********** December 2006 PART 2 **************

[castlesintheair]

Will this do?

So sorry to hear that AQ It does sound like you might be going down the PND road. Nothing but AD's worked for me but you might try taking Omega 3's if you want to try something else first. That and possibly St. John's Wort. But life is too short to be miserable so I wouldn't stress about getting on the AD's if you really need them. As a good friend said to me, "We're all just a big bag of chemicals anyway and sometimes you have to add a little something to the mix"

Hi Indith, I'm quite interested in the practicalities of camping with a baby. Can you email me on sachaj_course at yahoo dot com and describe it a bit better to me please? eg size of tent, did you use roll mats, how did you make sure you didn't roll on him / suffocate him etc (I've tried co-sleeping and it was a disaster as I was so paranoid). I have a two man tent (and it is just that size, bags go in porch) and a large 4man tent but with two small 2 people sleeping compartments so either way I'd be in less than the size of a double bed. Unfortunately my tents are not long enough to eg have him sleeping at the head of me and dh. (DH will have to go in either 1 man tent or other sleeping section)

Oh AQ, do you want a ((hug))? I went through all those symptoms with dd, it was such a horrible time for all of us and it is good that you've realised what's going on. My HV was great (for once) when I spoke to her about it (I rang her office and couldn't speak for the first 5 mins for crying) and, as well as suggesting seeing my gp, said regular exercise, eating well and finding some time in the day just for you would help. Having had depression in the past, I knew that they would only work in conjunction with ADs so I went to my gp. Luckily he was on the ball and did a full blood screen and thyroid check before he prescribed the ADs. It turned out I was in that small precentage of women whose thyroids' stop working after pg. So if you do go to your gp, please ask him to do a blood test first. I dread to think what could have happened if I'd just been put on Ads as my thyroid level was really really low. A week after I started on thyroxine I was back to normal, so it's worth getting it checked.

At the end of the day you're over the first hurdle in recognising there's something wrong. Have you told your dh how you feel? Mine found it much easier to deal with with the mood swings etc once he understood what I was going through. Yours sounds lovely and as if he's trying to help already. Things will get better from now on, because you know something's wrong. Ads will sort it more quickly but I know there's lots of people on MN who have recovered without ADs.

Take care, thinking of you xx

AQ, Hugs.
I don't really know about PND but you are right, having written it down it sounds like you should go talk to your GP. I wish you well and hope you make the effort to see your GP (I know, you probably don't want to leave the house, but I am sure you also know it will be worth it)

AQ, Here is the Edinburgh Postnatal Questionnaire. Might confirm what you are thinking? Am just going through the archives to find out alternatives to ADs for you.

Okay, other suggestions so far:

'The best help I ever had was from a hynotherapist that specialised in depression. Amongst other things he taught me to accept the days when I felt so low etc. and just to go with them.'

try st johns wort

AQ, only you know how you feel. it will probably help to talk to your dh and maybe your gp. i feel like that some days and not others.

olihan - the questionnaire was interesting. confirmed some things for me too

Oops, pressed post too soon!

'I have a friend who swears by accupuncture.'

I coped by structuring every day that I was with DCs to spend as little time on own in house as possible - seeing people, going to cafe, going on bus, going to toddlers, going to swings. Every day had its own activities and they were the same every week. It sounds God awful with hindsight but it really helped me - controlled that "help, I can't cope" feeling as I knew every day what I would be doing.'

'evening primrose oil'

'In addition I started to get severe migraines so I went for accupunture to treat them. It did not help the migraines, but I noticed a dramatic improvement in my depression and wellbeing, so much so that after 12 treatments I came off the anti depressants.'

Hope some of this is useful, will keep looking.

with DD1 the thing that helped me most was going out too. Making sure i had people to talk to, even if was just about boring baby stuff.

Oh GS, sorry you're having a tough time too. Did you have it last time too?

Can't add anything, AQ, just bucketloads of support and good wishes.

Gosh, thanks everyone, I remember when I struggled with depression antenatally you were all wonderful then too! I've been noticing that I was finding it hard to even be positive on here. Oli, thanks so much for doing all that research on my behalf, I don't seem to have the motivation myself, I just want to lie on the couch & eat chocolate all day. I had pnd with ds1 from about 6 weeks in I think, and have had other episodes since I was 21. This would have to be the 1st time I've recognised the problem so quickly, which makes me feel hopeful I'll be able to tackle it. The last time it was 18 months of misery for me, ds1 & dp. He does know what's going on, we spoke about it whilst I was pregnant cos we both knew it might happen again. Pleased I got to 4 months anyway because I've been really happy up until now & enjoying ds2 immensely.

Scored quite highly on the edinburgh test, I guess I should have known. Now I just need to get off my backside & get some help. I saw a mental health nurse antenatally, I'm sure she said I could ring anytime so I will if I can find the number. I have been trying to go out as much as possible even when I don't want to but it doesn't seem to be helping that much. I suspect the bfing is playing a part with this although I'm still determined to continue (Oli, went looking for your thread to offer support yesterday but couldn't find it?). I'll go back and see my gp this week too as need to review dizzy spells anyway.

You guys are the best tonic though!

Ooh, and added photos of my ds's to cheer myself up. Can anyone see them, I tried to add you all!

I nearly said in my earlier message 'have a look through the depression archives for alternative treatments', then thought, 'nope, she be able to' . I've had depression twice, then the thyroid induced symptoms, so I know that listlessness about everything very well. The mental health nurse sounds like a good idea, especially as she knows your history. Let your dh look after you and try and get some sleep. You too, GS.

Can't see photos yet!

You're so right, Oli, I am so apathetic and listless right now. Rats about the photos, I uploaded them and said available to mumsnet mates & you're all on my list!

I would agree with Olihan with the thyroid function test.

It runs in my family (My mum has had it for about 15 years and my nan suffered from it)

My uncle has just been diagnosed and one of my aunts too (so thats 3 of six of my nans children suffering from it)

My aunt was feeling so low and it was a relief to be able to treat it.

I hope you are able to get diagnosis and treatment soon

xx

AQ, I found that I had to make my photos public for anyone to see them. Dunno why. (I've just tried to make them available to mates, and they can't be seen. Dunno why) I'm sure LFM had the same problem.

bp, tried that, think one should be visible now. Will that only be seen by mnetters logged in? Thanks for the advice, I do remember lfm deciding against it (wise, lfm, given current mil probs!)

AQ, I can see yours, can you see mine?

(So to speak )

How did you get yours on the front? Mine only come up if you click on 'Olihan's photos'.

S'okay, I've done it!

Oh, Oli, what a lovely photo, seeing the 3 of them all together gives me an idea of what life's like with 3 under 4 for you. I'm taking the photo of my 2 up to my bedroom now so I see it when I first wake up, I'm hoping that will help me be positive! That and I've put ds1 in nappies as he's regressed so much I'm losing it with him (sympathies with your situation, jabber). Poo pants nearly every day for six months is enough to make a person depressed

AQ, your boys are so cute! The way ds1 is looking at ds2 is so loving. Good idea to take the photo up to bed, hope you manage to get hold of the MH nurse or your gp today, take care.

Lovely photos

AWBS (must stop calling you AQ, eh) so sorry you're feeling low...too late and too clueless to chip in with much advice, but sending big fat hugs your way. I also get days like that, but not every day and definitely worse from lack of sleep so doesn't feel quite the same...though can relate to the feelings, and to being a cow to dp

Sorry to be so awol at the moment - I'm SO tired I read posts (when expressing!) and then haven't the energy to type (or time, atm). Still recovering from going away, plus dd2 is ssleeping so badly at night . She struggles to breathe through her nose, and is very very windy and uncomfortable. Ended up in our bed at 3am after hourly wakings (just to comfort and help breathe) I am shattered.

And wondering if she's ok, should I take her to GP, is she getting another cold...aargh...aren't viruses supposed to GO AWAY in this weather?!?