[Joe-Anna]

A couple of months ago, I went to a GP in my term-time town complaining about my mental health, as I had been suffering mood swings that were stopping me from going to uni. He told me to come back in a couple of weeks if I felt the same, but I was too scared to go back, which I regret. Recently I've found out that I am pregnant and I am considering an abortion. I went to the doctor in my home town explaining my choice and I said I would rather have the procedure as close to home as possible, but he made it clear he thought that I should go back to my term-time residence and have it with my GP there, as I was currently signed up for their practice. I made it clear that I would be more comfortable having it at home, and that I was moving back in less than a month, and he just repeated that I should have it in the other town. Then I asked for a referral to a psychiatrist, saying I was finding it difficult to cope with. He insisted that it would be 'easier to take one thing at a time' and maybe in the summer we could look into that. I said again that I needed help with my mental health, and he just repeated that I wait until after the abortion. He didn't ask any questions to actually equate how bad I was. For the record, I was in tears by the second half of the appointment. The truth is, I am far more concerned about my mental health at the moment, than the abortion.

I have made an appointment with the GP from my term-time residence and I hope he will take me more seriously, however I feel like I have been treated disgustingly.

Surely if I want to have the abortion in my home town, that is my business. I feel like the doctor had no right to tell me otherwise. I wanted to do it through the GP at home, who is my family doctor, now however, to get it done in my hometown, I'm having to go to the clinic without his knowledge.

Most importantly, I'm shocked that he refused to even consider giving me mental health care before the abortion. This is when I really need the help. I want to be completely calm when I make the decision. Right now I can barely leave the house and am constantly in tears. I'm absolutely terrified. I've missed weeks of uni, I cannot cope and I seriously need help.

Hopefully my term-time GP will handle this better, but if I don't get referred to someone, I am worried I will not be able to cope. How is this treatment allowed to go on? Is there a faster way to get help. I'm considering not leaving the GP's office until they do something for me this time.

I very sincerely wish all of Gods blessings on you and your child

[gayleggg]

I agree that you need counseling to deal with the abortion and your other issues. Now not after the fact. An abortion can really mess with your mind, with all the horomal changes. I hope you get into see someone more understanding. Good luck to you.

I live in Texas and instead of supporting our rights the state has helped close many abortion clinics. We are taking backward steps in women's rights. Pm me if you need to talk.

[Perna]

The pregnancy issue cannot really go behind ongoing issues because of its timing. Mental health counseling is usually a minimum of 2-1/2 to 3 months in length and can go on for years, depending on what you wish to accomplish. Whether or not to get an abortion and then getting it is indeed the order things need to be done. However, counseling about whether or not to get an abortion does not really fall into "mental health care" and I think your home physician felt way out of his depth which is why he suggested you go back to your school physician who knows you better at this time and work with him. If you know you want an abortion, have no doubts, etc. then you would just go to a doctor wherever you wish and get an abortion as the law allows, etc. But given the difficulties you are having, I would work with your term-time doctor to get this time sensitive issue resolved and then decide the next thing you wish to work on, whether your other uni issues, how to raise a child, or other ongoing issues.

[Joe-Anna]

The abortion can wait for weeks, but I cannot go on feeling like this for weeks. I feel like I need some kind of help now, otherwise I will not be able to cope with the future. I feel like I am a harm to myself, but I haven't been given the chance to express this to any doctor. I'm going to say this to my uni GP, but I have no idea how they will react.

I don't think my home doctor reacted correctly at all. I may be signed up with my uni doctor, but he is the families doctor, my old doctor, and the doctor I was about to sign up with when I got back. I don't ever want an appointment with him again. This isn't the first time he's ignored me. I'd rather spend £10 travelling on the train to my uni town than get discarded the way I felt today again. However, I shouldn't have to, especially not in this state. I just hope I get treated with this other doctor.

[ThisWayOut]

that's really horrible of him. I'm sorry you were simply dismissed when you were looking for help. I don't see how the mental health support and the abortion need to be mutually exclusive. I know if I were in that same position, I would be talking to my therapist about it at the same time as discussing other things. I know the healthcare system works differently over there, but no one should ever be turned away from support. also, don't mh referrals take quite a while over there? I would think he would want you started at least on th einterview process and get the paperwork going so that, even if it doesn't start before the abortion needs to take place, at least it can get rolling shortly afterwards. Would they do the same if you were deciding on cancer treatment and getting connected with mental health services?
If things don't go as planned with your uni GP, can you just go to an emergency room to get some help? From my understanding, it's a lot more difficult to get commited over there (more options for talking your way out of it), and maybe they can also help with the abortion issue?
Good luck with everything... (oh, and totally don't go back to your old GP... apparently he sucks).

You have to INSIST on treatment NOW - really be the squeaky wheel, do not back down or give up until you receive treatment. Go to the ER and tell them you're suicidal...whatever it takes to get the help you obviously need. These days health care is a competition - those who yell loudest get heard. It's pathetic, but true. Also, is there a Planned Parenthood clinic available to you? Clearly, you need to talk with someone ASAP. Where's your baby's father in this?

[Rayne Selene]

Originally Posted by Joe-Anna

The abortion can wait for weeks, but I cannot go on feeling like this for weeks. I feel like I need some kind of help now, otherwise I will not be able to cope with the future. I feel like I am a harm to myself, but I haven't been given the chance to express this to any doctor. I'm going to say this to my uni GP, but I have no idea how they will react.

I don't think my home doctor reacted correctly at all. I may be signed up with my uni doctor, but he is the families doctor, my old doctor, and the doctor I was about to sign up with when I got back. I don't ever want an appointment with him again. This isn't the first time he's ignored me. I'd rather spend £10 travelling on the train to my uni town than get discarded the way I felt today again. However, I shouldn't have to, especially not in this state. I just hope I get treated with this other doctor.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Unfortunately, dealing with doctors who won't listen happens all too often. What I've started doing is to carefully write out everything, even the tiniest detail, that I feel is wrong, so that I have everything I need to say with me when I see the doctor. That way the doctor can't fluster me and make me forget all the things I need to get out. I hope you find someone to listen and I wish you strength in getting through this!

[TheOriginalMe]

Hi Joe-Anna, are you in the UK? I ask because you wrote spend £10. If you are then, from my experience you could have problems getting a MH referral (pregnant or not). It may be that your Uni services will be better able to get you a referral.
For a termination you'll need the opinion of 2 docs, but the clinic you choose should arrange that. Your MH is a valid reason for wanting a termination, your GP should have spoken to you about that.
I'd advise getting a termination sooner rather than later if that is what you want, it will be a simpler process and less traumatic.
Try having a look at Brook Home to see if they can help you get a termination in your home town.
PM me if you think I can help.

[Joe-Anna]

I'm staying with the father. He's great, but we are both out of our depths. I considered going to ER, if this doctor fails me as well. What if they turn me away because they don't consider my problems serious?

[TheOriginalMe]

No they shouldn't turn you away, if you are suicidal or want to self harm they should get you a MH assessment. You could go right now if things are that bad.

I doubt they'll turn you away, considering the whole situation.

Prior to the baby decision are you looking for counseling more than anything? Because the abortion clinic may have counseling available. Or depending on where you are I don't think you need the gp permission to find a therapist. Would a pdoc even put you on meds while pregnant? Your have hormones flying all over the place. Anything psychotropic would surely be risky at this stage, no? Maybe that's why your doc seems reluctant?

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Originally Posted by Michanne

Prior to the baby decision are you looking for counseling more than anything? Because the abortion clinic may have counseling available. Or depending on where you are I don't think you need the gp permission to find a therapist. Would a pdoc even put you on meds while pregnant? Your have hormones flying all over the place. Anything psychotropic would surely be risky at this stage, no? Maybe that's why your doc seems reluctant?

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I'm thinking the same thing as Michanne. You really need some major intervention (counseling) at this time. If I were you I'd expedite getting help by going to the ER. Once there, you'll feel some relief.

[Fuzzybear]

[Joe-Anna]

Originally Posted by adamwatson85

Go for meditation to get over your mood swings. And to add on that, during pregnancy one tends to have mood swings.

These are not the kind of things meditation can control, they can stop me from getting through day-to-day life. Also these swings started before I fell pregnant. Now I can't get out of bed most days. I think I need medication as well as counselling.

Originally Posted by Joe-Anna

These are not the kind of things meditation can control, they can stop me from getting through day-to-day life. Also these swings started before I fell pregnant. Now I can't get out of bed most days. I think I need medication as well as counselling.

That could be but now isn't a good time to start. If you decide to go full term no dr in their right mind is going to give you psychotropic drugs. If you are sure about the abortion route are finances or indecision holding you back? The sooner the easier and if you feel really bad you are only going to feel worse the closer to term it gets. If I were a doc that is exactly what I would be thinking.

Meditation isn't a cure. Neither are meds. It will help however. If you have no experience with it guidance would be best.

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[Marielle]

Originally Posted by Michanne

That could be but now isn't a good time to start. If you decide to go full term no dr in their right mind is going to give you psychotropic drugs. If you are sure about the abortion route are finances or indecision holding you back? The sooner the easier and if you feel really bad you are only going to feel worse the closer to term it gets. If I were a doc that is exactly what I would be thinking.

Meditation isn't a cure. Neither are meds. It will help however. If you have no experience with it guidance would be best.

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I have to agree with this. The more your pregnancy progresses, the more you'll have to deal with all the physical and emotional issues that come with the drastic shift in hormones an abortion will cause. Plus, the earlier you terminate the pregnancy, the simpler the procedure you can have and the easier it will be on your body.

Maybe I'm wrong, but right now it seems you are just kind of swept up in the current, and feeling overwhelmed and powerless because you don't know what's coming next. Not that anyone could blame you. But sometimes taking action and making plans can restore a sense of empowerment, like you will be controlling what happens next, and that there is help on the way. It provides a definite sequence of events that you can anticipate and prepare yourself for, as well.

So if I were you, I would sit down and work out a timeline, and then start scheduling appointments based on that. I would arrange to have the abortion done on one day, and arrange to have my first counseling appointment within a week after the abortion. The logistics might be tricky, given that you are moving within a month, but maybe this would be a good time to talk to your boyfriend to figure out how he can be with you through the procedure and the days afterward, even if you end up having the abortion in one place and starting counseling in another.

There are some meds that are used during pregnancy.

Originally Posted by Sister Rags

There are some meds that are used during pregnancy.

Would they start them during preg? I'm thinking there might be relaxants and things like that but not ad's or ap's.

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[TashaAnne63]

Originally Posted by Joe-Anna

A couple of months ago, I went to a GP in my term-time town complaining about my mental health, as I had been suffering mood swings that were stopping me from going to uni. He told me to come back in a couple of weeks if I felt the same, but I was too scared to go back, which I regret. Recently I've found out that I am pregnant and I am considering an abortion. I went to the doctor in my home town explaining my choice and I said I would rather have the procedure as close to home as possible, but he made it clear he thought that I should go back to my term-time residence and have it with my GP there, as I was currently signed up for their practice. I made it clear that I would be more comfortable having it at home, and that I was moving back in less than a month, and he just repeated that I should have it in the other town. Then I asked for a referral to a psychiatrist, saying I was finding it difficult to cope with. He insisted that it would be 'easier to take one thing at a time' and maybe in the summer we could look into that. I said again that I needed help with my mental health, and he just repeated that I wait until after the abortion. He didn't ask any questions to actually equate how bad I was. For the record, I was in tears by the second half of the appointment. The truth is, I am far more concerned about my mental health at the moment, than the abortion.

I have made an appointment with the GP from my term-time residence and I hope he will take me more seriously, however I feel like I have been treated disgustingly.

Surely if I want to have the abortion in my home town, that is my business. I feel like the doctor had no right to tell me otherwise. I wanted to do it through the GP at home, who is my family doctor, now however, to get it done in my hometown, I'm having to go to the clinic without his knowledge.

Most importantly, I'm shocked that he refused to even consider giving me mental health care before the abortion. This is when I really need the help. I want to be completely calm when I make the decision. Right now I can barely leave the house and am constantly in tears. I'm absolutely terrified. I've missed weeks of uni, I cannot cope and I seriously need help.

Hopefully my term-time GP will handle this better, but if I don't get referred to someone, I am worried I will not be able to cope. How is this treatment allowed to go on? Is there a faster way to get help. I'm considering not leaving the GP's office until they do something for me this time.

I don't understand that doctor at all... Is there any other health professional near where you are right now that you could see, to try and find a referral? Or are there any websites online that can help you find a therapist? I've never been to a therapist before (due to my current circumstances, it just wouldn't work), so I don't really know how all that works... but I can tell you that what he said makes no sense, whatsoever. I agree that he doesn't have the right to tell you where you should have an abortion (unless one facility has better quality health care than another, or something), and he shouldn't have just blown off your request for references.

If the abortion stresses you, have you considered other options? Abortion isn't the only option, as there are thousands of people wanting to adopt... Abortion causes severe depression and guilt, and many other mental health issues in a lot of women post-op... This won't necessarily happen to you, but there's a high chance... In many cases, as well, there is severe scarring caused by the operation, which can cause miscarriages to later wanted pregnancies. I don't want to pressure you, and I would support you no matter your decision, but I've always felt that adoption is the best way to handle an unwanted pregnancy, and obviously I hope this is the way you choose... In most cases, it's risk-free, and gives someone else the precious gift of parenthood, when they might otherwise not be able to have it.

I sincerely hope you find the help that you need.

Yes...welbutrin and ativan come to my mind as two meds that are used during pregnancy. I'm sure there are others.

This thread is interesting. If the meds are safe for bf'ing, I'm sure many are safe for pregnancy:
http://forums.psychcentral.com/psych...stfeeding.html

I would be more concerned about starting a pregnant woman on psychotropic drugs while she already emotional. I've never been pregnant but aren't your hormones changing like every day? How would you know if it is the side effects or your mind or the baby that is effecting today?

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[Marielle]

Any word from the OP?