Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Phoenix, AZ USA
Bipolar or postpartum depression?? Posted: 01-20-08 20:53pm
Hello! Im 23 and have an 18 month old son.
I was on Methadone when he was born and
had a c-section. I was having really bad
shakes from the epidural and the dr.
messed up and gave me Nubain! I went into
instant withdrawl and was havin
convulsions. My son had to stay in the
NICU for 5 weeks for withdrawl, that alone
was depressing knowing he was in there
because of me. I could tell right away
something was wrong. I didnt feel that
warm cozy loving feeling a mother should
feel for her child. Before he came home
from the hospital I went to the dr. and
told her that I thought i had ppd. Anyways
he came home it got worse I had feelings
of hurting him when he cried, hurting
myself. I was put on Lexapro, Abilify, and
Xanax. I guess it worked for a little
while so I stopped thinking I was better.
But now my son is a year and a half and I
still get so angry when he whines or
cries. I have serious mood swings one
minute I;m fine the next im screaming at
my husband wanting to throw things and
break things. I was never bipolar before
so I wonder if the reaction I had after
the birth has something to do with it, it
feels like something just snapped in my
head. I was always a happy person, now i
hate the world sometimes. I went to my old
therapist she said she thiks its bipolar.
Has anyone felt remotely close to this??
Please help!!!!
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 2262 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 46
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Posted: 01-22-08 03:28am
Do you have a previous history of
depression, including depression during
pregnancy?
Are you experiencing feeling of
irritability or burden? Do you have
sleeping problems?
Do you have good appetite?
Some studies have linked postpartum
depression to traumatic birthing
experiences, such as C-section or early
hospital discharge.
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dubgurl
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Phoenix, AZ USA
Posted: 01-22-08 13:17pm
No I didn't have depression before. ANd
This was my first pregnancy. I feel more
anger then anything. I get mad so easily.
And not even just with my son. And the
other weird thing is that I have these
weird bursts of enery starting in the
early night. Its crazy!
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 2262 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 46
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Posted: 01-24-08 07:10am
There is a theory that new mothers who
have psychotic episodes and dramatic mood
swings are actually experiencing their
first bipolar episodes, with the bipolar
disorder having been dormant before and
triggered by childbirth.
25% of women who have bipolar disorder,
got the condition initiated with a
postpartum episode.
Do you usually have attitude that is
aggressive, provocative, or intrusive?
Do you feel rested after just a few hours
of sleep?
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antigone
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 960 Location: IL
Thanks: 48
Thanked:18
Postpartum depression and psychosis Posted: 01-27-08 21:47pm
dubgurl,
I am sorry to hear that you have had such
a hard time as a new mom. You need to go
see a psychiatrist soon! MandMs is right
about the postpartum psychosis. Bipolar
disorder can abruptly appear after child
birth due to the huge flux in hormones. It
remains latent but can be triggered by
child birth. I know a woman that had her
first manic episode following a
hysterectomy. Get the help you need. You
sound like you are cycling. I am not a
mental health professional so it is only
an opinion. You have several symptoms that
sound like bipolar disorder. One of my
sons has angry out bursts and is very
aggressive. Around 5-6 pm it is like
someone puts a quarter in him! He is ON.
Running, jumping, acting crazy. He is
young so it is difficult to get him
stable. I can only imagine how hard this
is for you. Take care of yourself and get
some professional help. You will feel
better. Your baby needs you and you need
to be well.
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dubgurl
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Phoenix, AZ USA
Posted: 01-27-08 22:34pm
Thank you both for your advise! I have an
appt. the 28th w a phychiatrist!I really
think it has something to so with my
birth. And my dr. did tell me that bipolar
can just show up after postmartum so it
makes sence!! Wish me luck!! My son does
need me and i want to be the mother he
needs!!
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dubgurl
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Phoenix, AZ USA
Posted: 01-27-08 22:34pm
Thank you both for your advise! I have an
appt. the 28th w a phychiatrist!I really
think it has something to so with my
birth. And my dr. did tell me that bipolar
can just show up after postmartum so it
makes sence!! Wish me luck!! My son does
need me and i want to be the mother he
needs!!
|
antigone
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 960 Location: IL
Thanks: 48
Thanked:18
Posted: 01-27-08 22:52pm
Wonderful! You have taken the first step
to getting well! There is no cure for
mental disorders but they can be managed.
Congrats on your little guy! You all
deserve to be happy during this special
time. You will get there! Let us know how
you are doing!
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dubgurl
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Phoenix, AZ USA
Posted: 02-01-08 13:44pm
SO I went to the Dr. and she isn't sure if
I have Bipolar or Borderline Personality
Disorder. SHe wants to see me and my
husband monday so she can talk to him and
get more info on what happens when i get
in one of my moods. So we'll see!!!
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antigone
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 960 Location: IL
Thanks: 48
Thanked:18
Posted: 02-01-08 21:09pm
Whatever is going on can be addressed and
you can get some help. You deserve to feel
better and be happy. All the best. Let us
know how you are doing!
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maniacgurl
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 12 Location: South Carolina, USA
Posted: 02-12-08 07:34am
....my bipolar got worse after the birth
of my twins..i too did not feel that
instant bond and love even though i
already had one child whom i did feel that
bond and love towards.
....I was said to have post partum after
the birth of my first child....
and the birth of my second....but before
all that, the break up of a long term
boyfriend caused my first real depression
and then manic episode that I can
recall......but yeah, sometimes the birth
of a child causes and triggers the first
episode..and if you are a recovering drug
addict who knows you could of had symptoms
before hand but never noticed or payed
much attention to it because of the drug
use...I have read somewhere that sometimes
bipolar causes people to be more easily to
try and get hooked on drugs. and then I
have heard it being the other way around
that drug addiction can trigger bipolar.
Either way its linked im sure.
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 2262 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 46
Thanked:11
Hello, dubgurl! Posted: 02-18-08 04:17am
Do you have something new to share with
us?
What happened at the last doctor's visit?
