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Pregnancy and Meds

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 6/29/2011 6:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I'm just wondering if anyone took their meds while pregnant. My husband and I really want a baby, and I've started tapering off my Lyrica, Cesamet, and Cymbalta, but I still go for my bi-weekly injections of Marcaine. Tonight, however, has been a nightmaresad For whatever reason, my knees and hips are throbbing, my hands hurt, and to top off the pain, I'm having an insomnia attack *took an Imovane* mad mad mad My eyes are also really sensitive to light, which isn't unusual for me, but they seem to be getting worst.

If I can help it, I'd like to be 100% off my meds with a chance for my body to cleanse itself out, but this is making me feel so much less confidentcry

Please help, I want a healthy baby so badly and we aren't in a position to adopt.
Posted 6/29/2011 6:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi BunBun!

I'm way past the age of having babies but my 'extra' daughter has gone through 3 pregnancies with fibromyalgia and did quite well. In fact, many women are spared the pain of fibromyalgia while pregnant only to have it return within weeks after the baby is born.

Also, while she was pregnant her doctors let her take percocet for pain, as needed and that's all she needed. All 3 babies are healthy children with no problems. I don't know about the other medications you mentioned but if you do a web search on them you often can find out if they are recommended for use during pregnancies.

I hope you and your hubby are able to have a healthy bundle of love to enjoy. Nothing says love like a newborn baby.

Chutz
Posted 6/29/2011 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi BunBun!

I am at the same stage as you. My husband and I are ready to start our family. I have only been on one medicine for the Fibro ever and I came off that over a year ago. I have spent a lot of time trying to manage pain through alternative methods - deep breathing, meditation, biofeedback, physical therapy and cognitive therapy. There are times when the pain is just unbearable and I still manage to live through it. I don't even take tylenol for it (I can't take NSAIDs due to a blood disorder). I know that for some people being medication free is not an option. I have recently learned through my sister having a baby that I will not be able to get an epidural during delivery due to our blood disorder so I feel like everything I have learned about pain management will come in handy for that.

I know there are a lot of people that do take certain medications during their pregnancy because the risk to the mother is greater than the risk to the baby. This decision can only be made by you and your Dr. My Drs are also being much more careful with me than if I were just any other "healthy" 29 year old. I went through an extensive work up by many specialists to ensure everything that I had going on was just Fibro and nothing else. The Drs are not only concerned about there being a healthy baby at the end of the pregnancy but that the mother is able to withstand the stress of pregnancy and childbirth. I have been working closely with my internist and obgyn and only once they give me the final green light can I go ahead.

You also want to be in the best "shape" you can be in and feel strong enough to go ahead with it. I know that 6 months ago there was no way I was strong enough to handle a pregnancy. As much as we want it, we have to do what is right for us. Not to disappoint you, but once I came off my medication it took me months to get "back to normal". Our bodies take a while to rebound and I fully expect the same thing once I have a baby. I will rely heavily on my husband and family to help me with parenting.
Posted 6/29/2011 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
I just found I'm pregnant about 3 weeks ago and tried to stop taking everything, cold turkey! I know, BIG MISTAKE! It was horrible, but my husband really wanted me to do it. My main meds are tramadal, xanax and gabapentin. I went, literally, thru 5 days of complete hell!!!! I would NEVER do that again, and NEVER recommend it. My dear husband kept saying, "it's ok baby, you're doing great just a few more days and those drugs will be out of your system!"

Well, that day never came, I wound up in the ER having gone 4 days STRAIGHT NO SLEEP! The ER doc told me he admired me for trying to come off the meds all at once but that I need to be able to sleep and function, so he gave a script for Ambien and said to take the xanax and tramadol when I need it until I can talk to my OB/GYN doctor.

My advice? Stay on what you're taking and get in asap to see you OB, who'll probably want you to see a perianatal doc. And they'll rush all these knowing it's a matter of drug use and tapering off....

Wish I would have known this 3 weeks ago, would've saved myself some grievious torture and I honestly think there's "parts of me" I've ruined through that whole terrible nightmare
Posted 6/30/2011 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
BunBun,

I have talked to each of my doctors about whether I should continue or discontinue meds for pregnancy. We will probably be trying to conceive in a year or two, but I am a planner and I like to know now.

In my particular case, I would stay on my antidepressant because the risk of depression is bigger than the risk to the baby. My doctor told me Tylenol is safe during pregnancy, and I will try that for pain control when we're TTC, but if it comes down to it, I will take stronger pain medication if I need it. I'll be discontinuing most of my other meds.
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