Warrior Mom Emily Buskauskas reached out to me via email recently to share a letter she had written and sent to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists about what happened when she first sought help for postpartum depression. She reminded me how many of you are brushed aside, or matter of factly handed a prescription without follow up or information, or told you don’t have postpartum depression, or that postpartum OCD doesn’t exist, or that you should just wait it out … so many stories. I want your stories, in the form of letters to your doctors, as Emily has given me the idea to create an ongoing series of open letters to healthcare professionals. I want you to share with the world what it feels like when the professionals don’t respond the way they should. What it feels like to have your suffering prolonged needlessly. If you have a story like that, send it to us at postpartum progress@gmail.com. Here’s Emily’s letter:
To The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:
On February 22, 2011, I developed significant postpartum depression symptoms.
At three months postpartum with my second child, I sought care from my OB/GYN office immediately. As a registered nurse, I have a moderate knowledge base of postpartum illness and knew what was happening.
My scheduled appointment was with a physician whom I preferred not to see due to a lack of bedside manner. I could have waited three weeks to see my “regular” OB/GYN for my previously scheduled annual exam, but I was desperate for help as soon as possible.
When I tearfully shared what I was going through, this physician looked at me and said, “Well, I don’t know what this is, but it’s not postpartum depression. You need to see a psychiatrist. I’ll write you a script.”
I felt CRUSHED. I walked out of the office, script in hand, wondering why he would say such a thing. I was taught that postpartum depression could develop any time within the first year of birth.
The following weeks brought an appointment with a not-so-helpful psychiatric nurse practioner and unwanted side effects from the medication I was prescribed. When I followed up with my preferred OB/GYN for my annual exam, she apologized for the comments the first physician had made and said, “This is SO postpartum related.”
After searching for more resources, I found a therapist who specializes in postpartum mood disorders. She directed me to a reproductive psychiatrist who assured me I was not going crazy, and the exact nature of my symptoms were experienced by many women. My medication regimen was adjusted, and she was astute enough to recheck my TSH after noting I was trending toward hyperthyroidism about a month before the onset of my symptoms.
I was then referred to an endocrinologist when my TSH level had swung in the opposite direction. After a thyroid ultrasound and a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease, I began taking Synthroid.
After months of therapy, medication, and support I have been healed.
But I am still angry. If I had been a patient lacking the nursing knowledge I have, I shudder to think what may have come of my situation. The first time a mom seeks help for a postpartum mental health related issue sets the tone for her entire recovery. Encountering this particular physician’s response appalled me then, and it appalls me now. Did I mention he is the head of the practice?
My purpose in writing this letter to ACOG is to ask the following:
Why, why, why in 2012 are physicians who practice OB/GYN not all on the same proverbial page regarding the mental heath care of postpartum women?
What is ACOG doing to educate these physicians to prevent a situation such as mine from happening?
Why is it so difficult to find postpartum depression support resources? I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent person. It took me many hours of searching for the “right” people to help me.
I can tell you that at least 12 people directly contributed to my ongoing recovery. That’s not including people I encountered along the way who weren’t already directly involved in my life. Twelve people helped me, and one physician nearly ruined me.
I literally have to fight the urge to tell my story to every pregnant woman or mom with a newborn that I see. I truly look forward to hearing a response from ACOG and hope that my questions will not be overlooked or brushed aside as my initial road to recovery was.
~ Emily Buskauskas
Photo credit: © rgbspace – Fotolia.com
Oh yes, I can relate. When I went back to the OB/GYN a few weeks after the birth of my child, I was a wreck – I kept crying and asking him if it was normal. He told me that it was just baby blues and that I couldn't have PPD because women who had that 'didn't take showers or wash their hair'. Needless to say, I suffered for about another month before I went to a psychiatrist, where I was diagnosed with PPD in about 15 minutes and then promptly put on meds.
Oh my gosh. That's AWFUL. So glad you were able to find someone who knew what was going on and could help!
this sounds familiar. I had to go to 2 different doctors to get help. W moved when my 2nd (son) was 8 months old and it was my breaking point. THe first doctor I tried to talk to just said it was the stress of the move and life. I had to wait 6 weeks for that appointment. Grr. It wasnot for 3 more months and a doctor office change before I got up the energy and courage to try again. He was willing to write a script on the first visit based on my charts of my mood symptoms. Thankfully the meds worked quickly, but at my follow up he said I didn't need to be under constant care and to find a Dr in a year to wean off the meds. I plan on ignoring his advice and finding a shrink when our insurance starts again next month.
I have often thought it would be easier to lie and tell the doctor i was suicidal, at least then they would take me seriously.
I agree that there isn't enough education or followup at all. I wish it were mandatory to follow up with patients at intervals after giving birth than just the 6 week checkup. There's more to health than just physical symptoms and ailments.