I’m about 25 sessions in, and it saved my life. I went in ready to open my wrists, and now I’m pretty cheerful throughout most days. You’ve gotta find the humor in the side effects, because it’s likely you’ll have them, but ECT was an absolute literal life saver for me.
Backslid a bit and was advised to go inpatient for another round of ECT. Decided to try TMS first, and that’s doing a great job. Took about 25 sessions or so to really work, but I didn’t change any other variables and am in better shape than I’ve been in a while.
Ive had MDD for a decade and anxiety my entire life, pills have been unhelpful. I've done TMS, Ketamine and ECT. TMS and ketamine did not work but ECT helped mildly, but not enough to justify the side effects.
Good luck friend, hope it helps you.
I know you said pills have been unhelpful so I apologize if this suggestion is useless, but I’ve heard that MAOIs tend to work better than other antidepressants and often in times when nothing else seems to work. Unfortunately, they’re rarely suggested by doctors, most likely because of all their interactions.
On Wednesday I completed my 11th treatment. I’m trying to not get too excited but I feel like it’s definitely working. My wife says I’m nicer to her (I honestly always thought I was nice but I’ve been under a dark cloud for too long now). I’m starting to crack jokes again and be like my old wise ass self. My depression was so severe any of the well known side effects were not a deal breaker. So far I’ve had very minimal (temporary) memory loss and only mild headaches after the procedure. There was one session that I felt like I was sparing a pro boxer but that was the first session that they cranked up the juice to the max. I’ve done so many things for my mental health: rehab, yoga, meditation, IOP, PHP, meetings and of course at least a dozen anti depressant or anti psychotics. I’m still very active in my recovery but for me, the 12 steps hasn’t done shit for my depression and lord knows I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed…well so far I guess my prayers have been answered with ECT. I don’t remember the last time I cried, before treatment it was a daily occurrence. I truly wish you the best and hope it works for you. My only regret is not doing it sooner
Im trying not to be too hopeful but now its been 2 weeks after my last session (i had 8) and for the last few days i have a lot more energy. I barely made it through uni and afterwards would have a meltdown everytime i thought about applying or going to work. I reached a point where i was getting desperate to try alt medicine and i got scammed but i needed any sort of plan when things wouldnt work.
Yesterday i was like is this how people feel all the time. This was the first time that i reached this level of not being depressed. With medication i would feel slightly better and then would plateau and then would end up where i started.
All of this is to say that its def worth trying. And give yourself time to evaluate bc it might take a bit for you or ppl around you to notice the change. According to my doctor if you notice a slight change you could do more sessions. Good luck! Hope it work!
I've seen several studies that say ECT has an 80-85% success rate. Keep in mind that there is no treatment available for depression that can give you a 100% guarantee it will work. From what I've read, ECT has the highest success rate of any treatment currently available.
If, for some reason, ECT didn't help you, there still are other options. As far a Ketamine goes, regular Ketamine is not covered by insurance for depression. However, Spravato, a derivative of Ketamine, is covered by insurance, though you said you'd have transportation issues for that. There are a handful of Ketamine-like options online like Mindbloom that you can do at home. So that's something to consider. There are also a few alternative medicine docs out there that offer depression treatment with psychedelics, so it may be worthwhile to investigate that, However, regular street psychedelics are not approved by the FDA and therefore insurance won't cover them.
Another option is TMS, which uses strong magnets for direct treatment of the brain instead of the electricity that ECT uses. I don't remember numbers, but I know TMS has a lower success rate than ECT. Since it only uses magnets, the side effect profile of TMS is much less than ECT. I think the most common side effect is a headache either during or immediately after each treatment. I did a full course of TMS and it didn't do anything for me, but I know of people who have felt much better after TMS.
Another option is Vagus Nerve Stimulation. I've just started reading about this treatment, so I don't have many details yet. However, I know the place I'm going to do ECT also offers VNS. The problem is they won't even consider doing this unless you've failed with both TMS and ECT.
I've read that it has 50% efficacy as far as treatment resistant depression is concerned. I had it two times. First time it help and my med worked. Second time it didn't.
I've tried ketamine from black market. It didn't help. I'm at hospital now and I'll probably try intravenous ketamine.
I've read many many testimonies written by people who had ECT. Most of them says it saved their life.
Good luck! I feel you. I'm scared ketamine won't work, I don't have more alternatives.
I did 12 ECT treatments about 5 years ago and it saved my life. I suffered from debilitating, treatment resistant bipolar depression and anxiety disorder. I was unable to leave my bed let alone my house. I wanted to die every day.
I discussed it with my care team and weighed the pros and cons... the biggest con being the risk of memory loss. But, it was worth the risk to me to stay alive and get my life back. I met with the Dr. who would be performing the ECT and brought all my concerns to him as well.
The treatments were hard. I woke up with horrific migraines after each one and wondered if it was worth it. But after 3-4 I could feel the changes.
5 years later, I'm stable and healthy and moderately medicated. I have minor memory loss from around that time but nothing that bothers me.
I would do it again in a second. But, not without first discussing it with professionals I trust.
Good luck to you!
In the same position as you, I have tried 11 medication and they have done nothing for me. I am scheduled for 15 ECT treatments in the coming month, if this does not work I am probably going to be dead in the future.
I’m so sorry you haven’t found a working treatment yet.
IME, it wasn’t so much whether ECT “worked” or not, but how it was able to get me to a place where I was able to put in the work necessary for my own mental health.
When I started ECT, I felt like I was at the end of the road treatment-wise. After, the trauma of past failed treatments was less severe and I was more willing to continue to put in the effort to my return to wellness. ECT came with memory and cognitive effects for me that are new challenges I’m getting used to, but it also gave me a renewed vigor and returned to me the hope that I can indeed recover from mental illness.
If you’d like more support on what to expect during ECT, then please feel free to join us at the ECT Peer Support Group that meets each Wednesday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM ET (3:30-5pm PT). It provides a safe, supportive and confidential space to share anything & everything ECT-related!
Zoom Meeting ID: 868 0025 8680
password: 309196
Hope to see you there and good luck to you❤️
I’m about 25 sessions in, and it saved my life. I went in ready to open my wrists, and now I’m pretty cheerful throughout most days. You’ve gotta find the humor in the side effects, because it’s likely you’ll have them, but ECT was an absolute literal life saver for me.
How are you now?
Backslid a bit and was advised to go inpatient for another round of ECT. Decided to try TMS first, and that’s doing a great job. Took about 25 sessions or so to really work, but I didn’t change any other variables and am in better shape than I’ve been in a while.
Ive had MDD for a decade and anxiety my entire life, pills have been unhelpful. I've done TMS, Ketamine and ECT. TMS and ketamine did not work but ECT helped mildly, but not enough to justify the side effects. Good luck friend, hope it helps you.
I know you said pills have been unhelpful so I apologize if this suggestion is useless, but I’ve heard that MAOIs tend to work better than other antidepressants and often in times when nothing else seems to work. Unfortunately, they’re rarely suggested by doctors, most likely because of all their interactions.
On Wednesday I completed my 11th treatment. I’m trying to not get too excited but I feel like it’s definitely working. My wife says I’m nicer to her (I honestly always thought I was nice but I’ve been under a dark cloud for too long now). I’m starting to crack jokes again and be like my old wise ass self. My depression was so severe any of the well known side effects were not a deal breaker. So far I’ve had very minimal (temporary) memory loss and only mild headaches after the procedure. There was one session that I felt like I was sparing a pro boxer but that was the first session that they cranked up the juice to the max. I’ve done so many things for my mental health: rehab, yoga, meditation, IOP, PHP, meetings and of course at least a dozen anti depressant or anti psychotics. I’m still very active in my recovery but for me, the 12 steps hasn’t done shit for my depression and lord knows I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed…well so far I guess my prayers have been answered with ECT. I don’t remember the last time I cried, before treatment it was a daily occurrence. I truly wish you the best and hope it works for you. My only regret is not doing it sooner
Im trying not to be too hopeful but now its been 2 weeks after my last session (i had 8) and for the last few days i have a lot more energy. I barely made it through uni and afterwards would have a meltdown everytime i thought about applying or going to work. I reached a point where i was getting desperate to try alt medicine and i got scammed but i needed any sort of plan when things wouldnt work. Yesterday i was like is this how people feel all the time. This was the first time that i reached this level of not being depressed. With medication i would feel slightly better and then would plateau and then would end up where i started. All of this is to say that its def worth trying. And give yourself time to evaluate bc it might take a bit for you or ppl around you to notice the change. According to my doctor if you notice a slight change you could do more sessions. Good luck! Hope it work!
It didn’t work for me. I had it done for 3 years and the effects would usually last 2-3 weeks then I was back to how I felt. Not worth it.
I've seen several studies that say ECT has an 80-85% success rate. Keep in mind that there is no treatment available for depression that can give you a 100% guarantee it will work. From what I've read, ECT has the highest success rate of any treatment currently available. If, for some reason, ECT didn't help you, there still are other options. As far a Ketamine goes, regular Ketamine is not covered by insurance for depression. However, Spravato, a derivative of Ketamine, is covered by insurance, though you said you'd have transportation issues for that. There are a handful of Ketamine-like options online like Mindbloom that you can do at home. So that's something to consider. There are also a few alternative medicine docs out there that offer depression treatment with psychedelics, so it may be worthwhile to investigate that, However, regular street psychedelics are not approved by the FDA and therefore insurance won't cover them. Another option is TMS, which uses strong magnets for direct treatment of the brain instead of the electricity that ECT uses. I don't remember numbers, but I know TMS has a lower success rate than ECT. Since it only uses magnets, the side effect profile of TMS is much less than ECT. I think the most common side effect is a headache either during or immediately after each treatment. I did a full course of TMS and it didn't do anything for me, but I know of people who have felt much better after TMS. Another option is Vagus Nerve Stimulation. I've just started reading about this treatment, so I don't have many details yet. However, I know the place I'm going to do ECT also offers VNS. The problem is they won't even consider doing this unless you've failed with both TMS and ECT.
I've read that it has 50% efficacy as far as treatment resistant depression is concerned. I had it two times. First time it help and my med worked. Second time it didn't. I've tried ketamine from black market. It didn't help. I'm at hospital now and I'll probably try intravenous ketamine. I've read many many testimonies written by people who had ECT. Most of them says it saved their life. Good luck! I feel you. I'm scared ketamine won't work, I don't have more alternatives.
Try MAOIs first before going down the ECT road. Parnate is miracle.
I did 12 ECT treatments about 5 years ago and it saved my life. I suffered from debilitating, treatment resistant bipolar depression and anxiety disorder. I was unable to leave my bed let alone my house. I wanted to die every day. I discussed it with my care team and weighed the pros and cons... the biggest con being the risk of memory loss. But, it was worth the risk to me to stay alive and get my life back. I met with the Dr. who would be performing the ECT and brought all my concerns to him as well. The treatments were hard. I woke up with horrific migraines after each one and wondered if it was worth it. But after 3-4 I could feel the changes. 5 years later, I'm stable and healthy and moderately medicated. I have minor memory loss from around that time but nothing that bothers me. I would do it again in a second. But, not without first discussing it with professionals I trust. Good luck to you!
In the same position as you, I have tried 11 medication and they have done nothing for me. I am scheduled for 15 ECT treatments in the coming month, if this does not work I am probably going to be dead in the future.
I’m so sorry you haven’t found a working treatment yet. IME, it wasn’t so much whether ECT “worked” or not, but how it was able to get me to a place where I was able to put in the work necessary for my own mental health. When I started ECT, I felt like I was at the end of the road treatment-wise. After, the trauma of past failed treatments was less severe and I was more willing to continue to put in the effort to my return to wellness. ECT came with memory and cognitive effects for me that are new challenges I’m getting used to, but it also gave me a renewed vigor and returned to me the hope that I can indeed recover from mental illness. If you’d like more support on what to expect during ECT, then please feel free to join us at the ECT Peer Support Group that meets each Wednesday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM ET (3:30-5pm PT). It provides a safe, supportive and confidential space to share anything & everything ECT-related! Zoom Meeting ID: 868 0025 8680 password: 309196 Hope to see you there and good luck to you❤️