ECT

[frostywindow]

I am experiencing a severe depressive episode and have just got out of the psych hospital. I agreed to ECT as a treatment which they offered me as an inpatient but I found the thought of being in hospital for another 6-8 weeks too distressing. So it will be outpatient. Does anyone have any experience of this? Specifically:

How did you get to the ECT suite? Do they provide hospital transport or will I have to arrange for someone to take me?

I’m aware I need a friend/relative to pick me up. Do they also have to accompany me to the sessions?

How much memory will I lose? I know it will be different for everyone, but is it generally hours or could it be days/weeks of memories?

The plan is for me to stay at my friend’s house for 24 hours after each session (no family or partner). Is this absolutely necessary or could I get away with being there in the day and go home around 10pm to sleep in my own bed at night?

Thank you

Bear in mind also that you wont be able to drive for a year after ECT. I didn't know this until I was considering having it but its treated the same as any seizure and you have to be 12 months clear before the DVLA will reinstate your licence.

Do you have a source for that? The DVLA website suggests you can drive after the final treatment, as long as your psychiatrist deems you fit.

Where I worked patients were taken to the ECT suite by their community nurse, who would also bring the case notes etc. They would usually wait there until the treatment was over.
The issue re memory loss is hard to quantify . There is evidence that you will have some autobiographical memory loss - for stories and memories from the past . Usually memory loss improves after treatment but some patients describe longer term effects .
Because you are having a general anaesthetic you should be with someone for 24 hours after treatment so they can support you with any problems. If this is not happening you could be refused out- patient treatment .
www.sean.org.uk/docs/ECTGuide2017-Final-Version.pdf
This gives more info.
ECT is not treated the same as epilepsy in terms of driving . There is concern that if you are depressed enough to need ECT you maybe should not be driving . There is a suggestion that you shouldn’t drive during ECT treatment and for 3 months after but best to ask your own doctor.

My consultant told me I had to inform them and when I rang them up they said I had to be 12 months clear and have a fit note. This was a couple of years ago so possibly things have changed but do double check with the DVLA. It was my main reason for not going through with it because it would have prevented me doing my job.

I was an in patient when I had ECT. I would walk through with the nurse then wheeled back in a wheel chair. I struggled with memory loss from the 2 years prior to treatment.

I had to wait 1 year before I could drive.