Depression :: Brain Damage From Electroconvulsive Therapy
Jan 6, 2015
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.
View 85 Replies
Advertisement
I have just been on warfarin for 6 months for a left femoral dvt,during the prescribing phase no information was given to me,and I am shocked to find out myself after having an episode where my vision went very weird with associated vomiting for 5 hours that warfarin is a neurotoxin and can in some cause brain damage.wouldn't you think someone would give me that information at the start.prior to the above episode i had experience short burst periods of dizziness,and profound lack of clarity of thought. considering the seriousness of this drug wouldn't you think more information would be available to the taker of the drug other than the scant information on the drug information leaflets coming with the drug.I am profoundly angry as the lack of the more serious side effects to this drug not being given to me in order that i might make informed choices at the start.i have stopped the drug myself and informed my doctor of this.
View 31 Replies
I am now been abstinence from substance-abuse. For 2 years, I was mixing opiates/opioids and alcohol together, and sometimes I mixed other substances with those-including cocaine. Plus, I already have depression and anxiety. I have been to a treatment/health care center twice. First time of abstinence, for 2 weeks I couldn't speak right. I'd think of a sentence. I'd start to say the first few words-with a stutter-and then forget the sentence. I would have to start my think process over again a couple of times.
I continued using/mixing-if not more-and became dependent on opiates/opioids, and I had already been diagnosed an alcoholic. I became abstinence, and still am. It's been about over 2 months of no substance abuse. I developed unnecessary stops in my sentences while I speak. Like my brain can't catch up to my speech while I talk, causing me to have to stop for a very short time before continuing me sentences-this can happen a few times in one sentence. I still have to restart my thinking process over again because my mind goes blank while trying to speak. When there are things that distract me or someone speaks a little bit while I'm talking, I have to restart my thinking process all over again.
Some other things that are going on with me is that I often feel microscopic bugs crawling on me and biting me. I also sometimes become frightened because I sometimes see shadows in the corner of my eyes or behind me. While staying still, my leg or arm will sometimes randomly jerk-I'm not doing it, my body is doing it by itself. I also forget to breath, and I have to remind myself to breath by myself.
I want feedback of what you'd think these are symptoms would be of, and/or if this is more of a severe or minor thing. Drug-induced brain damage?
View 2 Replies
I am really depressed that my head is all over the place and my brain can't stop thinking,I've just lost my job for gross misconduct for a stupid mistake,the beginning of the year I lost my partner,left with four children to look after,my work took my mind a little from thinking about it,then a few months down watched my mom battle cancer,got suspended while work investigated,lost mum and now my job,so many mitigating circumstances to why i lost my job,it was out of character but employer just ignored it,don't even want to open my eyes in the morning,can't remember the last time I smiled,life don't mean much to me,keep bursting into tears so many times out of the blue,can't remember the last time i had a good night sleep without my brain working none stop or if it not thinking I'm having these nightmares,I've had enough
View 40 Replies
After months of suffering...I am JUST NOW finding out that all my agony MIGHT be chalked up to the debilitating menace that is anxiety and his partner in crime DEPRESSION. So, I have a lot of questions. Please share what you can relate to or have understanding about. I deeply thank you!
Before all my REALLY bad symptoms came about...I was feeling fatigued 24/7 and just overall a little glum. Things weren't terrible, but I just didn't have the UMPH! that ya want. I felt worn out constantly all day long. All the while struggling with LOTS of stress...after persistent stress and no answers from doctors even after multiple tests...I began to have even more debilitating symptoms. I was certain I had some sort of rare disease.Because this has manifested itself So physically. I never thought the source could be emotional and psychological.
1. I am so tired, brain FOGGED, and SUPER spaced out 24/7 with a miserable memory...literally my drive has vanished along with a chunk of my confidence. Can you relate?
2. I have never had a panic attack. THANK GOODNESS. But all this could still be anxiety? I rarely FEEL anxious...this is why I've never suspected anxiety.
3. I often forget what day it is..and other things of that nature. I feel as though the last few months have been a blur...There is no solid boundary between days or months or seasons...they all just mush together into one glob of nonsensical foggy memories. And I forget things that happen throughout my day WAY more than I ever have before. I make silly mistakes. Can you relate?
4. I don't have bouts...it's ever-present. ALL the time. No relief. sure, when I'm with a friend and we are in a conversation...I'm not entirely focused on the fact that I am in zombie-mode...but it's just always there anyway. can you relate?
View 27 Replies
I have some, well a lot of trouble sleeping, i get into bed around 10pm with no t.v or anything so my mind is not pre occupied and stopping me from nodding off but come 4 am I'm still wide awake laying there somewhat tired? Sometimes I'm not tired at all and sometimes I feel like death warmed up..
Around a year ago I used to be able to get in bed whenever I was tired put some tele on, set the timer and just drop off but now, nothing.
Had a consultation with my Gp, at first he said it could be stress at my age or due to me growing, so he just suggested buying some over the counter sleeping pills, so that's what I did, took them for two months, sometimes even taking 2/3 times as much as I should just hoping for a few hours sleep, but they had no effect on me at all, So I went back and he gave some prescription sleeping pills, I forget the name it's been a while.
Well long story short they didn't work either and I'm in no position to pay for sleep therapy?
I drink no forms of caffeine in the day, I only drink water. I exercise at least an hour a day without fail?
Anyone have some similar issue? and if so what can I do to get some sleep, It's really getting me down in the day because I can't function properly, simple things like reading become an issue and i get somewhat emotional and angry with myself, so as you can imagine that also impacts the next night's sleep.
-Ellis... P.s It's 5 Am and I'm not leaving bed as i'll have to get up soon to go to work but I've not even had 10 minutes sleep
View 4 Replies
Is clinical depression such as in bipolar disorder ever get better on its own or does it require lifelong medications?
View 1 Replies
I am 18 years old and it pretty good health. I do have an anxiety disorder and OCD.I am on medication for this. I would like some opinions please. No rude comments please.
I have this fear that I may have a brain aneurysm. I don't have any specific reason that I think this but the fear is starting to take over my life. I cant even focus at work because I worry so much. I just recently moved into a new apartment and i have been under a lot of stress. I was sick about a week ago with a common cold, runny nose, headache, watery eyes, sneezing. After i was getting pain in my head and my eyes from my cold I started worrying about my brain again, I had a headache today but ibuprofen took it away very quickly. I don't have vision problems or dizziness. I stay awake most nights googling signs and symptoms and then I convince myself that I may have it. I can barely sleep because I am so scared that I won't wake up. This is really starting to take over my life. What should I do? & Do you think I have an aneurysm?
View 2 Replies
I found out on Tuesday that I have a 7mm focal aneurysm of the distal right internal carotid artery, mild mass effect on my right optic nerve, displacing it medially.
My surgeon wants to do a procedure where a platinum coil is inserted through the groin. He says he won't know if I will need a stint until he is in the operating room. I had an voluntary MRA. My mother died from a rupture in 1979. I am 58 years old.
Do platinum coils react with electromagnetic fields and cause migraine headaches?
View 9 Replies
I have a question for all of you, I have had these very strange symptoms for the last year, year and a half and I can't tell my primary care doctor because he is treating, or barely treating me for chronic pain due to a pretty bad car accident years ago, (I was holding on to the steering wheel watching this guy drive right into the back of my car and was hit with so much pressure that I clenched up , went forward and when I came back I actually bent the steering wheel in half. I now have severe pain in my neck and lower back. After the accident I went to a chiropractor for 3 years 2 x a week, but only got worse. My PC doc for 8 years told me my pain had more to do with my emotional problems than anything else (I was continually raped by my father and then periodically beaten by my mother for being a ****, starting very early in childhood, also suffered a lot of physical abuse by both, I am really pissed that I have to apologize to the world that this happened to me and that my doctor would blame my pain on this), and always threatened to take me off all my pain meds if I complained about any other pain and symptoms. At one point 3-4 years ago I had such horrible pain in my lower left leg I thought I had bone cancer, it was the first time he ordered an MRI and when he got the results he sent me to a neurosurgeon immediately who told me if I move the wrong way they will never be able to stop the pain. When I told my PCP he dismissed it, but never put me down as having chronic pain syndrome anymore, but now he is taking my pain meds away slowly because he say the CDC is making him do it??? Anyway, I dare not tell him anything else cause I can't walk and do much of anything without a lot of pain in my lower back.
But a couple years, 1 1/2, I started to have this weird feeling of "something not right" in my head, I can't really explain it. Then I got this strong ZAP, like a strong electrical jolt in my brain. It took a while for the sensation to go away, but I ignored it. I also noticed I was "forgetting how to swallow", weird right? Since the ZAP wasn't really painful, but if it was I would be too afraid to tell my doctor, especially if it was painful, so I did nothing. Every few months this would happen again, maybe 4 times total. Last week, I could "feel" something in my head not right, Like something was going to happen, then I got that powerful zap, like an explosion in my head, and it took a little longer to feel okay again, then I got another one, and felt extremely fatigued after this one, and it took longer to "clear" my head. My blood pressure has been rather high lately too, in fact I've noticed my blood pressure goes up the more pain I'm in and since he's lowering my medication, my blood pressure had been around 164/90 to 175/90 from around 128-138/80 normally. My mother died of a brain aneurysm. I don't know if this is something I should worry about and maybe find another doctor, but then I'm afraid I'll be accused of doctor shopping...
View 5 Replies
I am sitting at work, like always, when all of a sudden.... inside my head (in the top, middle, and behind my forehead) I began to feel what seemed to be a muscle spasm. What? Rationalizing, I think... Our brains are muscles. Right? So it could be a muscle spasm. Whoa... I feel dizzy and lightheaded for a little bit. Now, I feel like my head is full (stuffed full) of cotton or something. It isn't in my ears. It wasn't my eyes. It was "in my head". WOW.
I experienced this sensation of by brain shaking that was followed by dizziness. The "brain shake" felt like a jolt and then vibration/spasm that lasted about 5 seconds. I feel like the room is spinning and tilting and I was about to fall over (even though I was sitting down). The dizziness lasted about 2 minutes or so. The weird feeling of fullness in my head is still there.
View 3 Replies
Can someone describe the brain shivers that i have been reading about when people are coming off of certain drugs, like Effexor? I have been getting this symptom where it feels like my brain is having a mild electric shock for a second or two but that cannot possibly be what other people are talking about is it?
View 2 Replies
Are brain tumors hereditary? My Dad my Brother and just now, my nephew died from one.
View 1 Replies
I felt something in my eye I rubbed my eye it went away then I started freaking out thinking it was a bug because my head started hurting now I think the bug is eating my brain lol or something crazy I know and now I have bad derealization which is scaring me.
View 21 Replies
I have a small hard lump behind my ear and I'm terrified it's something awful like a brain tumor... Does anyone else have this or know what it could be?
View 4 Replies
I have PMR (diagnosed 5 months), Fibromyalgia ( 18 years). Dr says i am not reacting to Pred as I should. I have many new weird health problems come and go. Dr always looks vague about them. Recently I had a very scary 'brain shutdown'. I had no concept of going to sleep, or waking up, but I suddenly did not know where I was, or who I was with. Friends were with us - someone said something which brought me around. They all thought I was sitting there quietly. I believe I was out of it for approx 40 mins. I had no conscious memory of what happened in that missing time, but when told about it I was aware of it. When I told Dr, he said "now that is a Pred problem". It does scare me - I have not seen anyone else mention it - I was under stress at the time. He has been really reluctant to refer me on to a Specialist, but has now done so, because of it. Has anyone experience this ?
View 12 Replies
I'm on venlafaxine 225 mg to treat chemical issues caused by electrical issues in my brain. I have an undiagnosed condition but the consultants have the opinion that I suffered moderate anoxia during an operation.
I built up to 225 m -2weeks on 75, 4 weeks on 150 and now 9 weeks on 225
I am still suffering from the normal side effects but am now getting brain zaps and dizziness as if I am withdrawing! Can anyone help as I cannot see this side effect anywhere and feel as if I can come off it I couldn't feel any worse!
View 5 Replies
I have a lot of unanswered questions about the withdraw process of Zoloft.
In my desperate attempts to wean myself or completely stop taking it all together, I find myself just going back to my regular dosage of 150 mg a night. this medicine has changed me as a person all together. I was diagnosed with stress induced asthma 2 years ago and since then been on zoloft. I am no longer the outgoing, energetic, and spontaneous teen that i was and i have had just about enough of it.
Well now its day 4 of my withdraws My mind is racing and i cant focus on one particular thought.
every few minutes it feels like a brief electric charge is sent through my brain and body.
sex is not of interest to me (girlfriend= not happy) I feel weak, very very week. No energy to do anything, i just want to sleep. easily annoyed and angered (almost impossible to control) dizziness and fatigue are setting in. headache from hell.
if any of this sounds familiar or you can relate to and you have tried this for yourself. Let me know if its possible to just STOP.
View 1 Replies
I'm 21, male, has asthma as an infant, grew out of it but I remained with a lot of allergies and have been on allergies medication more years than not.
My mom suffers from cyclothymia and told me that it may be a precursor to that and that my breathing could be attributed to anxiety even though I'm not worried about anything, that would explain why I feel better after some exercise, although it's getting harder to start each time, light headed and all of that.
Also very rarely I manage to take a deep breath with just my nose. But even when that happens I don't feel good. Like my brain lacks oxygen (get a little light headed when taking deep breaths, and it lasts for about a second.)
I'm planning on going to the doctor but mine is on vacation so I'd have to wait until tuesday and was hoping any of you could give me some tips aas to what I'm having. I got a little nervous because my mother's cousin got diagnosed with lung cancer recently after having a cough that didn't got away. (No history of cancer in my close family though, just my grandfather but he got it at 87.
Also sometimes I had a dull pain in my chest, but I attributed it to bad breathing habits. Also I have seen a lot of breathing exercises and do them frequently so I don't think it's bad breathing technique right now (I thought it was at first and actually improved a lot when I started doing those exercises but this problem still doesn't go away.
TL;DR Starting may started having trouble breathing through my nose, sometimes I have to breathe from my mouth in order to get the necessary oxygen. I'm taking antihistamines, and flushing saline solution up my nose several times a day and it has not worked (Like two days ago my nose got clear for some minutes and was able to experience what it was like to breath again.
View 3 Replies
Terribly concerned about my daughter, now age 53 who was a nutrition counselor and took excellent care of her health. She was transported to emergency 4 June 2013 after having seizure on left side. The CT/MRI results were brain abscess 8.45x5.71mm with edema 48x48mm in left parietal lobe. The SCAN with brain biopsy was on 6/6 removing as much of abscess as possible. Culture shows abundant growth of peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus NOT group D. Subsequent CTs are showing abscess gone but still has some edema. After many rounds of high powered antibiotics, she is still with incision site pain, the extreme tongue/ mouth burning sensations as well as weakness in right arm. We were told it would be a long recovery but now wondering how long. She has had a lot of anxiety with this illness also but this has calmed somewhat. She takes Keppra to prevent seizures and Paxil..We also learned from brain CT in 7/16 that she had encephalomalacia which is cerebral softening which the brain does not repair.
Just wondering since this is a rather rare ailment if there were any others that have knowledge of recovery with this illness.
View 5 Replies
I am concerned about my memory, 32 year old, diagnosed when I was 30. Mind goes blank, forget names of people I know. Mentioned this to my consultant and told it's just the tiredness. Mentioned it on another occasion and told I'd have to see my GP. Eventually went to my GP who said they'd never heard of SS causing memory issues but I've had people on the BSSA say they have the same thing. When I went to my GP I was presented with a sheet of paper with tests I felt were embarrassing, both me and my GP agreed I could quite easily pass these but if for any reason I didn't she'd have to refer me to a psychiatrist which she really didn't want to do. I agreed there's nothing wrong with my mental health but I would have thought I'd be referred for a MRI. Why do I get brushed aside - this condition is bad enough without being ignored as well. I'm just about holding onto my full time job. I even go light headed but no one seems to care. I'm now faced with going private, thankfully I have private healthcare through work but not everyone does.
View 7 Replies
