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Plucked up the courage...wish I hadn't bothered.


Guest Hunnibee

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Guest Hunnibee

Hi

I recently posted a thread as I was afraid to talk to my Doctor about my OCD as I have a baby and was afraid they would question my capability as a Mother.

Long story short I plucked up the courage and brought up the subject with my Doctor, and told her that I have had issues in the past and they have come back far worse since I had my son and I want to get the issues sorted now so I can be a good Mum. Unfortunately I didn't get the help I wanted, my Doctor said I have post natal depression, that I should take medication which would help my mood (??) and that she would contact my health visitor.

I refused the medication, I want to tackle my thought process not mask things with pills. I don't believe I have post natal depression as I have had all the issues in the past, they just worry me much much more now I have a baby.

I had a call from my heath visitor today who is coming to see me next week as the Doctor told them I am not coping. I am quite angry as at no point did I say that and I am coping fine, I wanted help for my OCD and all I got was an offer of some pills which I don't want and my health visitor now thinking I can't cope, this was my biggest worry, as I am now even more afraid they will question my ability to look after my son.

I feel really let down and confused and I am not really sure what to do now, if my Doctor has been so unhelpful and made things so much worse I don't want to try and get help now, the health visitors have already been completely misinformed. :(

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I had post natal depression after my second child, and i too refused medication at first, as i thought it would be masking things. But it isnt hunnibee, it's not masking it at all, it is helping you to see things more clearly. Post natal depression is nothing to feel ashamed of, but it is something you want to tackle as early as possible. PM if you like, cos i honestly do know what you are going thru xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Guest Elle Belle

Hi Hunnibee,

That's really unfortunate. Maybe you can try another doctor? (I noticed you live overseas and I don't know what the system is like where you are.)

What problems are you experiencing? Maybe while you're trying to get help you could post your problems on here and get some practical advice from forum users. Are you feeling depressed?

Congratulations on your baby boy. I'm sure you're a brilliant mummy.

Elle

xxx

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Guest Hunnibee

Thank you PottyPotter, very kind of you to offer such lovely support, but I really don't feel I have post natal depression, I am having the same thoughts I had over the past few years but I worry more and want to get it sorted as I want to be the best Mum I can be with no issues. I don't think the Doctor had any idea as I told her about my horrid / violet thoughts and she asked if I washed my hands a lot, when I said no she said it didn't sound like OCD???

ElleBelle, I haven't got around to changing my profile, I am back in the UK now.

I have violet thoughts and worry about hurting people. I don't feel depressed I just get very stressed out about having the thoughts all the time and the fact that I can't stop them. I have my health visitor coming in the week thanks to my Doctor telling them I am not coping, so I might try and talk to her, but I doubt i will have the courage now thanks to the outcome of the Doctor's appointment.

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Hi Hunnibee

I thought this might reassure you that there won't be any bad consequences if you confide in your health visitor if you haven't seen it before (ignore the headline because there's more to it than that when you watch the video):

http://www.itv.com/thismorning/life/male-post-natal-depression/

They call it postnatal depression but it's actually postnatal OCD I think. I know yours has always been there but the treatment will be the same regardless xxx

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I WOULD GO back to the doctor and be firm wif her , say that u dont want meds but you would like to try cbt which is available on the nhs,

thats what i have done in the past , i always tell docs what i need regards to my ocd and i dont take no **** , i dont care that there are docs and they no better whatever,

sorry had alot bad experiences wif gps , i went and paid for my own cbt best thing i ever done

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Guest sarah1984

Hunibee, I'm sorry to hear your doctor's appointment went so badly because I know it took you a lot of courage to tell your GP about the intrusive thoughts.Unfortunately, it's a quick fix for doctors to dole out anti-depressants, instead of investing in psychological therapies which really get to the heart of the problem. However, you have every right to refuse medication if it's not what you want and you also have the right to request a course of CBT. It sounds to me as if the doctor you saw wasn't very clued up about OCD if she thinks it only applies to people who repeatedly wash their hands. If I were you, I would make an appointment to see another GP at the same practice and I would tell them out right that you have suffered from OCD for a long time and you want to be referred for talking therapies. Some practices have GPs who specialise in mental health issues so it might be worth asking at reception whether this is the case at your practice. If you don't have any luck there, you can self-refer to the IAPT (improving access to psychological therapies) scheme. Here's a link: http://www.nhs.uk/li...stotherapy.aspx

I know the doctor said she thought you weren't coping and this has terrified you because you think it means that the health professionals are questioning your ability to look after your baby. I think your OCD is making you read too much into the doctor's words - personally I think it was an unfortunate turn of phrase and she means that you are struggling with anxiety - this is no reflection on your capability as a mum. I hope the health visitor is more sympathetic. I would tell her that you suffer from OCD and explain your fears to her. I'm sure she must have heard similar stories many times before - in fact I think it would be rare for any new parent not to worry about whether they could harm their baby. I would also tell her that you were very disappointed at the doctor's attempt to palm you off with pills and that you were very angry at her suggestion that you aren't coping.

I'd also recommend the following two books which have sections on intrusive thoughts of harming others:

http://www.ocdshop.c...1&products_id=8

http://www.ocdshop.c...products_id=163

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Guest Hunnibee

Thank you very much for your replies, Curly, fefee and Sarah. I feel a little more reassured I might try to discuss the issue with the Health Visitor during the week. I don't have any confidence in the Doctors surgery, but perhaps if I feel reassured enough by the health visitor i might go back and try again....I think it's terrible that there are still gp's who don't seem to have any idea on OCD's, perhaps we should start directing them to this site!

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Guest Elle Belle

I'm sure there are things you can download or order from here which you can give to your GP to give her a better understanding of what OCD is. It's fairly shocking she doesn't know.

xxx

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