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Post by bubble212 on Apr 22, 2010 15:14:02 GMT
Hi all, I have been suffering with PNI for four months. I was only diagnosed around three weeks ago, and have beenn on anti depressants for a week and a half. Since diagnosis life has been much better, however I am still suffering with the dizziness and the pills seem to make me feel all shaky especially in the mornings. I still have constant health anxiety as I still don't feel like myself. I am down quite a lot and don't feel like I am a very good mother to my children as I am so often feeling weak and tired.I never feel like planning anything as I just don't know how I might feel, I went to town with my partner the other day and felt so panicky sitting in BHS restaurant! I just wanted to know if anyone can relate and if people ever make a recovery from this and feel 'normal' again? I still have ongoing dizziness and quite a low appetite, very panicky over nothing and still largely worried in case my symptoms are being caused by something else. Have a very 'heavy' head and fatigued a lot. Would be grateful for your responses. xxxx
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Post by juppster on Apr 22, 2010 18:27:50 GMT
Hi bubble
All the feelings you describe will gradually disappear, but unfortunately it really does take time. 1 1/2 weeks on meds is still very early days and you will still be experiencing some of the side effects of the tablets...but these will go with time.
The thoughts of not being a good mother to your children are extremely common but for you to be thinking that means that you care if you see what i mean?!?!
I can totally relate to the panicky feelings and quite often this can be another side effect of the tablets which will reduce as I said before. I couldn't even go into a shop without feeling panicky but now I go shopping and sit at restaurants without even thinking about it so I promise it does get better.
Your appetite should reappear again once you start to feel a bit stronger and unfortuantely if you aren't eating properly, this is possibly why you are feeling heavy headed and fatigued...its a bit of a vicious circle to start with but I promise it does get better. Just take little steps and don't put too much pressure on yourself xx
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Post by chica on Apr 22, 2010 19:27:02 GMT
Hi Bubble,
As Juppster, has said, and I agree totally, that unfortunately 1 and a half weeks of meds, is still very early to see any significant change, and you are possibly feeling some side effects from the meds, but they will kick in, and things will change, my improvement certainly did not happen over night no matter how much I prayed for it, but slowly and surely. In fact when I think about it the changes were so subtle I possibly did not notice at the time.
It will happen for you, take one small step, and one small moment at a time.
Sending you love and strength
xxxxxxxx
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Post by bubble212 on Apr 22, 2010 20:41:01 GMT
Thank you so much for your responses. They have made me feel better. There seems to be so many ups and downs with this illness, one day I think I really might have turned a corner and the next I can feel like back to square one! but I realise I do need to be more patient. I am very lucky as I have an amazing Husband who has done everything, literally for me and the children ovewr the last four months. He said it broke his heart to see me in such a state, and I stated to consider how this illness affects the ones closest to us too. I also have a very supportive family, especially one of my sisters who has spent many a day sitting with me trying to lift my spirits, which I will be eternally greatful for. She also suffered with this illness after two of her children so I think she really understands. My worst times seem to be when I stop for the day and sit down and try to relax, I seem to get all panicked and the thoughts start racing, then I think I am having twitches in my body and can't breathe properly, then the panic sets in. Sorry to go on, I am just so grateful for this site and finding others who understand, and actually being able to believe that I might recover from this. xxxx
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Post by Weeble on Apr 22, 2010 20:47:00 GMT
Hi Bubble.
I am feeling fairly pants tonight but just wanted to say keep writing, this site and the girls on it really help recovery. It does take time to recover, but I know how frustrating it can be.
I am sorry I cant write more tonight but when I am more perky will leave you a longer note
Kat
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Post by bubble212 on Apr 23, 2010 12:33:52 GMT
Just wanted to ask, last night I woke up in the night in a panic again, and there have been times this morning when I actually feel like I am losing it! feel very detached from where I am and all tingly and spaced out. Has anyone ever experienced these feelings, they are so strange, I am worried I will have to be sectioned if this carries on!! I still don't feel like the meds have had any positive effect, my sister said it can take a month to six weeks to feel any benefit? Any advice would be great, hope you are all having good days. xxxx
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Post by monica on Apr 23, 2010 15:08:20 GMT
Hello
It sounds to me the symptoms you're experiencing are very normal(butdistressing) symtpoms of anxiety. I sufferd from these symptoms - for me the detached feeling was the worst, but tingling, numbness can certainly be symptoms of that.
Do stick with meds; as your sister said it can take a while for them to kick in and indeed you can feel worse initially. Talk to your dr if you're worried - sure there'll be able to put your mind at ease. If you're really struggling perhaps they could prescribe something in the short term to help.
PNI really sucks but you will recover. I found it hard to comprehend how this illness could have such physical symptoms - unfortunately these are rarely well publicised.
x
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Post by Weeble on Apr 23, 2010 16:50:59 GMT
Hi Bubble
Monica is spot on about the symptoms. Often the drugs make anxiety worse before it becomes better. These are horrible feelings but it does get better. I am on my second dose of PNI and recovered fully the first time. Still on the road to recovery this time. Worrying that you are going to sectioned is really common. But it is unlikely to happen, if the doctors thought you needed admission they would offer you to choose to go in on your own so please do not worry. I tried to kill myself twice and did not get admitted so shows you how unlikely it is to happen.
ON reflection my PNI this time is a positive experience, it has fundamentally changed my life for the good. for the following reasons:
1. It has made my OH and I take stock and we both value what we have so much more than before it has made our relationship stronger 2. I am a very much better person for it, the number of people not knowing that i have PNI have told me recently that I am so relaxed after Tobes 3. I have stopped always looking to the future instead enjoying each day as it happens, my life has slowed down so much it is really great.
Keep writing, dont expect to get better immediately, but you will. Have you thought about starting a diary on here they are good because you can look back and see all the progress you have made
Kat
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Post by winegirl on Apr 23, 2010 18:31:57 GMT
Hi Bubble
The symptoms you are experiencing there are known as `depersonalisation' and a very common symptom of anxiety (one I went through myself!). And yes, the problem with taking meds for anxiety is that they are known to make it worse before it gets better and it can take several weeks to start feeling the benefits.
If you look under my threads in the meds section which were called `Fluoxetine' and Escitalopram' (I think) you will see how I went through poo the first few weeks on the meds and very gradually after a few weeks started to improve. It sounds strange but it is normally a good sign if you get worse before you get better!
How are you feeling today hun? Do keep talking if it helps...
Take Care
WG xx
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Post by juppster on Apr 23, 2010 19:09:34 GMT
Hey
Just wanted to add that I had all these symptoms too when starting the meds and with the anxiety. The depersonalisation was the worst and I too said on many occasions that I thought I would get sectioned...obviously this never happened but it is a very common thought but a very rare occurence.
I hope you have managed to get through today ok xx
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Post by bubble212 on Apr 23, 2010 20:12:40 GMT
Hi all, thank you so much for your responses. Monica - it is so true how under publicised the physical symptoms of PNI are, I myself was in complete denial as I never knew post natal depression/illness could cause you to have physical symptoms. I spoke to my health visitor in detail about my ongoing dizziness before I was diagnosed, who suggested it was labrynthitis, I must have been seeing my GP twice a week for the three months before I was diagnosed, complaining of dizziness and panic attacks and feeling generally spaced out, blurred vision etc and he thought it was an inner ear problem. It was only when at our wits end and finding out there was a two month wait to see a neurologist on the NHS my Husband said no way we are going private and he did a thorough examination and asked me many different questions about my feelings did he say I think you have post natal depression. I said no, I would not feel depressed if I wasn't dizzy anymore and he said this illness has many physical symptoms, and although you may not feel that you are depressed it is this illness that is causing your symptoms. I think it is terrible how I saw two professional over 3 months and they both never picked up on this, however like you say, there is just not enough awareness of the awful physical symptoms. Katrina- your post was so interesting about how you appreciate what you do have so much more after having this illness. I really can understand what you mean, cos although I have spent a lot of time just wishing things could go back to the way they were, I have also realised how priviledged I am in so many otgher ways, and if I do get better how completely amazing my life actually is. It can really put things into perspective. WG - Thank you for your response, you are always really helpful and I take great reassurance from some of your threads, I feel I am having a very simalar expreience to you symptom wise. The depersonalisation is very scary, I feel very anxious after it has happened and feel I need to bring myself round from it, like I may pass out or something? The nausea I had when I first started on the meds returned today, is this normal? I have been on them for about 10 days now. Also, can I ask have you completely recovered now? and was taking the meds a turning point for you when they finally kicked in? Juppster - Thankyou, it is so scary, why do our bodies do these things to us? its such a complex illness, and widely misunderstood I feel. It gives me comfort to think others have experienced this too and have come through the other side. Would you say you are recovered now?
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Post by caterina on Apr 24, 2010 0:37:27 GMT
Hiya Bubble I just wanted to reassure you that these are totally normal side effects of your medication, are you taking fluoxetine (prozac) by any chance? Your symptoms sound so much like mine when I first took it with my 1st child, I was shaky (still have shaky hands but it's much reduced now) I felt sick, couldn't eat and felt constantly dizzy and anxious...about everything! I also had numbness and tingling in my hands and fingers, there were days I would drop things just because my fingers were so numb. As for feeling twitchy when you're trying to relax, that's perfectly normal too. My GP explained my symptoms to me like this - 'you're taking a drug that's messing with your central nervous system, there will be side effects of this but for now we need to concentrate on getting the depression/illness under control' once he'd said that I must admit I did feel a bit better and figured I could cope with the side effects (which will lessen if not completely disappear) in time. Stick with it though, it can take 4-6 weeks for them to kick in and you should start to feel your mood lifting and that fuzzy head/fatigued feeling going away too. Plus your symptoms should lessen if not go completely. Just to say I'm on fluoxetine for the 2nd time round now after having my 2nd child and I've had none of the symptoms I had the first time round, I don't know if my body just got used to them (I did take a break while I was preg 2nd time) but I was back on them once lo number 2 was 5 days old and I've had no symptoms at all. Keep talking, we're all here for you xx
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Post by winegirl on Apr 24, 2010 8:28:42 GMT
Hi Bubble
Yes you may feel nauseaous on and off for a bit - but that will settle! I felt I was fully recovered when my daughter was about 2 (i didnt go on meds till she was over 1) and came off the meds. I was `back to normal' for about a year, and then in sept last year after a very stressful time and feeling sick in a shop (I am emetophobic) it did return. However, I jumped straight back on the meds and gradually improved again. I reblipped a few weeks ago but I was on a very low dose of my old meds so built back up tp a therputic dose and am now cooking on gas again.
In retrospect I probably came off the meds to early first time round. But I am confident that I will continue to take them this time for at least a year after frrling 100% better before coming back off so it doesnt re-occur.
Its not just the meds though that did it for me - it was battling on. Doing the things i felt i couldnt at times, resting when i knew i needed to, gradual exposure therapy etc etc.. But it was def the meds that was my saviour I think.
Hope some of that makes sense x
WG xx
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Post by monica on Apr 24, 2010 22:26:47 GMT
Hi
Interestingly enough I too saw a neurologist privately - but he was useless and expensive. I think he suggested I was having panic attacks and tried to get me to mimic some of my symptoms by breathing really deeply for a minute. Glad you got some answers though.
You asked about meds - I was on citalopram and felt dreadful for about 2-3 weeks then slowly things started to improve. i noticed I stopped crying on a daily basis, started similing laughing and generally living. I had terrible problems sleeping adn they seemed to go as well as anxiety. However, everyone is different and for some it takes longer for meds to start workign where as for others it's pretty quick.
For me meds were defintately the turning point and the main reason for my recovery. I was such a wreck and it felt as if my life was over. So hang on in there - hopefully another couple of weeks and you'll start to pick up.
Love
Monica
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Post by bubble212 on Apr 27, 2010 15:31:30 GMT
Hi all, Thankyou for your responses. Caterina - Thankyou for your reassurance, it really helps and I nedd a lot of this at the moment. I have been particualarly dizzy the last couple of days and have the creeping thought that what if it not PNI as surely the dizziness should be fading now I am being treated? I went to the library today and took out three books on PND as they call it and none of them mentioned the physical symptom of dizziness, its strange when so many with this illness have this symptom. WG - You have definitly not had an easy time of it, I am glad things have improved so much for you now. I am praying that this will go away one day soon! been on the meds two weeks now and still feeling shaky, do you think I should see the doctor about changing to different pill or stick with it? Monica - Thankyou for your reassurance, it all helps. Did PNI ever make you dizzy?
Bubble xxxx
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