To be totally overwhelmed

[BellePirateMum]

I currently have a 7 month old baby. during the pregnancy I had Hyperemesis Gravidarum throughout and had to leave a job that I loved because I needed caring for. I have since quit another job because I have had 'postnatal illness' that my GP won't elaborate on or treat. I have been so tired and I've just been told that it's all down to anaemia (apparently my iron levels were supposed to be 50 but they are currently 13). I've started having the most horrible back pain that immobilizes me for a lot of the time.

All I want to do is go back to work and be a good role model for my daughter but my family are making out that I'm over exadurating and just winging. They don't see how upsetting it is. I decided to have a daughter a little younger then my dad wanted because I wanted to be fit and healthy and to be able to go to work then come home and be a fun mum with my little girl.

It all just feels so overwhelming atm. AIBU or do I just need a slap... everyone else seems to just walk pregnancy and childbirth off and I genuinely feel like mine has been a particularly bad one.

[valiumredhead]

What reasons has your GP given for not treating PNI?

[BellePirateMum]

He said that he didn't know the cause but as I was postnatal it was probably a general PNI. He said to wait it out and 'these things just sort themselves out'.

He spoke to me like a five year old and didn't even acknowledge that I've lost a years worth of work because of HG.

I don't know whether to complain because there has been no interest to get me mobile or address pain relief.

[BellePirateMum]

It's been seven months now :( I was initially really positive but now I'm just getting bored and fed up.

[valiumredhead]

See another GP, I have never heard of anything so utterly ridiculous, how can he diagnose PNI and then not treat it?!

Wrt back pain ask to be referred to a physio or if you can afford it book an appt yourself, try and get a sports physio that also does acupuncture.

[BellePirateMum]

I bulldosered my way through to the physio and self referred. Have a phone appointment tomorrow but I jsut feel like I'm going to get fobbed off like I was all the way through my pregnancy.

Feel like I've lost hope in the NHS. All of the midwives I've seen have been fantastic but just about every other experience has been horrible.

[buildingmycorestrength]

YANBU. Ridiculous. You need another GP.

Insist on having a urine sample checked for UTIs (back pain and feeling run down) as well as new blood tests for anemia.

Treatment for anemia is not something that should be put off, it is relatively straightforward, I think.

And yes, you may have had a bad time. Lots of people do, actually. But 'shrug it off' is not an appropriate response.

[valiumredhead]

No good physio will fob you off - if they do then see another because there is a vast difference between good and bad physios ime ( just like any other profession )

[cestlavielife]

get referred to the womens physios obstetric physio dept for post natal review.

depends what iron levels you talkin about - 13 is a good number if you measuring haemoglobin -"For men, anemia is typically defined as hemoglobin level of less than 13.5 gram/100 ml and in women as hemoglobin of less than 12.0 gram/100 ml."

get the blood test results -ask for them.

see a different gp .

[Katienana]

Also you are not the only person to struggle, I think a, lot of women suffer injuries etc through childbirth but tend to just get on with it and not talk about it. These things should be out in the open! I was anaemic after having my ds and felt so ill, I can't believe how bad I actually was. Try and eat well and look after yourself it will make a difference.

[BellePirateMum]

It's just nice to hear that it's not as easy as other people make it look. I don't have any friends with babies or a mum so it's difficult to know whether it's just me or the situation

[buildingmycorestrength]

Yes, people tend not to discuss these things in RL and it can make you feel like a freak.

That is why I

[ipswitch]

Sorry you are feeling so low.
Do you think you may be depressed? Has your GP/ HV explored this possibility with you?
I suspect the iron levels you are mentioning may be your ferritin stores of iron, not an acute iron loss as in traditional aneamia. It may be that you need to increase your iron rich foods to build these up over time. This is not unusual after childbirth. Are you still taking iron supplements?
Hope you feel able to talk to someone else about it all. I think you should see a GP or some other HCP who will talk and listen to you more.

[MummytoKatie]

Can't really help with everything else but you discovered Spatone? it worked really well on my postnatal anaemia. (Massive PPH.)

[NeedlesCuties]

Have a

My DD (2nd child) is almost 9 months old and I really feel the way you describe. Have good days and bad days, but I understand what you're posting about.

I had HG all during my pregnancy with her, ended up in hospital for a short while and had all the yucky anti-sickness injections and tablets, right up until 38 weeks. I was a SAHM to my 2 year old at the time, so didn't have a job outside the home, but OP I can totally grasp how you weren't able to work.

I think that my health during the 2nd pregnancy made it much harder for me to cope with things once she came along and for the past 8 months. She's a lovely baby, and my PFB gets on great with her. But getting over being so sick and losing so much (your job) just takes a great deal out of a person. I wasn't sick at all when pregnant 1st time round, so was shocked to my core to have HG the 2nd time. After I had my firstborn I settled into the role of 'mum' much better, I think it was because I had an 'easier' pregnancy.

Your GP sounds a bit vague, I second the advice to go see another one.

Hope I haven't rambled too much, but just wanted to offer support.

[loofet]

Just going to second what mummytokatie said. Spatone is amazing, sold in Boots and Holland&Barrett. It's sachets of iron which you mix with fresh OJ. Really amazing stuff and a lot easier on the stomach than regular iron tablets. I had it during and after my second&third pregnancies (also had PPH after both labours, it helped me get better).

Also iron rich foods. But I agree with the others that you should see a different Dr. It isn't on to be fobbed off like this. What sort of Dr thinks PNI's just 'go away' anyway? You need full bloods to find out what's happening.

[BellePirateMum]

Thanks for all of your kind words

NeedlesCuties- you had it much worse then me with a baby and HG! You must be a superwoman!

I will get some Spatone- see if it works

Talked to the physio this morning and he was very cross with my GP- subtley recommending I try a female one. He's given me some exercises to do and booked a review in two weeks time. Finally my problems seem valid and solvable.

[buildingmycorestrength]

Absolutely get a female dr who has had kids.

I have had some absolutely USELESS doctors who have given terrible advice about breastfeeding and thrush, for instance, and when I saw another dr later, she said, 'Oh, you didn't see him did you?' as if I was supposed to know that he was ignorant about 'women's problems'! . I'm so sorry, I thought he was supposed to be qualified in general practice on humans.

Bit . about is 8 years later, can you tell? .

[buildingmycorestrength]

And, glad you are getting some support.

[LemonPeculiarJones]

Definitely get a different GP. Your current one sounds useless.

Iron levels are normal between 12 and 16. Does your GP even know wtf he's talking about?

Poor you. Take it easy when you can.

[BellePirateMum]

Buildingmycorestrength- That's why I tried to overlook his utter ignorance. He's supposed to be qualified in the same field as female GP's