Postpartum periods are horrible and make me rage-y

[Anonymous]

Since giving birth my postpartum periods are horrible. The cramps feel like early labor. I have to take ibuprofen for basically the entire week. And I get really rage-y. Like, want to hit my kid and punch DH in the face angry. I’m not going back on birth control (makes me fat and depressed) or antidepressants (did that for many years while younger for other reasons and they all made me 30 pounds overweight, tired, unable to orgasm, and miserable). Is there anything else I can try beyond medication? Could it be a hormonal imbalance? I hate feeling like a raging out of control monster governed by hormones every month.

[Anonymous]

Go to your OB and have specific notes—the exact birth control and depressants you have been on and the side effects.

Be open to trying different meds.

I also recommend Dr. Barbara Byers, who is a reproductive psychiatrist, but prepare to pay out of pocket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to your OB and have specific notes—the exact birth control and depressants you have been on and the side effects.

Be open to trying different meds.

I also recommend Dr. Barbara Byers, who is a reproductive psychiatrist, but prepare to pay out of pocket.

I tried 8 SSRIs. Never doing it again, sorry.

[Anonymous]

Diet can make a difference. For example, I’ve found (and there are studies that back it up) that if I eat a lot of spinach—a cup or two a day, usually in my eggs— my period and PMS symptoms are better. After pregnancy there are probably nutrients that your body needs to replenish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Diet can make a difference. For example, I’ve found (and there are studies that back it up) that if I eat a lot of spinach—a cup or two a day, usually in my eggs— my period and PMS symptoms are better. After pregnancy there are probably nutrients that your body needs to replenish.

Omg I thought you meant YOUR eggs, like somehow spinach got to YOUR eggs and helped your PMS.

[Anonymous]

Following, OP. My youngest is 2.5, but I’m knocked out for a week with pain and I get really angry. I made a Dr appt for later this month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to your OB and have specific notes—the exact birth control and depressants you have been on and the side effects.

Be open to trying different meds.

I also recommend Dr. Barbara Byers, who is a reproductive psychiatrist, but prepare to pay out of pocket.

I tried 8 SSRIs. Never doing it again, sorry.

Gosh then I guess you’ve chosen to try suppressing violent impulses. Have fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to your OB and have specific notes—the exact birth control and depressants you have been on and the side effects.

Be open to trying different meds.

I also recommend Dr. Barbara Byers, who is a reproductive psychiatrist, but prepare to pay out of pocket.

I tried 8 SSRIs. Never doing it again, sorry.

Gosh then I guess you’ve chosen to try suppressing violent impulses. Have fun.

I don’t believe that every emotion needs to be medicated. It’s not SSRIs or nothing. SSRIs often have huge downsides. I spent two years weaning off of Effexor (Google discontinuation syndrome) another year losing the 30 pounds I gained while on it, and then several years in therapy addressing the bulimia I developed as a coping strategy while being gaslighted by my psychiatrist (who spent years ramping up my doses of various SSRIs, switching my meds, insisting I could never live without medication, and denying my complaints that my SSRIs were causing extreme fatigue, weight gain, and low libido).

To try and suggest to me that with that history my only option is to somehow return to being medicated, is pretty insulting.

[Anonymous]

Diet is an interesting thought. Not sure what's so special about spinach but is your theory that the iron loss of a period might contribute? So in that case, upping iron sources in the week before could be beneficial (and/or just continue taking prenatal vitamins?)

[Anonymous]

SSRIs aren't the only option in terms of meds.

But, for non-med options, exercise and meditation are both benefit for people dealing with anxiety.

[Anonymous]

I hated SSRIs for the same reason. I switched to SNRIs (Cymbalta for me) and it was a very different experience. There are also other options in other classes of drugs, like Wellbutrin.

[Anonymous]

How far postpartum are you? I had insane periods for about 6-7 months but they settled somewhat and at 10 months are more manageable. This is the first time I haven’t been on hormonal birth control (tubes tied), and I get fairly ragey every month, too. But I also get pretty lustful at other times and I missed that feeling from the years of IUD.

Anyways that was rambling but if you’re still newly pp I’d suggest just giving it some time.

[Anonymous]

Mine eventually settled down, OP.

My first one (after my first and only kid), I called my parents for help because I was in so much pain. The thought of the pain continuing made me ragey.

But after a few months, things seemed normal. I tried to eat healthy and made sure to rest when the pain was bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Diet is an interesting thought. Not sure what's so special about spinach but is your theory that the iron loss of a period might contribute? So in that case, upping iron sources in the week before could be beneficial (and/or just continue taking prenatal vitamins?)

It’s not my theory—google spinach and PMS and there have been studies. I looked it up a few years ago because after I started putting spinach in my eggs and smoothies for a while (I was buying it at Costco, lol) my periods were noticeably better. Other dark leafy greens will have the same effect. It’s not just iron, it’s magnesium and other nutrients as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since giving birth my postpartum periods are horrible. The cramps feel like early labor. I have to take ibuprofen for basically the entire week. And I get really rage-y. Like, want to hit my kid and punch DH in the face angry. I’m not going back on birth control (makes me fat and depressed) or antidepressants (did that for many years while younger for other reasons and they all made me 30 pounds overweight, tired, unable to orgasm, and miserable). Is there anything else I can try beyond medication? Could it be a hormonal imbalance? I hate feeling like a raging out of control monster governed by hormones every month.

Have you considered changing your overall diet OP? I’ve found that carbs and sugar affect my mood, especially when menstruating. I wish you all the best.