[saywhat?]

I'm 13 weeks pregnant with baby #2 and am struggling with severe depression. My first child was over a decade ago, this second baby was NOT planned and my med regimen at conception was a BIGGUN but was pretty effective. Of course, now that I'm pregnant I've had to stop taking the laundry list of chemicals and am now only allowed to take Zoloft which is woefully inadequate all by itself. My official diagnosis is atypical Bilpolar II, and have been dealing with it (mainly the deep dark depression symptoms) for almost 5 years. Before that I was on and off every antidepressant known to man courtesy of my family practice doc that finally gave up and sent me to a psychiatrist. I also have a therapist that I see weekly when I can get out of bed and see her. She's good and I've been happy with my latest psychiatrist also, but the constraints of pregnancy are really challenging my sanity!!
Is there anyone here that has dealt with this? My OBGYN sent me to a Perinatologist, so I have LOTS of people involved in the pregnancy, but between them all, the best they can come up with is "do the best you can" which is little comfort when I'm afraid the "best I can" is going to lead me into an inpatient setting! Help!

[Rohag]

Originally Posted by saywhat?

...I have LOTS of people involved in the pregnancy, but between them all, the best they can come up with is "do the best you can"...

Argh!

From the American Pregnancy Association: Depression During Pregnancy
Maybe, just maybe, there's something buried in the article you haven't yet considered.

[justfloating]

I can't imagine how difficult and frustrating this must be for you. I've never been pregnant so I don't have any advice but I wanted to send you some hugs and good vibes to help you through. I think it's very brave of you to be doing this.

[saywhat?]

Originally Posted by Rohag

Argh!

From the American Pregnancy Association: Depression During Pregnancy
Maybe, just maybe, there's something buried in the article you haven't yet considered.

Thanks Rohag, knowledge is power!

[saywhat?]

Originally Posted by justfloating

I can't imagine how difficult and frustrating this must be for you. I've never been pregnant so I don't have any advice but I wanted to send you some hugs and good vibes to help you through. I think it's very brave of you to be doing this.

Thank you for the hugs justfloating.... it means alot!

[akekaomen]

As a man, I've never had this issue, but I just wanted to comment on how unhelpful doctors are when they say "do the best you can". Really is that what years of medical training and residency, etc... teach these people to say to someone who is atypical bipolar?

If I had to go off my meds like you have, I don't know if I could make it. It's not much help, but from me, I'm wishing the best for you and hope that somehow you are able to manage through what I would consider hell.

[saywhat?]

Originally Posted by akekaomen

As a man, I've never had this issue, but I just wanted to comment on how unhelpful doctors are when they say "do the best you can". Really is that what years of medical training and residency, etc... teach these people to say to someone who is atypical bipolar?

If I had to go off my meds like you have, I don't know if I could make it. It's not much help, but from me, I'm wishing the best for you and hope that somehow you are able to manage through what I would consider hell.

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement..it really DOES feel like hell at the moment! Reading here and seeing what others are going through helps a little, then there are the other 23 hours of the day to get through
With all the advances in medicine, it sure does seem like there would be more they could do for all of us *sigh*
Only 27 weeks to go, iieeeee!!