Pregnancy and Anxiety.

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bluto

Original Poster:

418 posts

205 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
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So far im 13 weeks pregnant. Ive had to come off some potent antidepressants and have done it over a slow period of time, as recommended by the doctors. Within 24 hours of coming off them altogether ive started to be very anxious and have full on panic attacks again. Ive also started to faint a lot and be sick to the point where i cant even tolerate water. I have 2 young children already to look after and its proving near impossible at the moment. Ive not had any form of sickness during the pregnancy so far so im assuming its down to the lack of tablets, my GP has told me to go back on at a lower dose for a while to see if it helps. Has anyone else here or their wives had a smiliar problem? Any advice at all? frown

150bhp

904 posts

173 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
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If your fainting during pregnancy you should be admitted to hospital ASAP.

Tumbler

1,432 posts

167 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
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Why were you on the antidepressants? How long were you off them before trying to conceive?

Sickness is not uncommon in pregnancy, I was admitted to hospital with my first in order to have fluids as I was sick all day every day for the first 28 weeks.

bluto

Original Poster:

418 posts

205 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
quotequote all
I wasnt planning on becoming pregnant, im meant to be infertile, so it has all been rather a shock. I had been taking them for some severe anxiety and depression. The doctor seems fairly unconcerned by the fainting and sickness. He has put me back on a smaller level of tablet to help for the time being. Ive had no sickness or fainting so far in pregnancy, but it started within 24 hours of being off the tablets. I guess im trying to make sense of whether its a normal thing to have or whether ive got something else going on here thats more particular to my anxiety stuff. Im worried for the baby too that i cant seem to keep any liquid in, let alone food.

Fume troll

4,389 posts

213 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
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(I am not a doctor but) it sounds likely to be related you your previous condition. Coming off antidepressants can be a big shock to the system, and if they were controlling symptoms then it's entirely possible that those symptoms would return. Added to that is the potential stress of an unplanned pregnancy, and the fact that your body will be experiencing all sorts of chemical changes due to being pregnant.

I'd go back to the GP, and if you're not having any joy or don't feel you're being taken seriously, ask to see a different one.

Cheers,

FT.

bluto

Original Poster:

418 posts

205 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
quotequote all
Thanks FT. Im sure its related too, but im having trouble making sense of it with all the sickness/fainting etc. Ill give it until next week and go back if im still fainting, it cant be good for the baby.

Coco H

4,237 posts

238 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
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I don't know anything about antedepressants but I do know about fainting and sickness in pregnancy.

I developed late (24 -26 weeks plus) sickness and fainting in all 3 pregnancies. It was very severe - in that I ended up having to be hospitalised weekly for a drip for 48 hours. Sometimes twice a week. It was horrific.
In my case every cause was investigated - my blood pressure was low but not low enough to cause fainting - about 100/60. My blood sugars were fine.
I did have persistent UTIs and severe bleeding (pee analysis always showed Protein 4+, Ketones, Leucozytes and niratates).
The one thing that helped the sickness most was some yellow concoction that was infused into my vains by the hospital, I believe it contained a huge amount of vitamin B. I was also given tablets by the hospital, I tried all sorts Buccastem, Metoclompride, cylazine etc. The only thing that worked was something called ondansetron.

I would advise getting to your GP and or midwife to see what they can do. Fainting isn't funny. I fell down the stairs when I fainted at 30 weeks causing another massive bleed.
(Finally I lost all the feeling down the right side of my body which didn't go until I gave birth. I know my consultant started to panic about this - I remember him running down the corridor to see some neuro specialist muttering something about an extremely rare condition, if anyone knows what he was banging on about I would love to know. I may just one day in several years have the balls to deliver another premmie. )

bluto

Original Poster:

418 posts

205 months

Friday 13th August 2010
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That sounds awful Coco, well done for managing 3 pregnancies with it! So far neither the doctor or midwife seem fussed, so i shall give it until Tuesday and go back again if it hasnt improved. Wouldnt be so bad but we are meant to be going on holiday next week and so far i really do not want to go. The thought of being like that in a tent for 10 days is awful. I had a premature birth with my last pregnancy and am scared all the adverse effects from this could contribute to it happening again. Spent all evening shaking uncontrollably and retching, im worried all the excess aderenaline from the shaking could hurt the baby. Just difficult when you dont know where to turn for advice.