Post Natal Depression Stories
Anna's Story
Dear Little Treasures,
I wanted to follow up on Sarah Adam's letter 'Alternative Cure' (June/July pg 14) with regards to using the Natural Progesterone cream and the benefits I have gained from it. I suffered from Post Natal Depression with both my babies and was offered anti-depression pills by my Dr. They did not help, in fact they made my mouth dry and I felt uncomfortable taking these 'chemicals' as I called them. When I saw the letter from Sarah I thought "if only something like that could work for me". So I gave them a call and sent the salivary test off. Instead of being in the normal range of Progesterone levels, I had incredibly low levels which is why I was experiencing the depression, anxiety, sleepless nights, palpitations, mood changes, absolutely no libido, tiredness, joint pain etc (the list goes on!).
I have now had two months on the cream and what a difference!. I finally feel 'awake'. The above symptoms have all gone. I am sleeping well which makes a huge difference and now look forward to the day instead of my previous attitude of 'Oh great ground hog day'.
I wanted to write in case there are other Mums and avid Little Treasures Readers out there who need help like me. The company to contact is Patient Advocates on 07-543-4999
Anna - Auckland
Lise's Story
Mum-of-two, Lise knew her PMS was out of control when she found herself once again throwing her husband's clothes out the door.
Each month, three or four days before her period stared, she'd start feeling anxious and paranoid.
"I would feel like killing someone - usually my husband or mother," she says. She would accuse her husband of having affairs and vent her anger by doing things like throwing out his clothes. Although she realised PMS was to blame for her unreasonable behaviour, nothing seemed to help.
Then, after the birth of her fist child, postnatal depression struck.
"I sat in the house and cried for three months solid" recalls Lise, formally a registered nurse. She finally saw her doctor who prescribed Prozac. She says the drug made her feel worse and her anxiety increased so she stopped taking it.
After the birth of her second child, she didn't feel depressed again but instead suffered severe forgetfulness. One day it was so bad she lost her car keys and sunglasses, left $40 sitting in an ATM and didn't remember she'd tied her dog to a lamp post outside a shop until after she'd walked home without him.
"It was lucky I was not working on a ward administering drugs."
Then late last year she read a magazine article about natural hormone therapy. "I searched the Internet that evening and all the symptoms of oestrogen dominance fitting mine - the mood swings, the flushes, the lack of sex drive, the anxiety and foggy-headedness".
She called natural hormone therapy specialists Patient Advocates, who arranged a saliva test. The results showed her progesterone levels were low so she started using bioidentical hormones in the form of progesterone cream. "After the first day of using it, my sex drive came back with a vengeance," Lise says.
"Over the next few weeks, all the old symptoms started to go away. My thinking became clearer and I was more focused, calmer and happier. It was like I could see the light again. Thinking back, I may have had hormone imbalance for years but I never knew about it".
Sarah's Story
I am writing this letter in the belief that what I have learnt may help hundreds of other Mothers, and may give them something to consider.
Eight months ago I felt at the end of my tether. I felt depressed and very stressed all the time, and knew I was yelling at my children for no reason. I hadn't had a good nights sleep in at least a year and had absolutely no interest in sex.
When I finally went to the Doctor, she prescribed anti-depressants. I was pretty unhappy at the thought of having to take them. Fortunately at the same time I learnt that when a woman gives birth, the hormone Progesterone stops being produced in the body.
This hormone is pivotal in helping control and balance the menstrual cycle, adrenal function, thyroid activity, sexual function, blood pressure and many other body functions as well as being a natural anti-depressant.
In some woman, the body may take some time to start making Progesterone again or may never make it to the required level again.
I contacted Patient Advocates Ltd for Natural Hormone Therapy in Tauranga for information and advice. I sent a saliva sample off for testing (blood tests aren't nearly as accurate) and results showed I was very low in Progesterone. On Patient Advocates advice my Doctor prescribed Natural Progesterone cream which I rub into my skin for two weeks of every month. After only two days I slept all night without waking once, and continue to do so. It felt too good (and easy) to be true!. Within six weeks I felt so dramatically improved in all areas, I have been telling everyone I know about the difference it has made to my life.
I feel sure there must be thousands of women needlessly on anti-depressants because many Doctors don't know about or are suspicious of Natural Progesterone cream. A good book to read is "Progesterone - The Natural Hormone" by Kimberley Paterson. Women with severe PMT and those going through Menopause can also be significantly helped by this product.
Sarah - Otago
Read more about Post Natal Depression here