Looks like ppd found me

[finn'smama]

I thought I was feeling pretty good, but things have been kinda bad between dp and I and after a huge blowout yesterday, I have an appt. to see my doctor tomorrow. I think I was really trying to convince myself that things are totally fine, but I can feel it creeping up if that makes sense. I have things mostly under control right now, but if I leave it I think I'll be sorry....

[jsh7809]

I'm so sorry! I was (am) in the same place last week, and was able to get help really quickly... still far from normal (whatever that is) but it's good to reach out. Hope you get some support right away! s

[krismarie]

oh anika! i'm sorry!! you should definitely do something for yourself--especially since it worked so well last time. i still have rough days but it's so much better than it was... you just never know how long or how bad it will be, so it's better to do something! big huge s!!!

[jsh7809]

I wonder if anyone who's been through the PPD/ PPA route and ended up on SSRIs or other meds and continued breastfeeding, would mind sharing some of what they tried and how it worked, etc? No pressure obviously but it could be really helpful to me and others.
Hope this isn't a thread hijack, and hope everyone is getting the support they need.

[finn'smama]

jess, I was on Celexa after my second baby for about a a year and a half and I continued to breastfeed. He seems ok! Well he's a bit of a terror right now, but I blame that on the fact that he's 3, lol.

[finn'smama]

You know what's weird, this time it's manifesting differently. I'm definitely noticing some more ocd stuff, but I am so happy with the kids and have actually found the transition from two to three pretty good. But I'm a crazy person to my partner....like mean and bitchy. (He has his faults too though!)

[silverspook]

I started taking Zoloft when DS1 was about 4 or 6 months after I flipped out, packed a bag and tried to leave because I couldn't handle such a high needs baby. DH had to physically keep me from leaving, but he got me some help immediately. The zoloft helped tremendously and DS1 showed no effects from the medication. I took it for a couple of years, but I didn't try to leave anymore after I started taking it.

This time I am doing SJW just in case it shows up again.

[jolesh]

i am very ocd these days and actually started talking to a counselor about it. my doc wanted me to start taking zoloft but i am not into it. if i KNEW it would help me and not have weird side effects and if i weren't BF'ing i might do it, but my sis has had a lot of problems with anti depression and anti anxiety meds and i am skeptical. my problem manifests mostly as anxiety about illness - me getting sick, the kids getting sick, DH getting sick. i don't like the way i am becoming and want it to stop! i was anxious before getting pregnant but it has skyrocketed since then.. yikes!

[krismarie]

Originally Posted by jolesh

i am very ocd these days and actually started talking to a counselor about it. my doc wanted me to start taking zoloft but i am not into it. if i KNEW it would help me and not have weird side effects and if i weren't BF'ing i might do it, but my sis has had a lot of problems with anti depression and anti anxiety meds and i am skeptical. my problem manifests mostly as anxiety about illness - me getting sick, the kids getting sick, DH getting sick. i don't like the way i am becoming and want it to stop! i was anxious before getting pregnant but it has skyrocketed since then.. yikes!

i suffer from ppd in the form of anxiety... (similar to yours--about illness, but also about sleep and a bunch of things!)
i am taking lexapro right now (small dose) but also, i'm working on nutrition. if you don't want to try meds, maybe you want to try some of these things.
i'm taking high doses of fish oil (3000-5000mg/day)--raises seratonin levels
-high doses of cal/mag (1000-1500mg/day)
-choline (500+mg/day)
all of these things can contribute to anxiety if you are depleted of them... i have been pg and/or breastfeeding for 7 years straight (today, actually!) and i'm sure i was very deficient of at least one, if not all of them.

question re: your sis... did she have problems with meds and bf?? i'm nervous about that part of it--taking the meds while bf but i was not even functional a month ago--now i am ok.

[krismarie]

not to hijack the thread either- but moms who were on meds--did you have troubles weaning off? how long did you take them and tell me your stories about coming off of them... thanks!

[finn'smama]

no one is hijacking! I think it's really good to talk about our experiences and for everyone to ask questions.

I didn't have much trouble weaning off my meds...I just did it really slowly and it was no problem. I did have troubles if I forgot to take them for a couple of days though, dizziness and nausea would set in, it was gross.

I'm definitely more anxious this time, and irrational. I'm wondering about whether or not to go on meds because I don't seem to be as bad as last time, like I don't really feel sad/blue but I also don't want to get there either, so I'm wondering if a low dose is prudent.
I should try supplementing as well, but I am terrible at remembering supplements (and my meds sometimes)

[krismarie]

Originally Posted by finn'smama

no one is hijacking! I think it's really good to talk about our experiences and for everyone to ask questions.

I didn't have much trouble weaning off my meds...I just did it really slowly and it was no problem. I did have troubles if I forgot to take them for a couple of days though, dizziness and nausea would set in, it was gross.

I'm definitely more anxious this time, and irrational. I'm wondering about whether or not to go on meds because I don't seem to be as bad as last time, like I don't really feel sad/blue but I also don't want to get there either, so I'm wondering if a low dose is prudent.
I should try supplementing as well, but I am terrible at remembering supplements (and my meds sometimes)

it's hard to know what to do cuz you don't know how it will get--that's how i felt... if i knew it was mostly hormones and i'd feel better soon, then i would have wanted to skip the meds. did you talk to your doc?
i'm on a low dose (5mg) but i'm actually experimenting with taking 1/2 of that some days... i'm not feeling "normal" but i do feel better than that hellish first week pp.
i've really had to get in a schedule for my supplements/meds... i think it helps that i don't feel "normal" yet--so i want to remember to take them to hopefully feel better and better.

[krismarie]

how are you doing, anika??

[finn'smama]

I'm okay. I feel really tired, although I'm getting quite a bit of sleep. I think I'm trying to do too much, so I'm just going to slow down again and see if that helps.
Also feeling a bit weird in the morning, I take my meds at night, so I notice I'm a bit shaky and agitated in the morning. I don't remember this last time, but I think I was too messed up with ppd to notice! Anything would have been better.
How about you?
Jess how are you feeling? And everyone else?

[rolenta]

Originally Posted by jsh7809

I wonder if anyone who's been through the PPD/ PPA route and ended up on SSRIs or other meds and continued breastfeeding, would mind sharing some of what they tried and how it worked, etc? No pressure obviously but it could be really helpful to me and others.
Hope this isn't a thread hijack, and hope everyone is getting the support they need.

I was on Celexa for #1, Effexor for #2, and now I'm on Prozac. The reason for the prescription changes was that I was diagnosed with not just PPD, but also OCD (which I've had for years and years) and we were trying to find a drug therapy that worked.

I was worried about the affects of prescriptions of breastfeeding, but my doctor pointed out that many studies have shown that there are real, quantified adverse affects on the infant of having a depressed mother. On the other hand, there don't appear to be any negative affects on infants breastfed by medicated mothers.

[krismarie]

Originally Posted by finn'smama

I'm okay. I feel really tired, although I'm getting quite a bit of sleep. I think I'm trying to do too much, so I'm just going to slow down again and see if that helps.
Also feeling a bit weird in the morning, I take my meds at night, so I notice I'm a bit shaky and agitated in the morning. I don't remember this last time, but I think I was too messed up with ppd to notice! Anything would have been better.
How about you?
Jess how are you feeling? And everyone else?

maybe it's side effects from the drugs?? i can't say b/c i've also been battling some sinus issues for almost 7 weeks (with no luck!) so i'm tired a lot too, even though i sleep pretty well at night. but i def had some side effects for the first week when i started--dizziness, headaches, etc. i wouldn't be surprised if the shakiness/etc goes away in a week or two.

Originally Posted by rolenta

I was on Celexa for #1, Effexor for #2, and now I'm on Prozac. The reason for the prescription changes was that I was diagnosed with not just PPD, but also OCD (which I've had for years and years) and we were trying to find a drug therapy that worked.

I was worried about the affects of prescriptions of breastfeeding, but my doctor pointed out that many studies have shown that there are real, quantified adverse affects on the infant of having a depressed mother. On the other hand, there don't appear to be any negative affects on infants breastfed by medicated mothers.

hope you are finding a drug therapy that works for you!


i'm so happy to have threads like this... i didn't treat or talk much about my ppa with ds1 and ds2 and it's SO nice to be able to talk about it this time.