UPDATE: Anyone have experiance with ECT? Bad Depression, HELP!

narzy

Elite Member
Feb 26, 2000
7,006
1
81
I've been suffering from absolute crippling depression over the last 6 weeks. I've tried and tried to kick it but nothing is helping. I've seen the head doc and got meds adjusted but still nada. I've been 'treated' for years but nothing real successful has come out of it. I've been on just about a ton of different anti-depressants with no luck. They Diagnosed me with Manic depression (Bi-Polar I hate that word) and I've tried those medications with piss poor results. I've done the counseling thing for years with little to no success. I'm desperate to try anything to get this kicked. Its effecting my life, my ability to work and get things done, my relationships and I fear that it will eventually eat my relationship with my GF who I love dearly.

If sticking my tounge in a light socket will help, do you want me to drink a glass of water first to get the oral cavity saturated for conductivity?

oh yeah, I have insomnia now too...it sucks!

Help...


In a much better space.

When I posted this I was on the brink. Basically what happened was I spiraled in to what is called a psychotic depression (what a fucked up name! I'm not NUTZ!) I called my mother who is my savior when crap hits the fan and she called my doctors who quickly called me to make sure I was safe (I was) They got me on yet another pill to pull out of whatever hell I had managed to achieve.

I started getting depressed about 6 weeks ago. I think that it was triggered by a change in medication, I needed to come off an antidepressant because it was sending me in to manic episodes and I was in a rebound depression. Usually I can catch the fact that I'm going down and take a few breaths and kick it. In this case it got progressively worse.

During that week I got a call telling me one of our cats had been run over and died. This didn't help matters. After that I began to build a lot of anxiety and stress related to school work, work work, and money which were all now being well impacted. At this point things went from bad to worse. I cut off most contact with the outside world and became a shut in getting out of bed long enough to shit and shave.

Then worse got horrible...I began to have insomnia and constant fatigue. I couldn't sleep and when I could it didn't do anything for me. This culminated in to me not sleeping for 50 hours strait, which by the way is a horrible experience, and me grasping to get some type of help. I was considering calling 911 and just getting picked up and stuck in the loony bin.

Thank goodness for my mother, my doctors and the people of this forum for reaching out in my time of greatest need in my life so far. What a horrible ordeal I'm glad that the outcome is looking positive.

Cliffs:

I almost went bat shit nuts...
I'm better now...
Drugs are good Mmmmmm
 
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SSSnail

Lifer
Nov 29, 2006
17,458
82
86
Have you tried hookers, and blow?

Kidding aside, have you tried picking up sports? Something that you've always wanted to do? A hobby? Anything that will occupy your time so you don't have to think about your "conditions"?
 

narzy

Elite Member
Feb 26, 2000
7,006
1
81
Have you tried hookers, and blow?

Kidding aside, have you tried picking up sports? Something that you've always wanted to do? A hobby? Anything that will occupy your time so you don't have to think about your "conditions"?

yes. It works for a short time and then I tank again...

Hookers = STDs are BOP and blow is too expensive...
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
Last September I was hit with a depression worse than anything I could have ever imagined. I felt like every ounce of strength I had was sucked out of me.

Long story short, I got on a pretty hefty dose of Celexa with a Buspar kicker. It took a long rest, lots of praying and a great group of friends and family before I could be anything close to productive again.

Hang in there man...YOU WILL make it through this. Don't be afraid to rest.
 

narzy

Elite Member
Feb 26, 2000
7,006
1
81
why are you depressed narzy? anything in particular?

nothing that I can identify. I've been talking to my counselors weekly to talk about and work through everything that is on my mind. I'm just horribly depressed.
 

narzy

Elite Member
Feb 26, 2000
7,006
1
81
Last September I was hit with a depression worse than anything I could have ever imagined. I felt like every ounce of strength I had was sucked out of me.

Long story short, I got on a pretty hefty dose of Celexa with a Buspar kicker. It took a long rest, lots of praying and a great group of friends and family before I could be anything close to productive again.

Hang in there man...YOU WILL make it through this. Don't be afraid to rest.

I'm afraid of the consequences if I can't get out of this. I've barely been able to leave my room for weeks. They just stuck me on Buspar and are weening me off Effexor.
 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,651
100
91
I know someone who did it but it didn't help them in the long run, and fvcked them up in the shortterm (their shortterm memory was toast for a little while.)
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
nothing that I can identify. I've been talking to my counselors weekly to talk about and work through everything that is on my mind. I'm just horribly depressed.

Clearly there are issues here. I'm not a doctor but no one I've met that is manic is depressed ALL the time, that wouldn't make sense since there has to be a balance there.

What are some things that bother you or that you're depressed about?
 

narzy

Elite Member
Feb 26, 2000
7,006
1
81
I know someone who did it but it didn't help them in the long run, and fvcked them up in the shortterm (their shortterm memory was toast for a little while.)

I already can't remember shit...from what I understand you need a treatment course every 6 months or so to keep it effective.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
I'm afraid of the consequences if I can't get out of this. I've barely been able to leave my room for weeks.

don't worry about what's going to happen in the future....you can't control that. Focus on what you can do to make it through today. If you haven't already, you may want to look into getting put on FMLA at work to protect your job.

Grab some good books to read...self improvement kind of deals. One book or one sentence out of one of those books may give you a breakthrough.
 

SSSnail

Lifer
Nov 29, 2006
17,458
82
86
Well, let's start with the basics.

Did anyone you know died recently? Pets? TV shows canceled? etc...
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Again, not a doctor, but no one I've ever known or met has been better off on all those medications. In fact it made all of them worse and more depressed. The doctor response is usually to throw a pill at a problem and if it doesn't work try something else. It's criminally easy to get medication like this.
 

narzy

Elite Member
Feb 26, 2000
7,006
1
81
Clearly there are issues here. I'm not a doctor but no one I've met that is manic is depressed ALL the time, that wouldn't make sense since there has to be a balance there.

What are some things that bother you or that you're depressed about?


work, school, gf, money...cat died a few weeks ago, I was very depressed before this happened, I'm sure it doesn't help at all but I think it is more a contribution and not a trigger....got in a big ass fight w/ my step dad a couple of months ago haven't really dealt with it...I was manic for a week about 3 or 4 weeks ago and then went in to a rebound depression. Usually it doesn't last this long.
 
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Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,651
100
91
I'm afraid of the consequences if I can't get out of this. I've barely been able to leave my room for weeks. They just stuck me on Buspar and are weening me off Effexor.

Stay persistent in seeking help, there will be the right answer out there for you. Of course persistence isn't a trait of those with depression, but just keep 'putting one foot in front of the other' and making the next step or next phone call. If a med doesn't work, ask to try another type or another combination. Try to get some exercise, even if that's just going to the grocery story, etc.

Hang in there. :)
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
work, school, gf, money...cat died a few weeks ago...got in a big ass fight w/ my step dad a while ago...I was manic for a week about 3 or 4 weeks ago and then went in to a rebound depression. Usually it doesn't last this long.

It helps to talk it out with someone. It sounds like you're meeting with people but perhaps you should try someone else? Do you have any close friends you can vent to? Depression is extremely irrational. I'm sure you know that you're being irrational but you feel frustrated that you can't stop the behavior.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about it... been through some of that shit in the past.
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
I have done ECT a couple times. I have major depression (recurrent) and have had it for over 20 years. I tried all the drugs and nothing worked. I got to the point that I drove a car off a overpass . I was working as an EE at the time and the thought of someone intentionally shocking me was beyond terrifying. But after the car incident the doctor asked me a good question " What have you got to lose ? " , I didn't really care if I lived at that point, so I went ahead with it, secretly hoping it would just kill me.

They do the treatments , at least 6 and anywhere up to 12. 3 days a week in the early mornings. Mon/Wed/Fri. I was beyond scared the first time. The process is not bad at all and afterward I laugh at how scared I was. You lay on a table, they attach EEG and ECG leads, start an iv ( best sleep I ever had). The anesthesiologist tells you to start counting, and I made it to about 2. Next thing I knew I was awake with a nurse taking my blood pressure saying I was all done.

Afterward I had a strong headache, they gave me oxycotin for it, so no big deal. I couldn't tell the difference till after the 3rd treatment. I had a total of 8. I would do it again in a second, it truly saved my life. One caveat , there is some memory loss. Not anything like forgetting who you are, but things like what you ate for breakfast, or who you talked to last.

I will say that it should not be your first choice, try other treatment (med, counseling) first. It is a dangerous procedure for the heart, and is very expensive.

But like I said, it saved my life.
 

narzy

Elite Member
Feb 26, 2000
7,006
1
81
I have done ECT a couple times. I have major depression (recurrent) and have had it for over 20 years. I tried all the drugs and nothing worked. I got to the point that I drove a car off a overpass . I was working as an EE at the time and the thought of someone intentionally shocking me was beyond terrifying. But after the car incident the doctor asked me a good question " What have you got to lose ? " , I didn't really care if I lived at that point, so I went ahead with it, secretly hoping it would just kill me.

They do the treatments , at least 6 and anywhere up to 12. 3 days a week in the early mornings. Mon/Wed/Fri. I was beyond scared the first time. The process is not bad at all and afterward I laugh at how scared I was. You lay on a table, they attach EEG and ECG leads, start an iv ( best sleep I ever had). The anesthesiologist tells you to start counting, and I made it to about 2. Next thing I knew I was awake with a nurse taking my blood pressure saying I was all done.

Afterward I had a strong headache, they gave me oxycotin for it, so no big deal. I couldn't tell the difference till after the 3rd treatment. I had a total of 8. I would do it again in a second, it truly saved my life. One caveat , there is some memory loss. Not anything like forgetting who you are, but things like what you ate for breakfast, or who you talked to last.

I will say that it should not be your first choice, try other treatment (med, counseling) first. It is a dangerous procedure for the heart, and is very expensive.

But like I said, it saved my life.

I've been getting treated for YEARS. Since I was an early teenager, nothing is working. In terms of memory loss, I have those problems already I can cope. How do you find someone to administer? how much does it cost? did you have insurance that covered it?
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
I've been getting treated for YEARS. Since I was an early teenager, nothing is working. In terms of memory loss, I have those problems already I can cope. How do you find someone to administer? how much does it cost? did you have insurance that covered it?

Most doctors that do ECT require a referral. It isn't something that you can just call up a doctor and say I want to try ECT. So you need to talk with who you see now about the possibility.

Cost is pretty high, mine was over $4000 per treatment + hospital room charges, psych unit charges, meds, etc. Total was $63,000 for two weeks. My insurance covered it.
 

narzy

Elite Member
Feb 26, 2000
7,006
1
81
Most doctors that do ECT require a referral. It isn't something that you can just call up a doctor and say I want to try ECT. So you need to talk with who you see now about the possibility.

Cost is pretty high, mine was over $4000 per treatment + hospital room charges, psych unit charges, meds, etc. Total was $63,000 for two weeks. My insurance covered it.

63 grand!?!? holy shit!
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
63 grand!?!? holy shit!

Realize that the treatments require the use of an operating room, the doctor, an anesthesiologist , nurse, and recovery room . You also have to have a full workup for blood, heart, etc . All that gets very expensive.

They are basically inducing a seizure so they have to be careful.
 

narzy

Elite Member
Feb 26, 2000
7,006
1
81
In a much better space.

When I posted this I was on the brink. Basically what happened was I spiraled in to what is called a psychotic depression (what a fucked up name! I'm not NUTZ!) I called my mother who is my savior when crap hits the fan and she called my doctors who quickly called me to make sure I was safe (I was) They got me on yet another pill to pull out of whatever hell I had managed to achieve.

I started getting depressed about 6 weeks ago. I think that it was triggered by a change in medication, I needed to come off an antidepressant because it was sending me in to manic episodes and I was in a rebound depression. Usually I can catch the fact that I'm going down and take a few breaths and kick it. In this case it got progressively worse.

During that week I got a call telling me one of our cats had been run over and died. This didn't help matters. After that I began to build a lot of anxiety and stress related to school work, work work, and money which were all now being well impacted. At this point things went from bad to worse. I cut off most contact with the outside world and became a shut in getting out of bed long enough to shit and shave.

Then worse got horrible...I began to have insomnia and constant fatigue. I couldn't sleep and when I could it didn't do anything for me. This culminated in to me not sleeping for 50 hours strait, which by the way is a horrible experience, and me grasping to get some type of help. I was considering calling 911 and just getting picked up and stuck in the loony bin.

Thank goodness for my mother, my doctors and the people of this forum for reaching out in my time of greatest need in my life so far. What a horrible ordeal I'm glad that the outcome is looking positive.
 

Sea Moose

Diamond Member
May 12, 2009
6,933
7
76
holy crap on a stick batman.

I had depression once, and i mean proper depression. (Found out my parents both had bad cancer on the same day)

Had a horrible month, but manned up and got over it and dealt with it.

Shame you had to got treatment cause that cancels you out for a number of jobs in the future.

All the best though and dont go bucking futs!
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,981
8,219
126
Nicotine might help. It's helpful with other brain imbalances, maybe it would help for depression also.