HI TONMOR
l

Are you a sleep apnea prisoner?

HI TONMOR
Like others here I too suffered. Mine was post partum and I can tell you that sleep deprivation is a prime contributor to depression, I'm not sure whether one leads to the other or it is the other way around . But you should definitely get that checked, if your body is not getting oxygen, then how can it work properly. Med's helped me, needed then for 6 months then weaned off them. Talk therapy is a must. It's hard when your in the hole (depression) and you can't get out because the walls of the hole have been greased. I could never understand how I got where I was, I thought if only I could pull up my boot straps I would be ok. I had to admit finally that I needed new boot straps. If what you have been trying doesn't work then you should try something else. I hope you all the best dear. You've found a group of people who want only the best for you.
Jo-Ann

I had wondered for a long time if mine was pp, because I was depressed even towards the end of my pregnancy(I was house bound), but I have been taking meds since after my daughter's birth and it still doesn't get any better, but this not breathing at night thing has been going on since my daughter was born a year ago. I hate the feeling. And this morning I am so wound up that it is sick. My whole body hurts. I go to the doctor today so I will ask her about it. (I thought I was suppose to go yesterday, but I had the wrong day.)

Your letter brought back memories too me. Infact my eyes welled up with tears when I wrote to you. I too was house bound for five weeks, then had to have him induced four weeks early. No one told me premees don't eat well, and my mother as well as my mother inlaw had no breast feeding experience and constantly asked me if he was getting enough. I knew I was doing the right thing but was getting no sleep and finally ended up in the hospital with a doctor who had run a clinic in england for pp women. A month in the hospital and had to give up breast feeding ( another hormone drop ) I came out with anxiey attacks that could stop a horse. I know right now how you feel. I wish I had a secret wand that would make it all better for you. Write a list of the things that are troubling you and ask your doctor for help, your local hospital could also help. You are not alone. Reach out. Jo-Ann

Okay - now you are going to make me cry. I believe we understand each other. This is my second child. With my first child I didn't take any classes or such because I thought women do this everyday so, she is going to come out one way or another. Of course, I was depressed after having her and thought that I could just start up breast feeding and that it would be a natural thing. Boy was I wrong. So, with my second daughter, I took the breast feeding class and was totally syched about breast feeding and was told that no matter what anyone says it is NOT something that comes natural and that you really have to work with it and have someone to guide you through. So, I delivered a very healthy daughter the day after Christmas 2000 (extreme winter conditions) and started trying to breast feed. There were no lactation specialist at the hospital because they could not drive to work. So, I strugged for the day trying to get to to eat well, which she did do, but I was in the gloom so bad that by day two, I was crying my eyes out and gave up. Then, she ended up with jaundice really bad and they said it was because I breast fed her. I think it was more because of the gloomy weather and no sun.

But, all in all, I can say that I gave it a shot. My daughter took to the bottle extremely well and is now a whopper.

Just to think though - you dont' have far to reach your goal. That is something that you should really be proud about.

Just keep up the good work, keep up a good spirit and keep posting. If you would like, add me to your buddy list and I will do the same with you!

It is nice to know that someone out there that might just understand me!

Thanks

I don't know if you are familiar with Anne of Green Gabels. It is a story about an orphaned girl who is finally adopted and gets her first friend. She referred to her knew friend as "a kindred spirit" I think that any women that has battled with pp has this type of relationship with other women who have had pp. So to you my new kindred spirit, I would be delited to be your new buddy.
Jo-Ann
Now you just have to explain how I do this buddy list thing.

When I looked back at your post, there is a little buddy symbol there, I just clicked it and added you to it - it just lets me know when you are there - there is also a chat room on the home page. But, I also have Instant Messenger through Hotmail set up on my computer . It is an instant chat program that I usually always have on (I chit chat back and forth during the day with my husband while he is at work).

Thank you! A "Kindred Spirit" is a nice way to put it.

And, if you do decide to do the Instant Messenger through Hotmail just send me a post and we can go from there. I believe I am listed as Ton.

Hi,

Just had to stop in to say that I'm delighted that you two have 'found' each other, you do indeed sound like kindred spirits and that doesn't happen too often.

I'm sure you'll be great support for each other. I hope you'll continue to come here and be a part of this LC community.

Thanks for your support!

I thought I'ld mention one other thing about depression. I found when I was in it, I could do nothing right, looking back on it now I realize that I was terribly confused, I couldn't think straight and thought I could do nothing correctly. Now I realize that I was trying to do everything perfectly.
What did I learn from this. Well here are my words of wisdom. Everything does not have to be perfect. Very few things in life we decided are written in stone, so you can change your mind. You have to decide what is best for you, and stop trying to please everyone else all the time. Take time for yourself everyday, this is not selfish, you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else, and a good walk does make you feel better. Jo-Ann

My experiences with depression lead me to therapy. I also met with two mental health professionals who were ready to put me on medication. I wanted to try therapy only. I marched right through therapy using food. I did gain my weight back. But I don't regret anything. I just learned how cunning, and baffling food can be for me. After resolving the issues that lead to my depression, I got very busy at the suggestion of my therapist with volunter activities in my community. It did take awhile to get active, but I'm so glad I did it. Helping someone else takes the focus on whatever is bothering me. I am very grateful that I sought professional advise. I would encourage anyone with thoughts of depression to go talk to a professional. It wasn't until I was at my lowest that I went. Sorry I didn't do it sooner. Also know that the issues I took to therapy were the ones I was overeating about. Until I could resolve those problems, I couldn't give up the extra food. Today is a much better day compared to where I was before.

Jan

I went to the doc yesterday and after many questions - she decided that I should wear a 24 hour monitor to see if it is panic attacks I am having. They called me to schedule it for Monday and of course I thought that was too long to wait, so they called me back a bit later and had me an Echocardiogram schedule for Friday, which is quite a relief because back in 96/97 I took FenPhen for a couple of years. So, we will see where Friday leads. And, it seemed that I was awful stressed yesterday too and although I didn't go off my diet, I had an I don't care additude. I am correcting it today!