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Mental health

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Original poster

What the hell is wrong with me?

11 replies

peanutbutternutter · 17/10/2006 20:07

Here goes... had horrible birth in Feb ending in forceps delivery and poorly unhappy baby who had shocking reflux forever, and also an emergency op at 6 weeks. I had no sleep for more than 2-3 hours at a time for over 6 months, we moved house 2 months ago, we have no relatives in the country and I've been struggling with a post-natal overactive thyroid condition. I used to be a competent career girl and now I'm a crying useless wreck. DS is just coming right after reflux and everything else at 8 months, and is now a wonderful and generally happy baby, but I can't seem to get it together. DP is fab (well, trying to be) but even him coming home and offering to help upsets me - I feel like I should be able to cope with everything and do everything myself and just can't. I'm in tears at the drop of a hat, really snappy with DP, have no energy and am not used to feeling like this. Can you get PND this long after a baby arrives, or have I had it and ignored it for ages (have been feeling shite for a while)? Could it be making me feel like this? Sorry, a bit of a rant but it's the first time I've written it all down and feeling pretty And now I'm in bloody tears again just because I forgot to deliver something to the neighbours, FGS.

OP posts:

WigWamBam · 17/10/2006 20:12

Yes, you can definitely get PND this long after delivery; I was once told by a psychiatrist that 8 months after birth is actually the most common time for it to start to kick in.

Please go and see the GP. Get some support from your HV as well; mine was fabulous about my PND and came to my home every week for the first year that I was ill. Even just having someone to moan at and cry to made a difference.

Original poster

peanutbutternutter · 17/10/2006 20:14

Thanks WWB, odd really because even though it's been a rough year I feel now like I should be on top of everything...gorgeous baby, new house, fab partner etc etc. Just have a horrible overwhelming feeling of not quite being able to cope with anything the way I should be - keep expecting it to get better and it doesn't.

OP posts:

WigWamBam · 17/10/2006 20:17

Depression is a horrible illness, and no less bad just because everything "ought" to be feeling good.

A feeling of eing overwhelmed and not coping is very common with PND - it really does sound to me as if that's the problem.

The GP can help. If you don't want to take ads they may be able to refer you for counselling, but don't rule ads out altogether - they can be really useful to get you out of a hole.

Original poster

peanutbutternutter · 17/10/2006 20:18

BTW, my HV was useless - but GP is good and approachable. Do feel though, that she will think I'm a hyperchondriac or something if I bring it up (or maybe it's just me thinking I should be able to cope again).

OP posts:

Original poster

peanutbutternutter · 17/10/2006 20:19

Guess I do have an inbuilt and probably unnecessary aversion to ADs but quite frankly have got to the point that would be willing to try them just to get back on top of things.

OP posts:

WigWamBam · 17/10/2006 20:21

No, of course she won't think you're a hypochondriac. She'll have seen it all before and if she's usually approachable then she should be sympathetic.

Please go and see her.

It's still worth trying the HV even if she's been useless on other things - mine was crap at stuff like weaning, but brilliant with my PND.

WigWamBam · 17/10/2006 20:22

If your HV is no use to talk to, what about asking the GP for a referral to a community psychiatric nurse? Having someone to listen does help, honestly.

Original poster

peanutbutternutter · 17/10/2006 20:23

Just realised I'm getting my hypers and hypos mixed up ...thanks for the advice, have to take DS for his 8 month check tomorrow so may as well see her then.

OP posts:

Original poster

peanutbutternutter · 17/10/2006 20:23

Will start with the GP and see what she recommends.

OP posts:

WigWamBam · 17/10/2006 20:27

Good luck - hope you can get something sorted out pretty quickly.

tribpot · 17/10/2006 20:29

You can be diagnosed with PND up to two years after baby is born - and it seems like this is a classic time precisely because things have improved yet you still feel the same. Therefore your feelings are not entirely due to circumstance.

Absolutely talk to your GP and HV - you don't have to try ADs but I understand they are pretty useful for PND.

The important thing is that there is nothing wrong with the way you are feeling. It's perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed, to feel you can't cope, to feel you should be able to and thus feel guilty about it. This is the hardest thing you have ever, ever had to do. Great news that ds is coming out of the endless nightmare that is reflux, time for you to get some help for you too.

Take care. xxx

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