ADD and Postpartum Depression link?

[addwifey]

After spending the last three months thinking I was finally going off the deep end with my ADD symptoms, I went to the doctor today. Four months ago I had a tubal pregnancy that had to be removed. After the surgery, my monthly cycles resumed, but with a noticable increase in my level of PMS and insane mood swings (poor hubby). I am crying very easily over really stupid stuff and can't seem to control it. My new doctor recommended the usual blood work to rule out other things. As I was talking to a very dear friend about my problem, she quickly pointed out that I WAS pregnant and now I am not. She told me I was having postpartum depression.

After I closed my mouth, I realized that she could be right. I was going through all the pregnancy stuff and now my hormone levels have dropped. I did have PPD with both of my other children, so now I am wondering if this could really be what is going on.

Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated.

[fasttalkingmom]

First I'm sorry to hear about your pregnancy...... I've had 3 miscarriages.
The first I was 4 1/2 months along. I was very depressed for a year after, now when I look back I didn't see it at the time.

I don't have any info. on it but I dont see why it wouldnt be the same whether you had the child or not your body went there all the same changes

[EchoHD]

I had severe PPD after my first child. I had not been diagnosed ADD at that time. After my second child I started back on antidepressents within 2 weeks. With my first child, I really thought I was going crazy and was almost suicidal. If I were not ADD would I have had such severe PPD? I dont know, but Im sure ADD didnt help it any.

[addwifey]

Thank you both for your concern. I just wanted to post an update to this thread. Since I first made this post, I've visited 4 doctors to see what is going on. I've discovered that it is possible that I had "some" post partum depression, but the main factor in my mood swings and other symptoms was lack of ovulation. My doctor said that I was experiencing a drop in progesterone each month that was causing my problems. He put me on a temporary HRT and it is unbelievable how much better I feel. I'm me again!!!!
This may not hold true for every woman, but there is a definate link to hormones and the AD/HD woman. The scary part is that this was a brief glimpse into what my (untreated) menopause is going to be like. Lord help us all!
Feeling human again - Tina

[RhapsodyInBlue]

I'm really sad to hear you lost your baby. Yes, your body goes through all the same feelings as if you had given birth, but the difference is, you don't have a baby to show for it. That is the part that can cause severe depression. I've had a few miscarriages, and they aren't pleasant, but the hormones that you are now taking appear to be doing a good job. I wish I had known about that when I went throught it

Glad you are feeling better....!!!!

Hugs!

[k8t1]

I'm sure there can be many hormonal causes of PPD. I experienced really bad symptoms after each child's birth. I later learned that Dhea levels fall sharply in the mother after a child is born and that lowered levels of dhea persist for quite awhile . Dhea is the highest circulating hormone in the bloodstream by a factor of x10 and deficiencies of it are known to be related to depression. It might be worth a try since you can get it over the counter. If it were me, I'd take 50mg per day and give it two weeks before I'd decide if it was working or not. Please look at my post on Dhea, I've got a long history with this hormone.
God bless!!!

[Scattered]

Originally Posted by addwifey

Thank you both for your concern. I just wanted to post an update to this thread. Since I first made this post, I've visited 4 doctors to see what is going on. I've discovered that it is possible that I had "some" post partum depression, but the main factor in my mood swings and other symptoms was lack of ovulation. My doctor said that I was experiencing a drop in progesterone each month that was causing my problems. He put me on a temporary HRT and it is unbelievable how much better I feel. I'm me again!!!!
This may not hold true for every woman, but there is a definate link to hormones and the AD/HD woman. The scary part is that this was a brief glimpse into what my (untreated) menopause is going to be like. Lord help us all!
Feeling human again - Tina

Yes, I'm discovering that now for myself. Nobody ever told me of the dramatic return of AD/HD. I've had symptoms all my life, but after puberty (when hormones kick in to help) they were more of an annoyance than a problem, now they're a problem! Since I had my kids very late (youngest at just shy of 42), I'm raising kids (with AD/HD) and struggling with it myself again. Be prepared! Hopefully you were smart enough to have your kids earlier in life!

I also had post partum depression after a miscarriage and after my first child was born 6 weeks premature.

Scattered

[Stuck]

Originally Posted by addwifey

I've discovered that it is possible that I had "some" post partum depression, but the main factor in my mood swings and other symptoms was lack of ovulation. My doctor said that I was experiencing a drop in progesterone each month that was causing my problems. He put me on a temporary HRT and it is unbelievable how much better I feel. I'm me again!!!!
This may not hold true for every woman, but there is a definate link to hormones and the AD/HD woman. The scary part is that this was a brief glimpse into what my (untreated) menopause is going to be like. Lord help us all!
Feeling human again - Tina

Hi, Tina-

Just wanted to echo your discovery about hormones-

HRT is a minimum requirement for keeping me on an even keel.

I also had a traumatic tubal pregnancy, and I'm sorry to hear this also happened to you.