HOW LONG DID YOU ALL SUFFER BEFORE YO... - Action on Postpar...
HOW LONG DID YOU ALL SUFFER BEFORE YOU GOT A DIAGNOSIS AND DID YOU GET TREATMENT STRAIGHT AWAY. I WAS NOT TOLD MY DIAGNOSIS UNTIL 2010
I developed PPP 5 days after birth. Luckily I worked out I was becoming manic and checked myself into emergency before psychosis hit (a sister-in-law had schizo-affective so I recognised mania). Within a day they knew what it was. It took another 18 months before they worked out I had gone from no prior mental illness to having developed bi-polar as a result of an abnormally stressful pregnancy and associated biochemical changes. It wasn't long but it was still terrifying. It's all good now though that I've been treated.
Poulson, that must have been hard for you. I developed PP three weeks after the birth of my first daughter. I thought I was developing symptoms of PND and had experience what I now believe was a panic attack about a month prior to the birth. .I dont think I was suffering as much as those around me were. I didnt really understand the diagnosis until I had read more about PP after I recovered. All this 27 years ago! I spent 1 month on a general psychiatric hopsital ward and then it took me a year before I felt totally well again. I was diagnosed straight away and my husband told by the Dr's that I might never recover. That has been hard to live with and I am sure you fellow survivors will understand. However I do consider myself to be lucky to have been diagnosed so quickly, and not to have had a re occurrence after my second daughter was born. I can say that I recovered and learnt so much from this difficult time in my life which I know has helped me understand and be more compassionate of others.
I had pp twice after both my children.
I nearly lost custody of mydaughter when she was 11 months old.
My ex-husband who is now dead got custody of my son when he was 5years old.
I was misdiagnosed for years and this has had a very traumatic effect on me and my new husband.
My new husband is powerless when he sees me suffering .
I was ill 23years ago for the first time,and I still suffer nightmares and flashbacks.
Postpartum psychosis struck me at 8 weeks postpartum. I was incorrectly diagnosed with postpartum depression until I had another psychotic episode two weeks later. Got a second opinion from a doctor, who correctly diagnosed it as postpartum psychosis. Sadly, I never got support from any one who experienced postpartum psychosis. My recovery turned into depression. It was long and difficult but I did overcome it in the end.
My psychosis came on during the 5 days after delivery. I was slightly mis-diagnosed with a urine infection by the GP but the midwife knew it was psychosis. I spent a strange day in A and E at the local general hospital before I was interviewed by two psychiatrists and then moved to the psychiatric unit. Once in the unit I was heavily sedated and when I came round I was totally and utterly confused and there began a slow and memorable recovery.
I was ill with pp 23years ago for the first time.
I was subseguently ill 16 years ago after giing birth to my son.
Both times were really traumatic and I still have nightmares and flashbacks to this day.
I am currently reading an American book on pp,and I am awaiting another publication soon after Christmas,but that is about pp in Victorian times
I will let you know if the book is any good,but all the literature I have read up to now is excellent.
Best Wishes
I had problems sleeping during my pregnancy. I was admitted to hospital with PP when my son was six days old. My recovery was very gradual and about twelve months after the onset of PP I started having severe swings in mood from extreme lows to extreme highs. My son was nearly two when I was diagnosed with bipolar. I then started on Lithium which worked well for me and luckily still does. I`ve been on Lithium for approximately 16 years.
