Post natal depression

[Phattgal]

Hi there,
My health visitor has recently suggested i may have post natal depression and i have an appointment with my gp to discuss possible sollutions.
I know I have been a bit low since the birth of my DD 14 weeks ago but its the other symptoms that bother me and I was wondering if anyone else had had the same sorts of things?
dizziness
headaches
mini panic attacks when i get in bed (I mostly get dizzy when im in bed and i panic that im gonna be dizzy and have an attack
anxiety
morbid thoughts (im convinced that there is something wrong with me constantly)
Im a bit of a wreck to be honest and am unsure about medications for pnd that the gp may prescribe what are your experiences with prozac etc?
thanks for reading this long rambling and if anyone would answer i'd be grateful.

Personally, I would not take Prozac if you have panic attacks. The AD that I am on (Cipralex) is designed specifically to combat panic attacks, and I have found it very effective. It is also the only AD that has actually seemed to hit ,y depression. Morbid thoughts are also a symptom of depression, but I have not experienced dizziness or headaches particularly. However, everyone is different. The best thing you can do IMO is speak to your gp, as I can only speak from my personal experience.

I see tyhat you have made an appointment, so I hope that you get the help that you need. Keep posting!

phattgal, the dizziness may be caused by the fact that you are not breathing properly, when you have a panic attack or even think you might have one this can make your breathing shallow or hilted, you may also hyperventilate(sp) The headaches may be caused by your worrying whichleads to stress.

This has been my experience. I also feel ill when I am stressed/ depressed which makes me feel like something is wrong which just adds to my stress and worrying and this goes round and round.

As chimchilla has said morbid thoughts can be a symptom of deppresion.

It is a good idea to ,ention your dizzines and headaches to your doctor incase of an underlying problem.

Hi Phattgal (love the name!) - sorry to hear about the PND, but congratulations on the birth of your dd.

I have had it after all three children and am seeing a psychiatrist for counselling as well as taking antidepressants this time, my dd2 is 12 weeks old.

I have taken the same antidepressant each time, its called sertraline (Lustral). It's especially suitable for depression with anxiety and I've found it very good. It's also fine with breastfeeding, if that is an issue for you.

The other symtoms you describe are totally normal for depression (I'm a bit of an expert these days I'm afraid. Also my dh is a GP so I have talked my depression to death with him!). Many people get physical symptoms along with the mental ones - I get indigestion and also dizziness like you. Anxiety etc is normal. The doctor may also ask about your sleep, appetite, sex drive (hahahaha at 3 months after giving birth!).

Your GP may suggest counselling. Most research shows that for ordinary PND counselling is as effective as tablets, and the most effective treatment is both together. Some people also use hormone therapies but to be honest I know very little about them.

You should know that antidepressants can take 2-3 weeks to work adn sometimes you have to increase the dose to feel fully well. You will also have to take them for at least 6 months. Most of the modern antidepressants have few side effects, mainly they can make your bowels play up a bit! They are also mostly not addictive, the only one that has real problems is one called Seroxat which most docs have stopped prescribing as people had trouble coming off it. The others you reduce the dose over a few weeks and I have come off mine on more than one occasion with no bother. They don't make you sleepy or anything.

I hope you get this sorted out, and can start enjoying your beautiful daughter. It is awful, but I can seriously say that it is worthwhile taking medication as it can take months and months for you to come out of it on your own (on average I think that unmedicated mums take 7 months to recover, but of course many take a lot longer) but on the tablets you will be functional and enjoying life again inside a month.

big (((hugs))). Let us know how your appointment goes, and how you are getting on. Our dd's must be about the same size and at the same stage! Be nice to yourself, and make sure you get as much rest and pampering as you can.

love
Susan xxxxx

Hi Phattgirl - I could tick the box next to all of your symptoms. Good luck with your appointment. You WILL get better.
Just to echo Susans point re. seroxat - thats the one I was prescribed and have had a really terrible time with withdrawal.
Ive got two good friends who i met through a post natal group who took different ones and they had absolutely no problem coming off (Just my luck!).

Kizziex

Susan - how are you feeling?? Hope things looking up!
Kizziex

I would just like to say thank you all for answering it means alot that there are other people who know what im on about im not mad. I have my appointment with the doc in the morning and will post to share his pearls of wisdom.....

Well, if you are mad, then so am I...gibber gibber!

Phatty, you are certainly NOT mad (unless you have other symptoms that you have chosen not to tell us about ), but you may well be depressed. (it does sound like it). If that is what you and your doctor decide, please do not depress yourself further because you are upset about being depressed, IYSWIM. Dealing with it is the first step to getting better and feeling MUCH happier. It's very common, and it isn't something that you could have prevented; it's a physical, chemical imbalance in your brain caused by the huge hormonal upheaval of pregnancy. I wish you the very best of luck, and a speedy recovery.

Well....Ive been to see the doc and he just asked me how I felt and prescribed some fluoxetine (ssri) and told me to read the leaflet.....which I have done and now am petrified about getting any of the side effects....Good lord there are tons that they "may" cause are side effects common dya reckon or am i having an "anxious" moment and nothing will come of it. Am confused will they make me feel better.

I am sure that leaflets in medication must be a prime cause of depression and panic in their own right! Don't know anything about fluoxetine...I am taking Cipralex, and the leaflet was, like yours, a real frightener, but I only got ONE of the side effects, feeling a bit sick, and it only lasted a few days, for part of each day. And I felt better pretty much immediately...although results are supposed to take a while to kick in. Good Luck.

Manufacturers of drugs are obliged to put all the side effects into leaflets just in case, but most side effects are very rare.
These tablets are one of the new type of antidepressant with mild side effects that may take up to 3 weeks to work. Fluoxetine is also known as prozac.