Only while nursing - Page 3

[Andiad]

Originally Posted by Milkymommi

I was talking today with the IBCLC that I mentioned earlier and she reminded me of something she's said to me when I first approached her about this issue. Oxytocin. She remembered dealing with a mom some years ago who's oxytocin was completely off the charts and she has similar experiences to what we are while nursing. Maybe this may be a good place to start looking for some on this thread... have our respective providers do a work up and check our oxytocin levels as well as thyroids.

I'm getting a lab slip Friday for myself. I'm so determined to figure this out.

You mean the oxytocin was too high???
Thanks for bringing this up. I always wondered about the oxytocin. In fact I used to joke with my husband (ok...I wasn't really joking, just trying to make light of the matter) that the the oxytocin hormone worked the opposite on me. Instead of making me feel all happy and lovey it made me feel just the opposite.
Can a general md check oxytocin levels?

[ekblad9]

OH MY! This thread was brought to my attention by a friend on another board. WOW! I didn't know others felt like this! I always try to nurse at least 15 minutes before I plan to eat or sometime after because if I have to nurse during a meal I lose my appetite. I also feel hopeless and sad when I nurse. Also anxiety. I've been pregnant and/or nursing for 11 years! That's a whole lot of depression I've tried many different treatments from natural to scripts. Currently I'm on Zoloft but hate it. Went to my dr. today and he gave me a script for Celexa but I don't know if I'll take it or not. It can't be much different and what I really want is something natural.

Anyway - thanks for being here and sharing your stories!

[mamaboobaAES]

If you are planning to take the Celexa you need to withdraw appropriately from the Zoloft first. Please visit theroadback.org or tapersafely.org

Please do not stop the zoloft cold turkey.
It's not good to just switch meds like that, without first withdrawing appropriately from the first one. To do so can exacerbate your symptoms and even cause psychosis.

www.uniteforlife.org

If you want something natural you need to look into megadoses of vitamin C, as well as taking additional B6, b12, I have heard good things about Folic Acid as well as amazing results with Omega 3 fatty acids (mercury free certified kinds).

Also aromatherapy with real essential oils, massage, chiropractic, exercise, and lots of sunlight and good sleep.

Don't forget to eat eat eat. Every 2 hours have a protein snack like almonds or something like that to level out your blood sugar. You might also look into Noni juice. And make sure you are not on anything like aspartame, splenda, or MSG etc. Look on the labels. The generic name for splenda is sucralose.

[2boyzmama]

Hmm... I had a somewhat similar experience... My second son was born with some unexplained health issues that plagued us for MONTHS before we started to finally get some diagnoses. Once in a while, almost always at night, I'd get up to nurse him and instead of being able to just fall asleep nursing I'd suddenly get this incredibly intense anxiety. I just HAD to get that baby off of me and I HAD to get out of the room!! It was so intense that it honestly scared me!! And then of course the guilt feelings came then...why can't I feed my son, what kind of a mom am I...etc. Of course he'd start crying because I wasn't feeding him, which would just add to my anxiety. I even tried nursing him in other areas of the house...the glider, the couch, upstairs, downstairs... I tried walking around while nursing him, I tried watching some tv... Nothing worked. I'd start to drift off to sleep and then BOOM, the anxiety would hit. It was like an all-body restless leg syndrome from pregnancy (anyone experience that??)

I'm sure that it was partially caused by the incredible stress associated with his illness (and I have a 2 year old, also...and we were moving...and I was about to go back to work...) There was a lot going on in our lives right then, so I guess it had to manifest somewhere. Night time nursings were terrible for a while there. I would dread night time.

And then it just went away. Not sure why. But wow...

[ekblad9]

Originally Posted by mamaboobaAES

If you are planning to take the Celexa you need to withdraw appropriately from the Zoloft first. Please visit theroadback.org or tapersafely.org

Please do not stop the zoloft cold turkey.
It's not good to just switch meds like that, without first withdrawing appropriately from the first one. To do so can exacerbate your symptoms and even cause psychosis.

See, I thought it was odd that he recommended I just go on Celexa without even weaning from Zoloft. I'm doing the cut in half thing right now. Pretty sure he'd have me committed if I called and asked for a teeny script. I don't know what I'll do in a couple of weeks when it's time to cut in half again. Those pills are pretty darn small, LOL.

I've been taking small doses of the "omega mom" capsules. Does anyone else know about them? I never know what to get or how one brand compares iwth another. Would love advice on that.

I drink two emergen-c packets/day which is huge doses of vitamin C and b vitamins. I try to remember to take my floradix. Again it has b vitamins and vitamin c in it, I think. I'm like a vitamin factory over here I hope I'm getting some of the right ones......

[UrbanSimplicity]

Just wanted to add that I also have the "opposite-oxytocin" effect. here's a thread i had found months ago when my dd was younger and this was more of a problem for me: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=419465

[lovingmommyhood]

ekblad it sounds like you are taking the right things. Fish oil has done WONDERS for me. I can't say enough about it really.

[ekblad9]

I noticed on The Road Back website that they recommend a number of supplements. I found a website that sells them but they are really pricey. Now, if they worked I'd be willing to sacrafice other things to use them but I wonder if it's necessary? I mean, could I do the same things myself for significantly cheaper?

[Milkymommi]

Originally Posted by Andiad

You mean the oxytocin was too high???
Thanks for bringing this up. I always wondered about the oxytocin. In fact I used to joke with my husband (ok...I wasn't really joking, just trying to make light of the matter) that the the oxytocin hormone worked the opposite on me. Instead of making me feel all happy and lovey it made me feel just the opposite.
Can a general md check oxytocin levels?

Yep, she said it was incredibly high. I would imagine that anyone who can write a lab slip would be able to have that checked... but don't quote me I'm just guessing. Makes sense to me anyway, kwim?

There's got to be something to the "opposite effect" idea. I just hope there's a way to reverse this if it ends up being the issue. Seems like there must be a way to bring down the oxytocin levels... but one has to wonder wth would they be so high? What causes something like that? More research... if anyone comes up with anything please do post as I really feel like this thread can be a wonderful resource.

Lisa- thanks for adding that other thread! This apparently isn't the first MDC conversation that included a bunch of mamas trying to figure out what the heck is going on with our bodies.

[ahdoula]

I have emailed Dr Newman becuase we needed to ask an authority on the subject after not getting any answers from IBCLCs and LLL. He answers all his emails personally so I am hopful that he may have an answer for us. I will let you know!

[ekblad9]

Originally Posted by ahdoula

I have emailed Dr Newman becuase we needed to ask an authority on the subject after not getting any answers from IBCLCs and LLL. He answers all his emails personally so I am hopful that he may have an answer for us. I will let you know!

Yes - keep us updated! Thanks for doing that!

[Andiad]

Originally Posted by ekblad9

Yes - keep us updated! Thanks for doing that!

:

[ahdoula]

Well, I am totally unimpressed now. His reply was prompt but wimpy:

Dear Ms (name),

I have not heard of this symptom in particular, but many symptoms are
associated with the milk ejection reflex, such as profuse sweating,
headache, dizziness that goes away after a few minutes. This usually lasts
about 6 or so weeks and then disappears, though on occasion it lasts longer.

I would hope this is a variation of this syndrome, but I cannot say for
sure. Maybe you should get an evaluation from your doctor.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC


Then he goes on to promote his book, website and DVD in a standard, non-personal form email.

The only thing this response kind of helps with it is explains that my BO, dizziness and headaches could be related to this other thing. I thought the BO was postpartum hormones (well, in a way it is!) and that dizziness and headaches were blood sugar problems. Maybe they are all related. I have an appointment with my midwife but I wasn't planning on mentioning it, as I feel that if you haven't experienced it then you can't take it seriously. I feel like I am getting the brush off about it from everyone expect you guys. My DH tries to be sympathetic but...

[dooney]

Maybe he needs a jillion more e-mails asking him to look into it. Obviously you were the first.

[GradysMom]

nak
just wanna say me too me too
strongest n the early months, still happens once in a blue moon

but yea! I made it to 12mo and beyond!

and the feelings at times were so strong i was suicidal feeling - i hated it but began to realize it was temporary ifyouwill and jus dealt with it but I had heard it was 'normal for some moms' and is one of those reasons some women just can't nurse

[GradysMom]

Originally Posted by ahdoula

Well, I am totally unimpressed now. His reply was prompt but wimpy:

Dear Ms (name),

I have not heard of this symptom in particular, but many symptoms are
associated with the milk ejection reflex, such as profuse sweating,
headache, dizziness that goes away after a few minutes. This usually lasts
about 6 or so weeks and then disappears, though on occasion it lasts longer.

I would hope this is a variation of this syndrome, but I cannot say for
sure. Maybe you should get an evaluation from your doctor.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC


Then he goes on to promote his book, website and DVD in a standard, non-personal form email.
...

could we have that website address so maybe we could flood him with "education" - what an ass!

[mamaboobaAES]

Originally Posted by ekblad9

I noticed on The Road Back website that they recommend a number of supplements. I found a website that sells them but they are really pricey. Now, if they worked I'd be willing to sacrafice other things to use them but I wonder if it's necessary? I mean, could I do the same things myself for significantly cheaper?

I never order supplements online. I did buy some of that Super Barley Formula at our local health store for my SIL when she was coming off Ritalin and Wellbutrin.

Breggin recommends the 10% method of withdrawal in his book: Your Drug May Be Your Problem: How and Why to stop taking psychiatric drugs.

Basically you get a prescription for a 10% lower dose, then you take that for 7-10 days and keep doing that until you are off. But this is usually if you have been on the drug for quite a while. If you have only been on it a few weeks you can pretty much expect it to be much easier. When I tapered off Zoloft I went from 150 to 100 for two weeks, then from 100 to 50 for a week, and then from 50 to 25 for a few days and then stopped. The problem with the 10 % method I've found is that many drug companies do not have dose increments that small, probably because they want you to have problems stopping the drugs.
If you're on a lower dose or haven't been on it very long it shouldn't be as hard.

The super barley formula is basically a super greens formulation which you can buy basically anywhere that health supplements are sold. And Omega 3s, I would take at least 3 per day or more. Calcium / Magnesium can help with sleep if you have insomnia during withdrawal.

Expect bad things during withdrawal, you may need a more supportive doctor or a support network at home and locally if it isn't going well. But realize it's most likely withdrawal and not a relapse.www.breggin.com

Another thing to keep in mind is whether if you had a really bad reaction to Zoloft or it didn't work for you whether it is worth trying Celexa. The drugs are basically copycats of Prozac, with one of the only differences being that Prozac has a fluoride atom that often breaks off of it.

You might want to try the Omega 3 and Barley Formula and other things for a while after tapering and see how it goes.

[mamaboobaAES]

Originally Posted by 2boyzmama

Hmm... I had a somewhat similar experience... My second son was born with some unexplained health issues that plagued us for MONTHS before we started to finally get some diagnoses. Once in a while, almost always at night, I'd get up to nurse him and instead of being able to just fall asleep nursing I'd suddenly get this incredibly intense anxiety. I just HAD to get that baby off of me and I HAD to get out of the room!! It was so intense that it honestly scared me!! And then of course the guilt feelings came then...why can't I feed my son, what kind of a mom am I...etc. Of course he'd start crying because I wasn't feeding him, which would just add to my anxiety. I even tried nursing him in other areas of the house...the glider, the couch, upstairs, downstairs... I tried walking around while nursing him, I tried watching some tv... Nothing worked. I'd start to drift off to sleep and then BOOM, the anxiety would hit. It was like an all-body restless leg syndrome from pregnancy (anyone experience that??)

I'm sure that it was partially caused by the incredible stress associated with his illness (and I have a 2 year old, also...and we were moving...and I was about to go back to work...) There was a lot going on in our lives right then, so I guess it had to manifest somewhere. Night time nursings were terrible for a while there. I would dread night time.

And then it just went away. Not sure why. But wow...

I get those feelings sometimes (except for the restless leg syndrome part). Relaxation and "I'm in control" messages have helped. Sometimes I have to have my husband take the kids away while I clean the house... usually I find this is related to the house being a total disaster and me being hungry, thirsty, dirty, and physcially uncomfortable plus not having a lot of fun sometimes.

Sometimes the heebie jeebies can be caused as a side effect of SSRI drugs. It's called Akathisia.

[mamaboobaAES]

Originally Posted by ahdoula

Well, I am totally unimpressed now. His reply was prompt but wimpy:

Dear Ms (name),

I have not heard of this symptom in particular, but many symptoms are
associated with the milk ejection reflex, such as profuse sweating,
headache, dizziness that goes away after a few minutes. This usually lasts
about 6 or so weeks and then disappears, though on occasion it lasts longer.

I would hope this is a variation of this syndrome, but I cannot say for
sure. Maybe you should get an evaluation from your doctor.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC


Then he goes on to promote his book, website and DVD in a standard, non-personal form email.

The only thing this response kind of helps with it is explains that my BO, dizziness and headaches could be related to this other thing. I thought the BO was postpartum hormones (well, in a way it is!) and that dizziness and headaches were blood sugar problems. Maybe they are all related. I have an appointment with my midwife but I wasn't planning on mentioning it, as I feel that if you haven't experienced it then you can't take it seriously. I feel like I am getting the brush off about it from everyone expect you guys. My DH tries to be sympathetic but...

A highly skilled chiropractor can determine whether the hormones are out of balance. Look into applied kinesiology. My chiropractor can always tell based on nerve points and muscle testing whether it's a pancreas issue, something with the pineal or pituitary gland, or whatever. She removes the interference and tests to see which homeopathic or nutritional remedies I need. She has frequently recommended Omega 3 and CoFactors, B Vitamins, specific foods, and baths with apple cider vinegar to detox the body.

[smartalec]

my understanding is you can't od on omegas. :-) woo hoo! so, the more the merrier?!
best wishes and it absolutely gets better.