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November 2011 Moms
peanut701
member
Anyone else with PPD/ PPA?
peanut701
member
I know I'm not super active on this board, but I could really use some support. This week I came to terms with the fact that my post partum depression and anxiety are not going to disappear on their own. I couldn't find a psychiatrist who could see me in before mid- March, so I ended up going to the ER. They said they couldn't prescribe anything there, but they were able to fast track me to see a psych next Friday.
Waiting for Friday is going to be tough. If anyone else has been through this, I'd love to hear how things turned out, either via post or PM. Thank you.
DD born 11/20/11
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Anyone else with PPD/ PPA?
I just talked with my OB at my 6 week appt and she put me on 50 mg Zoloft. It has worked wonders for me and I am free and clear of any PPA/PPD. She said once the weather starts getting nice again I can quit taking it, so I think it's a good thing. I know quite a few other women are on Zoloft here too...
"This too shall pass"
And get a massage. Seriously.
Hugs and prayers for everyone. I thought I might be getting it, but have been fighting with all of my strength. I've heard of some natural remedies like Holy Basil and B12 that help. I've been doing the B12 and that does seem to help a lot.
Good luck you guys. My heart goes out.
Hugs to everyone here. I don't have PPD/PPA, but I have suffered from depression in the past, and have been dealing with generalized anxiety disorder for the past 3-ish years. I was actually on Lexapro my entire pregnancy (flame away) because my doctors and I felt it wasn't worth the risk of taking me off of it, and happy mommy=happy baby. The first 2 weeks after I had the baby I was a mess and cried so many times a day. I am so happy I was still on the Lexapro as the anxious feelings faded away after 2 weeks and didn't get serious, probably bc of the meds.
I just have to say DONT feel guilty or punish yourself for being on meds if you have to, and don't be ashamed to see someone.
Good luck!!
I have depression/anxiety issues that are not postpartum specific, but have resurfaced since LO was born. I spoke with my OB at my 6 week check up and let him know how I was feeling. He went ahead and wrote me prescriptions for the drugs that have worked for me in the past. (Wellbutrin for depression, Ativan for anxiety) I held onto the script for weeks & finally got them filled last week. I'm in the process of weaning DS (the drugs aren't safe to take while BF) so that I can start taking them.
I hope that you find something that makes you feel better... and while lots of things feel tougher when it's cold and dark outside, depression and anxiety often continue even when the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder get better. So, while it would be great to wean from the meds in a few short months when it's sunny and beautiful, it's ok if you're not ready yet!
I'm so glad that so many of you were put on the road to recovery by your OBs. I'm frustrated that neither my original OB nor another OB I saw for post partum bleeding would prescribe the meds, even though both said that I needed them.
I am also weaning due to this. My first OB said it might improve my mood, as did my mom (she went through this). Of course the weaning has only added to the massive mommy guilt that I'm dealing with.
I am floored by how hard it has been to get help. At one point I called a crisis hotline. They took my info and took a day and a half to get back to me. By that point I had already gone to the ER, which I recommend if you feel you can't get the help you need otherwise. I still have this damn week long wait for a prescribing doc though. It's nuts.
I'm so glad to hear there's a light at the end of the tunnel. And yeah, the cold weather has not helped.
I first started noticing it around 2-3 weeks PP and called my OB they said they do not treat for PPD until at least 6 weeks PP. At my 6 week PP check up I talked to the OB and she said she would refer me to a social worker and they would call me in a day or two-- they never called. I decided to make an appointment with a GP that my friend had seen for depression and really liked and was told that I had to be seen by an OB for PPD so I called to make an appointment and they said the OB department doesn't deal with PPD and that a nurse would call me the next day--she didn't. I called back everyday and same thing. Finally a week later the nurse called, asked me some questions, and said she would have a social worker call me. It takes another week to get that call and she asks the SAME questions and says she will refer me to the psych department and have them call me--They never call. I tried calling the social service department and they said I'd have to call the OB department and start all over--I gave up. It was so frustrating and making everything worse.
I am absolutely APPALLED to hear that so many of you have reached out for help and have essentially been ignored. This is unforgivable. How can an OB claim that they don't treat PPD/PPA?!?!
Peanut, I am right there with you about the mommy guilt for weaning DS. I EBF'd for the first 4 months with DS1 and I just about had a nervous breakdown when he wasn't gaining enough weight and we had to supplement with formula. I felt like a failure.
This time, I decided to BF & FF from the beginning-- without the pressure, I've really enjoyed BF DS2. I've slowed down a lot. I'm down to nursing him once a day (first thing in the morning) and I cherish those quiet moments connecting with him. Add to it the fact that this may be our last baby and I get REALLY sad when I think about stopping. I feel like I'm being selfish by quitting breastfeeding him to get back on meds.
It's funny-- I have amazing support from my husband and family regarding getting back on meds. My OB was very quick to reassure me-- "The best thing you can do for your baby is not breastfeeding. The best thing you can do for him is to take good care of his mother." (I love that man.) What I don't have, is someone who understands how difficult (emotionally) it is to quit breastfeeding.
I'm also amazed that so many are struggling to get help. I had PPD/PPA with DD and "toughed it out." It was horrible. With DS I called my OB for help at the first sign and was prescribed 50mg Zoloft. I cannot even express what a huge difference it made in how I feel AND how I feel about my baby. I enjoy spending time with him and feel so in love with him and connected to him. It took a LONG time to feel that way with DD because of the PPD/PPA.
My OB actually prescribed me Zoloft over the phone - I called in, talked to the nurse (not even the doc) and they called in the RX for me like it was no big deal at all. Perhaps you can call a psychiatrist rather than your OBs to get the meds you need?
Also, FWIW - I still EBF with Zoloft with no problem and it doesn't make me feel "weird" - two things I was worried about. I totally feel like myself, just better able to manage my anxiety and not as depressed.
I have done everything short of committing myself to get help. And the only reason I didn't agree to hospitalization is because my husband is a freelancer and he could lose his job if he has to stay home with the baby. My mom works but she gets out early so she'll be here with me in the afternoons. She also took the baby last night so DH and I could sleep.
DH was supportive at first, but now he's just done with all of this. He wants me to talk myself out of this. I can't focus on that aspect. I just have to lean on my mom and get better.
I'm crying right now, but it's tears of happiness over how supportive you all have been.
This! Please keep checking in with us and let us know how you're doing!! And, I know that a lot of women are taking Zoloft b/c it's safe while breastfeeding, but there are so many other options if that doesn't work for you. (It didn't work for me.) Hang in there, hon.
See, I saw my OB after a week and a half after my son was born with PPD. It was horrible after Danny was born. I have never felt so awful in my entire life.
My husband called my OB and my OB saw me that day. We went over the stuff about PPD, and he wanted me to see a psychiatrist, since he was certain I had PPD. I saw one the very next day. My OB had me call him that night to confirm we saw a psychiatrist and I was getting the help I needed.
It makes me nervous that you cannot see one until next Friday. Because thinking back on the feelings and remembering how it was when I was first diagnosed, I don't think anyone should have to suffer like that.
Keep us posted, please? I want to make sure you're ok.