Please or to access all these features

Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

What has been the most effective AD for you?

21 replies

Hopeitwontbebig · 14/11/2007 22:03

Hi, I'll try and keep this as brief as poss. I had my 3rd child 8 weeks ago. My other two children are DS1 10 and DS2 8, I had a baby girl for my third - dream come true.

My DH was in a hit and run accident last November and as a result has been left with a paralysed right arm. The decision to have a 3rd baby came as a direct result of the accident. It made us both re-evaluate what was important in life, having come so very close to losing DH. I was fortunate that I fell pregnant very quickly. This was to be our silver lining to the awful awful accident.

DH is AMAZING, he's in hospital as we 'speak' having his 4th surgery this year to sort out the multiple fractures in his arm. He is such a strong strong person, and has taken everything in his stride. He is so determined and does almost everything himself, including doing his own shoelaces with his left hand (he was right handed).

Since having Niamh, it has become more and more apparent how having a paralysis is affecting what he is able to do with her. He was SUCH a hands on Dad with our other two boys. It is breaking my heart that he is unable to do the same with our new baby. DH is absolutely smitten with her.

So that's a brief introduction about my DH, now me..

I have been through so much this past year, I thought my DH was dead when he didn't come home from his motorbike ride, I had to wait an hour and a half before the police phoned me to tell me he'd been airlifted to hospital. I remember vividly thinking, if he's dead, I hope it happened quickly and he wasn't in too much pain, then I imagined him lying cold in a ditch dying.

I was so relieved when I received the call to say he was alive. In the past year, we've dealt with the news of his prognosis, brachial plexus injury. At best, he will achieve some function of his arm down to his wrist, but he will never regain the use of his hand or fingers. This, we just took in our stride. DH's attitude is.. it could have been worse, at least I'm still here. Amazing man. We've dealt with his pain, countless complications with infection, fractures not united, bones snapping again, emergency surgeries. All whilst I was pregnant.

It seems that since having my DD I have fallen to pieces. I had mild PND after my DS's, but NOTHING compared to this. Currently, I am waking very early in the morning, sometimes 3, sometimes 4am and I cannot get back to sleep. DD is fantastic at night, so she isn't waking me. I feel very much on edge and have been having awful nightmares. Not specifically about the accident. But they;re always involving dreadful situations, like fires or bombs etc.

I was prescribed Lofepramine nearly 8 weeks ago and I don't think it's helping me very much. I have finally been offered some counselling which will start in a couple of weeks, so that's good. But I was thinking of going back to my GP on Monday and asking to change my medication.

What would be the best drug to ask for. I have researched Prozac and Citalopram.

Help

And sorry for the long one in the end

OP posts:
bossybritches · 15/11/2007 08:41

My god Hope it's no wonder you have PND with all that on your plate!!

It's probably a bit of a delayed reaction too in some ways to your DH's accident. As he's coping so well & being so positive it's harder for you to allow yourself to have that "grieving" time you need to work through I would have thought (amateur psych here only MHO)

AD's sometimes take a while to kick in & a side-effect of them can be sleep problems. Your Gp should have a huge amoury of AD's to choose from discuss it with him/her & ask about their opinion on the ones you mentioned. All drugs need fine tuning to individuals needs really & AD's are no different.

I'm glad you're having some counselling, it will be good for you to unload to an impartial party without feeeling you have to be positive/reasonable in what you say (no feelings to consider IYKWIM)

GIve yourself time, come on here & have a laugh /moan when it gets too much there's slways someone around, you are heading the right way & you WILL come out of the tunnel soon-

Enjoy your gorgeous girl & good luck!

Hopeitwontbebig · 15/11/2007 09:08

Thank you bossy, I do wonder whether this is a delayed reaction to the accident. Life has been so hectic this past yr I don't think I've had a chance to think about it. Now everuthing has slowed down, so it seems that things are sinking in.

OP posts:
morningpaper · 15/11/2007 09:11

Aw poor you.

You sound like you are suffering from post-traumatic shock.

I would really recommend finding a specialist counsellor/therapist in that area if possible.

Good luck. x

Hopeitwontbebig · 15/11/2007 14:14

I really am struggling with these symptoms of anxiety. It feels like there is a knot in my chest and it feels like my heart is pounding, although it isn't. I'm getting so fed up with waking in the early hours and not being able to get back to sleep.

I want to book another appointment with my GP, but really wanted some input into which drug is most effective.

Lofepramine which I am on seems to not be working.

OP posts:
pirategirl · 15/11/2007 14:16

I use Prozac. my mum has Citalopram. Both have worked amazingly for our depression/anxiety.

Hopeitwontbebig · 15/11/2007 14:24

Thank you pirategirl x

OP posts:
Chopster · 15/11/2007 14:28

Ive had prozac and found it really good. I would also really recommend, if you can do it, getting out and getting some exercise. It boosts endomorphines (sp?) and makes you feel so much better. My mother has suffered with depression on and off for years, and also finds prozac good. She actually got gym sessions on perscription for a few months, and it made so much difference to her, and she still goes now. I started going because I needed to shift some weight and actually came off the prozac.

pirategirl · 15/11/2007 14:32

chopster we meet again. dd's and prozac!!

allgonebellyup · 15/11/2007 14:32

i have been on citalopram for 2months and its great.
Do suffer from intense dreams since taking it though, and weight loss.

counselling sounds like a good option too, even though it didnt help me too much, but thats just me.

FioFio · 15/11/2007 14:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Chopster · 15/11/2007 14:33

I'm not stalking, honest!

pirategirl · 15/11/2007 14:36

lol, gotta love mn today.

morningpaper · 15/11/2007 14:43

My experience was similar to Fio's - took lots and lots of drugs over the course of a couple of years, some of which helped with symptoms (valium was great, propoanolol helped with shaking etc.) and some of which made them worse (mellaril was horrific). But what broke the cycle was proper therapy with a counsellor who was trained in post-traumatic shock disorder. She got to the root cause of the stress which was the only thing that actually helped me get better. The drugs dampened some of the symptoms but for me, that was all they were - symptoms of something that needed dealing with. Have been 'clean' for over 10 years.

Hopeitwontbebig · 15/11/2007 19:26

Thank you for your help and advice.

Fio, hi, thanks for your post too. I'm so so sorry you've been through such a traumatic time too. I appreciate you coming on this thread to help me. x

I went to see the doctor tonight, she was sympathetic and said that it sounded like the Lofepramine wasn't working. She's prescribed me Prozac - apparently to be taken in the morning.

I'm really trying not to get stressed about going to bed, but the prospect of waking early and lying there for hours is horrid.

Thanks again x x

OP posts:
mmelody · 15/11/2007 19:52

Hi there Hope.. have a look at this site
www.livinglifetothefull.com

Its a CBT based self help programme and may be of some help to you.

Be prepared for a possible increase in your anxiety when you start taking the Prozac... its common but will usually pass within a week or so. Try and actively concentrate on 'relaxing'..make sure you get regular rest even if you have trouble sleeping. Lavender oil added to a bath, plenty of fresh air and light excersise are all ways to combat anxiety. I hope you feel better soon

FioFio · 16/11/2007 12:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

dal21 · 16/11/2007 16:35

Hopey - cant help, but am thinking of you.
xx

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 17/11/2007 11:26

Hi, I seem to feel better interestingly since stopping the Lofepramine, I'm sure it isn't the Prozac working already because I know it takes a few wks.

Fio, I'm going to have some counselling on Tuesday. I'll let you know how it goes. x

kinki · 17/11/2007 13:34

Hello Hopey, I've been thinking of you. That sounds encouraging that you have been feeling a bit better since stopping the lofepramine. I hope that continues for you. I'm afraid I can't add anything helpful for you. I went to the docs asking for ad's but they said I can't have any as I'm breastfeeding. Much love to you and all you lovely family. And I hope dh's recovery from his latest surgery is quick and painfree.

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 19/11/2007 14:17

Hi kinki, thanks for your kind message re hubby. He's back at work today the naughty boy, that's the problem with having a paralysed arm, he doesn't feel the pain of the op- other patients with that type of surgery are signed off work for weeks! No telling him! That's mean of your doctor to say you can't have any AD's because of breastfeeding, I've looked on line and there are loads you can take whilst BF. Sorry to hear you are suffering with depression. Did you have it with the other 2 DC? It's horrid. I do see a pattern with mine, it tends to be worse in the mornings, esp Monday mornings. I always seem to feel better as the day progresses. Something to do with seratonin levels in the brain, they're at their lowest in the morning. Hugs to you x x

Kerri28 · 21/11/2007 21:59

hi hopey, so sorry to hear you're having such a tough time. i "lurked" in the September 07 thread and posted occasionally so i have followed your posts. not having suffered from PND or been prescribed anti-d's i can't offer you any practical advice but i do send you hugs and support and as a thought, i had acupuncture for terrible sickness during my pg, but i also had horrifying nightmares which left me unable to sleep and in a pool of sweat. acupuncture sorted them in 2 sessions - i thought i'd mention it cos it worked so well for me.

congratulations on the birth of your beautiful girl by the way - and great choice of name .

New posts on this thread. Refresh page