Sertraline and any other ADs support thread

[hathorinareddress]

Following on from a suggestion by LittleWhiteMice on a thread I have going on here, I am starting a support thread for anyone taking Sertraline or any other AD.

I started taking it yesterday after eventually plucking up the courage to go to the doc on Thursday.

I feel a bit weird but not too bad.

Loopy: you know that you are just being overly harsh on yourself, don't you? I think we all recognise the place you are writing that from, but please, please don't think of yourself as some sort of failure for not abusing your body by forcing yourself to be sick!

Eating, like cutting, is a coping mechanism. Neither is the most helpful one out there, obviously, but on some basic level your subconscious thinks of it as a way to keep going. In time, you will be strong enough to examine why that is, but right now, reserve your strength for hanging in there. Punishing yourself for little slips like this is a waste of your energy. Tomorrow is another day.

Irishexile: thanks. I hope your cough goes soon- it's really doing the rounds! Beware that in some cases it is actually Whooping Cough, though- so if it is mainly dry and in the lower throat and doesn't clear up for ages (often clears for a brief period before setting in again with a vengeance), then see your doctor! Hope you manage to have a good night's sleep. :)

Hope you are all o.k. Just thought I would pop in on the thread. I think I am doing o.k as slept quite well last night. I have a cold today though so keep feeling a bit feverish and tired.

Nice to see you here Cats. Good too that you think you're doing ok, positivity is a good thing IMO. Also, there is much to be said about the beneficial effects of A Good Nights Sleep. If you read the thread many posters complain of a lack of sleep. Have any of you tried any of the over the counter sleep aids like Nytol or Sominex? Are they any good? Let us know either way. Ta. :)

Cats- My sleep isn't great- I'll often wake up every hour or so after 2 or 3 am, but I find I sleep better earlier on, so really feel the benefit of any early night. And I guess an early night may help you get rid of your cold?

Thanks for the tip re the cough Meh- so far it's not too bad though it did have an unexpected though welcome side effect- DH went into spare room to escape the coughing so I had our bed all to myself, and I slept log a log!- hurray! I was thinking about you and your in laws' recent visit. You have my greatest respect- there's no way I cd cope w visitors at the mo, esp if they didn't know re PND, so I think you should give yourself a massive pat on the back for getting through it. As an aside- as a result of my inability to be around people who don't know re PND, I keep telling all sorts about it (not yet told the postman, but have told far far more people than usual. Then again my usual would be to tell about 3 people). At times I'm not sure if it's a good thing to be so open, but then again I can't not tell people (too hard to keep up the front), so maybe there's no point wondering if I'm doing the right thing.

How are you doing today Loopy? I hope you're managing to be a bit kinder to yourself and that things feel even a little brighter.

How are you Arana? I wonder if foxee and mawbroon are about-?not heard from them in a bit and hope they're ok.

Aargh- I have that horrible indigestion/burny feeling (as if the sertraline hasn't dissolved and is stuck in my chest). Yuck. Am hoping a glass of milk helps as I really need to go back to sleep.

Thanks Loopy. Back to bed about 1am, till DD woke briefly at 5.40. DS woke at 5.50 but DH got up, so I got to sleep till 7, so not too bad today. Though I'm tired, I feel quite bright today. 6 weeks on the ADs are doing the trick, I think!

Hmm, maybe I spoke too soon. Exhausted and cheeses off. Been to gp today and looks like I've low blood sugar, even though I eat regularly. Anyone else suffering from that w sertraline as gp mentioned it might be a side effect?

No-one else out there? Hmm, guess this thread is dying after all....

I'm here but having a shit morning. DS fell over last night and says I pushed him but I never. I just hope he doesn't tell them at school cause he will get me into serious shit. I wouldn't hurt my children. I do everything for them! DD was also being hard work this morning but there's nothing new there. she is your average 3 year old with extra tantrums thrown in for good measure.
I feel like the worst mum ever this morning. I am supposed to go to counselling but really don't see the point! How can the counseller understand what life with kids is like when she has none herself!

Hi Irish, re the low sugar maybe shoehorn a bar of chocolate into your diet, that should give you a short term boost.

Cats, go to counselling, it's good to talk. I agree 3 year olds are hard work, but that doesn't make you a bad mother. You do see it's your illness that makes you think like this don't you? :)

It's too late. My appointment was at 10. I'm just rubbish!

I can't stop crying today. I was even crying on the school run. I'm a crap mum! Everyone will think I'm useless!

How can I face the other mums? I have to go back to nursery in a while and get my DD. Some of them know I was crying. I just want to hide!

Now then, you are not rubbish, you are ill. You're taking medicine to help you get better, but what you must have seen from this thread is that there is no quick fix.

You are not a crap mum. Don't worry about crying, go and fetch your DD and if anyone asks tell them you're clinically depressed and taking steps to get better, and crying is a part of that. If they look at you like that reflects badly on them, not you.

Rearrange your appointment for another time, they'll understand.

I feel so cold.

Thanks NT - won't that cause sugar spikes (and therefore affect my mood when the spike passes)?

Cats- I can guarantee you are not a crap mum, just struggling st the mo. and I've done nursery pick up in tears and felt really self conscious about it but everyone just assumed I was really sleep deprived and tactfully said nothing. Most peeps are too self absorbed to really get involved. Are you still feeling cold?- sometimes I find orange squash made with boiling water really comforting. And layer up w jumpers and get a hot water bottle for your lap. Look after yourself.

Am off to do tax return. I've been avoiding it for months but the tax man called today to say it's late, so I guess it really is time to do it. Will check in later. Xxx

Hi Irish Good luck with your tax return.

I do still feel cold. I had soup for lunch and it warmed me up for a little while but am cold again. Having a cup of tea now to see if that will help. Seem to feel cold quite a lot lately. I think it could be a side effect of my AD's. I see the doctor tomorrow anyway.

Irish if you just have a square at a time it shouldn't cause a sugar spike but hopefully take the feeling of having low sugar away. Stuff in moderation and that.

When you see your gp tomorrow Cats mention that you feel cold. Make sure you eat properly, I feel cold when I'm hungry.

This last thing I've mentioned on other threads, but it's so simple: write down your concerns, your feelings, everything you think is relevant to your situation, and give it to your doctor because many things can happen. You either forget things or can't get the words out. Many people get in there and dry up.

Chin up both of you. :)

It's done! and it wasn't half as bad as I feared (as with most things). In fact, I've done half of DH's tax return too, so feeling quite pleased with myself.

Ditto on the hungry, but especially tiredness (yes, I know I'm always talking about being tired!). I'm always cold if I'm tired- maybe plan an early night if poss?

Right, I'm off for a bit of choccie (always happy to take that kind of advice, NT! Thanks for all your help and support).

Take care of yourselves.

I have been to see doctor. She said it will take time to feel better (like many people have said). I have to try and find solutions to my problems or things I am worrying about. She wants to see me next week.

Loopy Hope things get better for you soon.

Well done on getting your returns done Irish, you desrve that chocolate now! :)

Have you thought about just doing a stream of consciousness type of post Loopy? That could work.

Not sure I like your doc's attitude Cats, leaving you to sort yourself out isn't good. Have you thought about CBT? Have a look at MoodGym, see if there's anything on there that might help.

It's good that you're seeing her again next week, at least. You might need another week or two before your meds start working properly. Keep at them.

Hi lovelies...
Just come acroes this thread. Wanted to share my experience and hopefully give you hope.

I suffered post natal depression following my son's birth october 2010. To cut a long story short i tried to get better with help from family and friends, but i was convinced i was going crazy. Despite my loathing of ADs i decided to take them, for my son's sake.

Was still breastfeeding so could only take certain meds. Started on Seroxat - hideous initial side effects but family looked after me and son. For a few months they helped, but then the depression seemed to get hold of me again.

I went back to my doctor (who was really helpful and never gave up on me) and told him i felt very unwell again. He referred me for psychiatric help, and the psych changed me onto Sertraline. Started on 50mg, then gradually upped to 200mg.

I started sertraline july last year. I had a massive upset cos of an evil health visitor who called social services (completely unfounded) and this set me back terribly. I still suffered from PND and i had stupid social workers to deal with BUT i NEVER gave up.

November last year i went back to work part time - one day a week. I started dropping the dosage of my meds and began to ferl in control. February i dropped my meds to 100mg. April i dropped down to 50mg. End of April social services finally confirmed they were leaving me alone. Start of this month i dropped my meds to 25mg. I intend to wran myselff sertraline completely by the end of June.

I don't think i've suffered side effects from coming off the meds, and i ferl on top of things. In fact i'm trying for a second baby!

I've been on ADs for over a year and they have helped - fixed the crossed wires in my brain. I will be free of them soon.

You CAN get better, and you csn enjoy motherhood again. Don't give up. Find a doctor you trust. Let family and friends help you. Don't feel ashamed. I went quite public with my pnd - most people were reslly understanding. Mitherhoid is hard! The people who really care will stick by you. Make sure there is slways someone you can ring or visit if you feel a wobble. Get out and do stuff - i found a routine, set toddler grps etc, kept me going. Depression makes you stronger, you have to work harder to function and be a mum so it is no way a weakness! And the fact you question yourselves shows you care about your kids.

Keep going - it does get better. I wish you all hope.

Xxxxxx

Hi all, I was hesitant to join this because I'm not on Sertaline, I'm on Lofepramine stupid depression made me stupid and think that I wouldn't be welcome for some bizzare reason Anyway, I started on 11 March, and am currently on 140mg (went up about 3 or 4 weeks into taking itm after starting on a 70mg dose).

cats, Wednesday was a bad day for me as well felt terribly guilty and a bit like jumping but settled for SH because DH and I left our DD with the childminder, the one who is contracted for full time care because we both normally work full time, while we went to the cinema... felt like such a shitty selfish mother who doesn't care about her DD and is only interested in herself...

Today was much better for me (how about you?), so I wonder if it was the phase of the moon or something? (and it feels good typing out what are clearly lies that depression was telling me yesterday.)

What strategies are you going to try? Would you like suggestions/a group brainstorming?