Geriatric Health Care Associates,Inc

ECT CHANGED MY SON%27S LIFE
I am the mother of a 27 year-old son who, 4 years ago, was diagnosed with schizophrenia. At that time he was studying, living with his girlfriend, and forging his future. The illness stormed into his, and our lives, with total relentlessness. Everything changed. He came back to live with my husband and me. From that moment on, he went through a different array of psychiatrists, some would drop him because of my son non compliance to the meds and some we would drop due to their lassitude and lack of care. Almost a 99%25 of times, my husband and I felt they were experimenting with my son, combining this and that medication-sometimes so aggressive and dangerous that he had to get a weekly blood test to monitor leukocyte loss ,- and accept the fact that he will have to live with involuntary movements in his hands due to them.
We asked all these professionals if there was another treatment. “No”, they said, “the only method for containing or reducing the voices and depression is what Pharmaceuticals recommend: prescribe pills, prescribe pills, prescribe pills”
After dropping the last psychiatrist and while researching for a new one, I came across Dr. Mehra’s name and website. So I called her office and made an appointment for my son.
The first impression I got was that of a caring human being. She showed so much respect for my son, for everything he was saying, even though he was still being smothered by the voices, that I realized she was really going to produce a good change. But, when after her first evaluation, she puts up the ECT word, my son, my husband and me reacted in fear, negatively, rejecting the idea altogether, without even considering it. “Electric shocks?” I asked, “do you think that I am going to put our son through that?. That treatment is so scary…” . She smiled, and only said: “Isabel, you are afraid of the ECT, OK, I understand that. But, do you realize that if he keeps on with this cocktail of meds, his heart will be affected, his blood pressure will be affected, maybe his liver and other organs will suffer the consequences. Aren’t you afraid of that too?” And that did it. That was what really made us change our minds.
We saw a video on ECT with open minds. No scary electric shock, just a soothing outpatient procedure, short and simple. And my son went for it.
The first time, all of us were a little afraid. But once we got to the hospital unit, Dr Mehra’s team of nurses, anesthesiologists and technicians put all of us into such a comfortable place that we forgot all fears and insecurities.
My son went into the treatment room, came out 30 minutes later, a little sleepy, a little groggy, but he did something he hadn’t done in four years, he made a joke: “Mom” he said “when I came here today, I thought it was YOU that was going to get the treatment”. And then he laughed. I couldn’t believe it. He was laughing. Then he stopped and asked us all to hush up. “Wait! Nobody say a word!”. And then he asked. “Where are they? Where are the voices? I can hardly hear them!” Those were the most beautiful words I heard in a long time.
Since the first session, his voices have been going down and staying down, almost imperceptible now. His depression is completely under control. He has recovered his own self. He makes jokes, he is studying and he is planning for the future.
I know that he wants to write something on this website for anyone that is going through the same he went through so they can get another perspective, and hope. But I just wanted to write this as a mom who loves her son very much. Don’t get afraid moms and dads! The ECT is safe, short and EFFECTIVE. It really worked for our child. I am sure it will definitely help yours.

Isabel L.
6/29/2010

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I was extremely disappointed with the professionalism of the office.

After making an appointment (stictly via email only, never speaking to a person) discussing Insurance (via email) the conclusion was that Dr. Mehra accepts Medicare so, the person on the other side - via email. The appointment was made three weeks prior to appointment. A few days prior to the appointment I called to confirm and finally reached someone on the other side, who informed me that the Dr. does not take Medicare/AARP. and the information I received three weeks ago (from a new employee) was incorrect. The person I spoke to confirmed that the first and only person I communicated with is new. As you can imagine I was so angry that number 1 the wrong information, and never being notified that there was no appointment. This is a Doctor%27s office, with incompetent support. I can%27t imagine how a psychiatrist office would allow that. We are not dealing with botox!!!! We are dealing with a patient and medication...As a result of all this stupidity, we lost another 3weeks until we were able to get an appointment with another psychiatrist.

Very Angry
11/2/2011