Doctors in one hour, what do I say?

[PumpernickleInaWarehouse]

I have doctors in one hour that the midwife made me book, I strongly suspect I am suffering with PND quite badly, I spent the day yesterday hiding under the covers crying my eyes out and wishing I could run away from my life. I can't cope at all.
I've never been to this doctors before and I suddenly feel so nervous and like I don't know what to say to him....
What if he fobs me off or just says I have baby blues?
What if he goes the other way and reports me to social services?
I just wish this wasn't happening to me.
Im feeling utter hopelessness.

Pleased to see your update she sounds lovely, I was on citalopram for about 5 years and it pretty much saved my life.

I think the general rule of thumb is give them 3 weeks to take effect, everyone reacts differently so if you don't think they are helping there will be something else that will

You will get better you've done the hard part asking for help, I agree with your doctor as well re family support.

I was put on Citalopram for PND about 3 months ago. I was lucky and got no side effects. I started to feel a bit better within a couple of weeks, and loads better within 6 weeks. I was reluctant to take them at first because it felt like I was failing, but I'm so glad I did. I enjoy motherhood so much more and my daily crying has (mostly) stopped. I still have bad days but it really is manageable now. I hope they start to work for you quickly!

That's brilliant OP - proud of you for taking such a big step

Well done OP, as a MH professional it made me feel quite upset that you might not ask for help. I'm so glad you have. Remember to keep talking too, to your midwife/health visitor and friends/family.

Doctors want to help you, they don't want to make life harder!

And yes, you will get better . Always light at the end of the tunnel, sometimes you're just looking in the other direction and you need people to help you turn around.

Well done!

I dont feel better (of course not yet) but O feel strangely positive that now I have asked and started help I am on my way to getting better...

That's great news - problem shared certainly helps. Glad to hear you are feeling stronger today

My anxiety is kicking off big time....but people ive spoke to have assured me it often gets worse on citalopram before it gets better and I have to give it the full four weeks to start seeing improvement.

Does anyone here have any experience of citalopram? And how long before you begun to feel better?
I need a slither of hope this afternoon.

Hi OP, about a week it too with me for the citalopram to take effect, also been a godsend, hope you feel better soon and huge well done for takin action

I think Citalopram took a couple of weeks for me. I just remember thinking to myself one day; "I feel like me again". It has made the most enormous difference to my life. I was worried that I would feel drugged up to my eyeballs, but truthfully, I just feel like me. Albeit a calmer, much less anxious me. Good luck, and do lean on your family

Can I ask what dose you are on?
Doctor has started me at 10 and im worried it won't be enough.
I know I can't do anything other than giving it time but this afternoon I feel completely hopeless like I can't face another minute.

I started with 10mg also. I didn't need to raise the dose personally, even though I was practically a basket case when I started.

I started on 10 and it didn't help so upped to 20 which is what i've stayed on. Came off when pregnant but back on 6 weeks after birth

Well done for getting help! It took me six months to drag my sorry self into a GP (I was far too good at faking while in my head I was a complete wreck) and I was in such a state I started citalopram on 20. Give it time to work, be gentle to yourself and get lots of help. You've done the hard part and it will get easier from now on. Probably took two to three weeks to feel an improvement, and about six months to reach a point where I could begin the process of slowly weaning myself off the citalopram.

As hard as it may be, it's really helpful to try and get out of the house with baby and build 'your tribe', if mums and Tots groups aren't your thing (I never got on with them with my first) then maybe a class (baby massage, baby sensory etc) where it's a bit more structured?

When are you back to the GP to discuss how you are getting on? Also worth speaking to your Midwife/health visitor to see if there are any local support groups.

I started on 10 and then went up to 20 and have stayed on 20. I think someone said upthread, give it hour by hour. What got me through waiting for it to start working was knowing that something was going to help me. I had every faith that it would work (I saw my lovely Dad suffer with depression and watched as the citalopram worked for him.)The difference it made to him was incredible.

I started on 10 6 weeks ago, and I felt bloody awful at first. For the first one or two weeks, I'd say. I've just gone up to 20 and it's made the world of difference. It's not a magic solution - I'm not having a good day today - but I'm having more good days than bad days now, and my bad days are nowhere near as bad as they were when I started.
Hang on in there. The only way is up.

My husband was on it for 8 months and within a month he was in such a better place.

I started and stayed on 5mg. But I am v sensitive to ADs. It worked though. The first week or 10 days is tough but after that the light starts...

Good luck and well done.

Have also had pnd and anx with all 3 dcs. V severe with dc3 and was admitted to a hospital. Just to say that whilst the anxiety is so bad, it might be an idea to see if the dr can prescribe some short term anti anxiety med. Just to fall back on. Usually by two weeks of antid's you'll be noticing that things seem a bit calmer and easier. Maybe after a week, you might start noticing a little change.
I remember thinking that I'd never recover but I did. You will. You're on the right track

That was meant to say *after another week you might start noticing a little change.

Try to remember that the feelings you have are the illness talking. Those feelings will go. Stay strong and stay communicating with those who care. You will get there!

hi Pumpernickel sorry you are going through this. I remember all too vividly that feeling of overwhelming sadness after DC2 was born. It kicked in while I was still in the hospital, and came to a full head when he was about 13 weeks. Up to that point I had hidden it and nobody really addressed it at that time (quite a few years ago now)so not like now where we all know what to look for.

So glad you are getting help, are talking about it, and that the meds will kick in soon. You've got this.

Anti depressants often make you worse before you get better. If it's more than you can handle go back, they can give you diazepam to calm you when you're at your worst. When I was at my worst having diazepam to help me when I was unable to function got me through. I no longer need it as my anti depressants are fully working, I had no trouble coming off it and the Dr will be very careful about how much they give you.

Can you afford to do a baby massage course? Our area gave struggling mums free baby massage courses and it really helped me bond with my second child. If you are in the Surrey, Hants area pm me and I'll get you into contact with an amazing pnd support group.

Didnt work for me, but i know people it did work for!
Hope you start you feel better soon

I am so pleased that the GP was able to help and reassure you and give you hope. Depression is terrible and it is so hard to imagine ever being better; but PND is one of those variants of depression that is easily treated - there is a hormonal element to it that you know will pass. So you will get better - you really will. Be kind to yourself and take care.

How are you doing today, OP? I've been thinking of you.