Little OT, but I need to ask [Archive] - Children with Diabetes Forums

Mojo's mommy

04-22-2007, 12:52 AM

This is a litle off the topic but since we all have at least 2 things in common I thought I should ask here first. The 2 things in common are kids and kids with D. Is there anyone out there that has gone to the doc and gotten anti depressants perscribed? I am drowning in a pool of quicksand:(

I have wanted to go and get something for a really long time but my little guy 19 months old will not give up the bub (breastfeeding) for nighttime and naps. I do not have the patience to follow thru on weaning him because I feel like I am going to crumble. So, I guess what I need to know is...is there anyone out there that has taken antidepressants while still nursing a child?

Something has to give here or it is going to be me that breaks:confused:

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

Mama Belle

04-22-2007, 01:26 AM

Teri,

First off, let me say that I am so sorry! :( I have been there and I know how indescribably awful it feels.

I was not nursing at the time, but I have gone on anti-depressants since Sammy's dx (a couple of times). D definitely takes its toll on parents.

I would definitely talk to your doctor about this and maybe see a psychologist or psychiatrist. It may be that therapy would help as much as meds would. I am not trying to discourage you from taking meds, because if you need them you should definitely take them. But I think it is good to make sure you are covering all potential causes of this depression.

From everything I have read, more and more doctors are not discouraging breastfeeding mothers from taking anti-depressants if they need them. I am pretty certain that Zoloft is one of the meds docs will try first with nursing mothers, as there have been more studies with this particular drug and breastfeeding (my neighbor took Zoloft while nursing for many months).

Please take care of yourself! I am so glad that you are looking for the help you need. If you need someone who understands, please feel free to PM me.

Twinklet

04-22-2007, 01:35 AM

Teri, I PM'd you but wanted to add that according to "Medications and Mother's Milk" by Robert Hale, Pharm-D, Zoloft was not found in detectable levels in the blood of nursing infants whose mothers were taking the medication.

I like the idea of talking to someone, too. Problem is, it's hard to find a good psychologist sometimes! When I went through post-partum depression with #1, I talked to a psychologist but in retrospect she wasn't the best person for me. Well, try another if the first doesn't work I say.

Mama2H

04-22-2007, 01:51 AM

Right now I am not nursing but I take a medication to help me feel drowsy about 3 nights a week because I cannot shut my brain off to get rest, the one I am taking is an antidepressent but my Dr said that they don't really use it that way any more and they use it more for people like me that have trouble falling asleep but still need to be able to function 100% all of the time. It is called Trazodone. I do not know if you can take it while you are nursing. While I was nursing my 3rd I did take Zoloft for about 3 weeks and it helped me clear my mind.

ETA: I wanted to add that I did see a therapist for a while and she did not help me one bit. One of the unfortunate side effects of living in such a rural community is that you do not have many therapists that specialize in dealing with things like dx of D. Our Endo doesn't even have any sort of mental health profesional associated with them (that I am aware of) I have recieved more relief from the small support group that we have started in the area! They know what to say better than any phsychologist/therapist/mental quak LOL If you have a great therapist available you should definatly take advantage of them!

Mama Belle

04-22-2007, 02:35 AM

Right now I am not nursing but I take a medication to help me feel drowsy about 3 nights a week because I cannot shut my brain off to get rest, the one I am taking is an antidepressent but my Dr said that they don't really use it that way any more and they use it more for people like me that have trouble falling asleep but still need to be able to function 100% all of the time. It is called Trazodone. I do not know if you can take it while you are nursing. While I was nursing my 3rd I did take Zoloft for about 3 weeks and it helped me clear my mind.

Trazodone is rarely used as an anti-depressant anymore. It takes massively high doses of trazodone in order to get good results as an anti-depressant and the side effects at that high dose are significant. However, it is an invaluable sleep aid for many people (I took it for a while too).

Kirsten

04-22-2007, 05:45 AM

I went on the lowest dose of zoloft about 3 months post dx. It has taken the edge off. At the time I started I was unable to sleep well and had huge crying jags at the end of every day. The zoloft really helps me to function normally.

Kirsten

Hollyb

04-22-2007, 10:20 AM

Hi Teri,

I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with depression, and really glad to hear you're looking for help with it.

In Canada, you can call Motherisk at Sick Kids Hospital (416-813-6780) -- it's long distance for you but they are the best when it comes to drug safety issues with pregnancy and breastfeeding. Ask them which medications are safest, and you can take this to your doctor as a starting point.

I am absolutely sure there are some antidepressants which will be fine for you to take, and with so much going on in your life (a toddler, older kids, diabetes) it's a testament to your strength that your are still managing.

Good luck, and I hope you're feeling better soon.

Boo

04-22-2007, 11:16 AM

Teri,

I am sorry that you are having a tough time lately. I don't consider this off topic at all...I think it is probably very common among parents of children with a chronic illness.

I can't offfer any advice regarding the medication while breastfeeding, but I did want to just offer my moral support to you. Well before my son was diagnosed, when my kids were about 5,3, and 1, I had a particularly hard winter one year. I just knew I wasn't right...very sad all the time and cried a lot. I was embarrassed and thought I should be able to handle everything. I did end up going to the doctor and went on Wellbutrin. I was only on it for about 3 weeks and spring arrived, along with renewed hope for me (for me it is a very seasonal thing...I can't stand those gray winter days on end where the sun never shines around here).

Anyways, I think it is good to recognize that you need help before things get worse. You can't afford to "break", because you need to be there to take care of your kids. Perhaps if you can find the right professional to talk to, medication might not even be necessary. If you do go the medication route, I am sure that you can work with a doctor to find something that will work for you.

I know at this point, the weaning thing seems like more trouble than it's worth, but it may not be as hard as you think will be. In the long run, it might really help you, because that can really take a lot out of you, both physically and mentally.

Bottom line...do what feels right to you.

EmmasMom

04-22-2007, 11:24 AM

Hey Teri,

I'm sorry you're going through such a rough time! I've been there.:(
I wasn't breastfeeding at the time, but I started taking Welbutrin a few months after Emma's dx's. I was stressed and exhausted and crying all the time and sick of feeling so much anxiety! She had been sick a lot and in the hospital and we had recently started pumping and after months w/o sleep I was losing it! The meds really helped me get through a rough time, and didn't really have any negative side effects.
I also went to counseling, which was OK, but I felt more like I was there to educate him about D and why it was so hard to have a baby on insulin :rolleyes:, he didn't really get it.

I think anytime there's a big "event" with our D kids, like moving to the pump or any new insulin regimen, or a major illness, or time in the hospital it can bring back all those emotions from dx's. It's a lot to deal with, and when you add chronic sleep deprivation, (and a baby, (w/ or w/o D)) it's overwhelming!
You have every right to feel how you do, and if you need some meds to help you get through it you should get some.:cwds: The better you feel the better off your entire family will be!

I hope you feel better soon!!!

Mama Belle

04-22-2007, 11:49 AM

I also went to counseling, which was OK, but I felt more like I was there to educate him about D and why it was so hard to have a baby on insulin :rolleyes:, he didn't really get it.

I had the same experience.

Boo

04-22-2007, 11:53 AM

MyrandaDawn

04-22-2007, 05:46 PM

When Vincent got Dx'd last year I was pregnant with my daughter. I was going to fall apart so the doctor put me on Lexapro. I took it all through the pregnancy all the way up until a month ago. She's nursed the whole time I was on it. And she is plenty healthy. And I completely understand not wanting to wean. Vincent nursed at night until he was 2.

mom to a sports nut

04-22-2007, 05:57 PM

Do you have someone to talk to? Do you see a Family Therapist or anything along those lines? I can recommend someone locally if that helps at all. He is in Langley. We started seeing a family therapits about 3 years ago. It was before Melissa's diagnosis but we were already dealing with a very ill child. He has been very helpful. Melissa really enjoys seeing him and it has helped for her to have someone to talk to also about what her disease means to her own life.

Alison

hallenbeckfamily

04-22-2007, 07:12 PM

Funny you mention this :( well not funny haha-I have feeling something. Stressed,anxious,tired, and like I only exist for everyone else ( I know I don't but feels that way sometimes). I have coped with some pretty bad things in my life and made it thru just fine with out medication. But last week I went and talked to a dr. about anxiety. I really don't want to take meds BUT I wanted to tell doc whats been going on and how I felt and see what meds she would suggest so I could read about it and decide if my overall health and mental coping capacity would benefit from it. For me she told me to look into Celexa. I told her I would and get backin touch with her in a few weeks. I am telling you this so hopefully you too like me -reading other responses- will feel that its normal and we are not alone. Hang in there,I know all of us can get thru the tough time,sometimes there is nothing wrong with getting a little help tho to get thru. Feel free to personal message me or email me anytime,we can cope together! Take care and take a deep breath:rolleyes: thats what I try to do. Jennifer

wendyc

04-22-2007, 09:03 PM

I can easily see how this could be the case. I do think there may be some people out there who specialize in counseling parents of children with chronic illnesses. If you are interested in going this route, check with your endos office and see if they can recommend someone.

My GP actually pointed me in this direction. I met for the first time with a conselor of families with chronic conditions/illnesses. It was nice to only have to give background info of Abby, but not have to explain every little thing about D! I was on meds for a stomach condition and I had an incredibly bad reaction to it. One of the side effects was anxiety attacks. Well, I think this just brought the last two years to a head because now I'm being treated for anxiety. But, I'm glad I'm getting help, because I know I've experienced it in the past and didn't want to do it. This time there was no choice. I ended up in the ER because I did not know what was happening to myself. I was thinking I was having a heart attack or some other disease.
I feel bad that you guys are suffering too, but I'm comforted in knowing that I'm not the only one feeling this way. It gives me comfort that I know I can turn here for even more support.

Caynuns mom

04-22-2007, 10:06 PM

Oh my Lord! I'm not alone! I'm sorry I'm not brestfeeding and I'm not on any anti depressants so I dont have an answer for you but reading your question and reading all the responses I realized I'm not alone in feeling overwhelmed or that someone else couldnt shut down their brain to fall asleep.
Thank You for asking your question and thank You to everyone who responded. I'm scheduling a Dr's appointment tomorrow!

Mojo's mommy

04-23-2007, 12:39 AM

Hi All,

Thanks so very much for your support and feedback. One thing I do want to make clear that I did not before was I don't feel it is solely because of Courtney's D that this is happening to me but rather about a gazillion other things all at once. Maybe I just feel like that because of the lack of sleep ...blah , blah . blah we all know what I mean. For me it is alot of things and I am going to try to get to the doc sometime early this week because if something happens to me for lack of caring for myself my children are not going to be very well off:(

Again, I really appreciate your support and it is comforting to know that I am not alone..(((((((((((BIG HUGS TO ALL OF YOU )))))))))))))))))

I'll keep you posted as to what the professionals say :rolleyes:

Mojo's mommy

04-23-2007, 03:03 PM

I did it! I went first thing this morning, got a sample from the doc of Wellbutrin. He knew all my concerns with nursing and such and tried to reassure me it is fine. I am not even going to read the insert this time , it will just end up freaking me out. Took the 1st one in the car right away.

The hard part now is going to be waiting the 2-4 weeks for it to have any effects:(

Mrs. Russman

04-23-2007, 03:22 PM

Good for you for taking care of yourself.
Wellbutrin is fine for nursing. According to Hale's a few mom's have reported a drop in milk supply, but no other problems.
I was on wellbutrin and zoloft for the past 3 years. I went off it in Jan. before my baby was born in March. I haven't felt the need to go back on it yet, but I am talking with the mental health clinic weekly to monitor my symptoms. Our treatment plan, if needed, is to go back on zoloft first and then add wellbutrin as a last resort. Mostly because of the milk supply issue, a bigger concern with a 6 week old than a 19 mon. old.
My 11yo was dx'd type 1 11 days after my daughter was born.
I noticed a difference within a couple of days of starting wellbutrin hopefully you will too.

caspi

04-23-2007, 03:25 PM

I have been on Paxil for over 7 years now - I started taking it after I stopped nursing Cameron. I was suffering from panic attacks and anxiety on a daily basis to the point where I wasn't leaving my house. Not fun with a 4 year old and 1 year old! In any event, it has been a lifesaver as far as I'm concerned.

One of the things that's worth noting is that these SSRI forms of anti-depressants DO NOT make you feel drugged and do not interfere with your daily life. That was the hardest thing for me to wrap my head around - I was so afraid I was going to turn into a zombie or something - LOL! I am also very medication-phobic so the fact that I'm taking anything at all is a miracle! I rarely even take a Tylenol if I have a headache.

I hope those of you that are suffering do go to your doctor and get the information you need to make this very personal decision. Also remember that not every medication works for every person - you might have to try a few different ones to get the one that works for you - and in the beginning you could have a lot of annoying side effects (believe it or not, anxiety is one of the side effects of Paxil in the beginning and I couldn't understand why I was taking something that actually INCREASED the anxiety, but within a few weeks it subsided). Try to stick it out and you'll see a tremendous difference in the quality of your life.

Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox now and shutting up! :D

{{HUGS****

kel4han

04-23-2007, 03:26 PM

I have suffered from depression all my life. I never took medications when pregnant, but I loved being pregnant, so I never took any meds. I felt great. Fast forward to breast feeding, OH MY GOSH! I never took medications breast feeding either, but every day was a struggle, and I would have been a much better person and parent if I did. Although, I am glad I didn't. I am not an excersize or health freak, but have you tried maybe actually having time to excersize for YOURSELF? That is the first thing that ruins me, not having time to work off stress thru excersize. All those healthy endorphins. Huge help for me. I do take medication now too, and without it, I would be a crying mess and never leave my bed. Take it if you need it, and your entire family will benefit.