Sertraline buddies?

[OnlyGodKnowsWhy]

I started sertraline 2 days ago and I am having a horrible time 🙁 I was hoping there might be others out there starting up too that would like to chat and support each other. I'm a lone parent and only have my mum.

Second month.

I have started it for PND and last period was Oct 31st! I'm shaking. I can't tolerate the pill so we're on condoms and DH ensures me there hasn't been any accident, do you know if sertraline affects periods?

Dreading the idea of flying back home for Christmas ('D'M will stress the hell out of me again) and back again to start work after mat leave so early in Jan - sending solidarity hugs to @VivienneWestwoodsKnickers !

Good luck today vivienne. Be kind to yourself.

Please tell me you weren't up so early due to insomnia beerbaby...

Periods can take a while to settle down after having a baby so it could just be that. I haven't been on sertraline long enough to say how it's affecting my periods although last was very heavy.

Yes sadly I was but honestly that's normal for me. It's not meds related.

Day 15 and my anxiety last night was unbelievable. I'm worn out.

Hopefully it settles soon. I don't want an anxious Christmas.

Vivienne how are you? Have you been back to work? Hope your ok!

Diddy you still stable?

Hi beerbaby, I am feeling more stable thank you. I feel my anxiety start to rise but since last Thursday (horrible anxiety / panic freak out) have managed to not let it take over. I wouldn't say I'm enjoying life but seem to have a better handle on it. Bit more patience with the kids, etc. First time on medication. Find myself questioning it a lot. Hope today has been easier for you than last night

I gave up after a week and started Mirtazipine.

Hi BeerBaby has your GP given you anything else for the anxiety? Mine has given me a small amount of low dose diazepam, but so far I've not needed much of it. It does help, so may be worth a go for you??

Work is OK. My boss is trying to help, I'm back on a 3 day week phased return, then I'm off for 10 days at Xmas anyway. I'm shattered, and am surprised by this. Trying to run before I can walk as usual.

Tomorrow I'm off, so will sleep in and potter around the shops. I'd like to go swimming again, will see how that goes.

Well done Mrsdiddlydoo, that sounds really positive!

I've got some diazepam from last time but never taken it. Scared to. I go back to go on Monday. I'm beginning to wonder if this is working? There is alot of uncertainty and change at the moment. Start a new job in Jan and going to be full time. I love working but obviously nervous of the unknown and how I'm going to manage.

I took the 1mg suggested and had no side effects, but the pit of my stomach feeling went away.

2mg, I could just about tell I'd taken something and slept well. 4mg and I felt stoned out of my tree, and couldn't sleep!

Maybe take a tiny amount and see if it helps?

Have you any support as well as the medication? I'm chasing up the counselling tomorrow, I've not heard anything for 3 weeks.

Yes I'm having Counsellling. Can only manage once a month due to cost but hoping to increase it to fortnightly while I settle into new work. Due on Thursday and I'm ready for it. I'll consider the diazepam. My dh and family are fantastic and tbh anyone would be nervous at lifes uncertainties. I long for stability and structure. We've not had any for years and my nerves are frazzled. I'm very worn out tonight so I'm in bed watching TV. I see my GP next Monday. I'm wondering if I need to increase dose to feel the benefit of the meds. Only on 50mg.

Hello

I thought I'd just check in now I've finished 4 weeks on 100mg as it might be useful for anyone just starting.

I'd describe how I feel as a bit like coming out a fog. I'm finding I have more capacity to cope with things and am getting less irritated with DH and DCs.

It's made me realise how long I struggled on with anxiety (most of my life!) and that perhaps this is how a lot of people feel most of the time. It is a lot better than how I used to feel - but I still feel like myself too.

Marshmallow what a positive post. Thank you. I'm pleased to say that today has been significantly better in terms of anxiety. Im very tired but I've been so busy and not sleeping well so that's understandable.

My boobs massively hurt today but I'm 8 days from period so maybe this has something to do with it.

Hello everyone. I'm on day 22 of 50mg and the first week was definitely the worst. I'm over the nausea and appetite loss, but still feel extremely tired all the time. Not so hopeless though. The underlying issues still remain (I'm adjusting to life with my 6yr old son who has a recent dx of ASD and is very challenging in terms of his own anxiety and behaviours) but I'm hopeful that I will be able to cope better as time goes on.

Did you make it swimming vivienne? I feel so guilty missing work but know deep down it would extend my recovery at the moment. Hope it gets easier each day you are in.

Thank you for coming back and posting your progress marshmallow. It's good to hear the positive effects sertraline is having. Do you mind me asking how you find 100mg compared to 50mg? I wondering if I need a higher dose. Been on 50 for just over 3 weeks now.

Hoping the anxiety has continued to reduce for you beer.

Do you manage to get much sleep rosa? I find I slept more just after starting 50mg, but now am struggling to get to sleep again. Feel permanently shattered and struggle to recognise if it's the depression, poor sleep or the medication.

Hi Mrsdiddlydoo

I also did 3 weeks on 50mg - I was starting to feel less anxious, but I still didn't feel quite right, plus I was still having awful anger with PMT.

A friend of mine started on 50mg and felt immediate relief, but I didn't feel I was getting that yet.

I now feel so much more calm and on an even keel - and I had no PMT this month at all - so I think 100mg is about right for me at the moment.

Hope that's helpful!

Hi. Thankfully my anxiety seems to be settling down. The vivid dreams have started which I don't really mind. This week is my PMT week and I'm getting a bit claustrophobic at home. I've got a very busy week ahead of us. I've got 98% of my Christmas presents wrapped and ready to gift out. I need to start on the food very soon. I'm testing my sausage rolls on the family tonight.

Generally feeling ok. Very tired and the house needs sorting out but that's normal for this time of year.

Hi everyone..

Mrsdiddlydoo..I'm coming up to 3 weeks too and feeling much the same with regards to sleeping. This past week I've been back to square one and feeling shattered. I see the GP on tuesday don't know if she'll keep me on 50mg or up it to the 100mg. Not sure if I'm up for increasing the dosage as it's so near Christmas, would be worried about having more side effects. I hated the feelings I had at the start. I do feel less stressed and anxious haven't been crying so it's definitely doing something.

If if helps I didn't really have any further side effects going up from 50mg to 100mg

Thanks for the info and advice marshmallow.

I see the doctor this week too. We made a plan when I last saw him to increase if I hadn't improved since my last appointment. I guess I feel I have improved, but I could improve more. I think I would be worried about ruining Xmas just in case I did experience side effects again if I increased this week so think I am settled on waiting until boxing day to decide/up the dose.

I had totally forgotten dreams are a side effect. I have had the craziest dreams the last few nights.

Hope your family enjoy the sausage rolls beerbaby. Haven't started my wrapping. Christmas is crazy isn't it. Every year I say not again, yet some how it spirals into a hectic time yet again.

Wishing every one an easy weekend with some time for yourselves.

Hi everyone I just started today 50mg. Have had bad diarrhoea but put that down to a dodgy lunch, good to know it’s a side effect. Headaches too but again was blaming lunch, hopefully these settle soon.

I have 2mg diazepam as well to help with sleeping.

Have took a quick read through the thread, great to see the positivity, I hope it works for me. Plan is to try 50mg for 4 weeks & take it from there.

I had a baby earlier this year who almost died & was airlifted to another hospital, my toddler is going through as ASD diagnosis, I lost my step mother in law, we moved House & my dog died. Have been getting counselling for 6 months but I just knew I needed some more help & I hope this is the answer.

Welcome greybird. What a difficult year you have had . Glad you've found us and hope the sertraline helps. The side effects can be a pain but they vary for everyone and it's worth riding them out.

Welcome @greybird
I’m on 50mg too and my side effects were over in 1 week so I wish you a good experience as well. I’m coping so much better with my pnd, anxiety and obsessive thoughts.

My period is finally here, 16 days and several panic moments later. Having plenty of paracetamol as I broke my foot by slipping on the ice so it’s not even painful, lucky me

Hi greybird! What a tough time you've had. We've had a few years of unwanted drama as well. It really shakes you up. I'm also having Counsellling but the darkness and getting near to Christmas I wasn't coping at all well. It's one of the reasons I'm on sertraline. I'm halfway through my 3rd week now and it's helping.

Initially I got side effects but in the last few days I've felt much more normal, side effects are easing. This should be my PMT week so we'll see how that works out.

Thanks so much for the welcome. I’ve no one to talk to in real life. Everyone has their own problems, we all have young kids etc & I feel like I drag everyone down.

Diddly It’s maybe good I’ve started this wkend as my husband is about plus the weather is still pretty bad here (NI) so We’re not leaving the house much.

Annal I hope your resting that foot!

Beerbaby Exactly that, the darkness combined with Christmas was just the final straw. I was going to wait until After Christmas to seek help but I just thought why wait any longer? Lucky to have an understanding doctor.

I’m due back to work in April but it’s looking like I’m going to have to take a career break as no one else can cope with my toddler & baby. Work was the only time I really got to myself so that’s hard but I know I’m mentally not strong enough yet anyway.

Welcome GreyBird

You have had a tough year. There's a few of us on this thread with autistic DC.

Well done for taking the first steps in feeling better - I'm a bit further down the road to you and I'm so glad I've done it rather than struggling on.