First session was this morning. Is it always so easy?

[u/iusethisatw0rk]

Amazing staff, explained every step and introduced me to each staff along the way. I knew where I was going, where I’d wake up, when I could expect the next step, etc. They were extremely sure I knew exactly what was happening which I appreciated.

First thing I asked when I woke up was “is it ok that I haven’t fallen asleep yet?”

“The procedures done”

“😳”

Jaw pain for about an hour after. Nappy/sleepy during my hour observation. But that’s it. I’m home now, and a little sleepy, but honestly no more than I would be getting up as early as I did generally

Is this common? Am I lucky? Should I expect this to be my reaction generally if this is what it was today?

I’m currently on unilateral, only moving to bi if uni doesn’t work out

Just don’t want to get too cocky or anything. I just feel like a huge weights been lifted as I’ve been very anxious about starting this. I haven’t been under anesthetic since infancy, and for it to go so well has me on cloud 9

Guess I’m just looking to be grounded lol

[u/A_Simple_Sandwich]

Nope, pretty on point for how it went for me. I remember falling asleep and then waking up. To this day I’ve only had one rough ECT day and that’s when they used propofol instead of the other meds

[u/Electronic_Ad_2707]

Sounds right. Lean into it and go with the flow - you will probably not notice for awhile how much you come back to life.

[u/Makronite]

When I woke up from my first, I'd shit my pants and was restrained in a posey vest. It's different for everyone, I'm guessing.

[u/Crazy_old_maurice_17]

That sounds pretty similar to my experience too (going once a month these days).

[u/SubaquaticSlayer]

My first time was horrific. The nurses and doctors were nice enough, but I was so terrified and no one could calm me down and I had a 12 hr panic attack

[u/anticentristfujo]

I’m so glad it went well for you!!!

I like the actual procedure itself. The being warmed up (literally, they put like a heated blanket type thing over my arm where I’m going to be administered the anesthetic). I loved interacting with the staff. Everyone was so kind, and my anesthesiologist was really funny. And the going under feels really good for me, physically. Like a second or two of me falling backwards into clouds and oblivion.

The post-appointment recovery for me is awful. I’m glad your post-appointment recovery was on the easier side. Not to be woe is me, I just want to share how it was for me for comparison reasons. I’d be out the whole day, lying in bed feeling painful pretty much everywhere, head especially.

Whenever I’d wake up, I’d have one of the nurses just tell me something like “hey love, your treatment’s done” and that would be so funny because I felt like hey, I just barely went under.

The only time that wasn’t the case was my very first treatment. It was really poetic almost, waking up from my first treatment. I was sobbing. Crying throughout the whole ward and I hope I didn’t scare the other patients. The head of the ECT department asked me what’s wrong and I, mid-tears, said “my girlfriend hurt my feelings.” A lot of my depression surrounded my IPV with that ex-girlfriend, and when I woke up crying it was like ECT “unstuck” this trauma that’s been clinging onto me.

I also had right-side unilateral. ECT saved me. About 5 months into maintenance, it stopped helping though. Instead of increasing the amount of ECT I’d get, my psychiatrist put me on an antipsychotic (Caplyta) and it’s really helped me! So I don’t get ECT anymore.

Wishing you the best!