Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.

47,612Members
1,358,869Posts
1,400,000Visitors

Need some support and love

New_mumCasual Contributor08 Apr 2017, 9:07 pm AEST

Need some support and love

Hi everyone,

So over the last two weeks something had been going very wrong with me. I've just had my first baby a beautiful little girl and she is 4 months old. I love her like she is seriously the best! However over the last two weeks I've been experiencing the weirdest symptoms.

It all started with feeling off balance and just like I was living in a alternate universe! My mother in law recently passed away from a brain tumor so of course I've now convienced myself I have one!

I've always suffered anxiety but what I've been experiencing the last two weeks has been out of control. My doctor has done blood tests and I have an MRI on Tuesday to rule out anything serious but I'm just sooooo scared it'll show up something bad and I won't be able to be there for my daughter.

Sometimes I find when I'm away from my daughter my symptoms seem to leassen which then makes me feel like the worst mother out there.

I'm just really confused about everything and feel like I'll never feel like me again. I think I'm being thrown a bit as I've never had physical symptoms like dizziness and extreme fatigue with anxiety which is why I can't help but think it's something serious.

My Dr feels I have postpartum depression/anxiety, has anyone else experience such strong physical symptoms like mine??? Any reassurance would be so helpful right now xxx

9 replies

1 - 9 of 9

In response to: Need some support and love

Unknown userMember08 Apr 2017, 9:14 pm AEST

Re: Need some support and love

Hi @New_mum

Welcome to the forums 🙂

Congrats on your new baby daughter, and my condolences for the passing of your mother in law. A massive time for you. I'm sorry that you're having these scary experiences and glad that your dr is ruling out anything medical.

I have had physical symptoms of anxiety (including blood pressure drops and dizziness and chest pains) in the past and i know how frightening it can be.

As a new mum too its even scarier as you have this whole new lil person to think of. You're definitely not a bad mum for feeling less stressed away from her because when you're with her you are obviously very attentive and worrying about her and looking after her. It's ok to have that down time and feel less stressed because we all need that.

It does get easier, but it does kind of take that village to help. I'm glad that you have a good GP, do you have baby and childrens clinic (I dont know what they're called these days)? and a mothers group or anything?

In response to: Need some support and love

Zoe7Senior Contributor08 Apr 2017, 9:25 pm AEST

Re: Need some support and love

Hi @New_mum and welcome to the forum.

I cannot relate to your situation - not having had children myself - but there are a lot of mothers on here that I'm sure will be able to offer support and advice for you.

I would like to say though that you are very welcome here and that this is a very supportive environment. The people here are compassionate and caring and welcoming to everyone.

Extreme tiredness and dizziness can certainly be associated with depression and/or anxiety - everyone's 'symptoms' are different. I do hop that this is all it is for you and that the MRI is all clear!

To help you find out a little more about other people's experiences with PND and/or anxiety - maybe start by putting in PND and Anxiety in the 'search the forum' box near the top of the page. I am sure that someone with more experience and knowledge in relation to your situation will respond shortly - but this is a good starting point to see what others have already experienced.

BTW Congratulations on the new baby and once again Welcome to the Forum - I hope you can find the support that you need here.

Best wishes... and sending you a lot of love...

Zoe

In response to: Need some support and love

espritSenior Contributor08 Apr 2017, 9:36 pm AEST

Re: Need some support and love

Having a new baby is the most overwhelming time. Amazing amount of love mixed with anxiety about doing things right. I've had three daughters and the biggest thing I learnt is not to try to control just go with the flow. Sleep when you need too and don't worry about the house. Walk with bubs. Eat what ever. When you feel the anxiety rising figure out what's triggering it then tell your self nothing really matters but you enjoying this time. As for depression it's something you will have to address with your dr. It's all manageable. Trust yourself to to be an instinctive mother.take lots of breaks. Congratulations rest relax don't worry. Xx

In response to: Need some support and love

New_mumCasual Contributor08 Apr 2017, 11:11 pm AEST

Re: Need some support and love

Hi @Former-Member

Thanks for your lovely message! I don't have a mothers group, I'm from a small country town and sometimes it feels a bit judgy in these groups.

I would love to find a support group close to me though, I thought I could contact the community nurse next week to see if there is anything.

At the moment I feel like I can't breath easy or even think about what the next step is till I get the all clear from the MRI, I know statistically it would be extremely unlikely I have a brain tumour and my symptoms don't really match with that but as you know anxiety and mind thoughts are so hard to turn off sometimes.

Tonight for the first time since bub was born 4 months ago I'm sleeping over at my mums house alone to get one good nights sleep. I felt so guilty leaving bub with hubby this afternoon and cried all the way to my mums (10mins down the road) but I'm hoping just one nights rest might make a slight difference xx

In response to: Re: Need some support and love

Unknown userMember09 Apr 2017, 9:18 am AEST

Re: Need some support and love

Hi @New_mum
oh... yes I have lived in small towns and yep there can be that judegment around if you're not the stereotypical image...
Wow, well done on going to your mums for a night! How did it go? And how'd your partner go with bub? I'm betting it was a little bit hard on both sides (you being away from bub and dad being on his own for the first time too).
Seeing the community nurse sounds like a perfect place to start after the MRI is clear (thinking positively!).
I think i found it hardest after my second was born, it was a... difficult birth.. for me at least lol maybe someone else wouldnt have found it so bad but it was just awful. and my thoughts raced and i was pretty anxious about him for a while. (he had minor issues of jaundice/temp control etc). But it did settle, I didnt do a mothers group for him because he was second but i went to the local playgroup and sometimes a rhyme time thing that was on in the library (small country town so library was 35 mins away) but was worth it.
Keep doing what you need to do for yourself to stay as rested as possible and healthy! And please keep sharing here 🙂
lj

In response to: Need some support and love

espritSenior Contributor09 Apr 2017, 10:55 am AEST

Re: Need some support and love

Good for you having a nights rest at your mums. . Hopefully you will be surprised how much better you feel. Take it easy and chill out you will be all the more better for it and more relaxed around Bub. Another thing someone told me as in a airplane put your oxygen mask on first. Watch the 2nd movie of sex in the city. Charlotte locks herself in the pantry because she just is worn out. It's a great movie for mums. Lol xx

In response to: Need some support and love

soulSenior Contributor09 Apr 2017, 6:24 pm AEST

Re: Need some support and love

Hi @New_mum you've embarked on one of the most difficult jobs there is. Well done for recognising that you're having some problems and for reaching out for help. It's so much better to sort out these small problems before they become big ones.

Youve done the right thing by getting the physical side checked out. You've been under heaps of stress so it's no wonder that you are feeling overwhelmed. Are you sleeping okay? Sleep deprivation can be awful. It's used as torture for that reason.

I'm a thumbs up for a Mothers Group too. They were a life saver for me. Check out your local churches as often their premises are used for meeting places. Dont be too harsh on yourself. You'll probably find that there are other Mums out there who may be experiencing similar difficulties.

I wish you well.

In response to: Need some support and love

Unknown userMember09 Apr 2017, 7:07 pm AEST

Re: Need some support and love

Hi @New_mum,

i just wanted to say hi and chime in to see if you had heard of @PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) They may be able to talk to you and give you support or know of groups in your area as well.

Best wishes and I hope all is clear.

In response to: Need some support and love

New_mumCasual Contributor16 Apr 2017, 8:10 pm AEST

Re: Need some support and love

Hi Everyone,
So I had my MRI and all came back clear! I actually had one day of relief and thought maybe the dizziness could be something else but today the anxiety and dizziness is back with avengence.
The doctor gave me anti depressentS the other day but I'm so scared to use them, I'm afraid of the side affects or of making this all worse! I guess because I've always been able to manage my anxiety on it's on I don't want to feel like I need assistance.
I also can't tell if my anxiety is causing the dizziness or the dizziness is causing my anxiety.....although I feel I've had so many tests now it's looking more and more like anxiety.
I'm so confused! I just want to be the normal happy person I usually am, I don't want to depend on medication but I don't want to feel like this either....
I called PANDA the lady was nice that I spoke to.
Sorry just letting it all out for a vent I know there are people way worse if then me out there, just hard to deal with the physical symptoms at the moment x

1 - 9 of 9