Thinking out loud...

[Mama Faery]

Hi.
This is my first visit to the PPD boards, and I thought I should post a little something, and maybe get some thoughts/support.

I am a new mother to 8-month old Rowan, and I am pretty sure I had PPD from the moment he was born (long hard labor that ended in a C..), which got much less serious about 3 months after...and I had already been seeing a therapist for some eating disorder issues so I talked to her about smoe of the anxious feelings I had been having, worries, etc. She suggested I see someone to perhaps get some meds. I am very wary of medication for SO many reasons, I know it has helped some people, but I've been on meds before and they never really helped me, to be honest, I have self medicated with herbs and it worked better. I use herbs and homeopathic treatments for all sorts of things, so why should Pfizer get their hands on me if I could treat this stuff myself, KWIM? But, I was game, so I went to the doc.

After seeing me for 45 mintues, she prescribed Zoloft, 25mg to start, and then after about 2 weeks, I was put on 50mg. Now, this is the thing; I had NEVER had a panic attack before, sure, I had panicky thoughts, worries in my head would run amok, but NEVER this physical, sweaty, numb/tingly limb, hyperventilating thing that sent me to the ER Saturday night.
In my opinion, Zoloft made things worse. AND it's expensive, when I could use herbal treatments that cost less and didn't have nasty side effects, and didn't take weeks and weeks to work.

So, I decided to wean myself off of the Zoloft. I am now taking 25mg again, and then I am going to take it every other day, on down till I'm done with it. I have only been on it for a couple of months, so I don't think there will be much in the way of side effects, I've quit smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee cold turkey with no withdrawal. I can handle this.

The thoughts I've been having though, are; do I try something different later, when I am finished nursing? Should I talk to the Dr. about my decision (I KNOW she would advise against it; she already told me that if I was still "symptomatic" when she saw me next, she would advise me to move UP to 75mg! ) I just don't trust many medical professionals, especially when at the ER a nurse called me "crazy" and said she didn't know how I could be a mother.

I honestly do not think I need medication. My life is not stopped by my anxiety, I can get through the day and I KNOW I am happy. I trust my body implicitly, and the fact that this drug made my body so OUT of my control Saturday night, well, it was enough for me to decide not to continue taking it.

What I was also wondering was, what sorts of natural/homeopathic treatments are there out there that would treat mild anxiety, that I could still take while nursing? I need to find a naturopath in my area, but if anyone had any thoughts, I am open to hearing them.

Anyway, I am just babbling, I think I am going to peruise this board a bit more while my sweet babe naps. Thank you so much for "listening".
Healing and happy thoughts to you all.

[SpiralChrissy]

My heart goes out to you! I had extreme panic attacks on Wellbutrin myself. I'd never had panic before in my life! I know that meds can be harmful. I've had to struggle thru several to find the right one for me. I think you should follow your gut. It sounds like you know yourself pretty well. If you're managing, keep on managing. If you feel like you need extra help, then you may want to try the meds again. One thing that really helps me is exercise. I feel SO much better after I workout. That's the best suggestion that I have. I use lavender oil too sometimes to calm me.
You're not CRAZY. People can be so cruel!!
Take care of yourself and keep writing and talking. YOu'll find your way
Chrissy

[Aeress]

Wow, how could someone who works with people say "your crazy"?! That is horrible. Certain people react to certain meds and obviously that wasn't the med for you. I understand being wary of meds...I was but tried zoloft and it worked very well for me but if I had a panic attack while on it, i would have been very concerned and wonder if the "drug" was right for me. How insensitive!
How are you feeling now? I had a tough recovery with my first but my second really wasn't bad and I am off the zoloft now. I took myself off of it because I never had any problems after her birth and no anxiety so i figured why? I don't believe health professionals know everything, so I understand your skepticism. Talking really helped me more than anything!
*hug*

[Mama Faery]

Thank you all so much for your support. I was willing to be open to the possibility of meds working, but to be honest, I think I just need to see my therapist more often. I have no idea if I will tell the doc that I am weaning myself off, but I think that I should tell my therapist, who I am seeing today. She's really supportive, or at least, she has been.

I feel fine today. A little blah, but I am slowly weaning myself off the Zoloft, I truly believe it isn't for me.
I've always been wary of meds. Now I know why.
Oh, and I wrote a letter to the hospital about what happened to me, and I am about to print another one and send it to the second shift manager at the ER as well. We'll see what happens to the woman who was so awful.

You don't mess with Mama Bear. Grr...

[Jish]

Here are a few things that have worked for people in the past

St. Johns wort
B complex vitamins
Zinc (good for anxiety)
flax seeds/oil
fish oil
Sam-e

There are more around here if you do some searching.

Good luck.

[EllasMama]

Bach Rescue Remedy helps me take the edge off sometimes. I don't get very good results with homeopathics, but pulsatilla is sometimes helpful and I have a friend for whom sepia worked well. Depends on your symptoms, of course.

Two things that are key for me are getting adequate sleep (makes a HUGE difference to my mood) and drinking enough water. Of course eating enough of the right things including protein is important, also. But wow, sleep is the most amazing remedy! Once my DD got a little older I started sleeping in on at least one day on the weekends.

Don't rule meds out because one remedy didn't work. You obviously are mindful of your moods and body, so if you had decided you needed to try that route, there must have been good reasons in your mind. I totally understand being turned off after the horrible reaction to Zoloft you had, and if you can feel better without meds then that is great. If more "natural" measures don't work for you, then I'm sure an experienced caregiver can help you find something that helps.

Good luck,
Carol