panic, anxiety..post natal?

[maxipie]

Hi..felt compelled to write a message as I am fee4ling very much on my own and very WEIRD. I have been havig severe panic attacks for the last 3 months. My son as born in July and everything was so wonderful, which is why I felt it so hard to accept that I was eeling so awful, when everything shouls be OK (especially around Christmas when I was feeling my worst!) Doctor has prescribed Metazapine (zispin) After 3 weeks now, agitation and anxiety and panic feel worse than ever nad I feel completely spaced out. Went back today and have been told they can take up to 6 weeks to kick in. Does this mean I have to face feeling awful and panick for another 2 weeks? I don't know?

Has anyone else felt like this?

I feel short tempered, anxiousm andry, panicky all at the same time, it even waked me in the night, waking up in a sweat...awful...

I'm fed up with it and scared I'm never goig to feel right again. I've started drinking more as well to soften these edgy nervous feelings.

Help!

please....

Maxipie, sorry to hear you're going through this. Has your doctor diagnosed pnd? It doesn't have to be just after the birth, not at all. I have had the odd panic attack and they're awful aren't they? I do sympathise, it sounds like you're getting more than the odd one. I'm sure someone here will be more helpful and have some good suggestions but I just wanted to sympathise and let you know you're not alone. Are you getting any sleep? I mean with your baby, since lack of sleep can also make you feel terrible. It's understandable that you're feeling scared but I'm sure you'll get some good advice and understanding here.

Maxipie
Firstly don't feel alone - there are lots of people both here on Mumsnet and in the 'real bricks & morter' world who can help you.
Obviously your GP is the best person to talk to, and is the only person who can diagnose what's going on, so DO go back and talk over your concerns.
However, just some thoughts and hopefully some things which might help...
After the birth of my first son I think I suffered quite badly with PND, but never had it officially diagnosed, and just struggled through it. WWW is right - PND doesn't have to be immediately after the birth, it can hit different people at different times. Is this your first child? I know with my 1st I got to about 4-6 months and suddenly the realisation dawned on me that life as I knew it would never be the same again - and that hit me hard! Also, depending on how much sleep/rest you're (not) getting, the whole thing can seem blown out of proportion by sleep deprivation (after all, it is a form of torture!)
Some suggestions, for what they're worth (and sorry if these aren't relevant as I don't know all the details of your situation...

• make sure you're getting out and about with your baby - out of the house somewhere at least once a day: NCT / Mother & baby/ friends 4 coffee, ANYTHING, but get out, as most people find being at home all day with a little baby drives them stir crazy...
• if your baby is still wakeful throughout the night & you're shattered then consider introducing a gentle form of sleep training to encourage good habits - by 7 months you probably shouldn't need to be up more than once (if at all)unless your baby is unwell etc.
• Has anything else changed recently e.g. have your stopped breastfeeding/ gone back on the pill etc. My DS2 was born last Aug and I only just had my first period a couple of weeks ago - it was HORRENDOUS and I felt panicky, tearful and an emotional wreck the week beforehand. i think it takes our bodies longer than we realise to 'go back to normal' and certainly I seemed to have hormones raging all over the place...
• and finally, don't feel you have to suffer in silence - there are lots of people/organisations you can talk to/ seek advice/ just chat to. have you spoken to your Health Visitor at all - sometimes they have more time than your GP, and they may be able to put you in touch with groups etc. I know drinking might help in the short term (you don't say how much?) but do be careful - it may be that alcohol is reacting with your drugs. Probably best to keep off it if possible.

Hope things get better. Keep posting here to let us know how you're doing.

Yup, it's awful isn't it? I went on Prozac a couple of years ago, and they gave me panic attacks. I have never heard of your pills, but I am on Cipramil, which are anti-depressants that are also used for people suffering with anxiety. Obviously I am not a doctor, but these pills seem to be working, and I noticed a difference in less than a week. They made me feel slightly panicky for two or three days, but this wore off. Perhaps you should give your pills the required amount of time to work, no doctor will prescribe anything new until you have at least given them a shot. If they still don't seem to be working, then ask him/her to change them. Sometimes you have to try a few different ones before you find one that works...I know this from unfortunate experience.

The trouble with having a baby is that it does change your life drastically. Nothing can prepare you for that. Even if it is a generally wonderful experience, it is not unusual for people to think, 'Hang on, my life was not like this before.' This is bound to make you feel weird over time. Sorry if this sounds patronising. What I am trying to say is that I can totally empathise with how you are feeling. I love my ds to bits, and generally he gives me so much joy. However, the stress of the life change did make me depressed again. I am currently suffering from depression, but am hoping that I caught it early this time.

Hopefully, your pills will kick in really soon, and you will feel the benefit of them. Hang on in there, and keep in touch. Talk to us here if you are at all worried, or see your gp again.

I agree with Chinchilla i too have been on Cipramil a few years ago and it was very good for me, i've not heard of your pills. Cipramil has now brought out another one which is faster acting and called Cipralex, it also is non-addictive and has no side effects when you come off them. I know it's hard for you, i was there with PND with my first child but got through, my only advice, is during the nice weather or if it's not raining, get your baby wrapped up and go for a walk and find someone who you trust and talk, talk and talk some more. You will get through this.

Sorry, mine is Cipralex...I always get the names mixed up. But, yes, it is excellent. I have tried Seroxat, Effexor, Prozac, and one other, which were all useless or horrible.

Thanks so much for the advice.....

I really will go back to my doctor, they seem too keen to just brush me off without really listening to me!!

I am feeling better today as it goes, so maybe I will hang on with these for one more week and see if anything improves.

Yes, this is my first baby and he is amazing! I love him so much but sometimes I wish I wouldn't feel so anxious because it hinders my enjoyment as I am too busy worrying about how I feel! It's driving me a little nuts. He's 6 months old now and I am very lucky as he sleeps alot and all through the night, so he isn't the problem at all. I don't have any "bad" feeling toward him either.

My partner is absolutely hopeless if I am not feeling "normal" whatever that is these days!

He doesn't help at all and in fact makes me feel even more anxious to be myself again otherwise I have no support from him. He hardley ever sees our son as he works away lots and late into the evening when he's home. I sometimes wonder if he's even bothered about him. I don't think he has ever changed his nappy even!

My parents live close by and are brilliant so that's something.

Also my sister has a baby 6 days older but she is 200 miles away but we keep in touch on the fone everyday.

I do get out everyday which is good but since these pills I get a bit agoraphobic and have to scuttle home sometimes to feel safe. It's so stupid I know but I can't seem to shake it.

So that's about it really. So I'll call the doc again (they must be getting fed up with me by now!) I'll enquire about the other AD's as well

Thanks again...
I'll let you know how I get on!

Nothing i can say can make you feel any better at the minute, but honestly you will get through this. I used to look at my first born and just cry because i felt so down, my husband wasnt much good either and we nearly split because i'd had enough but we got through this. When your husband is at home go out for the full day, go as early as possible and come back as late as possible, and leave a list of household chores that need doing, don't take a mobile or you'll be tempted to ring home and ask about baby, if you do this it will give him a wake up call to what us 'Housewives' actually do during the day. As for the doctors some are a waste of space but be insistent and ask for a second opinion if necessary, see how u go within the next 7 days & if u feel no better ask to go on Cipralex, as i said before it's faster acting than any other and non-addictive. Good luck and if you need to moan log onto here someone knows what you're going through.

Maxipie, I too was prescribed Metazapine (once PND had been diagnosed) and although my reaction to them was not as bad as yours, they really didn't suit me and after 4 weeks I went back to my GP and she changed me to Prozac which suited me much better. Reactions to drugs vary a lot so you may have to try a couple of different ones but I'm sure you will find something that suits you. Can you try a different doctor in the same practice? I really hope you get some sympathy because you deserve it and that things get sorted out .. good luck!

I too was prescribes cipramil, and after a few days of feeling worse, i felt much better. I was on them for 2 years until recently when i came off, there was no side-affects and thought that were great. I would go back to the doctor and change your pill, or maybe your dosage, because it sounds as though these are not helping you at all. Good Luck

Hi..I think maybe the drugs should be changed. Although I was feeling quite positive this morning, some reason I am now spinning slightly and my head is throbbing like it's going to explode! Sounds wierd, feels worse. It is making me panic very badly.

I really need to go out today but not sure if I can in case I feel odd in town. I wish it would go away.

I think I'll speak to the doctor again today.

I am so glad to have found this website, you are all being really helpful, just knowing I am not alone makes me feel a bit better.

I spoke to a friend of mine about Ciprinol (sp?) and they said it span them out a bit. But I guess everyone is different. I am not sure if I am very good at tolerating AD's. A few year ago I was given Seroxat at a quite high dosage for mild panic attacks and I ended up hallucinating and very frightened. This has put me off taking drugs through fear. I think I fight the feelings they give me and make myself worse!

Does anyone know any good herbal or holistic remedies that may help instead? Worth a try?

thanks

Maxipie - try looking at the Postnatal Depression 2 thread (informally known to us who are posting there at the moment as the 'crazy ladies'. There is a lady there who is on a herbal supplement.
Definitely sounds like you should go back to the doc. When I was first depressed I was on Dothiepin which meant I couldn't wake in the night to feed my dd! But I eventually ended up on sertraline which has been great.
Hope you get it sorted out!

Maxipie, I sympathise so much. I had panic attacks years ago and they were the most awful thing to go through. I told my shrink that I would rather be dead than suffer another attack. I was put on prozac, it worked for me and I havent had an attack for years. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you find the right help very soon.

Hi Maxipie,

I'm the 'crazy lady' (still makes me giggle!!)on herbal supplements at the moment. It's called Sepia and has worked wonders for me so far. I was reluctant to go on AD's coz I don't know much about them, but my Doc recommended Sepia.
It has no side affects and it isn't expensive. i've been taking it now for about 3 weeks and I've already sailed through my period (by far my worst time) with no serious relapses or tears or panics.

It can't hurt to give it a try and it does sound like you are being hampered more by the sideaffects of your drugs!! This would cancel that out factor and it might just work!! There are other homeopathic remedies tailormade for specific 'womens troubles' too. I think it's worthwhile having a read into it.

Like Susanmt said have a read at the 'Post Natal Depression 2' thread... and join us 'crazy ladies'!!!

Hi to everyone so far!!

you have all made laugh!

Thankyou so much for making me feel like I am not the only one feeling so bad!

I will try the homeopathic remedies...like you say, can't hurt?

I have an appointment at the docs tomorrow...they all know me there now, probably think I am a "crazy lady" too! I will look up that thread when I get a minute.

Anyway, today has been okay, so far. Have lots to talk to my partner about (if he will listen??) so thanks again everyone, I'll keep an eye on this site, I think I need it!

how do I find the thread post natal depression 2 like you suggested? can't find it? any ideas where it is!!

thanks!

maxipie, the latest pnd thread is here. You crazy ladies are making me laugh too with that description!

thanks for that! found the site....excellent reading! really enjoyed it!

I am loving this site...my sister recommended it yesterday and I wish she had done sooner, it has really helped.

Breeze....I have contacted the email address "mumsnet.com" to try to get your address if that is OK? No reply yet. Anyway it'll probably be later on.

Mum2toby.....love your postings on the other thread abot "crazy lady" we aren't all that bad really are we? What is normal anyway? Define "normal" maybe we are and its everyone else that is messed up!! heehee!

Mommymommy...thankyou for your words of support, you really sound like you had it as bad as me?

and chinchilla....I'm glad you agree with me about AD's actually GIVING you panic attacks? How stupid is that? the very thing they are prescribed for bloody makes you 10 times worse?? I don't get it!

I'll be in touch and let you know how things go, put it this way I can't believe I can feel any worse!!

bunny 2 did your panic attacks get worse at first when you were taking prozac