Question:
Why do you think that? That might have occurred, and due to the memory
destruction which almost all ECT causes your memories of the period around the
ECT might be wiped.
Answer:
A lot of the time ECT does help, but at a cost. Loss of short term memory
is almost universal, and some people forget a lot of crucial stuff like
their kids names, or how to get around. About 2/3 of the people who get
ECT have lasting side effects. Also ECT has a awful relapse rate...on the
order of 40-70%, and even when using experimental machines delivering 2x
the USA legal brain burning zap and with heavy AD follow up 38% relapsed
in the latest study. All that said one can only bear so much, and if knowing the risks you want
to go for it...thats the definition of informed consent. I wish you all
the best fighting the beast. This site might be worth your checking out:
http://www.ect.org
I think that someone gave me ECT without my knowledge. Why do you think that? That might have occurred, and due to the memory
destruction which almost all ECT causes your memories of the period around the
ECT might be wiped. Nah.... Keep your throne. lol I can never have ECT. As a matter of fact, I made a pact with Larry
that he would never allow them to give it to me. I don't have enough
memory left to lose. Seriously.
Actually, I was kidding. My memory is such that I wouldn't remember
ECT if it WAS given (I truly have no long or short term memory - I
DON'T remember my children being born). The example given of not
remembering the names of your children spurred me to it.
Unfortunately voice inflection is not portrayed well in this medium. LOL, ok...you know, ECT was used in the cold war to help brainwash spies...I
thought I was sarcasm king...perhaps I must relinquish my throne? I have lost good friends to ECT. I have seen wives and husbands lose their mates because of the memory loss
ECT induces. ECT is a procedure which is done about 10X more to people age 65 then people age 64. Why is
ECT done more to people 65? Medicare pays!! ECT has less to do with helping people and more to do with
making money. Money for major university medical centers, money for psychiatrists, and money for equipment
manufactures. Please point to any post which demonstrates rage or anger, eric. By the way, eric forced ECT is going on
today. Today, Monday people were administered forced ECT. On Wednesday people will again be administered,
against their will forced ECT. Yes the use of anesthetic has eliminated the physical manifestations of the induced epileptic fit which ECT
produces, however the various drugs raise the seizure threshold, requiring even more current to be passed
through the brain, and resulting in even more damage then the good old days. The ECT informed consent forms cite a 1 in 200 number. The true number is hard to know because psychiatrists
want to keep any statistical study of ECT from being done. The more accurate number is 100% of ECT patients
suffer some memory loss, with about 67% suffering significant after effects from the electric shock pulsing
through their brains, burning delicate tissue. Sometimes the damaged or destroyed tissue has very crucial
memories, while other times the annihilated tissue contains less crucial memories. Sometimes thetas correct, eric. the trouble is ECT is like roulette, you never know how much you will lose.
If an elderly person loses a lot of memory what do they have left? You know usually if a person loses a lot
of memory from ECT induced brain damage they have trouble recalling new material. Oftentimes people deny the damage which they suffer after ECT. This is a common defense mechanism.
Sometimes, however what you say is correct, eric. Out of curiosity eric, how many writers, or artists have
you spoken to about the aftereffects of ECT? If you go to http://www.ect.org you can speak to a fairly good sized group of
folks about their experiences, they will give you tips. many folks exchange
their email addresses and have private conversations there....
