Let me know if you figure something out. ECT was a disaster in my case. The depression really did lift for about three weeks but concentration and memory are in ruins. I suck in social situations and am like a zombie. Unfortunately doctors do not tell you the serious risks of zapping your brain. I empathize with all of you and hope that recovery is a true possibility. Let me know if you have any good ideas or just want to talk with someone who knows the horrors of severe depression as well as experiences the cognitive impairments caused by ECT.

I want to talk to someone who understands the after-effects of ECT, please.

I realize your post was awhile back, but is there any hope at all? I am only 6-7 months since my last treatment. I need something to look forward to. Thanks!

Kathy

Hey Kathy, My name is Rich I haven't had ECT treatments, But I do have PN which sends mixed signals to my brain, severe arthritis (shoulder surgery & total knee replacement), chronic pain, and depression. Then all the side effects from my meds I have most of the same symptoms you have.

I do look for answers, knowledge, advice, but mostly support from this forum. I still do web research but most times five mintes after I read it I forget most of it. So it's good to have friends and a family of sorts who are going through same type of problems even though their conditions and symptoms are different, but you will find some of us are good listeners and supporters.

Here for you
God Bless!

I had ECT recently (5 sessions). I stopped 3 weeks ago. I've had a burnt smell in my nose ever since the last session. Has anyone heard of this? Can you get rid of it? I assume it's not something in my sinuses, but something in my brain?

Hello and welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

There is a very brief PubMed
abstract I've posted at the bottom that mentions 2 cases of transient anosmia and ECT.
There may be more if you do a search for abstracts there or find full articles online.
I would imagine that if it could cause anosmia in some people (although rarely by the look of it),
then it may also alter smell.

You should ask your doctor about this. Hopefully this will go away fast for you.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24263277
Transient anosmia during acute phase electroconvulsive therapy: a report of 2 cases.

J ECT. 2013 Dec;29(4):e55-6. doi: 10.1097/YCT.0b013e31829a01b2.
Upshaw WN1, Hubbard JD, Ali S, Fernandez JW.

Hi I went through the same thing. And still am I cant help my 10 year old withhis homework or really remember anything I missplace everything, this has really effected my self esteem. I wasnt told of the side effects either they told me the memory would come back I cant remember my childrens birthdays at that time or anything its like those months didnt exist to me but they did to my family,they hated to see me like that but I was in such desperate need and still am. I am so tired of being passed around hospitalized suicide attempts i am desperate for help. How are you know are you feeling better now?

I have had the same problems. I have word retrieval and word fluency problems plus I cannot read and remember what I read. My spelling is still crap. Misplacing things is better only because I make a point of putting things in a certain place and no where else. I cannot read and retain what I read for more than a day or two. Used to be five minutes. I had ECT back in early 2007. I also have a lot of visual spatial problems. I could go on;

What you need is neuropsychological testing which should give some information about what you need in terms of rehab. I am now working with my therapist but also with a rehab psychologist who is also a neuropsychologist.

Some things got better over time but not everything. This is where rehab can be helpful. Some of my memories are gone likely for good, but some are retrievable according to the rehab doc.

Zeba

Dear JH, I wish I could be more help, but I am avidly interested in your article because my psychiatrist is strongly recommending ECT. I live alone, and so do not have to boil water for pasta [!], but I have an elderly cat that I must take care of and wonder if I would be able to do that. My cognitive skills have regressed enough as it is. I don't blame you for being angry about not being given all the information. If it will reduce your anger, you might think about this: mental health professionals, to include psychiatrists, generally have to be in fairly good mental health to hold their demanding jobs. As a result, all they can actually know about mental or affective illness is what they have studied in books, again written largely by professionals, not patients. It may be somewhat easier for a medical Dr. to understand medical conditions and treatments that he has not experienced, as these things can be viewed, by MRI or otherwise. Psychiatric professionals do not have the ability to "see" the conditions they are treating or the results of the treatment. Instead, those who need information get its from people like you, with the experience and the writing and language skills to communicate that experience. Mental health professionals cannot essentially understand what it is that they are treating. I WILL say that they should be doing their research through reading articles like yours! I think the brain rewires itself in time, and I once worked with a 70 y/o lady who had had a lobotomy, with her memory and skills subsequently restored. ~hugs, very best of luck, and keep posting. You are very helpful to many of us, and your cognitive and other skills are very adequate to this mission! billie

Hi Christineonthescene!!!

Welcome to NT!

I was recently talking with my pshyciatrist... we were talking about Deep Brain Stimulation. He said it may be worth checking into as he has heard some really good results with Depression patients who were getting zero relief from medicines and ECT.

I really haven't checked into it as of yet...

It may be worth asking your hubby's doctor.

I sincerely wish you and your hubby the best. It can be hard living with BiPolar and the Depression and Mania that goes along with it. I hope you are able to find something that relieves your hubby of his depression.


Abbie
Diagnosed---BiPolar with rapid cycling and mixed states one year ago.