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Help

by Kristin
(Minneapolis, MN)

I'm writing you because I feel like I am drowning. I am 30 and have been married for 7 years with a 3.5 year old and an 18 month old.

I'm not sure if this is where I should start or not. I know that something is wrong with me, I just think no one understands because on the outside I seem fine but internally I am dying. I am constantly stressed, tired and can't keep my head above water. Everything is overwhelming to me. I took your test and scored a 54. A FEW of my symptoms are: stress, no desire for sex, brittle nails, a terrible lower back ache that won't go away, my hair is extremely brittle. If I touch it/brush it or pull on it at all it breaks off. It is not falling out, just breaking off. I have a section in the back of my head that is less then two inches long and the rest of my hair is shoulder length. I cry all the time and often think of suicide and feel hopeless.

I have scheduled a doctors appt for tomorrow but am very nervous about it. In my previous experiences with doctors anything hormonal/depression related has been dismissed or medicated. I guess I'm just nervous that she won't be able to help me, she is a family practitioner and not a specialist in these areas. For example, my hair did this about 2 years ago for about 9 months and then seemed to get better. I spoke with my OB about it and she suggested I take Biotin. I tried this and it did nothing. I live in the Minneapolis area, would you recommend I see someone here?

Also, if I started using your cream how much would I use? I am very nervous about using anything like this. I just want to feel normal again. Can you help me with some advice or somewhere to go? Thanks!

Comments for Help

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Apr 02, 2010
 Help
by: Wray

Hi Kristin. You have post natal depression, I had it, it lasted 4 years so I know how you feel! You will be offered antidepressants, this is the standard medication. But these will only mask the symptoms, they will not get to the cause, which is a severe drop in progesterone and serotonin levels after birth. Please see what Dr Dalton has to say about it here. She's written a wonderful book "Depression after Childbirth: How to Recognise, Treat, and Prevent Postnatal Depression", there is a link at the bottom of the page, it's well worth getting. You won't feel so alone either. You do need progesterone, but large amounts, Dr Dalton would give 800mg/day to her patients, in suppository form. You also need tryptophan, the precursor amino acid to serotonin. There are other natural anti-anxiety/depressants that are worth taking too, please have a look here. We don't have a page specifically on PND, but there is one on anxiety you might like to see here.

The first time your hair fell out your first child would have been about 18 months old, you say it then seemed to get better about 9 months later. You would have by then been pregnant for about 3 months with your second child, which would account for it. Progesterone increases significantly after 3-4 months as the placenta is now making progesterone, while that from the corpus luteum is declining. I wish I could advise about someone you could go to, but so little is known or done about PND, apart from giving the standard antidepressants and possibly counselling. These do not help. Unbelievable as it may sound, I've met a woman who had been on them for 30 years, since the birth of her son. The nutrients you need which are severely depleted, do work, not quickly, but gently, and slowly you will get better. It could take 3 months, it could take 6, or even a year, but gradually you'll notice each symptom going. For instance the B vitamin inositol is given for depression and OCD, but it's also called the anti-alopecia vitamin, as it helps hair grow again. Take courage, I know you'll come right, I did! Take care, Wray
Apr 02, 2010
 Childbearing years
by: Gillian

I had three children in five years, and had a terrible time coping with postpartum depression psychosis, anxiety, on and on and on. No sooner would I recover from one bout of illness and be well for a while then another postpartum cycle would bowl me over. I wish I had progesterone, this was twenty five years ago. It was recommended by someone, but we didn't have enough information to know what good it could do. Now I use it for my perimenopausal symptoms. It has made a good difference in my hormonal imbalances. The thing is, it won't hurt you, there's no side effects, it's a natural substance. I might add that my hair was falling out by the handful and after one month of useage, it stopped. I'd love to know that someone was helped by something that may have helped me if I had just known better.
Apr 04, 2010
 Childbearing years
by: Wray

Hi Gillian. I wish I had known about it too, as I had post natal depression 28 years ago after my daughter. At least I didn't have the PNP you did, the PND was bad enough! It lasted four years which put me off having any more children. I discovered it during peri-menopause too and what a difference it made. I had been using it for 6 months when my daughter of 14 talked of feeling 'down', as I had had depression during puberty I put her straight on to the cream. What a difference it made to her too, she's still using it at 28. Such a pity your doctor (and mine!) didn't know of Dr Dalton's work with post natal depression/psychosis. She was using it for her patients 60 years ago, giving 2400mg/day for PNP, in fact she wrote an excellent book called "Depression after Childbirth". Take care, Wray
Apr 06, 2010
 Thanks
by: Kristin

Thank you for your response Wray. I feel like there is some hope in feeling like myself again. Appreciate it.
Apr 06, 2010
 by the way...
by: Kristin

I had scheduled a physical to have blood work done last Friday and to tell the Dr the things that I have been experiencing. I asked the Dr if we could do some hormone testing and she told me 'no' because I was so young that they would all come back in the normal range. BUT... when I told her that I was getting some hair on my chin she said that we definatley need to check my testosterone levels. They took blood tests of testosterone, vitamin D, DHEA and a few other things. I have not received the results yet.
Apr 07, 2010
 Thanks
by: Wray

Hi Kristin. Unfortunately that's a typical response, 'too young'! Hormones can be disrupted from birth. I'm glad you persisted, facial hair indicates too high a testosterone level. Please get them to check progesterone and oestrogen while they are about it. Progesterone does suppress testosterone levels, it also suppresses aromatase, this enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone into oestrogen. I'm pleased they're checking your vitamin D level, as a lack of this plays a huge role in depression. Take care, Wray
May 10, 2010
 Cream
by: Kristin

Hi again Wray, I have another question for you. I ordered your cream and am on my second month of using it. I felt really good last month and now this month I am on day three and my breasts started leaking and are stinging (almost like my milk is coming in). I have not nursed for 8 months now. Is this just the estrogen dominance you have been talking about? I have been using a little over a teaspoon each day. Advice would be great. Thanks!

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