Mind you, the GP was a bit stupid...

[ailbhe]

I got my antidepressant prescription, same one I always use these last 7 years. But I asked for something for anxiety, and he gave me sleeping pills. I explained that I didn't need sleep aids but did need something to take for anxiety, and he said that sleeping more would reduce my anxiety. Which might be true, but sleeping pills, breastfed babies, mothers who don't wake up for hours, etc... not so hot. Also, may cause drowsiness, do not drive or operate heavy machinery for 24 hours after taking, when I have three children to care for? perhaps not.

He also said that I needn't worry about PMS because I couldn't be having any menstrual symptoms while my baby was so young.

Uhuh.

However, the brain doctor was fabulous and lovely and I am possibly going to get long-term therapy to fix me proper, rather than the repeating series of bandaids and bit by bit sticky-taping I've been doing for years. This is so awesome I feel like I'm on holiday.

Comments

[birke]

However, the brain doctor was fabulous and lovely and I am possibly going to get long-term therapy to fix me proper, rather than the repeating series of bandaids and bit by bit sticky-taping I've been doing for years. This is so awesome I feel like I'm on holiday.

This sounds very exciting. I hope it continues to help.

[ailbhe]

I have a number I'm allowed to call whenever I want. I currently feel like I will never, ever have to just endure being suicidal alone ever again. If it's true, it's awesome.

[birke]

I currently feel like I will never, ever have to just endure being suicidal alone ever again.

It's shocking that that was ever the case.

[serene]

*joy*

[trinker.livejournal.com]

GP stupid.
Brain doctor yay.
Feeling like you're on track for a proper fix? Priceless!

[livi-short.livejournal.com]

Having been dependant on my Mental Health Team for many months I agree long-term therapy is a very positive step and now they have the crisis teams to help you until that help arrives (in our NHS TRust is is a 20wk wait but other vary).

Take any help they offer you, if you have been given a 24 hr number and feel bad at 3am use it, and if you wake tomorrow and feel it was all a fuss over nothing then read the last few days and understand it wasn't/isn't and although after a few nights of proper sleep you may feel more yourself, you will only just be healing and mental health like any illness takes time to heal.

[gloriap.livejournal.com]

Is there any possibility you could pump and save breast milk and Rob could take an occasional night feeding?

I'm so glad you found a good Dr. who PAID ATTENTION to you.

[ailbhe]

It would so much increase my labour and stress levels that it's just not worth the effort, for me; night feeds are not a problem or even much of a drain on my resources. Astrid mostly sleeps in big chunks except for growth spurts anyway.

[gloriap.livejournal.com]

OK, just a suggestion that has worked for some mothers.

[ailbhe]

Yes, and we did do it a little when Linnea was an infant, but not right now. It was a sensible suggestion.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

FWIW, when I was initially bonding with my firstborn, I found that pumping and bottlefeeding (for me) didn't have the hormonal feelgood kick that nursing from the tap did, and it increased my agitation and upset. (OTOH, I was pumping against my will.)

[kaberett.livejournal.com]

Oh hurrah hurrah HURRAH for long-term therapy. Booh that GP; hurrah brain doctor.

And, most importantly I think, hurrah you.

[helenprev.livejournal.com]

I am so so pleased (and wish to slap that GP).

Well DONE, frankly. *hug*

[1ngi.livejournal.com]

*hug* All good wishes from this heart.

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

In his (mild) defense, GPs aren't necessarily the brain-meds experts that psychiatrists are.

However, that said, that's... not useful of him /at all/. And that PMS bit? Hello, he /should/ know about /that/.

Rah brain doctor, though.

[cabbagemedley.livejournal.com]

In my experience, the problem with GPs is that they don't bloody know they're not mental health experts. Grrr.

[pauamma]

s/mental health // (for some, at least)

[beaq.livejournal.com]

Whew for therapies. Beh for clueless GPs.

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Hooray! When you feel more up to it, I'd be interested to hear about what actually happened - did you go to A&E because it was an emergency, or what? Curious to know which bits of the NHS work for mental health provision and which bits don't.

[ailbhe]

I don't know how to give the summary without detail of what I was thinking. Are you ok with that?

[leedy.livejournal.com]

Oh, brilliant brilliant brilliant. Apart from the clueless GP (my own clueless GP experience in similar circumstances was being told that I couldn't breastfeed on antidepressants). The brain doctor sounds great, though. I hope all the treatment helps very soon.

[batswing.livejournal.com]

Numpty GP, but yay for a better, helpful brain doctor.

[miriammoules.livejournal.com]

Was he offering benzos? (Temazepam?) Only they are known also as anxiolytics, and so that wouldn't be so stupid. I take them ("napalm" - nitrazepam) and have found that quarter tablets, so 1.25mg, don't tend to make me sleep too much more, but they do reduce anxiety. YMMV, given body weight differences and other stuff. I take them for "spot" anxiety - either when I know I am going to be wound up or when I feel very very fried.

But yay for good sense from Psych people.

[tafagirl.livejournal.com]

Seconding this! I used them for years for panic attacks.

And yay brain doctor!

[ailbhe]

No, he was quite clear that they were explicitly only for use at bedtime for sleeping and never at any other time. The psych doctor took them away again.

[miriammoules.livejournal.com]

I take mine only before bed, but I'm glad the psych is sensible.

[clarahippy.livejournal.com]

So glad things are coming together. Yes GP's are just generalists and can't be experts at everything but a good GP knows the limitations of their role/experience and doesn't spout nonsense.

I hope the long term stuff works out well.

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you're being a great advocate for yourself with your GP, which is a major achievement when you're having such a hard time.

I hope you get a truly wonderful long-term helper like the art therapist I went to (at a PND project - anything similar near you? I didn't actually have PND but having someone so clued-up on baby/mother things was brilliant). You do deserve to have someone help you to build a great future: you've done SO MUCH by yourself.

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

Also, I don't want to sound like an evangelist, but has anyone suggested WRAP (wellness recovery action plan) to you? It has a focus on understanding triggers and managing your wellness which seems like it might fit in with the pattern of how things go for you. It badly needs someone to do some work on the idea specifically for people who are parenting, but it's a powerful tool for some people.

[ailbhe]

I have looked it up but not read up on it yet, maybe sometime I'm less wibbly.

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

It's best looked at when you're well, anyway - worth bearing in mind for a couple of months' time?

[ailbhe]

I think the CBT I did 6 years ago - or 5 years ago - whenever it was - is what enables me now to do this.

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

yay for a good brain doctor!

[whirligigwitch.livejournal.com]

I'm pleased you got a decent head doctor. Proper course of therapy sounds like a very positive and sensible step, not easy no doubt but ultimately quality-of-life boosting.

GPs can be hit or miss and I do think they can be very, very focussed on the idea of "fixing" "sleep deprivation" in PND - which is often counterproductive with nursing mothers.
*hugs*

[sidheag.livejournal.com]

*good*! Happy New Year :-)

[radegund.livejournal.com]

This bit -

...the brain doctor was fabulous and lovely and I am possibly going to get long-term therapy to fix me proper...

- brought an actual tear to my actual eye.

Yay for seeking help.

Hugs.

[ailbhe]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for letting me talk to you. It was so nice not to have to, you know, give you the damn history. You were so reassuring and lovely. Thank you.

[(Anonymous)]

My GP prescribed Citalopram for anxiety which I have found useful. It would be interesting to know more details of your experience in getting emergency help if you can give it?

[ailbhe]

I called NHS Direct. I've done a friends-locked post on this - if you send me a private message I could give you the gist?

[rachel cotton (from livejournal.com)]

But to me the best bit was that it was your own lucid understanding of what was happening to you that enabled to you to ignore what the gp was saying and contact the mental health team. That was brilliant.

[ailbhe]

I've just done a friends-locked entry about this, but basically the out of hours GP contacted the mental health people before I saw the regular GP for a normal daytime appointment.