Mental Health and Pregnancy

[desperate-in-the-desert]

I am currentlt deployed in the Amry Reserves. I absolutely hate active duty, I hated it from the beginning of my enlistment but it was too late, I was there and had already signed the contract. Besides I needed the money for law school. I was deployed during my last year of school, I was due to graduate in May 04. I was married on Nov. 1 and called to mobilize on Nov. 11. My wedding oresent are still in their boxes stuffed in a closet in the brand new house we just moved into. Both my husband and I are deployed, fortunately together. I cannot express enough how unhappy I am. I only came here because my husband was coming and I didn't want to stay behind and make him go without me. I could have stayed behind for any number of medical reasons. They were making it easy for people to get out of it.
Anyhow, I am completely miserable, constantly angry, really angry. I do not like the politics here, the people I have to work for and with are all extremely self-serving people who make you suffer just to keep themselves from doing sometheing they don't want to do. Many of the higher ranking sergeants are high school educated and lack any common sense or leadership abilities. Tehy're all hypocrates and everyone is out to stabb everyone else in the back because they're miserable and want others to suffer and be miserable too. It's the only way they feel better. It's horribly vicous and ugly here. I want to come home to so bad  that I can't stand it. My mood swings are off the charts. I stopped taking my birth control pills because my husband and I decided that I needed to go home and that this was the best way to do it. All other options either have a negative affect on me or take long months to accomplish. My problem lies in the stress that I'm under. I am so stressed that I'm not sure I'll be able to concieve. I was on the pill for a little over 3 yrs this last time. I quite taking the pill 4 weeks ago. I know thats not very long, but I haven't had my period yet and I am a regular cycle even when not on the pill. I have this horrible feeling that I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE NOW! But I need to calm down so that I can not be stressed so that I can get pregnant. This is a vicous circle. I need to get pregnant so I can come home because its too stressful here. But I'm so stressed that I don't think I'll be able to get pregnant. Is it safe to take an anti-depressant while trying to concieve. Will I be able to concieve while taking one? If so, which one do you recommend. I have adrenaline rushes at the slightest thing that upsets me, I wake up at night so angry that I can't go back to sleep for a while. I want to hurt people, but would never actually do it. But I feel horrible that I get so angry at people I wish I could hit them. I'm an extremely nice person, but this place has made me into someone else. Someone that I can't stand being. I'm dying inside ffrom being here and having to take all this BS from all these mean and nasty, self-serving person. Help me.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I am sympathetic to your situation but don't know enough about your daily responsibilities and how alert you have to be in order to function safely so I suggest that you ask your military doctor about  low doses of Buspar, and increase the dose only after you know it will not impair your functioning, and stop it as soon as you find out you are pregnant.  Almost all drug companies warn against  use during pregnancy but usually without really good studies so you have to make your own choice here, with your doctor, and you may want to do research on the internet for whatever medication so you are comfortable with the choice.

[Med Help]

We are very sorry, but Dr. Gould has been called out of town until August 2, 2004.  He will answer your question as soon as he can, when he returns.

Med Help International

[lmroswell]

Look up this link.  It might make you feel better:  
www.lindasog.com.  Click on the video page.  Just know that if you do the best you can do, you will feel good about things.  Rise above those that don't treat you well, and don't let 'em get you down.  We appreciate all that you people do in the military.

[Sirmodgod]

I can just about assure that I can give you the knowledge to concieve. Take Clomid or HCG. They are very easy to get and work miracles! You know when you here about people haveing triplets, quadruplets and so fourth? That's what it's from. The stuff works incredibley. I know of dozens of women who have used it and all have gotten pregnant, several had twins! Any more questions feel free to drop me an e-mail ; ) get the hell out of there and come home!

[desperate-in-the-desert]

I have looked into Clomid and even know where I can get it easily but I read on the internet that if you're not having trouble ovulating, as in true fertility issues, then Clomid really won't work for you. I just want it help me ovulate NOW instead of months from now after my body has got the birth control pills out my system. I'm also worried the the intense heat may prevent me from ovulating. The heat is bad enough to stop my menstrual cycle right in the middle of it if I'm outside all day in the heat, which I have to be about every 4-5 days. I have an ovulation test kit and am going to try this month to see if I am even ovulating. If I'm not then I will get some Clomid, I just don't want to have to wait until the month after that. Military life is not for everyone. If you know of anything else that might help please let me know. I can't email you because I do not know your email address.

[October04]

Go to ivillage.com and look at their message boards. There's every kind of TTC (trying-to-conceive) category. See if you can get ovulation predictor kits and be sure you're ovulating. Get a basal body thermometer and take your temp every morning at the same time. Chart your cycle. Check your cervical fluid (CF) daily. Have sex every day or every other day when your CF is creamy/eggwhite. You'll learn more about it on the ivillage message boards. You can also use their on-line charting system to keep charting your cycle and be more aware of when you can conceive. Good luck, get out of there, and be sure to vote so we can get you/our troops better taken care of than they have been!