me and january 19. 2015 – ECT (test one)

woke early to be at the hospital by 6:45 – 7:00 a.m.

after filling out the paperwork and such they got me into my room by 7:15. i had a wonderful and super sweet nurse that explained everything to me. i believe i fell asleep around 8 a.m. occasionally waking up for small moments before they got me back into the procedure room around 10 a.m.

i remember there being about six or seven people in there – including a few med students who were asking me generic questions that i can’t even recall now. the last thing i do remember is my brain doc standing over me, the i.v. going into my hand and the propranolol slightly stinging. once they put the oxygen mask over me i don’t think i had even counted to three before i was out.

i think the actual seizure lasted for about 30 seconds to a minute –

i spent the next almost two hours in recovery – i know i dreamed, but can’t remember a moment of them.

they brought me back to my room around 11:45 a.m. and i remember waking up with the nurse asking me questions. i don’t know how many they asked me, but the one i remember first is when they asked me if i knew where i was.

i told them i was in the hospital, but i’m pretty sure i put a question mark at the end of the answer.

they asked me what month it was, and i had no idea. i feel like i was kind of surprised when they told me it was january.

i was allowed some ice chips, and after feeling so dehydrated (having not been able to drink anything since last night) i thought they were the most delicious thing i had ever had.

my jaw hurt, as if i had been biting down hard enough to try and break my own teeth.

i was weak, sluggish, could barely walk – and i remember feeling like i hadn’t peed in days.

after about an hour they released me.

i came home, and had an apple, and some cheese and crackers. it’s the only thing i have eaten in the past almost 24 hours. my jaw is still sore.

around 2 p.m. the drowsiness started to subside a little.

4 p.m. – still low energy and still some fog in my head.

so it is 7:15 p.m. now, and i feel mostly normal again. still just a little dizzy, and i have to be careful with how fast i stand up.

i’m curious to see how easy or difficult it is going to be to sleep tonight.

so that was day one.

my next treatment is wednesday morning. at least seven more to go – but as i found out today i might be required to go in every 2 months for a maintenance shock.

thank you all who sent me such wonderful and supportive messages. really.

~ by alltheavenueslookugly on 2015/01/19.

Posted in january15
Tags: bipolar disorder, depression, dreams, electroshock therapy, medications, mental illness, nightmares, sleep

15 Responses to “me and january 19. 2015 – ECT (test one)”

So glad to hear that day 1 is under your belt! Ice chips are definitely the best after being out… And fasting as you had to! Ready for day 2… 😀

Steph said this on 2015/01/19 at 7:40 pm | Reply
- yes, one day down. rest today, and then on to number two. 🙂
  
  alltheavenueslookugly said this on 2015/01/20 at 12:02 pm | Reply
Day one down. You’re doing great.

Nikki said this on 2015/01/19 at 7:56 pm | Reply
- thank you! 🙂
  
  alltheavenueslookugly said this on 2015/01/20 at 12:03 pm | Reply
Yay! One down! Thinking about you, hoping all goes well.

Peggy klecka said this on 2015/01/19 at 8:15 pm | Reply
- thank you, peggy. hope to see you guys on thursday.
  
  alltheavenueslookugly said this on 2015/01/20 at 12:04 pm | Reply
Kick some ass, sweetie!!! ❤

MizzMitten said this on 2015/01/19 at 8:36 pm | Reply
- ❤ 🙂
  
  alltheavenueslookugly said this on 2015/01/20 at 12:04 pm | Reply
The first one will probably be the hardest, as you had no idea what to expect. I am so hoping for you that the treatments help. Keep us posted…

Sharon DeVinney, Ph.D. said this on 2015/01/19 at 9:16 pm | Reply
- i definitely will. i’m going to try and document as much as i can. hopefully the side effects from yesterday will be the worse – as they weren’t horribly bad.
  
  alltheavenueslookugly said this on 2015/01/20 at 12:06 pm | Reply
I had a series of ECT about twelve years ago. Reading your post takes me back to that time. I hope you have the same positive outcome to ECT that I had. Good luck.

robin1967 said this on 2015/01/20 at 11:09 am | Reply
- i’m really glad to hear that you had a positive experience with them. i’m trying my best to be hopeful, and any time i hear about those who have had success with them it certainly helps my mindset.
  i hope you are doing well. 🙂
  
  alltheavenueslookugly said this on 2015/01/20 at 12:08 pm | Reply
So brave of you! Its not a little thing to do and go forward with the ECT.

Regarding your mouth and jaw, they should have put rolled up banage in bettween both sides of your mouth. They did this with me and i had no problems. Its not just having your jaw break but its about saving your teeth and not crushing them.
I would speak with the doctor and see what they say. Interesting.

You carry on my strong friend! Im proud of you.

savemefrombpd said this on 2015/01/20 at 12:12 pm | Reply
- that’s a great idea! i’m not sure if they did that or not, but i will definitely mention it to them tomorrow morning.
  thank you my friend. all my hugs and love.
  
  alltheavenueslookugly said this on 2015/01/20 at 8:46 pm | Reply
  - Back to ya Sean. All the very best xx
    
    savemefrombpd said this on 2015/01/21 at 8:23 am | Reply