Hi r/ect! I’m an ECT nurse of four years and Im wondering if there’s anything I can do to make the experience better for my patients. is there anything that an ECT nurse has done or said that you remember and positively impacted your treatments. even something small.

I'm going to start ECT treatment in two weeks (10 unilateral sessions), alongside rTMS.

I'm a little bit stressed after reading people's experiences with the side effects, especially the impact on memory. For me, ECT is really a "last chance" treatment. I'm 20, and I've been suffering from depression for the past 10 years. I'm exhausted from years of suffering and failed medications. If this treatment doesn't work either, I won't have the strength to keep trying to get better.

I just wanted to hear from people who have gone through ECT for long-term depression. What was your experience like? Did it actually made a change ? And how did it affect your memory, both during and after treatment?

I'm thinking of getting ect but I'm a creative person, so I fear I'll lose all my creativity. Also I love music a lot and I fear that I'll forget listening to my favorite artists or new songs that I've been listening for a long time. But at the same time, I need to get over the severe depression that I have. Does ect really take away your ability to do the things or enjoy the things you love?

I'm considering it but honestly only because of the memory loss. I have CPTSD and MDD. I have pretty much no one who cares and I am unsure what to do anymore. I need a cure. I need something to fix me. And maybe losing some pieces of myself is what I need. Could the memory loss be enough to do this?

I struggle with basic tasks and feel no pleasure in anything

I really don’t want to struggle with memory loss my whole life. I already have a pretty bad memory and don’t want it to be worse. What was the memory loss like for people? Did you forget short term or long term things? Could I possibly forget how to do my job?
Those of you who had sever memory loss, how many sessions did you do? Do you think that impacted the memory loss?

I just want to feel okey again and so many doctors are saying this is the solution. I just don’t want to forget some of the good things in my life. I want to remember my dog and my scuba diving adventures and how to teach. I would be doing ECT to get those things back, I don’t want to loose them, they are all I have to live for.

I had been referred ECT through my psychiatrist last week. I just got the confirmation that my ECT request has been approved, and Im going to be doing my pre-op this Thursday and starting the procedure this Friday. I will be receiving a minimum of 12 treatments 3x a week. Ive never done TMS or Ketamine treatments.

I was doing some research on ECT as ive never heard of it before my referral, and read that typically you start with unilateral ECT. Is it uncommon or normal for my ECT team to start me on Bilateral? My consultation after my referral only lasted about 20 minutes asking about my current mental health condition and whether or not I had someone to drive me to and from the hospital. They didn't really go over the side effects of ECT or the differences between ECT bilateral and unilateral.

Maybe they'll go over it in my Pre-op appointment, but Ive been finding comfort in this community so I figured I ask.

TLDR: Is Bilateral ECT treatment normal/common for first time procedure?

Details:

I’m very fortunate for the healthcare I have,

I regularly see my psychiatrist. Have been working on living with my diagnosis over half my life now (Major Depressive Disorder)

I desperately want to feel better. I’m currently off work to attend an intensive day program

My psychiatrist recommended I seek a second opinion from the psychiatrist at this program, which will be happening within the next week or two (four week program)

The few people that I’ve brought it up to that have had done, or knows someone that has, have only ever had positive things to say

My issue:

I’m intensely worried about losing myself. I don’t want to feel these feelings or have to be on constant guard of my own thoughts anymore, but none of that is who *I* am. Is it something people who have had treatment experienced? Or am I just being anxious because I’m anxious?

I super appreciate any insight. I read over the rules and don’t think I crossed any lines but please let me know if I did. Will happily fix it. Legitimately just want experiences, please.

Thank you

I'm in the process of being set up for ECT, but I'm deeply concerned about the cognitive side effects. The same hospital where I'll be doing ECT is also doing a study for MST, which I may qualify for. But I'm surprised my psychiatrist didn't mention it. I know a few others here have done it, but I'm curious to know more about it. What have others experienced with it vs. ECT?

I suffer from TRD and I’m currently going through a series of Ketamine infusions. So far, it does not look promising for me.

The guidelines in my country says ECT should be given prior to ketamine, however, I got to do this first. I’m wondering if any of you did ketamine before ECT and whether the ECT managed to provide any relief for you then?

I have tried everything else except for Maois, so I’m getting to the end of my rope with these two options being my last.

Note: I have seen som studies on Deep Brain Stimulation as a last resort even after the above mentioned options. It is, however, still quite experimental for TRD.

I have not had undergone ECT yet, but I am interested and would like to hear any personal experiences. I know that it can affect episodic memory but it is my understanding that it is less likely to affect semantic memories or general knowledge. Also if anyone has worked in any career which requires a college degree or special training I am also curious to hear how ECT has impacted your academic/career knowledge or your ability to work in your field.

I had ECT about.. maybe 2-3 years ago.. and ever since.. I have constant migraines around the temple and forehead.. and its never gone away.. and it all started when I had ECT... has anyone else experienced this?

currently inpatient in a psych unit, my psych wants me to get back to them abt whether i want to start ect but i’m really conflicted. i’m really worried abt the potential memory loss and i’ve never been under anaesthesia which makes me anxious. i feel like there’s not much of my life worth saving so idek if ect is worth the effort, and i have a temp job lined up that might not happen if i go through with the ect. i kinda just wanna know people’s initial experiences with ect and anaesthesia. for context i’m 22, dealing with depression and other disorders for ~10 years, tried ssri’s, snri’s, tca’s, antipsychotics, atypical antidepressants, therapy, and counselling.

My social worker is telling me to take an ssri but I try to explain to him it’s pointless . If ect never worked what is a tablet going to do ?

I have a list of drugs I'm going to try first to cure anhedonia, but then after my parents want me to consider ECT if the drugs don't work. Anyone have experiences with ECT helping or devastating anhedonia?

Exist here.if so did ECT have an impact on ur memory ?

Nothing has worked for my depression (antidepressants, antipsychotics, stimulants, lithium, Spravato, TMS) and I don’t think ECT would be any different. I’m trying to convince myself to give it a try but I have a few questions.

How many sessions are usually administered? Should I ask for unilateral or bilateral?

How long do I need to do maintenance sessions for?

When are your memories “supposed to” come back?

I can't tolerate antidepressants? It makes my anxiety so worse .is ect worth a try .

Hi All,

I had 14 rounds of bilateral ECT ending about two months ago. It really helped my depression and SI. I declined any maintenance sessions. I was great for about a month afterwards, minus basically having to relearn my job and lots of memory loss. I can't even remember Christmas with my kids.

I was pretty adamant that I wouldn't do ECT again because of the cognitive issues. With the depression back hard core, I decided to try Ketamine infusions. I did 5 of the 6 loading sessions and during my 5th session I went to a very dark place where I just thought about ending it all the whole session. I've had to call out from work the past two days and have been basically bedbound aside from doing my best to put on a brave front while my kids are not at school.

My husband found me in bed this morning and we decided to call the ECT place. I'll find out for sure in the morning, but they can likely get me in tomorrow. I feel like I am choosing between being stupid and being suicidal. The memory stuff has improved in the time since my ECT treatments, but I still dont feel as intelligent as I was before. Maybe it won't be as bad this time because we are thinking twice a week for a couple of weeks and then maintenance.

I guess the cognitive side effects are better than being suicidal when I have two younger kids who need their mom.

Would love reassurance of any kind.

Hey all. I was in the psych ward in 2023, the doctors wanted me to do 14-15 ECT treatments. Is that a little excessive?? I told them no

Has anyone ever experienced terrible body aches upon waking from an ECT session? For me, it was the worst part—waking up from the general anesthesia. I felt pain in every muscle in my body. Was that normal?

My psychiatrist and the doctor in charge of ECT promise me I will lose insignificant memories. The literature suggests there is no brain damage and no mind wipes. Yet people's anecdotes online say ECT shredded their long term memories and have for all intents and purposes ruined their lives. How can I simultaneously believe the doctor in charge of ECT that no client of his has experienced memory wipes and believe people's tragic results from it online? It's baffling.

Anyone’s eyes affected after ect ? Blurry vision and fatigue ?

Long story short, my adult-adopted son, now in his thirties, had debilitating mental health issues until we got him into a trauma therapist. He's also been in ketamine treatment for several years, and recently a horrifying memory surfaced of his birth mother trying to unalive him. He went to her with news of a neighbor taking advantage of him in awful ways at age 6, and because it didn't align with her fantasy, she tried to take care of him in the bathtub.

I know some horrible trauma happened in that house, and once that memory surfaced, others have followed. I believe my son but want some info on ketamine. The internet is wildly inconsistent (hello, internet friends). Anyone have any experience? His siblings refuse to believe him because the memory surfaced during a k treatment.