Decided to get help but cant get appointment - feel lost

[pinkmama]

Hello
I have been battling with PND for some time, and as some may know from my other thread I have been struggling with decisio whether to go for antidepressants or not. Things have got so bad I am now quite scared by myself. Spent a lot of yesterday questioning what to do. Woke up today feeling as bad and as desperate. Spoke to a friend and decided that enough was enough and anti depressants were needed. Rang Gp but cant get appointment today, despite me crying down the phone to the receptionist. SHe is not in again until Thursday but I cant make an appointment for Thursday until Thursday! I know it might seem that I have waited this long so what difference will a couple of days make, but now I have made the decision I really want to do it now. I rang HV in tears and he said he would ring GP. He cant get me an appointment either and then started blethering on about what a huge decision it was (like he needs to tell me) and that I need to give up breastfeeding (now why does all medical evidence say other wise).

I cannot beleive how crap the services for PND are. I feel so angry and let down (but I know thats just the depression talking).

Sorry felt a need to rant.

Hi Pinkmama,
I read your thread and sympathised alot.I was diagnosed with PND just a couple of months ago. So many times I wanted to tell someone everything and blurt it out and it seemed no one was there to listen.
It must be very frustrating to be told to wait when you've just made a big decision like that. Please be patient, take a deep breath and remember we are only one day away from Thursday. It will come! Maybe see this as a time now to completely evaluate everything and be completely sure you are doing what you want and what is best for you. So when you do get an appointment you have a clear head and know exactly what you want them to hear.
I hope all goes well for you. I'll be around if you want to talk about it afterward.
HPH. x

oh pinkmama could you see a different GP?
You don't have to give up breastfeeding! what an odd thing to say...

i don't really have any great advice I don't think, except to hang on in there... it WILL get better, i promise

oh, if you are going to wait until thursday (and make sure you really, really push for that appt) you might find it useful to write down exactly how you feel.
that way you can make sure you don't miss anything out when you do see the doctor

Pinkmama - Don't dispair..... I've been there. You have struggled on for so long.... its only another day and a half away. You can do it. Just focus on that appointment and know that it could be the start of your recovery! Really it can be. You will get the support you need. You really will. And the fact your HV is on the case is a good thing (if she's a good HV). Can she maybe visit you tomorrow at home?

Sorry to hear you are feeling low pinkmama. I think you are very brave. One piece of advice I can give (after a similar doctor's secretary experience this morning) - ask for an emergency appointment that day if possible, and when they ask what is wrong with you, say it is personal and you do not wish to discuss it with anyone but the doctor. In fact, I have had to make an appointment in line with their new policy of one week in advance. But I CAN wait. If I had really wanted it today desperately then I now have learnt that I should either have lied about what I had wrong with me, or told the secretary to mind her own business.

Stick with it. It will get better, and trust yourself in your decision. I also think the HV comment about breastfeeding is strange. It helps bonding and TBH, I think not managing to keep breastfeeding was a big factor in my PND.

Pinkmama - FWIW regarding the breastfeeding. I don't know what the situation is with that..... but I didn't feel able to cope whilst breastfeeding and completely and utterly beat myself up about it. The best thing for me at the time was to stop as I just didn't feel I was doing the rights things as ds was always so hungry and unhappy. Could that be why he suggested that? Is that one of the things that is getting you down right now?

OOh, hello everyone. I gave up on response on here. I went to bed very early last night as was exhausted from all the crying I think. Thanks for all your support. I did infact take an emergency appointment with another doctor. DH rang and spoke to my usual gp and asked her to explain the situation to the gp I was seeing. He was actually remarkably lovely and has prescribed me some anti ds. I am seeing my gp on thursday.

THe HV and breastfeeding seems to be because he is fairly useless tbh. Nice guy, if I met him socially sure we would get on excellently, but as HV he is really crap!

Haven't got any advice pinkmama, but you sound like you're doing a fine job and it's great that your dh sounds so supportive.
Wising you all the best.

Pinkmama - How did it go with your GP?

Hello Sackache. Thanks for asking! I got some antidepressants in the end, go back in 10 days. GP was lovely, very understanding and reassuring. Lots of telling me it wasnt weak etc to be there. Felt good. But have to say overall quite appalled at lack of PND care really. Still, fingers crossed it can only go up from here!

Good news PM. I've just come off ad's for PND and they helped me so much. I didn't stop breast feeding either so I don't know what your HV is on about but hey ho..good luck!