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December 2010 Moms
AFanch1127
member
I've been MIA. (vent-y)
AFanch1127
member
Hi lovely ladies. I haven't been here in a couple weeks, I think. I've just been having a really hard time coping with life. I don't mean to post this with the hopes of getting pity from anyone, because really my life is pretty awesome. We are healthy, and financially stable, and really nothing has changed. It's just that all of a sudden I have changed. Hormones or something. I talked to my dr a few weeks ago and he said that I may be experiencing late-onset PPD/PPA. I had no idea a person could experience this at 7+ months postpartum. I'm just not myself. He told me to get out and exercise daily and to get some sunshine every day, and if I didn't feel better (or got worse) in the next couple weeks to call him so we could maybe talk medications. I'll be honest and say that the exercise thing hasn't been happening as it should. I SO don't want to take meds, but I feel like I'm just not mentally or emotionally there for DH and DD lately, let alone for work or myself or my friends. Work + housework + family time + me time = not enough hours in the day. I have an awesome, supportive husband and no reason to be upset about anything, but i am. I guess this is mainly a pointless vent, but I'll end with a question: Has anyone been through a later-onset case of PPD or PPA? If so, what did you do to cope?
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Re: I've been MIA. (vent-y)
Thank you. I think I just needed to hear that I'm not crazy lol
I have been having some mild panic attacks as well. Increased heart rate, tight chest, mind racing about everything and nothing at the same time. Sounds like yours was much worse. I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling great. I have been wondering about Zoloft as well. We are still BFing so I think that's the best option? I know you have a few (3?) LO's--was this with your first or with one of the others? This is my first LO and I wonder if it's more common the first time around...
I am so sorry you are going through this. It isn't fair that at what is supposed to be such a great time (or at least it is portrayed that way) that we have to deal with things such as PPD/PPA.
I was thinking about it last night myself because I have been having anxiety. No panic attacks and it isn't severe but still not fun and something to watch.
I do think that my issue is because I am not working right now (I'm a teacher so I am on summer break) and while it is nice to be home with my daughter, it is also very isolating. I am also watching my 9 month old niece so it make it difficult to go anywhere.
It's good you spoke with a doctor and you are on top of things. Like PP said it is just such a major life change and there are so many hormones that go along with it.
That's tough. My husband has had seasonal depression before that is caused by a chemical imbalance due in part to lack of sunshine. His doctor told him to put a UV light in his bathroom so he got some "sun" exposure each morning - I don't know if it helped b/c he ended up doing meds for a few months but it didn't hurt. I'm glad you recognize that something isn't right and I hope you feel better soon!
I am dealing with it myself and am currently going to counseling. I do not want to take medication and am trying to avoid it. My therapist and I have decided I will do 8 weeks of counseling only and see how that goes, and then talk about medication again at a later date.
I've only been going to counseling for 2 weeks and I have already felt like it has been a huge help.I kind of thought about counseling. But then I wondered what I would even talk about...I have no idea what's bothering me! I also wonder if it would just make my anxiety worse by putting one more thing on the already-too-full schedule. Thanks for this suggestion, I will continue to consider it if things don't get better.
Honestly, last week I left her office and the first thing I thought was, "wtf did i talk about?" I felt like I just rambled on and on and on and went round in circles. But when I thought about it, I realized that we started talking about ways that DH can be more supportive. He's fantastic and helps a ton with DS and is a great Dad, but has a difficult time dealing with me right now. He's used to super happy wifey, and right now that isn't me. It's been a cause of a lot of tension, so that was the topic of the day and it took me a couple hours after leaving the office to realize it!
And I hear you about busy schedules. I have a long commute, a long day, and often don't sit to relax until almost 9 at night and then I just want to go to bed! But, this was something I had to do for me, so I'm finding the time. It is hard though, believe me. On the days I have counseling, DS is often asleep by the time I get home, so I don't see him. And that sucks so much. But I know in the long run, it'll be all worth it.
i agree with this.
for me the blues set in around 3-4 months. i was not interested in taking meds, but i felt like i couldnt get things under control. i was talking to my sister and she said "if you had a broken arm, youd get a cast..right?...you need to get happy enough to get your life back together". she was right.
no matter what suggestions i got to "get happy", i needed a little boost to help me get it together. i went on the lowest dosage possible. it helped me sleep, and get things into perspective. once i felt a little more even keel, i was able to take steps in my life to feel better. then i stopped the meds. i took them for 2 months. i have been fine since. however, if i needed to, i would have taken them for longer. in fact, i feel bad that i waited so long to get help in the first place. it was time i wished i would have been enjoying more with O.
things i do to feel better: i get my exercise while spending time with baby and H...like take a long walk before bed together. plan really easy meals, so i know it can be accomplished and i wont feel like im "failing" by not having dinner made. when i dont feel like cooking or cleaning, i let it go. its NOT failing like i thought it was.
the biggest one...i joined "massage envy" and i set a bi-weekly appointment for a massage. i stick to it and it feels great.
also, im sure each persons reasons for feeling blue might be a bit different, and maybe its not clear to you right now what it is. but maybe talking to someone who specializes in PPD would help. your OB could give you a recommendation. we didnt have any child care, so i found someone that would do phone appointments. maybe you could fit this into a lunch hour or something?
I'm not sure if I really had PPD from the beginning and it just became more and more apparent to me as E got older, or if I had a late-onset case, but I did not seek help until about a month ago. I am someone who transitioned from full-time work to being a SAHM, and I know part of my difficulty was the transition. I did try to get out EVERY day - even if it was just to run a useless errand - and I did exercise almost daily. It didn't really help. I found myself self-isolating and really emotional, so I called my OB's office. I was also hesitant to start meds, but I cannot emphasize what a difference they have made in my life and attitude. It's not that I am always happy, but I am much better with coping now, and I really do feel better. They started me on a really low dose of Zoloft, and they've suggested that I stay on it for about six months. If I want to wean at that point, I can do so.
I know I'm new here and a bit of a lurker, but please feel free to respond here and/or PM if you want to talk.
ETA after reading all of the responses: Zoloft is safe while BFing. From what I've read online, little if any passes into the BM (it seems as though most studies have found no evidence of it in kiddos whose BFing mom takes it). I do not think it's safe during the third tri, though, so I am going to wean before TTC again.