simco
Bluelight Crew
I'm curious if others could help me understand when/why electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) is indicated and worth pursuing.
By way of context, I'm in my mid-40's with a lifelong history of severe depression. Several suicide attempts and hospitalizations. For over 20 years I've been on an array of almost every family of psychiatric meds (anti-depressants, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, atypical anti-psychotics, etc.). But as I've aged, my depressive episodes have only gotten longer and worse.
I feel like I'm nearing the end of my rope in terms of trying new meds on for size to see if they might happen to help me.
While I was in the hospital last summer I met several patients who were getting ECT. For some of them it seemed to be a godsend. For others, the response was basically, meh. My own doctors considered ECT for me, but came down on the side of not trying it, though they admitted that it was a close call, and that if things worsened, they might change their minds. (The hospital was out of state, otherwise I'd talk to those doctors again.)
My understanding is that ECT is usually indicated for treatment-resistant depression. It strikes me that this is exactly what I have (though maybe there's a more technical meaning to this phrase that I don't know). Yet, when I discuss the issue with my current doctor, he sort of rolls his eyes and says no, let's try some new meds instead.
I've been going through this for years, and it feels like I'm at the end of my rope. I'm very discouraged, and I'm getting freaked out b/c I can feel the depression taking another turn for the worse. Unfortunately, I live in a very small town with few psychiatrists. My current doc sees me about once per 6 weeks, so we don't have a particularly close relationship. Frankly, he's not very observant/insightful, either.
Sorry, I know this post is pretty scattered. I suppose I'm just seeking some input on the prospects of ECT for people in situations similar to mine. Would it be worth starting to push hard to find someone who would try me on it? Or maybe I'm just looking for a silver bullet where one doesn't exist.
Any thoughts on any aspect of this problem would be a huge help.
Thanks!
By way of context, I'm in my mid-40's with a lifelong history of severe depression. Several suicide attempts and hospitalizations. For over 20 years I've been on an array of almost every family of psychiatric meds (anti-depressants, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, atypical anti-psychotics, etc.). But as I've aged, my depressive episodes have only gotten longer and worse.
I feel like I'm nearing the end of my rope in terms of trying new meds on for size to see if they might happen to help me.
While I was in the hospital last summer I met several patients who were getting ECT. For some of them it seemed to be a godsend. For others, the response was basically, meh. My own doctors considered ECT for me, but came down on the side of not trying it, though they admitted that it was a close call, and that if things worsened, they might change their minds. (The hospital was out of state, otherwise I'd talk to those doctors again.)
My understanding is that ECT is usually indicated for treatment-resistant depression. It strikes me that this is exactly what I have (though maybe there's a more technical meaning to this phrase that I don't know). Yet, when I discuss the issue with my current doctor, he sort of rolls his eyes and says no, let's try some new meds instead.
I've been going through this for years, and it feels like I'm at the end of my rope. I'm very discouraged, and I'm getting freaked out b/c I can feel the depression taking another turn for the worse. Unfortunately, I live in a very small town with few psychiatrists. My current doc sees me about once per 6 weeks, so we don't have a particularly close relationship. Frankly, he's not very observant/insightful, either.
Sorry, I know this post is pretty scattered. I suppose I'm just seeking some input on the prospects of ECT for people in situations similar to mine. Would it be worth starting to push hard to find someone who would try me on it? Or maybe I'm just looking for a silver bullet where one doesn't exist.
Any thoughts on any aspect of this problem would be a huge help.
Thanks!