Health Forums

Posted: 11 April 2006 at 10:13pm | IP Logged

Just wondered how we are all doing?

I was chatting with a friend over lunch today about pnd. She doesn't have kids but has experience of depression and a woman walked past with 3 kids, then another with 2, then another - and so on and so on, until 8 or 9 mothers had past us (we were in a coffee shop!) and it struck me that of those women, statistically at least 1 of them probably had pnd. But why are we afraid to talk about it?

I know that half my problem is that I am too hard on myself. The last few days I've been beating myself up for being so tired, which i know is silly but I do it anyway. Where I work, since I got pg 6 other women have got pg or had babies (out of an office of 35!) and it just hit me that its likely one of them will get pnd too. Not that it makes us special, but it does mean that we're not alone and we should be able to talk about it.

So anyway, these are my tired thoughts as I sit here falling asleep. Just wanted to say to my fellow madmum friends, that we're all in this together pnd or not - and tonight, thats nice to know.

Posted: 12 April 2006 at 8:00am | IP Logged

The last few weeks for me have been pretty tough to be honest.  Ols is teething which means I am averaging around 4hrs of broken sleep a night, the only thing that keeps me going with that is know Dizie is up too lol.  Then Keith had his operation last week and whilst all seems to have gone fairly well with that they kept him in hospital for the night which I hadn't anticipated really.  When the nurse told me I couldn't bring him home I didn't know whether to be really upset or really cross that yet again the hospital were messing me around.  I have a real love hate relationship with the hospital due to my illness.  Then talking about my illness it's been really great just lately stomach wise but my joints are so painful in the mornings it's very sore to walk down the stairs as my knees are agony and my hands also become swollen and stiff.  I thought maybe it was the medication I was on so stopped taking it for a few days and made myself feel ill instead and the joint pain got worse, doh!!

Mood wise I am coping ok, I have bad days, I can't watch the tv without crying at least once a programme.  Home and Away yesterday (yes I know I am sad but I have watched it for the last 18yrs) Hayley gave birth and then promptly passed out well that was me gone.  I do recognise little bits of pnd from having the girls.  I got very angry when i had them and I do now but not as often as I did then, feeling tearful all the time for silly things again not like I was after having the girls but it's there.

One really good thing happened this week though!!  Keith said we can try for another baby from August!!!  Woohoo, I must be mad

I know what you mean about being too hard on yourself Diz I set unrealistic goals for myself everyday and then constantly beat myself up when I consistently fail to meet them.  It's hard to relax though and just let things slide when you know you have to get everything done at some point.

Posted: 12 April 2006 at 9:27am | IP Logged

Just to say, I never suffered from PND, but I was made very aware of it from my 1st MW.   She suffered it from her 2 pregnancies.  She didn't go through the whole story, but at least she did mention it to me.  My pregnancy book, and birth - 5 book just highlight on the subject and don't give out much else.

You guys should write a book about it! 

Just take each day at a time.  Hope you all have a good day!

P.S Way to go Sam&Flip!

Posted: 12 April 2006 at 11:48am | IP Logged

Congratulations Sam and Keith!!!

I have been thinking what to right in this thread since it went up yesterday and still dont know. I have had so much naff stuff go on this last few weeks to last anyone a lifetime, yet somehow Im still smiling. You guys are like a tower of strength, I know no matter how low Im feeling you guys will perk me up, so I just want to thank you all. Your all amazing people and all so strong.

 Smile and the world smiles with you

Posted: 12 April 2006 at 11:54am | IP Logged

Well I haven't got PND (that I know of) but I feel pretty fed up at the moment if I'm honest.. I feel like I can't talk to my DH about how stressed I am about going back to work so instead I don't say anything and feel like I am a sulky teenager instead..

Do you think that sleep deprivation brings on the same symptoms as PND?  I have wondered a few times since I had Ellie whether I had PND but for me, I only ever feel like this when I am not getting a good night's sleep...I can't believe how awful I feel when Ellie gets up mega early (averaging 5.30am at the moment) or if I have to get up to her in the night, especially if it goes on for a while..I feel like crying which I know is very childish and selfish but I can't help it..

Anyway Sam, that is FAB news!  me and DH have discussed trying for another baby this summer too...how exciting!

Posted: 12 April 2006 at 11:59am | IP Logged

I have been thinking long and hard about pnd recently and I think I had a reasonably mild form of it. I have had depression alot in the past and I kept seeing the signs sneak in, then I'm manage to pull myself up again. It happened a few times but I didnt have to go back on anti d's.

I honestly believe without you guys I'd have been far worse.

I am all for talking openly about depression. My mum hides hers, I talk very openly about mine and have shocked people before with how frank I am, people are scared by it and they shouldnt be! I know that me talking about mine has made other people realise they are not alone and have sought help as a direct result of my conversation.

Well done all of you you are doing so well!

Posted: 12 April 2006 at 1:34pm | IP Logged

Congratulations to Sam and Keith.

I'm absolutely shattered as adam is reacting to his MMR and had a hot wee body last night joined by the sniffles, so I've been up all night.

Posted: 13 April 2006 at 12:15am | IP Logged

Yes Greedy, I do think that the effects of sleep deprevation are similar to the symptoms of pnd. I feel loads worse when I'm tired. Unfiortunately, thats pretty much all the time at the moment. Its not childish and selfish to not like getting up at 5.30 either!

I could have a big moan right now, but I've just done that in another thread. I feel pretty crap at the moment. I'm tired, too wound up to sleep, Ella has the hump tonight like she's not had since, oh, this time last week infact, which then makes me wonder if its connected to me going back to work etc etc etc I could go on in this spiral and by about 1am I'll have made myself responsible for the attempted assasignation of Ronald Regan....

Oh well.

Once again, thanks all. I do love the fact that you're all here, even at 12.15am when I'm all moody!!!