Commentaries

December 17, 2008

 Commentaries is where Minnesota Public Radio welcomes your thoughtful opinion about current events and issues. Commentaries are like letters to the editor. To be considered for publication, your commentary should be issue-related, clearly written, and follow our Terms of Use. New insights into ongoing topics are especially welcome. Not all commentaries received are published. For topical interaction with others, visit the discussion groups.

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My experience with electroconvulsive therapy

ECT: Clarification based on my experience. [MPR News: Minnesota man fights forced electroconvulsive therapy

I have had approximately 36 ECT treatments over a course of four years. I would be given a series of treatments three times a week for a total of about 6-8 treatments.

I want to clarify with listeners that there is more to the process of receiving ECT then the radio documentary includes. The procedure required no food or drink after midnight before the morning treatment. Sometimes they gave me a dose of Bicitra, which decreases the amount of acid in my stomach, in case I aspirated (thrown up and inhaling the vomit into my lungs) during the procedure. Second, this radio documentary does not mention that when a person is given an ECT treatment, an IV is inserted and they are given general anesthesia. I always had it administered by a psychiatrist. Before the anesthesia is administered, electrodes are attached to the temples with a gel (that has something to do with the conduction). It makes me cringe to even think about it because it seemed ghoulish. I was scared to death.

The unfortunate thing for me is that I remembered the times before the treatments and forgot really important touchstones in my life like when my nieces and nephews were growing up and the deaths of friends. I was scared to death before each treatment. It was horrible. I felt so lonely because the nurses and doctors were smiling a lot, probably to make it seem like no big deal. The whole process was very disturbing to me and haunts me. I want to share my experience, but it is pretty hard to write this. I think the most difficult thing about the whole process was feeling scared about facing general anesthesia three times a week, and having enough electrical current zapped into my brain to cause an intense seizure; yet, having everyone around me act cheerful and minimizing the experience. Even my family who had been supportive and somewhat understanding about my illness, never came to sit with me before-hand, or were there with me as I woke up, because they didn't think it was that big of a deal. Part of it was that I was hospitalized a lot and had so many ECT treatments that they kind of got used to it and found it routine. It was a big deal! When I had carpal tunnel surgery, I had a lot of family and friends offering to help - my mom even came over to my apartment the next day with the comfort food she made especially for me.

I regret consenting to the procedures. It was evident to everyone all along that it did not help the symptoms of severe depression associated with my bipolar illness; but the doctors didn't know what else to do. I feel a sense of loss because I can't remember some of the big events that my friends and family members talk about, including the death of a few friends and some of the sweet stories of things that my nieces or nephews said or did when they were young.

My point is that ECT is a big deal. The general anesthesia is dangerous. Sending an electrical jolt through the brain is hazardous. Memory loss, including the memories that come back over time, and the ones that are gone forever. ECT has helped a lot of people. Not everyone. I shudder to think what it would be like to outright refuse the procedure, yet, be forced to have it. I am fortunate that, in my case, the court did not require me to go through the procedure. They did force me to take the medication prescribed by my doctor, but that is another story. My fear of being forced to have ECT has lead me to articulate to my family and friends, what my feelings are regarding ECT, and has motivated me to include my wishes in my advance directive.

Writing about my experience with ECT has been really hard for me because ECT was very traumatic to me. I was very afraid back then, and, now: about six years later, I still feel traumatized. If you know someone who is considering ECT, please research it and ask the doctor a lot of questions. If it feels like the right decision, please remember to be really supportive of that person. Please don't let the doctors and nurses talk you into thinking it is not a big deal, and start discounting how it feels to be the individual receiving the treatment. I know that being the family member or friend of someone with a chronic illness can get tiring. It is easy to get into a "Yeah, what else is new," frame of mind. Don't get used to it.

Kim Lutes
Minneapolis, Minn.


Big government, unions, and the bailout

It is time to get rid of unions! [MPR News: Auto bailout stalled, GOP seeks UAW concessions]

Union has destroyed our auto industry in the United States. We must eliminate union completely before any bailout is considered. I'm from Indiana and the auto/recreational vehicle industry keeps up going. However, I realize that our small business will also fail.

I believe we must all make many sacrifices and not allow our huge government and unions to bully us any longer. None of this comes without a price and loss of freedoms. However, the strong will prevail. No bailout!

M & D Dusseau
Fort Wayne, Ind.


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