Drs suggesting ECT for Dad....what to consider

[Feelingverysleepy]

DF doesn't seem to be responding to meds, he's been an inpatient for 2 weeks and seems to be getting worse - started as anxiety & depression, now there are constant delusional thoughts and 'my dad' just not 'there' anymore.
Dr said ECT might be the next option - he says it can be very effective. I have concerns, mainly about the potential memory loss side effects I've read about.
Would I be best to get a second opinion or some advocacy / support to discuss this?
How do I begin to weigh it up - or is the decision nothing to do with me? I can't see that the Dr would be able to get any meaningful consent from DF.

what symptoms is he experiencing for them to want ECT?

looking through my notes, my new psychiatrist saw id had a recent brain mri and eeg , and said that was very helpful for him to know that they were normal.(my daily symptoms are weird)

My husband had a course of ECT about ten years ago while in the throes of psychotic depression which no amount of medication seemed to shift. It was literally a lifesaver. No side effects to speak of and no recurrence of depression .

Thanks everyone. He's being assesed under the mental health act later today - his blood results are out of line because he apparently won't drink enough and it's risking his phys health. They want to give sub cut fluids, but he won't let them & he's v agitated, so they're looking at sedation. They are also talking about ECT once the detention is in place.

I guess it's the nature of severe mental health, but it feels so difficult knowing what's best as the pt himself isn't able to be involved. I'm not doubting the Drs, just trying to make sure I ask the right Qs & understand where we are.

I was very nervous about signing him up for ECT. I had to do it because he was sectioned. No mediation could even touch the sides of his depression so it was a last ditch attempt to help. As soon as I saw him after the first session I knew I had made the right decision and he has never looked back.

Others can tell me to shut up, but...
Do you know what the environment is like on his ward? When I was in a psych ward, there were two small 'visiting rooms' that were the only places vistors were allowed; the patient would be fetched to meet them there. So outsiders couldn't see what the ward was like.

I was in there for about 3 days (depression/anxiety/suicide risk) and it made me worse. It is not a place of care and compassion, or a refuge from the world. And this was before most of the cuts took place - now wards are even more overstreched, and the nurses didn't have time for the patients even back then (2011). A coupe of them were downright vindictive - but always a sweet face to visitors. They gave me meds and kept trying to give me more - for three days! after not being on meds and not being allowed any after I left! They seemed keen to sedate people - whether that was the primary purpose of the drug or not. It was an awful place for someone who's depressed and lethargic.

This isn't supposed to be doom and gloom, btw... more, there is hope, its just that he may not be getting better with all the support and input, precisely because he's not actually really getting any (from NHS). Not to mention the deeply distressing experience of being around people who you can see the terror in their eyes, knowing so many have been abused, it's hard to explain but it's like being surrounded by constant reminders of the darkest things, man's inhumanity to man, kind of thing.

Sorry you had that experience elementofsurprise it sounds awful. Just to add my experience of wards (although as a HCP rather than a patient) not all hospitals/wards are like that. The older persons ward especially was like a home from home with activities always going on. The adult wards were ok - visitors allowed in patients rooms etc no problem. Having visited a relative on psych ward in another area as well we were allowed in her room no issues. More staff and more time would always be good. But don't want anyone reading to think that it's all negative.

Would agree with Penguin. Maybe DH was just lucky but he was never treated with anything less that dignity and respect. It was indeed a place of sanctuary for him and it was only there that he started to recover, although only after ECT.

I'm sorry you had that experience too elementofsurprise.
The ward DF is on seems good and staff all nice and helpful. He's still not eating or drinking though. When DB goes in he spends an hour spoon feeding him or giving him sips of water. The staff aren't able to do this and have had to give him fluids by drip. I doubt though that staff would be able to coax enough food & drinks into him, but I do wonder how hard they try. I don't mean to criticise - as a Pp said - more time & more staff would always be nice.
So hard being so far away :-(

did your dad get ECT op. how is he. hope you are ok

Hi. Dad didn't get ECT - basically because there wasn't a bed available (he would have had to be transferred). However - the amazing news is that he is a transformed person compared to 3 days ago - it really seems miraculous.

Worries me to think that they were rushing for ECT while actually a few days more on the meds and pushing fluids has made such a difference. If there was a bed available he would have had ECT.
Hey ho - small mercies and fingers crossed his recovery continues like this. Lovely to have him back
Thanks all xx

glad hes better