Feeling so anxous and worried and don't know where to turn!

[luath]

Been on other chat threads about the same problem so won't repeat my situation in great detail but basically I'm stressed out of my mind and really worried about dd. Dd has been on an NG feeding tube since she was 16 weeks old (now 23 weeks old) due to unexplained severe refusal to feed! SHe would not take a bottle at all, Drs tested for everything possible but found nothing. I've been left trying to feed her with infatrini using a lidded cup and whatever she doesn't take orally goes down her tube ...which is normally 70%! I've been trying to wean her too since xmas as drs advised this to encourage her to enjoy swallowing etc. Weaning was ok ish til 3 days ago when dd refused spoon feeds. Dd is teething now but as dd is 1st baby I have no idea if it is normal for a baby to go trhough periods of spoon feed refusal when teething and if I should just stop offering or continue offering in the hope she'll start feeding again via the spoon!

Dd is an IVF baby so I just feel competely consumed by this problem and am starting to regret evn having treatment in the first place! I know this sounds awful as I love dd so much but i'm consumed by fear that I'm going to lose her as she won't feed normally and she'll have an NG tube forever!

I hardly get out of the house now other than taking dd for a push in her buggy as I hate bumping into people and them seeing her tube then either not knowing what to say or them looking strangely at her. She is so beautiful but seeng her with the tube makes me want to cry!

I'm so glad mumsnet is here as its now my only outlet...drs gave me antidepressants but said I'm not depressed but v v anxious which could cause depression. I've not taken the tablets for fear of them either not helping or making me worse! Any support or advice would be grately apppreciated.

The tablets won't make you worse so if the gp recommended them to you try them. Quite a few ADs these days help with anxiety. Something else you could discuss with your GP is beta-blockers which unlike ADs work straight away and slow down your heart rate which can help with feelings of anxiety and panic. However lots of GPs are wary of prescibing beta-blockers for this purpose.
Anxiety and depression can be crippling emotionally and leave you with no energy left to face every day things let alone the problems you are facing. If the tablets can help with those symptoms you should feel more able to cope.

I really empathise for your situation and it must be so hard for you. I do not know or feel able to make any suggestions with regard to the stressful time you are having with your dd as I have no experience of it, but I do know about depression.

I get really bad anxiety - I thought it was due to my personality but when I think about it i realise that it has come about since I have had children. I eventually went to my doctor as I was anxious about a medical thing at the time and she diagnosed dpression. I had no idea but depression can manifst itself as anxiety with no other signs of depression. Particulalry during times of stress. I was put on antidepressants and they made the world of difference. I felt like I was seeing in perspective again rather than getting overly anxious about the tiniest of things.

I felt like I got myself back.

How do you feel about trying the tablets?

I wish you all the best.

thanks...I may give the tablets a go! DH isn't keen as he read the leaflet in the packet and worried about the side effects too but I think I'll try and speak to him tonight....I need to do something as I feel terrible and can;t see light at the end of the tunnel.

Just to warn you its quite common for Ads to make you feel a bit strange for the first few days. However by the time you have been taking them for a couple of weeks the side effects should have gone and you should start feeling better.

thanks amynixmum. I guess that does concern me as I feel bad anough just now but if they make a difference in the long run then I suppose its worth taking them. thanks for the advice.

there are side effects and you need to be aware of them, but also your gp would have carefully assessed the risk when prescribing them. A lot of people are anti-ads, depends on your perspective, but ti worked for me.

Keep posting to let me know how you are getting on. Not being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel really resonates with me, but there is light even if you can't see it at the moment! I promise!

my little boy (15 months) has a long term health conditionb and we did ng feeding when he was around 4 months for a month, its a tough regime trying to fit it all in, and the tubes are a pain, his kept coming out. BUT we got through it and although feeding is still an issue for various reasons at times he generally loves foods and weaning is a good idea as there is more variety, eventually i find something he likes (stollen at Christmas LOL). with it being your first it must be a shock but from all the hospital stays we have had i've come to see that lots of babies use ng feeding, you won't lose her!
how did you get on with the AD's? i am on the verge of going to see the dr about this "no light at the end of the tunnel" is JUST how i'm feeling to the point where i wish just up and leaving was an option but i love him to bits!!
being a mum is so tough i never thought it would be like this. Do try and see if your surery has a councellor, that what i'm trying too at the moment and it atleast allows me to pour out everything to someone without having to worry about their feelings. Also look around online and see if there is a group to join for your babies problem, that helped me too
Good luck