Anyone Been Offered Anti-Depressants? I'm Just Tired and Stressed and Want my Baby Fixed!! Do they Help?

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Permalink Reply by geribstewart on March 10, 2010 at 8:39pm

Sorry to hear you have been feeling so down. It really is tough having a baby with silent reflux. My little boy was diagnosed when he was 3 weeks old but it took 4 months for docs to figure out it was due to an allergy to milk (eventhough I had been telling them that was the cause). Needless to say I almost lost my mind in those four months and was prescribed anti-depressants. I was initially prescribed 10mg a night and then went down to 5mg. It worked for me and helped me keep calm when my baby was screaming his head off. A calm mother has a calmer baby. I was able to focus more on my son, feeling much better in myself. I've just come off them now (not a great time as he's just had hand foot and mouth disease as well as a nasty tummy bug, making his reflux worse). I've been a bit teary but nowhere near as much as I was at the beginning. They worked for me and I really hope you find a solution that will work for you. Good luck to you!

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Permalink Reply by Kerrie Fitzsimons on March 10, 2010 at 8:57pm

Thanks for that - I guess part of it is admitting how you feel 'cos that means admitting your a "failure" to yourself. My mother-in-law said toady "if your ill then your ill and nothing your boss can say" I got upset that she referred to me as "ill". I guess i'm over sensitive too but it's hard for someone who is a really strong character and competent/confident to admit too - hell I travelled independentlt around the world for 6 years how can I not handle a little defenceless baby!!?? That's just how it feels sometimes I guess. I lecture my single parent friend with twins to not be so proud and accept help when you can and admit your feelings......."do as I say not as I do" springs to mind!!

Thanks alot.

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Permalink Reply by geribstewart on March 10, 2010 at 9:06pm

Well you're certainly not a failure, that's for sure! You're going through a bad time and you've admitted how you feel, that's the first part in getting better. I've read your other post and see you mom lives in SA for six months of the year. My mom spends around 3 months there and the rest of the time in France so I know how it feels to have your mom far away. My mother in law is close by, but it's not my mom and sometimes you just want your mom. It's hard to accept help and I still don't accept it :) No one other than me or my husband has ever looked after our baby during the day! I only let my in laws look after him in the evening when he's fast asleep, how crazy is that?!

Little defenceless babies are very hard to handle when they don't stop crying! Focus on getting yourself and your little one better and then think about work. Things will hopefully get better and you can then go back to work feeling like a new woman! Btw, have you read Alison Scott-Wright's book? She has great tips on sleep training a baby with reflux, this might help as well.

Just know that there are a lot more women on this forum that feel like you do, so you are not alone and we're all here to help!

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Permalink Reply by Kerrie Fitzsimons on March 10, 2010 at 9:14pm

I tell you this forum has been my saviour and I really mean that - NO-ONE else knows what it's really liek unless you've experinced it. Will take a note of the book thanks and you're right about MUm - only 3 weeks till I see her and she comes to stay for 2 weeks - I can feel sleep coming already!!!

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Permalink Reply by Joanna James on March 11, 2010 at 9:39am

Hi Kerrie,
I have the same problem! Dr and health visitor want me to take anti depressants but its only lack of sleep and trying to sort out my son which is frustrating as Dr has told me he cant do anything else, he is currently on rantidine but this appears to be wearing off and I have made an appointment to go back today. We do have an apt with paeditrician on Monday but thats another 4 nights away and i am at the end of my tether. I'm fed up of being fobbed off by health professionals, once suggested that I express some breast milk onto his sheet to help him sleep- what little do they know!!!
This forum has been fantastic for me too. Good luck and keep us all updated. xx

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Marsh on March 11, 2010 at 11:10am

Kerrie

I have just replied to your other post as well and I would also recommend Alison's book.

I had very bad PND with my first child who was not a refluxer and was very sensitive to being told I had it again, my HV was rubbish as they labelled me as depressed to early on that I had to fight like crazy to get them to take me seriously, I know I am not suffering again because it is so different and I completely understand that you are just exhausted and fed up with fighting the system because thats how I was, having said this I am on 10mg of anti-depressants which is really low dose and my GP admitted and noted that I wasn't suffering from PND just the stress of looking after a baby with Silent Reflux which made me feel better, the medication has helped to level me out and calm me down so I can cope better and definately made a difference so I would say take the opportunity to take more time to get you and your daughter strong and spend some time with your older child, a small amount of medication may just help you cope and remember your not mad just stressed and it's OK to be that way as Reflux isn't easy.

Hope this helps, hang in there you are doing a fab job.

Wend x

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Permalink Reply by Kerrie Fitzsimons on March 12, 2010 at 7:42pm

Thnks very much all of you ......after some consideration I have decided to go to the docs on Monday and take the anti-depressants and get signed off from work - I am so close to snapping constantly at my baby and toddler it's not funny. Anything that assists in me being a better Mum at this tricky time will be good.

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Permalink Reply by sarah jacks on March 12, 2010 at 7:56pm

I suffered depression after the birth of my second child ten years ago and this time due to the stress of my youngests reflux, I have gone back on my anti -ds to help me through this as its been getting me down. Do not ever feel ashamed, mad, weak or a failure - you are doing great and just need a helping hand xxx

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