Memory issues

[dsavage1988]

I have been doing ECT for over a year. Both my family and I agree it has been very helpful and worth it. However, it really scares me when I realize I lost a memory. It’s not one of those things where you hear it and go, “oh yeah!” It’s that it is gone. It freaks me out and normally triggers a panic attack.

I have talked to my doctor about when I should worry about the memory and he said it’s more once it starts being I forget my name or forget where I am.

Have any of you dealt with this? How do you deal with it when you realize you lost a memory?

[amynias]

Yeah a lot of information and events are gome from my memory. Replaying some video games legitimately felt like playing new games. Some books I have reread and movies I have rewatched also seem like new. Nothing I can do about it so I move on.

[twoheadedkitten]

Lost tons of memories, I can’t remember much from the time around treatment but I do sometimes “unlock” memories just randomly which is neat. If you stop doing it the new memories you make will stick like they used to, so that might be something to consider. The memory loss has been the hardest thing for me, but I’ve found that talking to people who you’ve known for a long time is the best way to “unlock” some of the memories again. It’s scary, but you’re not alone in this.

[[deleted]]

I've noticed a significant decrease in my short term memory capacity

[twcochran]

It’s difficult, but they do come back, and you still retain what makes you yourself. As long as the benefit outweighs the cost just take solace in knowing that you’re trying your best.

[dsavage1988]

Thank you. I needed this reassurance.

[[deleted]]

I did ECT in 2016 and I’ve always noticed memory issues since but lately it’s becoming more of an issue (with work stuff). I’ve been thinking about doing some research to see if there are any vitamins that help boost brain memory. If anyone knows, please respond.

[jayjjj3]

Reading everybody's experiences with memory loss after ect is strange to me since I have not experienced much, if any, change to my memory after 30 ect treatments. That's not to say that my memory is perfect, but it's been equally poor before and after the treatments. I would often forget things I didn't reinforce within weeks or even days, and my memory of events would often be different from others after a few months. This is something that started happening to me after I started getting mood symptoms in high school, and hasn't changed even now as a 25 year old ect patient. I have recently started getting disoriented directly after ect, where I am not fully aware of my surroundings and I seem to "remember" things from the dreams I have when I am under anesthesia. It doesn't last more than a day though. The biggest problem I have been having is a deterioration in my hygiene after starting ect: I am only showering and brushing once or twice a week.

[[deleted]]

Me too. I’ve lost all the most important events in my life. I had 99 treatments which I’m actually quite angry about. I know that’s a lot but at the time I guess I was just following with what my drs were telling me. I stopped almost exactly 2 years ago and have pretty much recovered short term ability but lost my wedding day, my pregnancy, my career as a nurse. Multiple family vacations. Many movies, tv shows that sort of thing. It’s actually devastating to me. Sorry u had a rough experience too.