Posted by holymama on September 17, 2005, at 7:35:39
In reply to hormone hell - help, posted by tiffanywp on September 16, 2005, at 20:52:14
Hi there,
This is a medication board, so you'll probably find a lot of pro-med posts here. I'm about to give you one. I'd also suggest posting on the 'alternative' board to get some ideas for other forms of help.
I have a story similar to yours -- I started having a lot of problems after my kids were born. While mine were depression (and hypomania), they were definitely hormonally related. What I've come to realize in the few years since then is that I've always had mild problems with depression since college, but they never interfered with my life. I think the hormonal/physical/emotional/ changes during and after pregnancy and nursing (I had 3 in 3 years and double nursed, nursed through pregnancys, etc.) brought on my mental illness BIG TIME. Sometimes that kind of stress can trigger an illness to flare up. Anyway, mine is not going away any time soon, so I am left to deal with it as best I can.
I too was interested in alternative remedies -- I first tried everything I could think of -- exercise everyday, seeing a naturopathic doctor and making changes in diet, supplements, st. john's wort; I saw a homeopathic doctor, etc...NONE OF THIS WORKED FOR ME. I can't say I didn't try at least. But if anything, it helped a little, but I was still seriously depressed.
The first drug I tried was lexapro, and let me tell you, it was amazing. THe first few months after I started taking it were some of the best months of my life. I felt great and completely awed by the powerful way a brain chemistry change can change a person. (Being bipolar, I started to go manic on lexapro a few months later, so it didn't last for me).
But now I am a big proponent of medications. I've said since then that I wish every person experiencing mental distress would try a medication just for a couple of months. Just to see the change, and to see what is your personality and what has been covered up by anxiety or depression or whatever. Just to know this gives you a new perspective on yourself and what you can be.
As for weight gain, lexapro actually cut off my appetite (in good ways and bad -- I lost a little weight, but I also lost my interest in cooking). Every drug effects everyone in different ways, sometimes opposite ways. THe advice I'd give for you is this: if you try it and feel yourself gaining weight, you can always go off of it. Or you might feel so much better that you won't care if you gain a few pounds. Or you may always lose that baby weight in your belly.
O.k., now go on that alternative board and get some other ideas. Lifestyle and diet changes do work well for some people!
p.s. I do have one natural remedy that works well for my anxiety -- passionflower tea -- I buy it in loose leaf form at the health food store and brew it for 5 minutes. It calms me down like some of the anti-anxiety medications do. But of course, the anxiety is still there, and will happen again. It doesn't get rid of the problem.
Best of luck, Autumn
poster:holymama
thread:555834
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050914/msgs/555945.html