning to wonder whether I should continue ECT bc I’ve been a mess the past few days — crying 😭 and crying. I’ve received ketamine in addition & am thinking I might ask for just ketamine.

[Nutella06 in reply to nicetry]

I would also encourage you to try TMS. I think Brainsway TMS could work wonders for you or try Neurostar TMS. Most insurance covers it now b/c if you have tried at least 2 antidepressants without success it is deemed a medical necessity. A comedian was on an episode of Joe Rogans podcast and he said he started getting burning of the eyes from ketamine but, he had success just like me with Neurostar TMS. Just type in TMS Joe Rogan experience in google and there will be a 23 minute segment on it. The comedian with depression is wearing glasses and his name is Neal Brennan.

[nicetry in reply to Nutella06]

Thanks! Very interesting! I haven’t experienced any major side effects from ketamine — well other than it makes me feel really loopy — and am very intrigued by TMS.

[Hidden]

Have you heard of or tried ketamine therapy? If you're getting ECT I'm certain you can get in on the ketamine therapy. The more I learn about it the more I'm certain I'd like to try it. Both medicinally and otherwise. But that's just me (I doubt it). Anyway that's the latest new drug though it's been around for quite awhile.

Note: Just checked and found that using ketamine in such a manner is considered "off-label" by the FDA and does not condone it's use as such. Big deal, some doctors do it anyway. Just try to find one.

[nicetry in reply to Hidden]

My doc does — I’ve received ketamine the past 3 or 4 times I had ECT. I may ask him about using ketamine without ECT.

[Hidden in reply to nicetry]

I've seen a couple of documentaries about ketamine being used "off-label" has a positive benefit for those with PTSD, major depression, etc. Gotta be honest I've taken acid back in the day, I did trip gloriously. I understand some people do not like ketamine due to it's dissociative effects and hallucinations. I suppose it depends on the dose and the person but I'd love to try that. Dissociation and hallucinations? That's a fun day to me. Sounds like it'd really put depression on the back burner on low for awhile. So I have a two-sided interest: For therapeutic reasons of course but also for recreational purposes. Under doctors supervision of course. I'm with you, ask for the drug therapy without the ECT and see how that works. Best of luck. Take care.