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Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

* warning .... very long*

I have been wanting to introduce myself for some time now but trying to find the time with a 4 month old is very hard. Well I do have a long story but I will only go over what is happening in the present for that is what as bought me here to these forums.

Let me give a little background to this chapter. The whirlwind began in 2018 when I got married. My husband and I knew we wanted to start a family and we would begin trying from the wedding. I did not have a period for 2 months but all pregnancy test came up negative. Went to the doctors and one thing lead to another and I end up being told I have a 6cm dermoid cyst on my left ovary. Had surgery at the end of February and was told it was just a mass of hair and not cancer (phew). I could not do any exercise for a month and my husband and I were going to Japan during cherry blossom season for our honeymoon. During our honeymoon we ofcourse tried again and to our surprise fell pregnant first try. My pregnancy was hard most of the time with being diagnosed with gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. At my last appointment with my obstetrician they said "ok it is time for this baby to come out. You will need to book in at the hospital and we are doing an emergency c-section tonight." That happened at 11am and at 7:35pm my little man came into the world. I did not get to see him because he was taken to the special care unit due to breathing difficulties. I then was in recovery for 3 hours because my blood pressure would not come down. I was very lucky for the nurse that was taking me to my room took me to see my son and the lovely ladies there let me have some skin-on-skin time with him.

So now we are at the present time... (thank you if you have read this far!) I was diagnosed with antenatal depression early on in my pregnancy. I knew something was wrong with the way I was feeling and by the thoughts I was having so I seeked professional help. I did proper research and found a psych that deals with pregnant women. I have seen many psychs in the past but knew I had to find someone more specific for this. After my first 5 sessions provided by medicare helped me tremendously. To be able to talk to someone and be told that I was not crazy for having the thoughts I was and that is was in fact very normal for it to happen. I was instructed by my obstetrician to go on antidepressants for my feeling were not going to get any better but they would get worse due to the hormones. I did this even though I was against going on them but it was the best thing I did. After the birth I felt amazing within myself which was the total opposite of what I thought I was going to feel like. Jump to pandemic time and I have taken a 180 turn for the worst. I feel like I am circling the drain of depression again and know that I have postnatal depression currently. I have deteriorated so quickly that it is concerning for myself. I have spoken to my psych today and have put somethings into play which I will see if they will work. There is maybe a possibility that my meds will be increased but I am not sure if I want to due to breastfeeding.

Everything feels so up in the air at them moment and I feel like an empty shell of my former self. I have lost my identity and feel like I am just at mum, which I am now feeling like a failure at because I am having breastfeeding issues. So the one thing I am I can no longer do. I know I need to not be hard on myself and I have at least gone to get help but with knowing what it is I am meant to be doing makes my even more frustrated because then I should be able to get myself out but I can not.

Anyways, that is my current situation but ofcourse there is a lot more background that I will talk about over time. Trying to get all that out in one go would take a novel! Thank you to whoever has taken the time to read this and I can not wait to meet some new people and hear your stories too.

Much Love,

Blep xx

22 replies

11 - 20 of 22

In response to: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery

hey @Blep just coming to show my support. a little unfoccused tonight so finding it abit hard to read many posts. wanted to stop in and say hello though

In response to: Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery

Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery

Thanks @outlander! Maybe do a little self care like a warm bath and have an early night. Take care 😊

In response to: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery

Hi @Blep thanks for sharing your story here. It's great you found a psych that works in such a specific area and that you've found so helpful.

Sorry @eth I had logged off before you tagged me so I didn't see it until now. PANDA is a great suggestion for @Blep. They offer telephone counselling and also referral to supports in your local area. Might be helpful to know what support is available in your area to help you through this time

PANDA Helpline

1300 726 306

9am-7.30pm Mon-Fri (AEST/AEDT)

In response to: Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery

Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery

Hi @Blep 👋

I have read back through the thread, and I agree so much with how others here have responded. You sound like a wonderful mum ..... and further down the track of raising your son the issues that you struggle with at the moment inform your developing parenting style ongoing ..... so you are doing an amazing job of recognising how, what and why you need support, and how to access it. This will become an example to your son as well, about not trying to go it alone in the challenges and struggles of life .... that we need and deserve support from others around us. You are building your support community for your family, not just yourself ...... go you ❣️.

In response to: Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery

Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery

Thank you @Faith-and-Hope for taking the time to read it all and your kind words.

In response to: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

Hi @Blep,

I can totally relate, I had post natal depression after my last child who is now 8. I had no idea what was wrong with me! No energy at all. I did have complications after child birth, so I thought it was physical. I also had trouble breast feeding and felt bad about it. I went on anti depressants which helped a lot, even though I didn't want to. My best advice would be, if you feel like you can still breast feed, do it, if you feel like you can't, don't. I felt pressured that breast was best but I wasn't coping with it.

You're doing the best you can! Also, keep up psychiatrist appointments and if there's a mum's group for people that have struggled with post natal depression, go to it. It helped me a lot, to know I wasn't the only one feeling this way.

Hope I helped a bit and you're doing an awesome job!!!!😊

In response to: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

Hi @Blep , my apologies for just reading your post now.

I'm so sorry that you had a cyst, I actually did too, no one knows how long for, what caused it and so forth with me. I had a surgery in November 2018, my first surgery. They were going to remove 1 of my tubes & 1 of my ovaries, but luckily I have both still. I'm on the pill to help me with this, and to prevent it from coming back, and whatnot.

I'm also sorry you had such a struggle with depression, and you trying to have a child. I'm glad you have one now, congrats to you and your husband. I'm glad Medicare paid for it and it helped you so much.

I'm sorry about your breastfeeding issues too, that's sad. I hope things improve for you.

Thinking of you, and my apologies to talk about myself for a bit there, just wanted to tell you that I had the same experience with surgery and the cyst. I'm ok now yes, I have a big scar from my belly button to my pubic bone but thats all healed nicely and whatnot.

My cyst was 45cm and luckily mine wasn't cancer either, some sort of fluid, no one's sure. They drained 5.5 litres of fluid out of mine, so 6 of those hospital water things. It was close to bursting and I wouldn't be here typing this had I not had the surgery, I never knew I had it, didn't really have symptoms. It's rare what I had and where.

And my apologies for taking so long to read and reply to your post. Thank you for tagging me though.

I hope you're doing ok xx

In response to: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

@Blep just checking in to see if you're ok? I replied to your post above somewhere

In response to: Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

thinking of you @Blep

In response to: Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

Re: Yet another chapter of self discovery - my introduction

Apologies all for being absent for a few days. Ive been having ups and downs which are really throwing me atm. I've also been feeling so angry I best thought to keep to myself for I may say something wrong and regret it later.

Hey @Purplerain. Post natal depression is so hard. The roller coaster of emotions are so draining. I must look at the positives like my breast feeding improving. I think because he has gone through a growth spurt it is easier for him.

Gosh @Former-Member that is crazy about your cyst. That is very large. I'm glad they got it before anything happened. Also sorry for the late reply. I do hope everything is going better for you 😊

Thank you @outlander. A small post like yours can mean alot and at this moment it does 😊
11 - 20 of 22