Any positive stories of medication for PND??

[Sowlers]

I'm into week 7 of taking fluoxetine (Prozac). The only other experiences of this drug where when I was pregnant and had ante natal depression so I'm not sure what was side effects and what was normal pregnancy sickness etc... It took me about 10 weeks to feel remotely better those times. I'm feeling physically stronger just now but still so down and struggling to sleep well (not babies fault either, he's 10 months and luckily a good little sleeper) I feel nauseous a lot of the day too. Everything is still a real effort and although I am getting out and about a bit I'm not enjoying stuff, more just enduring it to shut all the folk up who keep telling me I just need to keep busy and everything will get better. I'd love to hear any encouraging words from someone either in the same situation as me or someone who has come through the other side. I'm really tired battling up this huge mountain everyday and wondering if these tablets are ever going to kick in.

I have tried fluoxetine for depression before, it worked a little, but mainly i just felt sleepy and nothingness, not sad, not happy, just existing. I ended up taking up running pretty obsessively, this worked much better, but was way before kids! When I got PND with my second I thought no point taking drugs as they won't work well and I was scared of the withdrawal symptoms i had had on venlafaxine (took this after fluoxetine). After 19 months of awfulness, not sleeping, anxiety etc I went to the gp who prescribed paroxetine, it worked pretty much immediately! It worked so well, finally I could sleep through the night, felt normal and all the horrible anxious thoughts became more normal. The only advise I can offer you is to go back to yr gp because I would have thought 7 wks they should be kicking in. Have you tried exercise? Even just walking with your baby or swimming. I am very lucky I belong to a gym with a crèche, it was a lifesaver. Not saying instead of meds, but just to enhance. I'm back to square one now, but hoping it will not get so bad this time around.

So did you take fluoxetine when pg then stop and restart? Sorry if I'm not quite understanding the beginning part if your post.

Xx

Hi thanks for your reply. I took fluoxetine from 8 weeks pregnant til my first son was 10 months. I weaned off slowly and was depression free until I got pregnant again. I immediately started back on the fluoxetine and continued until my second son was 5 months old. My CPN thinks I possibly came off them too quickly. I just felt so well and as I had no PND the first time I was confident I would be ok. I was for about 2-3 months then early January I had a huge crash of confidence and mood. I've been trying to go out walking and keep active. My CPN has been I'll so when I see her on Friday it will be 5 weeks since my last appointment. I really need some professional words of wisdom I think as I'm driving myself mad searching the Internet for advice. Do you mind me asking why you are "back to square one" in your words?

Hi again, I just read your post on restarting the AD's after baby arrives so I understand your situation now. I feel very like you, huge guilt at the effects on my boys (4 and 10 months) and most days I'm just relieved to have made it through the day. You were very brave to have another baby, no way I will be adding to our family!

Right I get it now! I can see if you had one experience the first time and it worked out well then of course you would repeat that with the second baby. It's a really different scenario having two though... Isn't it? Could you try a different med? Perhaps your body has become used to the fluoxetine. I was surprised at how well the paroxetine worked, should have stayed on it! I am stupid rather than brave! Just can't have a nice happy situation with 2 kids without throwing a spanner in the works! I spent the night feeling so guilty at losing it with the kids when I was so close to getting them to bed. If it helps my 4 year old doesn't seem to have had any long lasting effects from having a mental mum a few years ago! It is hard keeping up appearances though isn't it, I cannot admit to anyone how I really feel and probably look super happy, confident etc when I'm out, but it is so tiring and all goes wrong in the comfort of my own home. For me it's the sleep or rather lack of that is the main issue, problem is its such a vicious circle. I had barely 4 hrs last night, and I still can't shut my brain down enough to relax or sleep whilst the kids are t nursery and have to get them in half an hr. overall though I think we can only try our best and accept there will be good days and bad days. I am looking forward to spring and summer when we can get out more and then to sept when my eldest starts school! TBH I honestly don't think our kids will remember these bad times, it's just one more stick we are using to beat ourselves with. I hope you have a better day today and good luck with the CPN, doing something about it is a very positive and empowering thing.

Oh one more thing, is this notion that keeping busy will somehow mean you have no time to feel depressed or anxious, what a load of old knickers is that?! I have 2 friends who recently had their 3rd kids, they got told by HV 'oh you don't have time to get pnd do you I suppose'.... Gosh, I'm not sitting around getting depressed, it's just with me all the time like a back veil I cannot shift. No matter how busy you are, these thoughts still enter your head and all it does is make you more tired.

Xx

Hi again, you actually managed to make me smile with the load of old knickers comment! As for putting a brave face on I have given up on that today and called my mother in law who has arrived to help me with the boys and collect the eldest from
Nursery. I think my family all thought I was on the mend but in reality I was just killing myself trying to act normal, you can only keep it up so long though can't you.
The tiredness is getting to me too but I am managing to get 6 hours which probably sounds wonderful to you! It's the awful dread in the pit of my stomach when I wake at 4 am that keeps me from getting back to sleep.
How long til your baby is due? Will your hubby have some paternity leave to help you, I saw he works very long hours?

Gosh, I know that 4am feeling. I have just less than 3 weeks left, climbing the walls, I am really struggling to find anything enjoyable about pregnancy. I'm not even that big so no one realises how far along I am! That's good you have people who know and will help out. My mum is retired now, so she does help when she can, however she isn't exactly great with small children and even less interest in babies. After the baby DH has 2 weeks, most of which he may spend on his blackberry, but he might surprise me. He assures me he won't be doing that though. Then hes going to take mon and fri off for 2 weeks. If I can't cope I will have to up the girls hours in nursery for a bit...

But back to you... What about paroxetine? It really sorted out my sleep issues, which I have had for many years, the rest fell into place after that. Sleep is so important for mental health.

Hi, I have been on the net looking at paroxetine since you mentioned it and I will ask my CPN what she thinks. I have a feeling that as the fluox worked the last twice they will want me to continue and maybe increase the dose. I had awful side effects getting back on the fluox so if they change me onto something else I hope it's not so bad, I know you sometimes have to try a few to get the right one but it feels a bit like the last 6 weeks have been wasted!
I went for a long walk with the pram this morning. I cried most of the way but actually I feel a little more relaxed now. Tired from doing something is always better than tired from lying around. My husband is at home tomorrow too so hopefully some adult company will boost me a bit.
Thanks for your replies it's so nice to "talk" to someone who understands xx

I had really bad PND with DS1. I was given venlafaxine(?) and it did wonders! I felt so much better after about 6 weeks on it, and really made a difference. I am sure that it was responsible for holding me together enough that I could get my head together in my own time. It will get better, it does. It just takes time, and often help. I took it for 7months, I slept better than I ever have before/since, and will definately take it again if I have same issues this time round.
Take your time, try and get out a bit and take things slowly.
xx

Thanks for that encouraging story, it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you feel like this. I thought 6 weeks ago that I would be at least on the way to feeling better by now. I actually have such a lovely life, I just want to enjoy it all again instead of just getting to the end of each day.

Just wanted to send hugs and give you this link about anti-depressants and BF... LINK or www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/Antidepressants_and_Breastfeeding_March_2009.pdf

I'm FF now (thanks to very severe mastitis), so am taking citalopram (worked well for me in the past, so we wanted to give me something we know will work). My GP was very surprised to see citalopram was contraindicated for BF...but maybe going armed with this leaflet and asking about the risks will allow you to find the right meds.

Again, the keeping busy thing is bollocks. People wouldn't tell you to 'keep busy' if you had a broken leg. Ignore this advice and do what you know you need to do.

Thanks for that. My baby is FF so there is no problem with me taking meds and he's actually well into his solids mainly now. I saw my CPN yesterday for a good hour chat. We are waiting until next week when my period is over before deciding whether to up my fluoxetine dosage. It does seem I am heavily affected by hormones and this could have caused this slide backwards. She was very encouraging and told me I need more time, I'm not superwoman and I know myself better than anyone else so trust my own instincts. Common sense really but good to hear it from the experts!

Ah, I get hormone induced migraines and can't have synthetic oestrogen and am fully planning on LARC, probably the implant to help control them...maybe that's a way forward?

Just saw the doctor, not my usual one unfortunately. I got my increased dose of fluoxetine and some diazepam for occasional use on the bad days (like today) She was full of useful advice like try and think positive and join a gym to do spinning.....good job I'm not relying on her for all my moral support as she was SO unsympathetic.
It's been a really shit day, tears and more tears. Can't wait for bed

Have they looked at counselling or even better, cognitive behavioural therapy for you? Helps me a lot to compartmentalise the mental...so I realise that it is only temporary and I know my stress triggers and can help rationalise my way out of situations...
...ask for a referral.

No referral offered but I did get a useful little book today which I have had a read of. I think today I have spiralled downwards by questioning why I feel like this instead of just accepting that I do. My CPN is coming again next week, I'll ask about a referral. It should be easier talking to someone I can't worry or upset.