My PND specialist midwife is sending me to a psychiatrist

[colditz]

She said she thinks I have a mood disorder and my medication needs reviewing.

well, I googled mood disorders, and did some online thingies, and the one that I can tick nearly all the boxes for (in a 'but of course' way, not just maybes) is bipolar disorder.

I feel a bit numb and very very frightened. Will this become a child protection issue? Will it stop me getting a job as a care assistant?

Hi,
bipolar disorder often responds well to drug therapy, but it's a bit of trial amd error initially to get doses right. I wouldn't see it becoming a child protection issue unless your moods are extremely unstable and you become a danger to your kids...not likely if you comply with treatment.
Shouldn't affect your job prospects (I have worked with more than one registered nurse with depression and /or bipolar disorder)

Good luck.xxx

Sorry to hear that you aren't too good.
It is a frightening prospect to put a name to how you are feeling but hopefully this will assist your treatment.With regard to getting a health care assistant job ,i cant see why a mental health issue would go against you.I am a care assistant and i suffer with long term depression ,which the Nhs knew about when they employed me.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

colditz- a close friend of mine has bipolar disorder which came to light after the birth of her ds. She has 2 children and is the primary carer for them as her marriage ended last year. She is bright, funny and caring. Her kids are quite high maintenance compared to mine so I take my hat off to her. Her parents are around but not as helpful as would be really useful.
However she manages, is a wonderful parent and there is no child protection issue. She does have dips but now recognises them coming and can head them off to a certain extent by getting friends round , calling in support from the community psychiatric nurse etc etc
I am sure that if this the case for you, then it is as a psyhcaitrist friend of mine says" an easily managed condition. " Get as much info as you need and share it with the important people in your life so that they know how to look out for you. We can spot my friend's moods dip sometimes just by the way she walks to school. she has coped with some tough times and I am sure you will too.

Please don't worry. Mental health issues don't equal child protection issues. Of course they will be assessed but only in the most serious of circumstances do they become a problem. As mentioned before mood disorders can be managed and can give considerable improvement and even cure to a life previously controlled by highs and lows. Employment wise mental illness is more common than many people think as those affected keep things very close to their chest. p
Particularly within the NHS and the caring professions a diagnosis of mental illness including depression and bipolar affective disorder is very common. If a diagnosis is made people are often surprised at how understanding/flexible their employer is. A word of caution a diagnsis of bipolar affective disorder should only be made by a psychiatrist and in the light of all your personal history/ symptoms. Checklists may be a useful pointer for issues but are certainly not diagnostic. Hope this is useful.

colditz

I have the local authority referral checklist before me

if a parent with mental health issues is a concern, the local (to where I was) Ss only wanted to know if partner was a concern too

Please don't worry. Even when Dh was very ill with straight depression, he wwasn't considered a problem as I was onnthe ball.

look at it as a step towards a [possible solution, and possibly a medication that could change your life for the better

good luck

oh and that is if they are a concern

just having the syndrome isn't a concern, you;d ahve to be a risk in some way. I suppose in RL you could be anybody, but I have never read anything by you that would make you seem other than an exemplary parent.

thankyou. Sorry I couldn't get back to this thread last night.

I haven't been diagnosed, but will be seeing a psychiatrist soon, so will see what they say.

It's very scary to move down a list, ticking all the boxes, only to discover there might be something wrong with you! I knew I was depressed, I have always suffered with depression, but I am just shocked that the midwife has referred me based purely on what I said to her - which I can't remember, I often can't remember the things I say when I am a bit overwrought

Oh colditz, I feel so sad for you. It really makes me mad that seeing a psychiatrist or having pnd is considered such a terrible thing in the uk. You have an illness just like any other. Luckily for you, it is probably treatable. And a psychiatrist is the specialist who should be treating it. You should be happy that you have a midwife sensible enough to send you to the appropriate specialist for your condition. Mood disorder can mean anything from a little depressed to totally nuts. It sounds like you are on the former end of the scale and just need an expert to work out the best treatment for you. If you had a brain tumor, would you want your gp or your midwife diagnosing and treating you. Also, just as an aside, picking a psychiatrist is a very personal choice. If you are uncomfortable in anyway with the psychiatrist who you have been referred to, please, please, please, just ask for another one. If the psych is any good, you can even say to them, I don't think this is working can you suggest someone else and they will. If they don't, then they aren't any good anyway and you need to ask you gp for someone else. But hopefully the first person you get, is someone you like and it wil all work out well.
By the way,
My very best friend has been on anti-depressants for years and not only has it helped her no end, but she is a social worker who works with children and is also an absolutely amazing mother. Ironically she is english and dealt with her depression for years in the english fashion of ignoring it. When she moved to the usa, she finally went to a psychiatrist (very socially acceptable and the norm here) and was prescribed anti-depressants and never ever looked back. I met her when she first moved to the usa and therefore knew her before she received treatment and all I can say is that I couldn't believe what a difference it made in her life. In fact the only really difficult period she had was just after having her son as she had stopped the anti-depressants while pregnant and while breastfeeding and had a really terrible labor and pnd it was just so so hard for her. But she stayed in the care of her psychiatrist during the whole period and made it through, went back on the anti-depressants and finished her masters in social work and got a great job and is doing really well now. The way she describes it is that the ad's just take the edge of the depression enough that she can get a grip on life and say "ok, things will be better tomorrow." And that little bit is enogh to give her the tools to enjoy life.
I wish you the very best of luck with it all and hope that you can enjoy the help and advice of your psychiatrist and know that it will help you cope with and even enjoy each day.

thankyou SofiaAmes

colditz, for you

I recently went through a similar scenario with dh and posted about it on here, and got some great advice from other mners, here .Lots of positive stories there, particularly of how people have been to hell and back and yet can still work and hold down good jobs.

(In dh's case, the GP has said that although he could be diagnosed as bipolar, his manic phases are manageable and therefore they would continue to just treat the depression - like you, he could tick every box relating to bipolar).

((((hugs)))) and if I can be of any more help please let me know.

I'm sorry that you aren't well at the moment.

It absolutely gets on my tits thatthere is a stigma in this country attached to mental health and seeking help when unwell. Please don't be frightened and worry about child protection stuff etc. Any diagnosis is really just a label that is applied to a cluster of signs and symptoms to help guide treatment and management and shouldn't change how you see yourself or how others view you.

I hope that you are able to see a psychiatrist soon so that you can get properly assessed and get some more information and treatment/meds changed if needed.

Good Luck and hopethat you are feeling well again soon.x

colditz, how are you feeling today?

I know two doctors who are bipolar...they are on medication, and manage it really well.

BUT like you say, you haven't been diagnosed yet...I've diagnosed myself with all sorts of things from box ticking (not to dismiss what you felt at ALL, just saying its possible you won't have to deal with as much as you fear). I hope whatever the doctors think, they are able to help and that you feel better soon...

Thinking of you, xxx

I am fine today!

It is so strange, sometimes I am fine, sometimes I am bouncing off the walls with excitement and wanting stimulation all the time, and sometimes I want to roll myself in my duvet and cry until I suffocate.

Having researched a little more, I doubt I have bipolar disorder, as this is made worse by antidepressants, whereas I feel a lot better since starting prozac 4 months ago. I was in a bad place then.

Thanks for asking Miaou. I am not as scared now, I am looking at it a little more rationally now.

Glad to hear you are feeling better today colditz.

Sorry, that was a really short message, I got broken off and forgot to come back again!

Do discuss it further if you need to, either on here or with your PND specialist, even if just to allay your fears. It is so easy to let things get on top of you when you are down and then to ignore/dismiss it when you are better (believe me I am an expert )

'I know two doctors who are bipolar...they are on medication, and manage it really well.'

I know a brilliant surgeon who is bipolar and managing well.

Hi Colditz - I have borderline bipolar disorder - my shrink says its a mood disorder and my GP thinks its BP so is currently referring me to a different hospital for a 2nd opinion. had a big "Crash" after going UP down Up down etc. after they tried God knows how many Anti- Depressants on me and then decided it was BP because SURPRISE! AD's don't work with BP but by then I was completely nuts and ended up being hospitalized after cutting myself .....However.....on a Positive note....I am back at work ( I have a very responsible job in marketing, hold down a bloody huge mortgage, and bring up 2 kids by myself - I do have a very supportive ex husband who understands my condition!) So all is not doom and gloom... no one wants to take your kids away from you, there are loads of people out there with BP, I believe Madonna & Robin Williams are supposed to have it. There are Gp's with it and with the right meds. you can lead a "normal" life. It's just fighting to make sure your GP understands how you feel and what works and doesn't do it for you - if your GP isn't understanding change doctors. I've lived with this for over 20 years and its only this last 12 months I've found a doctor who has finally listened and at last I've got my life back
and it's bloody great!!! I take Topamax for my mood swings and quetiapine to calm me down and its finally working. Stick with it girl - you'll get there!!! It's nothing to be ashamed about and if anyone makes you feel ashamed about what you're going through they're not worh knowing