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ECT and Me

by Heather Loeb April 19, 2020
by Heather Loeb April 19, 2020 15 comments

I’ve talked a lot recently about my six-week stay at the Menninger Clinic but haven’t really discussed why my stay there was so helpful – doing (electroconvulsive therapy) ECT treatments.

Over the years I was told to try ECT because of my treatment-resistant depression, meaning none of the meds I tried (and I tried a lot) worked well. ECT always scared me and I think it scares a lot of people. I imagine a lot of people associate it as being “shock therapy,” a very primitive form of today’s ECT from the 1900s. But I was doing so poorly by the time I got to Menninger, I prayed that I was a candidate and it worked. Turns out I was and it did.

I did my initial (or index) treatments at Menninger. I did treatments about three times a week until I left the hospital. Each treatment began with memory and cognitive testing. After that came the actual treatment. The nurses would place electrodes on my head, which would provide an electric stimulus to my brain, inducing a seizure. It was then my brain’s job to shut off the seizure, and I was told the shorter the seizure the better. I had monitors for my heart function, blood pressure and pulse, as well.

After everything was in place it was time for the anesthesia. They would administer it, insert a bite guard into my mouth and place an oxygen mask over my face and nose. I’d fall asleep, have the seizure and be awake in about 15-20 minutes.

At first I had awful migraines after the treatments and would have to stay in bed, but now I get a minor headache, some neck pain and fatigue. Not so bad, considering.

As I mentioned earlier, I did my initial treatments at the Menninger Clinic but then switched to a facility in San Antonio, Laurel Ridge Treatment Center after I done at Menninger. Unfortunately, there are no doctors who perform ECT in Corpus Christi, where I live. Both facilities are very good but different. Whereas Menninger might see a handful of patients – if that – a day, Laurel Ridge sees much more and they’re very efficient getting people in and out.

Sometimes I panic before a treatment, although I don’t know why. Nothing scary has ever happened to me but I do get very nervous beforehand. The nurses/doctors can’t give me anything to relax because most meds in that category prolong the seizures. Regardless of my panic, I still get treatments when I’m feeling down.

If you are contemplating ECT, feel free to contact me and I’ll answer any questions. I know it can be scary and intimidating but the treatments are very safe. It has been, by far, the most effective treatment for my treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Avoidant Personality Disorder. I’m happier and have more energy now.

One thing I will mention is memory loss. This is normal and usually occurs around the time of treatment, so you might not remember getting to the hospital or recent conversations. In my case – and this is just me – I have lost memories from years ago and short-term as well. You can read my memory loss blog here.

Having said that, I would still recommend ECT to anyone who is suffering with depression. It really changed my life at a time I wasn’t sure if I’d make it much longer.

anxietyavoidant personality disorderDepressionECTelectroconvulsive therapygeneralized anxiety disorderHealthmajor depressive disorderMental Health
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Heather Loeb

For decades I've struggled with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, avoidant personality disorder, dysthymia and an eating disorder. I pen my misadventures here, but you can also find my column in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times (caller.com). Thanks for reading and for your support.

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15 comments

ashleyleia April 20, 2020 - 11:43 am

For me the memory loss was also worth it given how well the ECT worked.

Reply
Heather Loeb April 20, 2020 - 2:28 pm

How bad is yours? Short term or long term or both? How many treatments have you had?

Reply
ashleyleia April 20, 2020 - 2:31 pm

My first course was 17 treatments, and I lost memories going back several months that never came back. My next course was I think 16, and I had a lot of short-term memory loss didn’t lose too much from the time prior to that hospitalization. The next time I had it I was in hospital for 3 weeks, so maybe 8 or so treatments, and again I had lots of short-term but I don’t think I had any long-term. I got a couple of treatments done in community, but it didn’t work out logistically because I just didn’t have anyone that could take me home from treatments and babysit me.

Reply
Hindsight: 20/20 – Unruly Neurons April 26, 2020 - 1:04 am

[…] it like it was yesterday, which is a feat because I don’t remember anything from all my ECT treatments. I was in the nurse’s office having left my 7th grade computer class. The nurse, who had seen […]

Reply
makaspen June 13, 2020 - 6:08 pm

So you mainly lost memories from the time period around having ECT? Like before ECT and during? I am considering this procedure so any information is helpful!

Reply
Heather Loeb June 13, 2020 - 6:10 pm

I often do forget things around the time of a treatment but I’ve also forgotten memories from years ago. Even with the memory loss, ECT is worth it – in my opinion. It’s lifesaving.

Reply
Beautiful girl, you can do hard things – Unruly Neurons June 25, 2020 - 1:42 pm

[…] apart. I’ve battled postpartum depression. I went to a mental hospital for six weeks. I started ECT therapy and have had more than 20 treatments – that’s 20 times under anesthesia and 20+ seizures. I […]

Reply
To My Future Self – Unruly Neurons July 6, 2020 - 6:06 pm

[…] year ago I started electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for my severe depression. I try to do one every four to six weeks because I need them to live, […]

Reply
The Exhaustion of Barely Surviving – Unruly Neurons July 10, 2020 - 6:08 pm

[…] I combat these feelings is with medication and ECT (electroconvulsive therapy). But guess what? When you’re depressed, you don’t want to take your meds, even though […]

Reply
mentalhealth360.uk July 15, 2020 - 1:45 pm

I’ve never had ECt myself but I think that if I had a Major Depressive disorder which was meds resistant, I’d try the ECT. I wrote a post on it some time ago, explaining how it works for most people and we had people coming back say 10-20 years later, asking for ECT again.

My mum’s had 2 courses of ECT, back in the olden days lol when it was the asylums. That place terrified me. But it made my mum better 🙂

Reply
jennymckinny July 29, 2020 - 11:37 pm

I have so many questions. My first and most important; Can this be done as an outpatient or so I have to be admitted?

Reply
Heather Loeb July 29, 2020 - 11:38 pm

Yes. I started when I was inpatient but you can definitely get it done outpatient. I get all my maintenance treatments done outpatient in San Antonio.

Reply
jennymckinny July 29, 2020 - 11:52 pm

Thank you, I am starting to believe that I need this treatment, but can not be impatient. Thank you for sharing

Reply
Heather Loeb July 29, 2020 - 11:52 pm

You’re welcome. I’m happy to answer any questions you have. Thanks for reading.

Reply
Make Hay While the Sun Shines – Unruly Neurons August 31, 2020 - 5:59 pm

[…] week ago I was in bad shape — severely depressed, anxious and suicidal. I went for an ECT treatment and my psychiatrist altered my medications. This week has been unbelievably better. I expected to […]

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anxiety anxiety disorder anxiety disorder. generalized anxiety disorder avoidant personality disorder binge eating Binge Eating Disorder body positivity Chronic Pain compulsive eating coronavirus Depression depression blog diet coke eating disorder ECT ECT treatment electroconvulsive therapy family generalized anxiety disorder getting healthy healthy living ketamine major depression major depressive disorder mdd menninger clinic Mental Health mental health blog mental illness mental illness blog mental wellness migraines overeating parenting parenting blog parenting with depression self care stigma of depression suicidal ideation suicide suicide prevention TMS transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment resistant depression Weight Loss

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