I Finally Had ECT

After the long wait for ECT, actually having it was, of course, utterly anticlimactic. I had to leave home at 04h30 to be in the ward by 06h00, by that time everyone was already up and washed and sitting waiting for breakfast and doctors. I had to change into a hospital nightdress; the nurse who laughed and said I look like a man the other day, asked if I look like my father today. She looked very confused when I said no.

Anyway.

I had my blood pressure etc checked and was then wheeled off to the operating theatre. Shrink one was waiting in scrubs, the anaesthetist peered sadly at the vein in my elbow before putting the drip in at the wrist. I had a blood pressure cuff on my upper arm by then and another on my lower leg . I had to undo the nightdress and have it at my waist, the nurse put 3 node thingies on my chest. Then I got an oxygen mask. The last things I noticed were shrink one putting gel on the ECT thingies and the anaesthetist saying, “keep your eyes open.”

I came to in the operating theatre, lying on my side with a slightly sore jaw and a bit of confusion that was quickly resolved by thinking slowly. I put the nightdress back on properly and was wheeled back to the ward. It was around 10am by then and I was given two slices of brown bread and a plastic mug of sweet, milky tea for breakfast. I was out of the place by 11am.

My hair isn’t curlier, my eyes haven’t popped out and now, some hours later, the only after effect is a little mild feeling in my jaw. My mood doesn’t feel any different, but that’s consistent with the research. I have another 11 sessions ahead of me (on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) and I suppose I should update here again when and if something changes? Thanks for reading along with me on my journey thus far and for all the supportive wishes and comments. They’ve made a lonely process feel less lonely and I appreciate it a hell of a lot.

Thank you.