Anxiety in pregnancy

[somedizzywhore1804]

Hi all

I've been starting a lot if threads lately but the advice I've got has been great so excuse my prolific posting.

I'm 25 weeks with baby number 1. Always been anxious ever since I can remember but had it under control by taking 40mg of fluoxetine.

Doctor told me to stop taking at my booking in appt back in November but an fast feeling like a basket case. I've been really ill with various things throughout the pregnancy and unable to work which I know isn't helping.

I'm currently consumed with feelings of absolute doom. I worry a lot about my younger sister- who has asbergers and is in her early 20s- and that is consuming a lot of my thoughts . She's having a minor op in a couple of weeks and I'm consumed with intrusive thoughts that she will become really ill or die. I also worry about her or my parents or husband "disappearing" - wandering off and never coming home for some reason. All this news stuff about the disappearing plane is adding to this weird "disappearing" worry which I know is odd.

Husband is away for work this weekend and has been since Thursday and I'm feeling nuts. Being pregnant and ill I don't want to go out with my friends so I've hung out at my parents. They're being lovely and keeping me company but I come home and I'm crawling out of my skin with anxiety and sadness and this unending feeling of doom- like something terrible is iust around the corner.

Last night I resorted to taking half a amitriptyline (I was prescribed these for anxiety pre pregnancy) just to relax and get my heart rate down. My heart feels permanently like it's beating too quickly and I'm on the verge of hyperventilating.

I don't know what to do with myself really. I haven't told DH because I don't want to worry him and consequently not told anyone at all. I miss him so much it feels like a physical ache- which is pathetic, he's back on Tuesday and pre pregnancy I had no issues being on my own for a weekend (sometimes I even relished it!!! ).

I don't want to tell my doctor and be labelled a basket case during pregnancy. What I want is to take a pill and sleep for the next three months until I have the baby. If I can't have that the next best thing would be fluoxetine I guess- it's always helped me in the past but I know I can't have it.

I feel very lost and cast adrift and so permanently anxious that it's having an effect on my physical well being. I'm permanently jelly like and my stomachs churning.

If anyone has any tips or advice I'd appreciate it. Sorry for the epic post.

[peeapod]

you need to go to your doctor or midwife. Mental health in pregnancy is really really important to keep an eye on and its perfectly normal for it to be like your describing.

There is usually a perinatal mental health team specifically for helping you manage symptoms and medication throughout pregnancy for this reason.

you wont be labelled anything but a good mum for wanting to manage your symptoms before baby comes, for which you really need to be as stable as possible.

Either your gp or midwife is the place to go. :)

[squizita]

There are specific MH midwives/nurses who can prescribe pregnancy-OK drugs and/or offer counselling. Really push for one of these. I had one 'check me over' and it was a positive experience, I felt e weight had been lifted off me. INSIST on one: every hospital has one employed!!

[lilone1234]

I agree I think it is very important that you seek help from doctor or midwife. I understand why you don't want to admit this as you worry about how they will think of you but this should be an experience you can enjoy (at least some of the time). This way there can also be support on hand if your feelings continue after birth of baby.

I suffered from depression and anxiety very severely as a teenager and was on fluoxetine for about 18 months and then went on it again for a few months a couple of years later. Although I have been more or less 'fully recovered' for several years I am aware that this predisposition will put me at a higher risk of depression in pregnancy (and there certainly has been a notable effect) and post natal depression - so it is something hormonal that does happen and is nothing to be ashamed of. Given that you were on fluoxetine right before pregnancy and had to come off it straight away, the doctors should be aware of this as a potential concern and be offering you support.

It's nice that you don't want to worry your husband, but he is also there to support you during this time, and especially if you feel anxious will be able to help you pass any hurdles to get the support you need!

I hope you feel better soon

[Scotmum83]

I would recommend counselling for anxiety. Before I was pregnant I had horrendous anxiety and stress which was aggravated by work and ended up in counselling and found that and going to yoga every week really helped. I'm not one for taking tablets so counselling was the way to go for me. You'll learn techniques to calm you down and breathing exercises to. Hope you find something that works for you.

[onceipopicantstop]

Please go and see someone. You won't be thought badly of in any way and it's far better than taking medication without medical advice. I have severe ocd and suffered with alot of anxiety in my recent pregnancy -dc2 is 9 days old -but I had great support from the perinatal mental health team. I elected not to take medication (although I came very close) but there are lots of medications that can be taken. I think fluoxetine may be ok but obviously you'd need to check this out. There may also be other treatment options such as cbt available. And if you speak to your midwife you'll probably find there's a specialist mental health midwife for your area.
And I think you should really think about talking to your dh. I'm sure he'd hate to find out how much you're struggling. I also struggled when dh was not around, especially in the last trimester, but he's been amazingly supportive and we've got through it together.
Good luck, I hope you feel better soon.

[Foodylicious]

Give your MW/GP a ring and get booked into see someone. They can point you in the right direction of who to see for a bit of talking therapy at the least and help you come up with coping strategies for the thoughts you are having and methods of dealing with the anxiety. Really do not worry about being labelled a basket case. It is very much in your favor that you seek help because you want to take control of this, not have it control you. You could even say that that is what you want to do when you go for your first appointment.
Good luck

[MrsMonkeyBear]

I agree with all the other posters.

I suffer from anxiety due to mild OCD and emetophobia. I've spoken at length with my GP with regards to my meds and I'm now taking the lowest dose the I feel I can cope with. I've also been told that there is plenty of support for me if I need it.

Please go to see your GP or midwife. You won't be labelled.

Hugs

[somedizzywhore1804]

Thanks all. I will speak to someone on Monday- either MW or GP. This is definitely the worst I have felt in some years. I'm at my parents on the sofa, struggling not to cry tbh but trying to pretend everything is ok. All I want to do is go home and knock myself out with some kind of sedative and wake up when DH is back next week.

[peeapod]

i recommend staying with someone this weekend if you can :) not nice to be on your own feeling like that

[HRHLadyG]

Be kind to your self. Get lots of sleep and eat well.
Make an emergency appointment to see your g.p on Monday and contact your midwife.
Some pre natal yoga may help to support any treatment your doctor provides.
Please don't bottle your feeling up x

[Foodylicious]

Have a good cry and stay at your parents if you can x

[somedizzywhore1804]

Thanks for all the kindness everyone- that's made me cry

I am feeling really lonely at the moment and I think it's probably just the hormones and major life changes. I feel bad because I so wanted to get pregnant and now feel like I'm moaning about it.

[ithoughtofitfirst]

I was about to post something to do with anxiety and then i read this thread. I still have lingering anxiety off the back of pnd after my boy. You're not alone, it's a valid illness like any other. No one is invincible or superiour for never encountering any kind of mood disorder. You definitely should see your gp i agree with previous posters. I take ADs and had lots and lots... and lots of therapy based on CBT am i'm soooo much better but i still get bouts of twitchiness in certain situations. You're not a basket case hun, anxiety does not make you 'mental' and neither does depression. It's just an illness.

[ithoughtofitfirst]

Superior* soz preggo brain

[Boogles91]

Bless ya chuck, i have had severe mental health in the past and know how you feel. What would your parents say to you staying until ur hubbys back? It would help you and make you feel safer. Definatley see your doc though as it will escalate if you dont and i know you dont want that. They wont see you as a basket case lol they will be more than happy to help. Pregnancy in itself can bring on anxiety...im struggling to deal with mine sometimes as i had to stop taking my happy pill aswel. Dont hide away, it makes you feel more alone. I have had quite a few panic attacks since being pregnant and they were bad, made me pass out everytime! Hope you get some help soon and get better. Dont be scared to tell hubby as he will be upset that you never told him xx

[Tranquilitybaby]

Go see your gp again, there's are many suitable drugs that can be used in pregnancy, don't suffer for nothing. Anxiety is the pits, I do sympathise and know the feeking well. Try to keep busy, get some fresh air every day & carry rescue remedy around with you x

[livingzuid]

Hi dizzy how are you :)

I wanted sleeping tablets as well. The best thing to do is to discuss it with your doctor as some are not recommended in pregnancy. I had to put my usual ones to one side for 9 months.

They won't label you a basket case and will be well used to dealing with pregnant women experiencing anxiety :) I blub regularly over my psychiatrist and obstetrician and they are great about it.

Hope it goes well.

[livingzuid]

Did you get referred to a perinatal psychiatric team out of interest? That might help too.

[somedizzywhore1804]

Hello again

I managed to keep it together quite well until today- DH is back from his work trip- and have just been to doctors, had a big cry and got prescribed Sertraline. She has also referred me to the perinatal psychiatric team.

Feeling incredibly anxious this evening and back to just wanting to be sedated for the next few weeks but at least I have admitted that I have a problem and that I need help- both to DH and doctor.

Sister is having an operation next week and baby isn't moving much today and both of these things are really weighing heavily on me, but trying to deal with both in a sane manner.

Wish there was a magic wand someone could wave and make everything okay :-( I have been anxious all of my life but don't think it has ever been this bad before.

[Foodylicious]

Hi there

glad you managed ot get an appt and have a bit of a plan. Anxiety is a bloody nightmare, especially when you end up getting anxious about being so anxious!

have you ever done yoga or anything? I quite enjoy it while I am there and find the breathing techniques really help calm me down and especially help me relax when I can't switch off to sleep.
Not going to solve your problems, but might help a little bit? my pregnancy yoga class is really nice, just a small group of us in a really relaxed atmosphere, no pressure on how much you do etc.
baby seems to quite like the yoga too!

[CoolCat2014]

Hi there, glad you managed to get some help. I've had a lot of depression & anxiety in the past and know it is the pits. Keep breathing, keep taking each day as it comes, and try not to worry about tomorrow and all that's going on next week/etc.

Have you had sertraline before? I've taken it several times in the past, but it usually takes a few days to kick in. Also I found the first few days on it could sometimes be a but rough, so make sure you rest and try to relax as much as possible. Maybe have a nice hot bath, go for a walk, watch a soppy movie, things like that, just stuff to take your mind of it all.

I met with the prenatal mental health team this week, and couldn't believe how lovely they were, so hold on, help is on it's way. Take each day a step at a time, and do what helps you relax. Don't be afraid to ask family & friends for support and hugs. Most of mine were upset when I hadn't told them last time I went through a rough patch!

[RedandChecker]

Hello OP.
Sorry to here about your anxiety, it is awful and I am currently experiencing the same thing and often hyperventilate!

I spoke to my Midwife and have an appointment with a psychology team on the NHS.

I feel optimistic about this and hope that it really helps, the midwife said they are great. She was completely understanding. I would talk to your GP/midwife, don't go through this alone.

Also, MN has been a great place for me
To come and ask questions and get stuff off my chest so
Don't be afraid to post regularly! People are here to help.

[Tranquilitybaby]

Glad your hubby is back and you've seen the doctor. I feel for you, I suffer terribly and it's an awful feeling xxxx

[eepie]

I have suffered with much milder anxiety than you're describing but I highly recommend hypnobirthing CDs to bring your heart rate down, calm you, make you all sleepy. They always calm me down/ send me to sleep if I'm feeling the prego rage or feeling agitated before bed. It may be worth though addressing the root of your anxieties/worries about your sister/being abandoned - counselling ? Or hypnotherapy to help change negative/destructive thought patterns an rewire your brain to feel more in control of those thoughts ? Good luck xx

[ningthemerciless]

I'm feeling the same way as you are dizzy - the anxiety comes and goes, I can be fine for days then all of a sudden I'm down in that pit again. It's only been in the last 18 months Anxiety has really affected me and this pregnancy has been much more...trying than the first which is kicking it off I think.
I'm totally feeling for you and in some ways I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in feeling this way - I get that feeling of doom thing a lot too. I don't think my OH really understands how I am feeling because sometime I don't understand it!
I'm glad you have help and I'm super glad that your doctor was so understanding. Here to chat also if you want to share/commiserate with each other!