On ADs for PND for 2+ years. When will I feel better?

[beakysmum]

I've had PND pretty much ever since the birth of DS1 nearly 8 years ago. I was never depressed before children, so it has been a shock to the system. I've been on citalopram on and off most of that time, and constantly since 2.5 years ago when I was pregnant with child 3. I am on 40mg at present.

Child 3 (DS2) has just had his second birthday and I still feel constantly under par. Tiredness is the main thing; I sleep for an hour or more every afternoon when I am not working and sleep 9 - 10 hours every night. I have frequent headaches and migraines. I don't feel particularly negative, just utterly washed out.

Doctors ask whether I am going out with DH / friends / doing things for myself and the answer is "no". Not because I am too low to want to, but because I know my limits and I have to use the energy I have on doing the essentials for 3 children and working 2 days per week in a demanding job. Pre children I used to go to the gym and run loads. Now if I go to the gym of an evening, it wipes me out the next day.

I just want to know when I will get better?! This seems to be going on just too long.....

[mercibucket]

Interesting bbc programme about b12 on bbc if you google 'dr chandy and b12'

What was your tsh and t4 btw?

[beakysmum]

Thank you so much, I will find the bbc programme. x
Have had a really bad day today, but then am due on...

My TSH is 1.29 (range = 0.35 - 5.0)

T4 is 9.9 (range = 7.0 - 20.0)

So both on the low side?

[mercibucket]

The tsh looks great but the t4 is low. I don't know much about it when it's that way round but it's worth looking into, maybe another thread on here specifically about that, or try thyroid uk's forum on health unlocked

[narmada]

T4 is low but within range. I would get it rechecked but that may well be sign of problem I reckon. DP has just within range T4 and is sloth-like :) but DR sent him away ....

[narmada]

Strange q but did you bleed very heavily when having last baby and/ or have problems with inadequate milk supply/ milk not comibg in?

[beakysmum]

Narmada - I lost 1.8l blood post partum haemorrage with first child, and I honestly think I've never fet right since then! Was not given a blood transfusion. I don't think I lost much after other 2 babies.

Milk supply has never been a problem, but I did have thrush with third baby from a few days after he was born. I took him back to hospital when he was 6 days old as he vomited blood, but it had all come from me! (Not pink tinged milk vomit as everyone seemed to think, I mean bright red blood.) Proud of myself that I managed to continue feeding him at all after that!!!

Does that help? What were you wondering about?

Off to look at health unlocked......

[narmada]

Hiya beakysmum, sorry for delay in replying.

You lost 1.8 l of blood and didn't have a transfusion - is that normal ??

THere is something called Sheehan's syndrome that you can acquire after a PPH which can muck up your body but I think given you had two further children this would be unlikely (or maybe even impossible, I am not a doc).

[narmada]

Nope, further reading - not very possible at all. Just clutching at straws for you.

HOpe you find something that works soon.

[beakysmum]

Hi Narmada, thanks for all your support.

Bloomin' Norah, reading about Sheehan's syndrome; I had no idea about that!!! Fortunately as you say, I don't think I have it.

I know; 1.8l blood loss and no transfusion . This was in 2004 and i've been told since that that time ws the height of the "do not transfuse" guidelines. Since then the pendulum has begun to swing back again.
It makes me very sad that the extent of my blood loss was not explained to me or my family at the time, with the result that I was left home alone with a new baby when he ws 10 days old and I felt like crap. I would never ever want to do that time again. It was only when the midwife came back at 6 weeks to talk through the traumatic birth that some of this came to light

Anyway, off to psychiatrist tomorrow following re-referral to her at my request. Not sure what I am going to say, beyond that I still feel so tired and that I know I struggle to cope, though I know I do cope somehow.