Depression and Hormones

[MrsPurple]

Hi have suffered with depression since had last DD (nearly 4 years ago). Initially PND had some AntiDepressants and then tried to get on with it.

Never felt totally ok, but last summer had Mirena Fitted and it went pear shaped from there. Have since had it taken out and been having CBT since October.

I've finally admitted how angry I am with everything, but have had horrendous week and feel like I've gone back to very start before Therapy.

Have been on period this week and can honestly say I've been on breaking point, DH actually said I should go and stay at Therapy centre to sort myself out. Problem is I've just started a new job (which I love and takes my mind of moods and depression) and the hours fit perfectly with school (it's taken me 4 years to find such a job).

Haven't been taking any medication with this bout of depression/anxiety as had a very bad reaction last September to 2 different types of Meds and it scared the hell out of me.

I'm due at CBT tomorrow (luckerly), but am wondering if anyone else has similar problem around Hormones.

I was so bad yesterday (had row with DH), who took DC's out and I thought what is the point They'd be better off if I left! It was only the thought that I'd ruin their childhood and they'd end up in therapy themselves that I took myself off to bed to try and regain some strenght.

Feel a bit better today, but DH has left me to play on computer so I can calm down.

Hi Marjie3

Off on hols tomorrow, but will try it when I get back and let you know.

Thanks

Hi Swallowedafly

Thanks for this post, I got my DH to read it and he said it was me to a tee.

We've been on holiday and my period started the day after we arrived - didn't plan that too well.

Anyway, because I was just relaxing, had no stress etc (although couldn't get enough sleep) I wasn't too bad, although had 1 rocky day where I just felt I'd had enough. I was angry with everyone, tearful, nothing seemed to calm me down. However because of my lenghty therapy and CBT skills I just took myself to our hotel room and my DH left me to it (we had had an arguement, but he knows to leave me alone when I get like this so I can calm down as everything feels like a pneumatic drill and also everyone is talking all at once).

Anyway after about an hour and a half he came to check on me and I felt able to talk without screaming and also without hysterical crying.

I need to buy some agnus castus, but where from?

I have tried vitamin B12 (as high dosage as you can get) and it has worked (I just forget to take it - tiredness and therefore forgetful)

Let me know how you get on - as strengh in numbers, it's unlikely we will have bad spells at the same time.

Reading this thread is like reading my life at the mo....

poor you. How are feeling? It's better to talk about it, beleive me otherwise it festers and just makes you feel ten times worse.

Mrs P it is nice to meet another I'll tell my story, but it is long

I had my daughter 4 1/2 months ago and have had a short and minor trip (thankfully) into PND getting worse at key cyclical times.

I am now feeling much better but am really scared about PMT because it was awful before I had her. I have just come off the mini pill because I was sick of the random bleeding it caused (I was feeling better tho so it wasn't that causing the depression IFYSWIM). Therefore I reckon in about a week it will all be starting up. In my case I can pretty well control it (although I could pre-baby anyway) but it lasts for about a week and a half. This is a long time on the edge, then feeling ropey because of period, then it all starting again a week and a half later.

I just can't decide what to do at all. Options are:

1. mirena to pretty well stop periods. Don't fancy that because everything I've ever tried with progesterone has made me bleed. GP says that it is a lower dose and more concentrated so it wouldn't have that effect but I just don't believe it. I know it can cause depression but I've had p-only contraception before so think it may be OK.

1. normal copper coil (because I need contraception lol), see how I go, try the agnus castus (which I haven't heard about before) take the fluoxetine which I have been prescribed (currently hiding at the back of my drawer) if I feel I can't cope.

1. Cancel the appointment I have to discuss coil and see how I go for a while. Then make decision. Only prob being it would be then not worth having it fitted at all. I probably want to ttc in about 18 months again which is quite a short time to have a coil fitted at all.

1. Go back on combined pill which would sort it completely. Only prob is that I have dodgy blood pressure so the downside is it could also kill me if I'm really unlucky.

AAAARRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

I think the worst thing is that people think that PMT is funny and it just isn't is it?

Hi brett

I had the mirena fitted last summer and had horrendous time. Not just constant bleeding but all my friends said it was like someone flickered a switch on, my depression got so bad I ended up in therapy for 9 months.

You'd have to be really unucky with the pill, but if it solves all problems ask GP can you have regular blood pressure monitoring.

The copper pill, IMO would be pointless if you want more children

Good luck but keep posting so we can all support each other. I'm due my low time in about 7 days

I know what you mean about the pill, but the problem is that it would really worry me. Plus, I start getting anxious about having my BP taken and as a result it goes through the roof even if it isn't high. I really don't want to go down that route as a result because I will just spend my life stressing about every twinge in my leg and hooked up to the 24 hour bp monitor.

I am going to keep doctors appointment to talk about it. I know what you mean about the copper coil and am also going to ask about natural family planning I think. But 18 months is quite a long time. I will see what she says about the mirena as she is the one that fits them, so has the most experience. I know that they can cause problems in some people, but if there is even a 50/50 chance it could sort me then it may be worth a try. Any type of coil can cause bleeding at first can't it?

I think I may be a bit hormonal by the time I go. One of the probs is that when I am 'normal' I just can't imagine what it's like when I'm not. It may help if I am because it will remind me what I am dealing with.

Enjoy the next 7 days. I will probably also be ropey around then too.

Hi Brett

You're right about the mirena causing bleeding to start with, but I constantly bled for 3 months.

When it was eventually taken out I then had horrendous bleed for about 4 weeks (nothing would contain it, sorry to be blunt but it looked like a blood bath every morning (yuk)