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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

269 Replies

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  • sean45880
    sean45880 sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    Hi sue, I have had ECT and am experiencing trouble reading and communicating. Also I don't have any emotions.  Do you find this relates to your symptoms too?

  • paul34426
    paul34426 sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    My daughter completed ECT treatment for depression two weeks ago and is now non-functional. Is there any hope/ treatment?
    • tlridge17
      tlridge17 paul34426

      Posted

      I am not sure what you mean by non-functional but in my own experience I recovered from the significant cognitive issues after about 4-6 weeks. Those immediate weeks after were extremely confusing, disorienting, etc. I hope that helps. This is not related to non-functional wrt meaning still very depressed. The treatment worked for me lifting the depression
  • dominic91988
    dominic91988 sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    Hi Sue,

    I had 4 sessions of ECT back in August 2016 and definitely have brain damage from it. The doctors I have been to since unfortunately don't believe me and I am now disabled on SSI. I use a lot of supplements to help me with my brain damage symptoms like Kava, Mucuna Pruriens, 5-HTP, and numerous others. I have actually read that something called NAD+ therapy repairs the damage done from ECT but my parents won't take me to a place that does it. By the way, I'm 25 going on 26 soon and it feels like my life has been ripped away from me. Well, that's all I can think of saying now so good day everyone.

    • sandi1717
      sandi1717 dominic91988

      Posted

      Hi Dominic91988, you said there was a treatment NAD+ what is this please? Also which country are you in?
  • jack06624
    jack06624 sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    Sue - I would like to contact you directly and share experiences.  I also have brain damage an have been through ECTs.  How do I contact you privately?  Is this the way to do that?
  • Nicola2374
    Nicola2374 sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    Hi I'm new here. I have slot lot of different medical problems. I have agrophobia , anxiety disorders,sleep problems and depression to name a few. I was just reading your situation and I totally feel for you. I've had a depression on and off all my life no realising until a few years ago. My depression and agrophobia have been getting worse. I live by myself I've just shut myself from the world. I be been offered this kind of treatment mainly because no medication works. I really don't know what I should do. Life I've totally given up on ,if mine ended tomorrow it wouldn't bother me.im just looking for some advice. Sorry to bore you with my problems. Thank you for time

    • marys1521
      marys1521 Nicola2374

      Posted

      Nicola, I think we have all felt like this at times. Even though I would never do ETC again, please remember that it is very effective for some people. When you feel like you have no other treatment options then ... well this IS a treatment option. I hope you feel a little better soon. Hugs—- Mary
    • Aurebu
      Aurebu marys1521

      Posted

      There are always alternatives that are much better. Number one should be that doctors stop lying to their patients about how safe ECT is, and tell their patients the truth. ECT always gives permanent brain damage, and there is no telling if the damage is major or minor. Asking someone to say yes to ECT is like asking them to get their arm chopped off to get rid of the pain from the splinter in their finger. 
    • sandi1717
      sandi1717 Nicola2374

      Posted

      Hi Nicola2374

      Im sorry the options you've tried haven't helped at all. Please dont be tempted to try ECT though without looking at some of the newer evidence that demonstrates ECT leaves some very real and debilitating cognitive deficits. In fact for me the suposed only side affect of memory loss made me lose all the stuff I needed to remember and none of the painful memories of abuse and childhood trauma that I wanted to forget.

  • rita18747
    rita18747 sue_cunliffe1

    Posted

    Sue, I am so excited to have found this site. I am a RN, and have suffered from severe depression and PTSD since I was 21, that’s 40 years. I have been in and out of the hospital over the years, this year I just had a complete breakdown and was suicidal, I was admitted to the hospital the end of November. I started ECT the day I was discharged and everything was going fine. Sometime in Depression I agreed to bilateral treatments, then suddenly one day I woke up in a totally different world! I am so sorry you have gone through this! My doctors tell me I will be fine and return to normal! I am an NICU nurse and there is no way I will return to work until I am 100% normal. I can say I am no longer depressed or suffer from PTSD, which makes it worthwhile to me! Please advise me as to what doctor to see, to evaluate the damage done! God Bless you Sue😇 you are an angel to those of us who have just entered a frightening lifestyle 

    • sandi1717
      sandi1717 rita18747

      Posted

      Im so glad you haven't had any adverse reactions to you ECT treatment. May I ask how many treatments you had?

      Sometimes the deficits are not noticible immediately but I hope for your sake there are none.

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