The Pill and PPD

[crookedsprout]

I have been feeling like crap ever since weaning my baby. I took the PPD quiz and scored very high. So I made an appointment to see an OBGYN to see what she thought.

She told me that I couldn't have PPD because my baby was a year old and it only exists after a few months of giving birth.(red flag!) She said i was probably just depressed. After explaining to her that it came after weaning, she said i have a hormone imbalance and prescribed me The Pill. She said after a few months i should feel okay.

I'm really skeptical with this diagnosis....I feel like complete crap. Everything is unraveling, and I'm afraid something bad is going to happen, and now I'll have to wait almost 2.5 months to see if anything is better.
I'm so annoyed; it took me a lot of courage to do this, and I just feel written off.

So, has the pill ever helped any of you?

[LynnS6]

Make an appointment with someone who knows what they're doing! It's possible that you have a hormone imbalance, but the Pill isn't standard treatment for any kind of depression.

You need to have a complete blood work up, including thyroid testing. Low thyroid levels can mimic depression and it's important to rule that out.

I personally don't take the pill because I don't like how I feel on it. My body just happens to be ubersensitive to hormones in general - so I get a mild return of symptoms every time I ovulate and every time I have my period. (It makes me terrified of menopause, quite frankly!)

I would see a general practitioner, or a psychiatrist. Technically, PPD can occur any time during the first year, though many docs aren't aware of that. And I would say that yours strongly looks to be associated with weaning. (Bfing also produces oxytocin, which makes us feel good, so the loss of that might be contributing.)

[Mrs_Hos]

I have a friend going thru something similar...
She weaned around 2 yrs, then started having depression and panic attacks.
Drs want to just medicate without finding any underlying problems...
Taking BCPs hasn't made it better--possibly worse.
Does anyone have any knowledge on what hormones could be outta whack or what natural supplements could ease the depression/anxiety? She has been put on/tried lexapro (makes her feel kinda mello--not herself, but she isn't sure about it yet)...tried wellbutrin...

I think if we can point a finger to what hormones are low/affected, it seems we'd be closer in getting answers ya know!??

[KatWrangler]

Well I had PPD soon after having DD2. At the time I was prescribed Zoloft....didn't work. If anything I felt worse. Then I was prescribed something else...can't remember what it was.

So I made an appointment with my FP Doc who did a bunch of blood tests. Thinking I had a Thyroid issues. Tests came back negative.

At this same time I was losing more hair than usual with PP so I made an appointment with a Dermatologist. He ran some blood tests and it turns out my Ferrin level is extrememly low. I it came in at 14 should be at least 40 and for hair growth over 70.

So then I went to my OB/GYN, she looked at the tests and suggested BC. I am on my 4th month and feel alot better! The way she explained it is, I have had 3 kids in less than 5 years along with BF. My hormones have had extremem highs and extreme lows. With BC it helps level them off.

So no, you Doc is not off base. It just may help you.

Its just funny to be on BC and my tubes are tied.

Anyway this is a trial. I have to go back to her soon.