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i got brain damage from electroconvulsive therapy.

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sue_cunliffe1
sue_cunliffe1

In 2005 I was given 22 lots of electroconvulsive therapy. It left me with brain damage that means I will never work again. I was lucky because I got support from a neuropsychologist who allowed me to understand and come to terms with my problems. ECT can be used to great effect. However some people like myself end up severely and permanently affected. I want to use this place to link up with those like myself. So that we can support each other.  I don't say ect shouldn't be used. But people thinking of it should understand what can happen. The Information given about ECT side effects doesn't go into details, they talk about memory problems. Actually it affects far more than that. It causes cognitive impairment. 10 years on I need 12 hours of home help a week to help me care for my 3 kids. I tire very easily and some days I am able and feel intelligent. Other days if I have pushed myself and not been able to have a midday nap I struggle to do the most basic of tasks. Some days I'm not well enough to drive at all. Other days I will drive short distances. I was a doctor and well never work again. 

Please let me know if you have had similar problems. Or if your thinking about ECT please make sure that you understand what could happen to you. It could mean permanent I'll health on top of your existing problems.I am no longer depressed. It wasn't stopped by the ECT but by psychological input to support me out of my coercively abusive marriage.

16 likes, 269 replies

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  • andrew42793
    andrew42793 sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    I am glad to have found people like me in this page.

    It has been 15 years since i got ect and my life was destroyed, I was only 17 and full of life but my mother was convinced i had a problem cause i didnt get along with her and sent me to psychologists and psychiatrist until they commited me and apparently without consent, gave me ect for a whole week.

    I lost my memory of the recent year and my emotions went to hell and never came back. I can do a lot of stuff normal people do like drive and work but i am completely miserable cause i am trying to live like a normal person which i stopped being long ago. I want to join this campaign to help ban ect, want to write my book and want to tell everyone the truth so life gets a little easier. But I still hate this life.

    Sorry if i sound too negative but i am aware of how bad i am and the "improvement" over the years is minimum.... not much hopes to feel and perceive the beauty of life like i did before this happened, when my brain was normal.

    I am still angry with the doctor and have had thoughts of revenge all along and even went to a lawyer but he played with my time and money and didn't take the case.

    Hope you read this.

    Sincerely, a friend from Colombia.

    • sue_cunliffe1
      sue_cunliffe1 andrew42793

      Posted

      Hi.

      We all have moments of anger and will do until we are listened to. I have been on 3 TV shows and several papers this year ... But got nowhere. Look up RTV electroconvulsive therapy. That is my most recent piece.

    • diane05094
      diane05094 sue_cunliffe1

      Posted

      Why do you think you have gotten nowhere regardless of being in the paper and television. Is it because the positive PR about ECT drowns out the true horror stories and promotes the "happy outcome" (maybe 1 in 10 with low numbers and low dosage). Is it bc ECT is a multi million dollar industry and unethical anf greedy psychiatrists are unwilling to give up their blood money earned by frying the brains of desperate, sick, and distressed people. Is it that no one cares if someone is "mental" enough to "need" ECT. These people are considered unimportant or unreliable or not believable? What have your political representatives done for you? Are there any lawyers to take your case? Or are time limits up?

  • CrissyTroyer
    CrissyTroyer sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    Hello, I am 46 years old. I am from the U.S. I suffered from debilitating depression for 20 years. Recently I had 5 ECT treatments along with 3 experimental ketamine treatments. The depression lifted immediately. That's the good news. Now a week after ECT ended I am experiencing alot of the symptoms you have described. Memory loss that isn't selective, it can be something from yesterday or years ago. Confusion and no concentration at times. And I've noticed my moods can change at the drop of a hat with irritability. My doctor has said that memory loss should only occur from things that happened during ECT. This is not the case. He has asked me to keep notes and we will discuss it if it continues. I have to admit I am very afraid. I've never had memory issues and it's confusing me as well. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you for sharing your story.

    • ryan333
      ryan333 CrissyTroyer

      Posted

      Hi Crissy, I hope this post finds you doing a bit better...? Make sure you are resting (even napping if you can) every day. Neuroplasticity is real, and although you may never be 100% what you were like before, you can improve. Keeping track of your symptoms can help, I also found Speech/cognitive therapy helpful. Mood swings like you describe are classic brain injury. Esp with lots of crying. (Believe me I knowsmile )
  • CrissyTroyer
    CrissyTroyer sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    Hello, I am 46 years old. I am from the U.S. I suffered from debilitating depression for 20 years. Recently I had 5 ECT treatments along with 3 experimental ketamine treatments. The depression lifted immediately. That's the good news. Now a week after ECT ended I am experiencing alot of the symptoms you have described. Memory loss that isn't selective, it can be something from yesterday or years ago. Confusion and no concentration at times. And I've noticed my moods can change at the drop of a hat with irritability. My doctor has said that memory loss should only occur from things that happened during ECT. This is not the case. He has asked me to keep notes and we will discuss it if it continues. I have to admit I am very afraid. I've never had memory issues and it's confusing me as well. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you for sharing your story.

    • john_53927
      john_53927 CrissyTroyer

      Posted

      Hi

      So sorry to hear of your bad experiences due to ECT.

      The only reason for being alive today is because of my Christian faith. i was very ill with depression when I was about 18 years old and it was deceided by psychiatrists to give me 12 ECT. Since number 11 I have had right lobe headaches, memory loss and terrible concentration.

      I'm going to have an advocate soon and I am considerating possible legal action for the years of suffering because of ECT. 

      ECT does help in a lot of cases but not me! I tend to think that it may be due to faulty machines which has been raised for many years. It could also be due to the amount of voltage given.

      Whatever the reason, ECT caused me brain damage.

      I will pray for you.

      John

    • krista_44101
      krista_44101 CrissyTroyer

      Posted

      Same exact thing , I am 44. My life is ruined from 9 bilateral ECT treatments . I feel much worse since the treatment . My cognitive skills are now a joke . I was somewhat intelligent before . Now I can't even do simple math without a calculator . My memory is short term but I also lost two full years of memory prior to ECT. I was also told it would only affect me through the treatments . I really need help and no one will help me . I was a great mom before . I can't even get out of bed most days now . 6 kids and my 19 year old takes care of me and my two younger boys and grandson during the day. Most days I don't even eat unless she can get it for me . I am not lazy. I just can't . Spent over $3000 on specialists trying to get better . No one seems to be able to help me. I am on a lot of different medicines including Adderall to try to give me energy to get out of bed. I started being able to get out of bed on certain days but I have no energy to clean or anything. This completely ruined my life. It ruined my husbands children and grandchildren. I will never be the same and it kills me. I have tried Everything to get better and I am completely embarrassed I am the same way I forget everything even if it's a few minutes later I told the same stories over and over as well.

    • ryan333
      ryan333 john_53927

      Posted

      John, I am also considering legal action. What are your thoughts about that. It seems pretty discouraging out there! Not a lot of successful cases!
  • ylensa
    ylensa sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    I am thinking much about it lately. Its Ihave found, this website.

    I made 12 sessions back in January and February 2014, after it I got better from my severe depression, for an year and half with some medications help (maybe).

    I am not working now because the back, of severe depression and more. Kind of psycho!

    I am in home for 3 months and just trying do do things I used to so well before. I just can't... eve at work the last months are being a Hell!

    I became a agressive low level IQ, useless and stupid people!

    I had an very high IQ, everything to me was easy, use do such good things fast. My IQ lost was around 50 points...

    I see pics about I use to do in minutes, now I just can do those things..

    I read something about brain damage after ECTs. I am almost sure that I am in this hole.

  • tlridge17
    tlridge17 sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    Hello, I had 13 ECT treatments approximately two years ago and although somewhat different than what you describe I feel I have lasting cognitive damage. I too feel ECT is effective, it brought me out of a severe depression and even knowing what I know now I still would have done it at the time (I had suicidal ideation) however I have felt ill equipped to manage the lasting issues. Definitely unsupported by my medical team. I mostly have received blank looks when I speak of the issues I am encountering. My cognitive ability was dramatically impaired initially but improved after approximately six months. However recovery plateaued and I still have the following that has not improved:

    - I forgot what I say to what people. I am constantly repeating things/stories. I can forget as soon as a few minutes later that I just said something

    - I used to be a very good multi-tasker, especially important for my job and my ability that way has dramatically declined. I get overwhelmed and confused, can't focus. I am told it is noticeable at work ... I have gradually returned to work over a period of 11/2 years and I work in a cognitive job - IT. I would approximate my cognitive ability is 70% what it was prior at most

    - Not as frequently as in the first few months of recovery but I still get disoriented when going from A to B in a city I grew up in. I can suddenly not know where I am or how to get somewhere

    - Longer term memories are gone. It is extremely stressful at work as people will know me but I don't remember them. It also extends to my personal life. I especially don't recall events or when they happened. My memory is very muddled.

    If you have any advice on neurological therapies would be much appreciated.

    thank you

    • sue_cunliffe1
      sue_cunliffe1 tlridge17

      Posted

      Hi.

      The most important thing is understanding the effects it had on you and learning to manage it.

      You have done well to get back to work.

    • ryan333
      ryan333 tlridge17

      Posted

      You and I have many similar symptoms. Rest, nap, good luck!
  • krista_44101
    krista_44101 sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    I have also had the same experience only after 9 treatments of ECT . I have 6 kids and 2 grandchildren . In 2012 my life was forever changed . I Who is suffering severe depression. Which when I look back it may have been situational. The medicines I was taking we're not helping. I started getting ECT in 2012. It ruined my memory. On my short-term memory is just gone . After I had it I would drive places and couldn't remember how to get there. I couldn't remember how to get to my sons house. I remember calling my husband in a frantic state. After I had ECT I have never been the same. I've gone to 1 million doctors trying to figure out what is wrong with me I am on a lot of medicine I take Adderall every single day and I can not well. I can't clean my house I can't take care of my kids. My 19-year-old daughter basically takes care of me now. I am desperate for help. I suffer suicidal thoughts because of what it did to my life . I would love to be able to chat with you if you are able. I know you posted this along time ago but your story is just like mine.

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