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Mental health

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Original poster

Waiting for anti-depressants to kick in - how do I cope

17 replies

WinkyGirl · 26/03/2008 09:26

My second baby is 10 days old. I have been very anxious and depressed. Unable to eat or sleep (have lost a stone in the last week.)

I started taking anti-depressants yesterday (sertraline)

How much longer will I have to cope with the anxiety and despair before they kick in? Not sure how much more of this I can cope with.

OP posts:

BBBee · 26/03/2008 09:33

it varies how long they take but if you are still feeling bad you would really benefit from someone to talk to until they do.

what are you plans for today?

how is your baby?

how are you feeling?

MyEye · 26/03/2008 09:35

I'm so sorry you're going through this. When I started taking the right AD I started feeling calmer fairly soon, within a week or so, I think. Being diagnosed also helped me quite a bit, made me feel 'well, OK, I'm ill, this isn't all my fault, something terrible is just happening to me' which was in some ways a massive relief. Talking to MNers who'd come out of PND also gave me hope.

Keep an eye on yourself, and if you seem to be feeling worse, please go back straight away to the GP.

Have you got company? -- are there people who can come and just be in the house with you over the next week or so?

Original poster

WinkyGirl · 26/03/2008 09:44

Thanks BBBee and MyEye

I have got support. My DH does get frustrated but is mainly supportive. My Mum is also local so she comes alot. My midwife/health visitor/dr are also very good.

Will I start feeling a bit better day by day?

Today we have got to go a register the baby's birth. We have a 22 month old so I am not getting much rest.

OP posts:

BBBee · 26/03/2008 09:49

you are doing well - that is quite a tricky age gap so I hope you are getting rest when you can.

You have done really well to recognise your problem and you have taken the first and hardest steps to workign through this. Keep talking to people and don't feel you have to cover this up - lots of people get this. Thank people for their support and understanding but be honest with them too.

You sound very insightful and in tune and that is really helpful.

I found a difference after a few days but also some relaxation techinques helped.

Best wishes.

BBBee · 26/03/2008 14:27

how are you winky?

nessy18 · 26/03/2008 15:13

Hi have had PND with both my DDs. Had anti depresents both times and they do work. I did not notice them kicking in just looked back one day and realised things were getting better.It didn't take long for them to work but it seemed like forever at the time.
Just keep talking and take all the support you can you are not alone.

Original poster

WinkyGirl · 26/03/2008 15:14

Im hanging in there. My Mum has been down and we have been discussing how I am feeling which has helped.

I keep a daily diary and when I had my eldest child I was really bad until she was around 13 days old. Then bad generally. Then things lifted after several weeks. (I wasnt on anti-depressents with her.)

The hardest thing is getting the anxiety in the mornings before people are awake to speak to. Thats when I get a bit desperate. Mum has insisted I ring the Samaritans if I need to...

OP posts:

GooseyLoosey · 26/03/2008 15:16

Sertraline can take about 4 weeks to kick in. When I started taking them, my GP prescribed diazepam as a very short term remedy to stop extreme anxiety when I felt I just could not cope. Diazepam is addictive so long term use is not recommended, but it may be worth going back to your GP if you feel you really cannot cope to get help while the Sertraline kicks in.

readytoswiggin · 26/03/2008 15:22

I took fluoxetine (prozac) for pnd after my second and am about to request to take it again after my third. I found it took 2 weeks to kick in and those 2 weeks were shit. anxiety, dodgy guts etc, but once it kicked it, it took effect quickly, and did help me a lot.

Good luck

Original poster

WinkyGirl · 26/03/2008 19:17

I did ask about something like diazapem or valium to help me sleep/calm me when it gets bad but apparently I cannot take those while breastfeeding.

I am dreading the next dose of anxiety. But I must remind myself that it wont last forever.

Thanks for your support

OP posts:

MyEye · 26/03/2008 19:51

I took dosulepin/dothiepin while bfeeding; it really helped me sleep (I remember a difference from the first night, actually: the bliss of being konked out instead of lying there wired in the dark). It was a good drug for my sort of PND (lots of anxiety) and I had no sideeffects. Hope the sertraline does the trick for you.
Your mum is sensible to suggest Samaritans. If you need to speak to someone (and I do so remember that feeling), they are always there. Or there's MN of course... someone is bound to be up somewhere

nessy18 · 27/03/2008 11:05

How you doing today?

worrybeads · 27/03/2008 11:19

winkygirl, how are you today?

I've just stopped taking (tapered off) ADs after taking them for 10 months. I didn't have PND but depression brought on by a number of events - and anxiety was my main symptom. This was a big shock for me as I'm normally a confident, pretty unshakable person.

I seem to remember that the medication took a couple of weeks to kick in. To start with there was an increase in my anxiety, which was pretty distressing so I had lots of people around me for support and my partner did most of the childcare/house stuff for that period.

I do hope you get some relief, and soon, x

Original poster

WinkyGirl · 27/03/2008 17:38

I am feeling a lot better today. No real black periods just anxiety and feeling down.

To some extent I am also happier because I know I am on the pills iyswim. Its giving me a bit of confidence. And my hormones have probably settled a bit too.

Right now my plans are to fill every morning with supportive visitors. But not so much that I overwhelm myself.

My DH is going back to work on Monday but he will be working from home every afternoon until I am better. I am so pleased.

Thanks for your support.

OP posts:

Original poster

WinkyGirl · 29/03/2008 09:13

I had another very bad day yesterday. I started an anxiety attack 11pm the night before and it lasted all yesterday until 3.30pm. I just could not carry on. The midwife came and insisted I see a dr. She gave me something to help me sleep and some diazapem in case it gets bad during the day.

I slept well last night and no anxiety attack so far today. Just feeling very down and worried.

I hate this. Why do we have to go through it? I just want to enjoy my baby or even to just feel something for him. I feel so bad at how this is affecting my family.

OP posts:

Kaz1967 · 29/03/2008 11:47

They can take a little while to kick in and you can feel worse in the first week. It's no wonder you are so shattered if you have a 22month old.

Expressing your feelings either by talking or writing things down can help sometimes. Talk to your partner about how you are feeling, if you have good friends or family close by and they are supportive talk to them too and see if they can give you some time to sleep (usually makes things feel better and makes you feel more able to cope) and give you some time to be good to your self, pamper your self by just having a bath without worrying about the baby etc.

Try very hard to eat small amounts frequently, a big meal can just be overwhelming when you are struggling with food but sadly not eating could well be making the anxiety worse because your blood sugar is low an this can exasperate anxiety and depressive symptoms. It may also be worth considering taking a multi vit which contains b vitamin complex and omega 3 pregacare does one it is safe to take while breastfeeding which contains both.

Also talk to the HV or Midwife (who ever is still doing your care) she should arrange to offer you extra support she should also be able to put you in touch with the anti natal group and other Mums who feel like you do. It can really help to know you are not the only one.

For the anxiety I know it is often without a cause but is there anything that is making you feel more anxious? Have you ever been shown how to do relaxation? It may help a little there is a free CBT course called Living Life to The Full which has 2 guided relaxation tracks you can down load in MP3 format you have to register but it is free an you don't receive lots of junk. Once registered you will find them under the Course Resources tab on the left. They have 2 sections on anxiety control as part of the CBT course which you may also find useful.

Please don't be so hard on your self right now your hormones are making you feel like this it will get better.

3kidsisquiteenuff · 10/04/2008 19:55

hi winkygirl i have had pnd twice now i know how terrible it can be its like torture having an illness that no one else can see and at the same time you have to look after your children.please beleive me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel it might be weeks or months b4 you start to feel the affects of the ad's .i felt such despair that i was never gonna feel happiness again but im here today to say it is possible.
lots of love for you and hope it starts to lift soon

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