Please Offer Your Opinion

[PrayinFor12]

Last Monday, at 12 weeks pregnant, I miscarried. I've been wondering since yesterday if I might have PPD.

Symptoms are:

• Anxiety attacks every day - usually am convinced I'm going to die.
• A few hours every day when I'm convinced I have nothing to live for and would prefer to die.
• Severe fear and turning every little thing into impending doom - and really believing I'm being rational.
• Extreme sensory overload - headaches that make me desperate and panicked, or my heart racing when I couldn't find a seat in church this morning.

I realize that at any gestation, losing a baby is going to be hard. I've done it once before. But this just seems really odd. If not PPD, maybe PTSD?

If it helps, the story of the last week is here: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=840805
That may help you know if my reactions are normal or over-board.

Please offer opinions. What does it sound like to you?

[JamSamMom]

Could be either I would go see your doctor for evaluation. I miscarried after 14 weeks about 2.5 years ago and my doctor wanted to see me a month after the miscarriage to see how I am doing mentally. He did this with all of his patients to assess any depression problems. It sounds like depression/anxiety and i suffered form similar symptoms as a teenager but got suicidal and needed professional help. I am glad I got it! Please go let your doctor know. If they do not have an answer get a referal to a specialist. Wanting to die is not normal and i have felt this way before so I can see where you are comming from and that is not a feeling to handle on your own.

[mom0810]

Regardless of whether it is PPD or PTSD, I would go and see someone right away. I had similar symptoms after a miscarriage in 2003, and I wish I had gone to see someone.

Your symptoms sound like PPD anxiety, and could be related to the loss of the baby, too. I would go to a therapist (call your OB for a recommendation) and get some counseling. You may need meds, but I would cross that bridge when you get there. Don't remember from your sig if you have other children, but just wanted to tell you that I went on to have 2 gorgeous children after my miscarriage.

[PrayinFor12]

Thanks Ladies. What you said pretty well confirms what I was thinking - that I need some help.

I'm already trying to get set up with regular counseling. The counselor and I are working to make certain I have my first appt no later than the weekend of the 16th, even if she needs to refer me to someone else.

As for brain meds: Long story, but I was on 5 at once while in college. They hurt me more than they helped and dh and I are very leery of trying that again, especially b/c it would make adopting much more complicated if we want to do that.

Anyway, thanks. I feel better just hearing my suspicions confirmed. Maybe we'll know how to help me better now.

[JamSamMom]

Sometimes women only need medications for a short time like a few months post partum. If you have so much anxiety you feel like dying maby you should consider it in the short term if it is even recommended. I know what it feels like to want to die and medications did not work for me but I did try a few and ultimately group and individual counseling did help. My friends in group counseling quite a few of them were helped by medications. I am glad you are getting help!

[mom0810]

Well, I think your chances of adopting would be hurt more by NOT getting help than by getting it. Even if that means meds. You can take zoloft while pregnant, tto. So you might get into a place where not only does your anxiety go away, ut you could carry a child.

Think positive. God already has your baby waiting for you, regardless of HOW it gets there, I know you feel an urgency now, but wait until some months have passed.




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