Hi I am a 24 year old female and after falling pregnant with my two year old son I just haven't felt right since. I suffer from depression, severe mood swings, unexplained anger and irritability, terrible night sweats where I wake up soaked, this also happens during the day, I have also suffered in the past 12 months from very bad hair loss, feel nausea, dizziness and get headaches and have very low energy levels and sex drive. What is wrong with me? Please help, Leigh Ann

We can't really diagnosis but your symptoms are indicative of a few different possibilities that I know of, because I went through the same thing. You do have symptoms of hypothyroidism and it is worth getting tested for it. Some of these symptoms could also indicate an imbalance of hormones, which would make sense given that the onset corresponded with a pregnancy. And even depression can cause these issues. The hormonal changes of pregnancy added to the challenges of parenting a toddler can both contribute to depression. Postpartum can also last until you get treatment. And whether you go back to work or stay home with your child, it can be hard when you have small kids. Going back to a paying job can make you feel spread really thin, on top of feeling torn between your work and home lives. Staying home with your child can be isolating and even a little boring when you are used to a lot of adult interaction and intellectual stimulation.

For me it turned out to be pre-diabetes, a vitamin D deficiency, mild depression and a combination of stress and boredom. I found my doctor helpful. It was particularly interesting because my son really impacted my weight and hormones and a lot of other things and I adopted him! Adoption is really stressful, and I never expected to actually experience some symptoms of post pregnancy!