Sent a message to two of my ob's this morning and hoping someone sees it (I'm also going to call the pharmacist when they open) to see if I can safely take the anxiety medication I took last pregnancy/postpartum with my current prescriptions. I'm just having such a hard time and everything feels like such a big deal. If someone misunderstands my point or has a dissenting opinion or anything I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack. I wanted to go out today and now I just don't feel like I'm physically capable of leaving the house today. This happened last time too, but manifested differently. Last time, I would just lay in bed all day while DH was at work at cry that he might die somehow and what would I do?
I hate admitting that I'm feeling this way because it makes me feel ridiculous and pathetic, but I'm having a hard time. Hoping they'll let me pick up with the buspar again and that I can start feeling like myself again. Right now, agoraphobia feels like a valid life choice.
@Austenista you’re doing the right thing emailing your doctors, and in the meantime be patient with yourself. A few days of staying inside to keep your anxiety at bay is FINE! For the more minor stuff (don’t think this would work in moments you’re panicked about death for instance), I find I can temporarily quell my anxiety sometimes by shouting (to myself) SO WHAT?!? SO WHAT?!? I don’t know, somehow it grounds me and I can ignore it a little longer. I hope your doctors get back to you quickly tho.
Omg. So I messaged two of my OB's via online portal and I'm not optimistic about them contacting me this weekend, but that's as close to getting them on a Saturday or Sunday as I can come.
Then I called my pharmacist to see her opinion and she just went on this weird tangent about when I need to take my thyroid meds (the way I've been taking them they've checked my thyroid three times this pregnancy and it's come back normal) and trying to scare me that as my pregnancy progresses I'm going to have problems because of when I take it. I straight up said to her, "I've called you about my anxiety, and I have to be honest with you, you're making it worse." I just need to know if I can take my buspar to feel better.
Anyway, after all that nonsense she eventually comes to the point about taking the buspar and says I should have no interactions and am good to go. But damn I feel ten thousand times more stressed out about the rest of my medication now. She says to take my thyroid meds first thing in the morning before I take anything else and if I do that they'll probably adjust my dose. But my bloodwork comes back NORMAL right now and I have no side effects from that effing medication whatsoever so why do I need to worry about them adjusting it or not? They've never got it to come back normal until recently. Eff her for stressing me out more when I'm already stressed for no frickin reason.
@doxiemoxie212 I appreciate that tip and it's worth a try. When I'm having anxiety it's hard to see the big picture even if it's a "So what?!" sort of situation that doesn't really matter at all. Why should I care if someone doesn't agree with me or misunderstands me? Why am I upset for no apparent reason about something? I think it can definitely help in those situations.
@Austenista I do not find pharmacists helpful. I had to ask one a while ago about allergy nasal sprays because it was a weekend and couldn’t get my doc on the phone, and I was in person, and I watched him google it. I was like, buddy I also have google. Ugh!
@Austenista @doxiemoxie212 sorry you girls have had bad experiences with your pharmacists. As a pharmacist, it makes me sad that there are some making no difference. I suppose there are good and bad of every profession. Anyways, I often need to look things up because it's impossible to remember every thing about every drug on the market, but what I am typically looking up are the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to see how a drug is absorbed, metabolized and excreted to gain a better understanding of the more complicated questions and how the drug behaves inside the body; not just looking to Google. I don't know your medications to answer specific questions, but Buspar is not a drug that has a lot of significant interactions. It would mostly flag for other antidepressants or migraine medications, but I would still pass it for my patients. Many doctors, pharmacists, etc, may be slightly more on the fence about it, as opposed to other category B drugs, because it's just not that common of a medication anymore, so their overall exposure and familiarity with it is just less. Not because it's a bad drug, but just because there are so many drugs on the market that compete with it that are "newer and shinier". I would cut yourself some slack and do whatever you need to do for yourself this weekend to get you through it until you can speak to the doctor. If that means you go nowhere, then go nowhere. That's OK. If you had positive experiences with Buspar previously, I would strongly push for that again. It takes a few weeks to see the full effects of Buspar, so maybe your doctor can give you something quicker acting for a very short time until it starts working for you. I am on Xanax and while it is a Category D, I am instructed to take it during full blown panic attacks only. I have only needed it once during pregnancy, but in that instance the benefit outweighed the risk for me. Hyperventilating is not good for either of us. They just dont want the baby used to the medication, so I feel ok in our plan of emergency use only.
Regarding your thyroid medication, it is true that that stuff binds to everything. It is recommended to be taken on an empty stomach spaced out from other medications. HOWEVER, consistency is key here. If you do the same thing everyday and your levels are good, keep doing that. It won't bind to your calcium in your vitamin for 3 months and then all the sudden stop binding to it. Your dose now is already adjusted FOR that since you've always been doing that. As long as what you're doing now is keeping you stable, nothing else matters. Please do not stress about it. I hope that makes sense.
Try to focus on one issue at a time right now. Right now, your thyroid is great. It is not worth one more thought in this moment. Hugs my friend. You will be feeling better soon. I know how debilitating anxiety can be and you are not alone.
Edited bc my brain is typically out of sync with my fingers and sometimes I don't make sense.
@Austenista I know Zoloft and Prozac are what my dr said was safe for me. Mine isn't a fan of either, and my guess after my upcoming appt - and the follow up she'll likely want to have in spring - I am anticipating to be told that breastfeeding won't be happening as she'll want me back on typical meds {celexa}
I'm currently taking prozac, and I'm not a fan as I don't find it works when I need it but hopefully you find something that works for you!
I know when I have anxiety problems, I find that doing something that distracts me - playing solitaire, focus on breathing while staring out the window, etc - sometimes helps but it depends on the situation.
So, I didn't see this started for March yet. Midwife started me on Zoloft today (super low dose). Anyone else on this?
I used to take buspar but have find myself having symptoms much more like what I had after dd was born as opposed to the straight up anxiety I was having when previously on the buspar.
@sabby2, I hope it helps you! I have a feeling I'll be on something postpartum. My doctor was hesitant to start me on anything now. My trigger is lack of sleep and then I spiral. I'm honestly not sure if meds would really help with that.
Thanks! My nurse brain knows about ssri's and that benefit is out weighing risks with this one. Anxiety brain is like whoa, whoa,whoa WHAT IF... so annoying!!
I'm starting at 25 mg... which is a really low dose but I'd rather have the option of adding more so I'll give it a bit and then chat with my OB at my appt again in 3 weeks.
This might be a weird question but...does anyone have any tips/resources on prevention of post-partum depression? Like ways to lower your risk? Wasn't sure if anyone has been through it and has any advice. I'm a FTM but I have this strong feeling that that's going to be an issue for me, is that weird to think? I tend to get anxious/depressed during times of change, even if it's good change - like having a baby!
I was also thinking of starting this for March but I'm always worried I'm going to mess something up or accidentally break the rules!
@taykc90 not sure about prevention, but I think let your OB know and don’t hesitate to communicate how you’re feeling after the baby.
Depression obviously cant be cured by things like going for walks, but I had DD1 in December and struggled a lot with being cooped up. My life improved so much when I found a mom friend to go walking with on nicer days.
Re: Mental Health Check-In (Jan/Feb)
Me: 30 | DH: 34 | DSS: 14 | DS: 4
PG #2, EDD 10/12/2023
I hate admitting that I'm feeling this way because it makes me feel ridiculous and pathetic, but I'm having a hard time. Hoping they'll let me pick up with the buspar again and that I can start feeling like myself again. Right now, agoraphobia feels like a valid life choice.
Then I called my pharmacist to see her opinion and she just went on this weird tangent about when I need to take my thyroid meds (the way I've been taking them they've checked my thyroid three times this pregnancy and it's come back normal) and trying to scare me that as my pregnancy progresses I'm going to have problems because of when I take it. I straight up said to her, "I've called you about my anxiety, and I have to be honest with you, you're making it worse." I just need to know if I can take my buspar to feel better.
Anyway, after all that nonsense she eventually comes to the point about taking the buspar and says I should have no interactions and am good to go. But damn I feel ten thousand times more stressed out about the rest of my medication now. She says to take my thyroid meds first thing in the morning before I take anything else and if I do that they'll probably adjust my dose. But my bloodwork comes back NORMAL right now and I have no side effects from that effing medication whatsoever so why do I need to worry about them adjusting it or not? They've never got it to come back normal until recently. Eff her for stressing me out more when I'm already stressed for no frickin reason.
@doxiemoxie212 I appreciate that tip and it's worth a try. When I'm having anxiety it's hard to see the big picture even if it's a "So what?!" sort of situation that doesn't really matter at all. Why should I care if someone doesn't agree with me or misunderstands me? Why am I upset for no apparent reason about something? I think it can definitely help in those situations.
@helenbz I’m not a fan of meditation. Perhaps the guided version may help though. Thanks!
Regarding your thyroid medication, it is true that that stuff binds to everything. It is recommended to be taken on an empty stomach spaced out from other medications. HOWEVER, consistency is key here. If you do the same thing everyday and your levels are good, keep doing that. It won't bind to your calcium in your vitamin for 3 months and then all the sudden stop binding to it. Your dose now is already adjusted FOR that since you've always been doing that. As long as what you're doing now is keeping you stable, nothing else matters. Please do not stress about it. I hope that makes sense.
Try to focus on one issue at a time right now. Right now, your thyroid is great. It is not worth one more thought in this moment. Hugs my friend. You will be feeling better soon. I know how debilitating anxiety can be and you are not alone.
Edited bc my brain is typically out of sync with my fingers and sometimes I don't make sense.
I'm currently taking prozac, and I'm not a fan as I don't find it works when I need it but hopefully you find something that works for you!
I know when I have anxiety problems, I find that doing something that distracts me - playing solitaire, focus on breathing while staring out the window, etc - sometimes helps but it depends on the situation.
I used to take buspar but have find myself having symptoms much more like what I had after dd was born as opposed to the straight up anxiety I was having when previously on the buspar.
I'm taking Zoloft. I took it in the beginning until I started taking Zofran, and I just started taking it again. Been on it for 12 years.
Me: 30 | DH: 34 | DSS: 14 | DS: 4
PG #2, EDD 10/12/2023
I'm starting at 25 mg... which is a really low dose but I'd rather have the option of adding more so I'll give it a bit and then chat with my OB at my appt again in 3 weeks.
I was also thinking of starting this for March but I'm always worried I'm going to mess something up or accidentally break the rules!
Depression obviously cant be cured by things like going for walks, but I had DD1 in December and struggled a lot with being cooped up. My life improved so much when I found a mom friend to go walking with on nicer days.