How long does a cycle of ECT take?

I did 20 rounds outpatient I think it was 2x a week at first. They wanted to do more but it wasn’t helping and the drive sucked, so I just stopped going. I think most people do less treatments for the initial treatment phase and switch to less frequent maintenance treatments (like once a month?)

They gave some timelines in the article you posted earlier. I don't know if you could get seen and evaluated AND started on and finish a course of treatment in 6 weeks. That might be rushing it? Idk - maybe not.

FROM THE ARTICLE:

How many times do I need ECT?
Treatments are normally administered three
times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and
Friday. A course of ECT normally ranges from
six to twelve treatments. The average number
of treatments is nine. The severity of your
symptoms and how rapidly you respond will
determine the number of treatments you need.
Six treatments are usually required before major improvements in your
symptoms may be observed. However, family members, friends, and
caregivers may begin to see mild improvements following the first three
to six treatments. These improvements may include an increase in your
activity level, improved sleeping patterns, and a mild increase in your
appetite.
Your ECT care providers will monitor your response to the treatments. They
will use this information as well as your own feedback to determine how
many treatments you will receive.

Hmmm. Sounds like I won’t have time before the wedding.

No, you won't. I have had it done, but people who were inpatient with me had and I witnessed that and it is a long game.

Thanks. Cherry. I’m thinking I’m in a mixed episode as I was typing to my friend who kept saying stop. He could’ve added “typing to me at all” that would’ve been clearer than “stop”. So basically after days he really just means no communication at all with me no matter if my house is burning down! So in a mixed episode I am guessing??? What with typing to him past “stop” and being manic about it I didn’t understand he means no communication at all. Zero. Not even an apology. Zip. It breaks my heart because before he was telling me how he was and now obviously he won’t.

Later, I am going out with N3. That will be nice. He starts back up at university at the end of this month, along with his sister- not the engaged one- and his girlfriend.

Definitely not if you're doing it outpatient BUT I almost did a 2nd round inpatient (did one treatment) and everything was set up really fast, like within 4 days of being transferred to the psych unit. I wasn't really in a bipolar episode though, just had really bad PTSD and BPD symptoms and the ECT prep and recovery process for the first treatment was way too much for my extra distrustful, hypervigilant, dissociated, suspicious self. But if I wanted to do nine treatments 3x a week inpatient, yeah I could get that done if I got into the same hospital and they could start as quickly. It might have been quicker to start because I already did a bunch of treatments though and my pdoc already told the hospital she wanted me to do ECT.

I wouldn't say impossible, but not a sure thing and you would certainly have to go IP to get it started.

*You could talk to your doc and start the process anyway though if you want to do it outpatient. I was fine on the days I didn't have treatments as long as I didn't have to remember stuff like driving directions. If you've started it a couple weeks before, you know how it affects you by then and if it makes things worse, you would've stopped hopefully, and if you don't start it until JUST then, you can just schedule your first treatment after the wedding. If they can't get you in until after, well then it's all set up.*

Not missing above, a typo. I haven't had it done.

Congratulations on the ma kids wedding soon to happen. Definitely a large milestone.

Yeah I think I’m gonna have to do it after the wedding. My Pdoc is out of town on a family emergency for who knows how long and my case manager doesn’t want to bug her unless it’s an emergency. She doesn’t even know that I called the pharmacy and told them I wasn’t going to pick up the cobenfy or the one that needs titrated at a crs. But she’s contacted or been contacted BY my therapist re getting a job! Not only is psychosis lately making it impossible to get a job but my arm has some mystery injury! I can barely use it. Seeing the orthopedist tomorrow. Pdoc doesn’t even know I want to do ECT. I will not be forced into taking those two scripts! Never mind I don’t have time to be titrated up etc!

Boy, your new therapist acts like he's on a mission from god! Do you know how long he's been practicing? I remember hearing about some therapy where the client would fill out a diary card every day, then review it with the therapist every week. It was popular maybe 10 yeears ago? I can see your therapist's logic, where he believes you would benefit from a secure, positive, productive daily contact, but would that be a job?! Maybe working at an election campaign office - ive often thought that would be fun.

But i know i get manic and make promises my normal / usual? butt will NOT keep. Like my cousin's funeral service this weekend. I have no clean clothes, no money, my apartment is still desperately hoarded - who am i kidding? A friend of mine did ECT some years ago, after an attempt. But she's pretty well-off financially, with a great husband, a big house, friends, family, tennis, yoga - you know, all the things! She had all these things before the attempt too. I don't understand life. AND she's beautiful. I feel like i couldn't TOLERATE all that for myself. I would implode. I would say that describes most of my cousins' lives. My mother would kill me if i had achieved that.

Have you tried therapy with your mother? Even just a session or two? It seems like she has some very definite feelings about how you should handle your life! It might be nice to get those out in the open, once and for all. Instead of her just being called on to help put out fires? I had one session with my mother, and it was like those "Scared Straight" prison shows! But it worked! Or helped, anyway. I got a HUGE insight into how she viewed me and our relationship. Tore those rose-colored glasses right off.

Social Rhythms therapy, perhaps? It was developed in Pittsburgh specifically to treat bipolar disorder.

I called my primary drs office- the ones who kept dismissing my pain- and told them the pain is so bad I can’t use my arm! They called me back an hour later and told me to use 2 Tylenol, and lidocaine patches! I said I’ve done all that plus heat and ice! And that I’m going to orthopedics at their competitor tomorrow for X-rays and an mri!

I see that IPSRT interpersonal % & @CBT Denver say they developed a program based on SRT and CBT. IIRC, it was straight CBT i meant, and it was "in competition" with marsha linehan's DBT. You kinda had a choice of one path or the other.

I can’t use my arm because it’s too painful. It’s either go to the ER tonight or suffer. Tylenol is a joke. Ice, heat blablahblah…. My dr has turned into a skipping record! I have an appointment with orthopedics tomorrow for a first visit at my primary doctor won’t do anything. I had to get a referral from urgent care! I hope orthopedics can help. I can’t use my right arm except with one finger to type. I’m also really tired for some reason. I could go to bed now.

Saw orthopedics. It’s a nerve running from my wrist up my arm into my shoulder. It’s pinched. I need to call and make an appointment for some sort of shot.