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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BigD on February 28, 2002, at 11:59:27
Sorry for the weird subject line, but not enough room allowed to describe my situation. My wife is on prozac, just recently. She is Bipolar. She's in her third trimester of pregnancy (our first), and has been off lithium ever since she conceived. only now has she gone on this new medication Prozac. She feels like she has forgotten God, and that's the worst sin, and she feels like God hates her, and that I'd be better off with out her. She also feels that I could raise our future son better without her, and that my parents could help raise him. She wants to get away from me and everyone she's around because she feels like she brings harm upon them. She's has shared with me almost daily these feelings. I've tried to encourage her, but to see your wife despair of life is crushing. What do I do? Has anyone gone through similar circumstances, or maybe share their experience with their meds while pregnant or thereafter. I'm really concerned about the postpartum period. I've read it can be pretty tough.
Posted by mdertinger on February 28, 2002, at 12:24:10
In reply to Pregwifeonprozacwantstoleavemewithbabyorkillself, posted by BigD on February 28, 2002, at 11:59:27
> Sorry for the weird subject line, but not enough room allowed to describe my situation. My wife is on prozac, just recently. She is Bipolar. She's in her third trimester of pregnancy (our first), and has been off lithium ever since she conceived. only now has she gone on this new medication Prozac. She feels like she has forgotten God, and that's the worst sin, and she feels like God hates her, and that I'd be better off with out her. She also feels that I could raise our future son better without her, and that my parents could help raise him. She wants to get away from me and everyone she's around because she feels like she brings harm upon them. She's has shared with me almost daily these feelings. I've tried to encourage her, but to see your wife despair of life is crushing. What do I do? Has anyone gone through similar circumstances, or maybe share their experience with their meds while pregnant or thereafter. I'm really concerned about the postpartum period. I've read it can be pretty tough.
How long has she been on the Prozac? It will take 4-6 weeks for her to feel better.
Just keep reminding her that these feelings are totally due to 1)being off her regular medication, and 2) hormones from pregnancy are outrageous. She only has a couple more months to go, and then she can immediately go back on the Lithium once the baby is born. I would NOT recommend she breastfeed, because 1) there are only a few meds you can take while breastfeeding (Prozac is one of them/Lithium is not) and 2)breastfeeding brings on it's own new set of hormones.
She will most likely have post partum depression. The key is to get back on meds right after the baby is born. If you have family that can come and stay, that would really help. Lack of sleep after the baby is born will also make the depression much worse.
Also, after the baby is born, she can take Xanex to immediately get relief from anxiety, scarey, I'm no good feelings. (Again, no breastfeeding with Xanex).
I went through this twice. I was on Prozac for 8 years before getting pregnant. I went off my meds while pregant, but remained relatively OK until after the baby was born. Then the post partum really hit. I didn't start back on my Prozac until after 4 weeks, because I was breastfeeding and thought I could get by a while longer (I had survived 3 months w/o meds after my first born, but did eventually get post partum very bad). Then 9/11 hit, and I was immediately sick. Severe stomach cramps from anxiety, depression, wanting to give the baby away. I went to a mental hospital for a couple days (it was yucky). My new psychiatrist told me I should have started back on the Prozac at the end of my third trimester.
Again, see if you can get some help. My mom watched my 2 year old and 1 month old baby for 2 weeks until I recovered enough to feel like I could handle them.
Does your wife work? She could probably get on medical leave because of "pregancy complications" (the depression). But maybe work is good for her, if it takes her mind off her mental health.
Hope this helps!
Posted by BigD on February 28, 2002, at 16:59:32
In reply to Re: Pregwifeonprozacwantstoleavemewithbabyorkillself, posted by mdertinger on February 28, 2002, at 12:24:10
wow 4 to six weeks. That will be just about when the baby is born, if not sooner. But didn't know about Xanex. That's interesting. she won't breastfeed. Her mom will be with her during the first week or so after the baby is born. So we'll see. Thanks!
Posted by Mark H. on March 1, 2002, at 20:29:52
In reply to Pregwifeonprozacwantstoleavemewithbabyorkillself, posted by BigD on February 28, 2002, at 11:59:27
Big D,
Get her off the damn Prozac immediately!
A tiny percentage of people who try Prozac experience horrible worsening of symptoms, just like your wife. DO NOT wait 4-6 weeks to see if the stuff is going to work (or kill her)!
Anyone actively threatening suicide is a genuine medical emergency. DO NOT WAIT, do not "hope" it will "somehow" work itself out -- get her and yourself professional help NOW.
I am not a doctor and not qualified to suggest meds for pregnant women (or anyone else), but I have been helped through the worst of times with the occasional use of ZYPREXA. This new anti-psychotic is being used for everything from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to obssessive-compulsions. If your doctor believes it is reasonably safe for her to take it at this time in her pregnancy, it could save her life.
PLEASE do not wait. Your wife's suicidal crisis is a medical emergency.
I'll keep you both in my heart and in my prayers,
Mark H.
Posted by Ron Hill on March 2, 2002, at 9:42:36
In reply to Pregwifeonprozacwantstoleavemewithbabyorkillself, posted by BigD on February 28, 2002, at 11:59:27
>My wife is on prozac, just recently. She is Bipolar. She's in her third trimester of pregnancy (our first), and has been off lithium ever since she conceived. only now has she gone on this new medication Prozac.
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Mr. D:GET YOUR WIFE TO A QUALIFIED pDOC IMMEDIATELY! What idiot pdoc or family doc prescribed an AD (Prozac) to a bipolar patient without a mood stablizer in place???!!!! Get help and get it fast!
-- Ron
Posted by Geezer on March 2, 2002, at 13:47:40
In reply to Re: Pregwifeonprozacwantstoleavemewithbabyorkillself » BigD, posted by Ron Hill on March 2, 2002, at 9:42:36
> >My wife is on prozac, just recently. She is Bipolar. She's in her third trimester of pregnancy (our first), and has been off lithium ever since she conceived. only now has she gone on this new medication Prozac.
> -------------
>
>
> Mr. D:
>
> GET YOUR WIFE TO A QUALIFIED pDOC IMMEDIATELY! What idiot pdoc or family doc prescribed an AD (Prozac) to a bipolar patient without a mood stablizer in place???!!!! Get help and get it fast!
>
> -- RonBig D
Don't waste anymore time on the computer RON JUST TOLD YOU THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS.....DO IT NOW!!
Geezer
Posted by mdertinger on March 6, 2002, at 9:02:01
In reply to Re: Pregwifeonprozacwantstoleavemewithbabyorkillself, posted by Geezer on March 2, 2002, at 13:47:40
So what happened to your wife?? Is she feeling better. Feeling suicidal after starting anti-depressants DOES happen, but not typically. Prior to the AD, people don't feel they have the energy to kill themselves. After taking the AD for a week or so, the med usually has an energizing effect, although the depression won't be gone. This is why many people attempt suicide shortly after starting AD's. They feel they have the energy to develop a plan and execute it.
I totally agree that your wife needs a qualified pdoc. I did go to a mental clinic when I was feeling suicidal. It made me feel WORSE. I made them release me in 2 days. The support of my husband and parents really helped more than the "dormatory style clinic with a desk that pushed meds". Totally aweful.
Being pregnant really limits the medication options for your wife, but if her life is in danger, it may be better to take the risk of taking the right meds immediately, instead of waiting for the baby to be born. That's a call you and your wife need to make.
Please let me know how things are going.
This is the end of the thread.
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