Postnatal depression / PTSD - sertraline - reassurance welcomed

[Boymama301]

A very long story short

I’m 6 weeks postpartum with my first baby
HG & insulin controlled GD during pregnancy
36 hour labour, emerg csection and adrenaline shock
Baby ambulanced to a specialist hospital and placed in NICU for two weeks
then finally I was admitted to hospital with sepsis

Things have taken its toll - my worry, low mood, OCD and dark thoughts hit a low. Doctor thinks I’m suffering with PTSD as well as depression. Decided with my GP to start me on a low dose of sertraline (25mg) and increasing to 50mg in two weeks.

I’m day two on the medication and I don’t feel right. Just clouded, quite sad, sicky, tired, overly worried.

Any Mamas out there on the same meds or similar and if so, how did you get through the “side effects” stage and any reassurance / hopeful stories to share?

My husband is the only person that knows what I’m going through and doing (large lack of family support) and he’s back to work tomorrow and I’m worried about feeling crap whilst he’s at work

I hope things get better

Hi there. Different circumstances but I started taking 50mg sertraline 12 days ago. For the first 4-5 days I felt quite spaced out and strange, tired also. And my pupils were huge! Lol.
Now I just feel very calm, anxiety completely gone. The racing thoughts have disappeared. And I can sleep! If I wake during the night I just roll over and go back to sleep, rather than being awake for hours overthinking.

I feel so chilled. I wish I had started taking it years ago to be honest.
I hope it works for you. Just try and power through the first couple of weeks.
It really is a wonder drug! I can’t believe how much it has helped me in such a short space of time.

Sertraline was a wonder drug for me in a very similar situation. Stick with it.
Your body and emotions are in the most turbulent state they will ever be in at the moment but that will settle as well.
Try to be reassured that postnatal mental health problems have the best recovery rates because so much of it is physical and hormonal.
You'll be alright.

Different situation but I was on serialise for about 3+ years. Didn't feel any different to normal depressive state. Dire warnings about if you just stopped taking them, so cut my dose in half, then half again, then stopped over a period of about 4 months. No side affects. No consultation or mention by my GP as to why I'd stopped requesting repeat medication.
Didn't feel it helped me at all. Feeling as low as before medication, but now sort of accept that it's to do with getting older, general lack of energy etc. Just the way it is, and accept that life doesn't get better

I had a similar birth situ to you, emergency section, and baby taken straight to scbu for a week. I felt like none of it was real for so long and really struggled to bond with my baby once we got home, plus awful intrusive OCD thoughts. Very bleak. But I got help and (as well as therapy) was put onto sertraline (50mg and then increased to 100mg). I don't want to lie, I did feel more anxious initially. But after about two weeks I started being able to eat and sleep again, and was more numb than sad. Once I went up to the higher dose, maybe 6 weeks after, I started to feel a lot more positive and bond with my baby.
Sending lots of love, it's really hard. Have you got any friends or family who can sit with you while your husband works?

I was on sertraline before I was pregnant and yes the side effects when you first go on then are horrible. They tend to get a bit better after about day 4-7 then take a couple weeks to start working properly but afterwards they were okay for me. So sorry to hear of your awful experience. I too had a traumatic birth and have been struggling since so my heart goes out to you xxx

I'm 20 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby girl (1st is nearly 2.5) I ended up on citalopram when my girl was about 1.5. I asked to switch to something else as was starting to feel really tired all the time.

Setraline for me is much better. No side effects and I feel so much better. But when first starting any depression meds you will feel very groggy. It can take time for you to get used to them and for them to begin to work. Give it a couple months and if you think they aren't right for you ask to change.

You've done the hard bit by talking to your doctor it will get a lot easier now. If you feel like you need talking therapy definitely suggest to your doctor.

If you are on Facebook definitely join the positive Zoloft support group.

Hope your side effects get better. I am not on it yet but from what I understand your side effects are very common. Try to push through if you can x

Hello!

I felt like i was reading my own post, i went/am going through the same experience the last 3 weeks have been the worst i ever felt in my life ive had panick attacks everyday (never had them before) my god i wanted it all to end, i went numb i detached myself from everyone couldn't get out of bed, even though i thought i couldnt go on i reached out for help.

I am now taking therapy as i also have OCD and PPD i was prescribed 50mg of sertraline however increased to 100mgg i was frantically reading forums to get reassurance as nothing was changing however these past few days have been a lot better i am more motivated, energy i can finally stay alone at home without intense anxiety there are down periods as it does take 4-6 weeks for it to kick in but please give it time i was in the exact same position and my god is it hard.

If you need to talk about the OCD especially please reach out to me as i understand and i am here to help.