As for the electric shock treatment, I had thought > that had been abadoned way back in the 1950s or something but then was > suprised to learn that a colleg friend's father was receiving it here in the > 1970s, too. Eesch - now there was a barbaric treatment. In a way, we can > thank God that medicines came along to replace THAT idea.
Well Kakki, my mother has been undergoing ECT for some time now. It is not the horrific ordeal that it once was. Patients are put under general anesthesia and given medication to minimize any spasms. My brother, sister-in-law, father & even Mom herself have all said that the treatments have helped her quite a lot. Last Christmas she was in the grip of a severe, deep depression. She would hardly respond when spoken to. Having a phone conversation with her was a one-sided affair. From what she sounds like on the phone now, there has been a significant improvement. So although I can't speak from first-hand knowledge, not having actually seen my mother for over a year now, I can say that my family tells me that ECT has helped her a lot. And Mom has told me that the treatments aren't bad at all. She sleeps for awhile when they're done and then doesn't remember anything about them. We're planning to get the family all together this Christmas. Just need to decide if we're gathering at my brother's in Omaha or at my folks in Iowa. Mark E.
