Dec 12th, 2007 by woodstone
**warning**
If you are tired of reading about schizophrenia, psychiatrists and/or ECT you might as well stop reading now. Scroll down (or click here) and peek at my Christmas tour instead, or go check out my siblings blogs… here, here, or here. They never talk about stuff like this.
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Well, despite all my “screaming” about ECT, and about not taking M to see the pdoc that specializes in ECT…. M has an appointment with the guy next Tuesday.
No, I’m still not considering ECT. But getting Dr G’s opinion seems to be VERY important to M’s regular pdoc… and I talked to Dr G, at length, on the phone the other day and he does seem very nice (respectful of my feelings, not pushy or pushing his views, very compassionate) so I said I’d bring M in for a consultation.
The deciding factor was finding out (from Dr G) that, in Colorado, M is legally too young for ECT, unless we get a court order first. Which, of course, I’m not going to do…
Learning from Dr G about the legalities of this ticked me off a bit… The first time ECT was suggested M was about 12, and I researched it very carefully, including the legal piece, because I’d read online someplace that it was illegal in CO to administer ECT to a child. But when I mentioned this to Dr B (regular pdoc) she kind of glossed over it, so I thought maybe I wasn’t really understanding the law correctly (it’s not stated clearly, it has to do with the patient’s ability, or inability, to give informed consent) .
As it turns out I was understanding the law pertaining to this correctly… I wish I would have known this sooner, it would have helped to avoid a lot of sleepless nights.
So… Dr G was very nice and seems knowledgeable, here’s some of what he said:
“Nothing, including ECT, is worse than his illness” (I can agree with that… M had a TERRIBLE day yesterday, leaving no doubt in my mind about the pain and devastation of schizophrenia.)
“ECT is like chemo, if it’s your only chance to save your life… you do it… even if it does damage at the same time it’s saving your life.” (Yes, I can probably agree with that too. It’s a good thing it’s NOT life or death for M.)
Dr G quoted a success rate of 30-50% in patients with schizophrenia… much lower than the success rate for those with affective disorders (depression, bi-polar, etc). And not nearly high enough for me to even consider it as a treatment.
Dr G has done over 50,000 ECT treatments over the past 40 years (~shudder~), and seems to be considered “the” ECT doc in the area, so I would think his opinion would be the definitive one… putting all the ECT talk to rest, once and for all.
Just on the basis of our phone call, and what I told him about M being (mostly) happy, functional, learning, etc. he didn’t think ECT was a good option… at least not now. On Tuesday he’ll review M’s history, evaluate M in person, and then give his recommendations.
There is no risk involved (except the one that comes with trying to get M all the way up there… Dr G is more than an hour away!) and insurance will pay for it, so I might as well go.
After all the talk, I’m curious to meet Dr G and take a look at the hospital he works at… (LOL, I wonder if they’ll let me take pictures?!) I’ll also be interested in hearing his recommendations. M’s tardive dsykinesia isn’t getting any better, and we haven’t been able to decrease the med causing it, so we’re stuck in a not-so-good place…
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Changing the subject, does anybody know what do to for a jammed thumb? My thumb got jammed hard enough yesterday that I felt it all the way into my arm. It still works (it bends, but it would rather I not try to pick up things with it)… but it’s swollen and sore from my first knuckle to the base of my thumb (at my wrist). I’m thinking if I just ignore it, it will go away… What do you think?
Good luck with all your doctor stuff! I hear your frustrations, so know that I’m thinking about you and your family!
Now for the jammed thumb, there’s really nothing to do except rest. You could try splinting it to remind yourself not to use it, which is what I usually do (that whole rest thing is so hard to do and I end up doing something that makes it hurt more.) You also try icing it to help with the swelling. I also use a homeopathic to help the trama heal quicker. I usually use arnica and it seems to help.
I’m wondering if your regular Pdoc thinks that M is so bad that getting a court order for ECT isn’t going to be a problem since she has been suggesting it since M was 12.
I do hope that Dr G has some good suggestions that help you out for M. I am glad to hear that while he does this a lot he doesn’t seem all “gung-ho” to hook M up. I’m taking that as a good sign.
It sounds like the doctor is at least realistic about the treatment he’s offering. Here’s hoping he’s reasonable in person.
I don’t know what to do about a jammed thumb. I would try chocolate, and maybe some more chocolate, and then a bubble bath…
Also hoping that Dr. G is a reasonable person and that meeting with him will put all this ECT talk with your regular pdoc to rest…
And, no advice on the jammed thumb although I do think that chocolate is always worth a try. And the bubble bath too…
Ouch! I hope your thumb is better soon. I wish I had advice, but I don’t.
I’m with Taffy, though, I would definitely try chocolate.
FWIW, I think you’re doing the right thing seeing Dr. G. If you ever start second guessing yourself about your decision not to consider ECT, you will probably feeling better knowing you kept an open mind and met with this doc. Maybe this will finally lay this to rest, even with your misinforming pdoc.
Until you started posting about ECT, I thought it had been used only extremely rarely during our lifetimes and only in cases of extremely severe, life threatening depression. 50,000 cases in this guy’s practice alone???? I am completely blown away. :-/
50,000 ECT treatments over the past 40 years? Thats roughly 3.42 treatments a day, every single day of the year.
Would they offer a pickup service? You could ride with him and not have to worry about driving. Would or should you medicate before the drive to make the drive manageable?
Besides the drive, I’d think there would be no harm in going and have him assessed.
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As far as the jammed thumb I have a great remedy, but you don’t drink, so never mind. I’d think there’d be no harm in having it checked out.