Aa
Just found out I fractured my back and I'm pregnant
I found out I fractured my vertebrae about a week ago.The took 6 x-rays.I have been on Lortab,steroids.nsaids,vallium,flector patch.Not to mention my normal daily meds Metoprolol 50mg one po per day and Xanax 0.25mg po every hs.I just took pregnancy test yesterday and I am approx. 5 weeks preg.Im terrified of what all of these meds might have done to my unborn baby.I can't afford to see Ortho MD right now or OB MD as I have missed work and had to pay rent and my husband got fired.I'm dead broke.I quit all of the pain meds immediately but now can't bear this pain.I'm trying to pursue workers comp case for the back injury so that I can get the help I need but now I also have the pregnancy to worry about.I have a healthy 5 year old, but had an unespected miscarriage about 1 year ago.I have health insurance but like I said I can't even afford the copays which have now gone up to 65/per visit.Does anyone know what I can or should do re:all this?I don't even know where to begin.Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Thanks-A
I don't know anything about all the meds
you're on, but as far as the money thing
goes. Look for a free clinic, or look
for places like Planned Parenthood, they
should be able to direct you to someone
who can offer discounted or free pregnancy
help. There are all sorts of pregnancy places
out there that can help mothers who can't
afford regular doctors. Or just talk to your
doctor. If you've been going to your doctor
for awhile and you have a good relationship
with him or her you can see if you can maybe
work out a deal. Like you just pay what you
can, and he doesn't notify your insurance
company. All you can do is ask. In August I
had a miscarriage and I had no insurance at all
and I still had to get blood drawn repeatedly,
and go in for an appointment with my doctor.
He was good enough to discount everything for
me. The doctors appt only cost me $80 and then
all the blood draws I needed everyday for a week
were only $40. That's why its important to build
a really good relationship with your doctor. Good
Luck, and congratulations!! Everything will work
itself out,just try to relax, (I know that's hard)
and just think, your smart you can figure something
out I bet.
God Bless
you're on, but as far as the money thing
goes. Look for a free clinic, or look
for places like Planned Parenthood, they
should be able to direct you to someone
who can offer discounted or free pregnancy
help. There are all sorts of pregnancy places
out there that can help mothers who can't
afford regular doctors. Or just talk to your
doctor. If you've been going to your doctor
for awhile and you have a good relationship
with him or her you can see if you can maybe
work out a deal. Like you just pay what you
can, and he doesn't notify your insurance
company. All you can do is ask. In August I
had a miscarriage and I had no insurance at all
and I still had to get blood drawn repeatedly,
and go in for an appointment with my doctor.
He was good enough to discount everything for
me. The doctors appt only cost me $80 and then
all the blood draws I needed everyday for a week
were only $40. That's why its important to build
a really good relationship with your doctor. Good
Luck, and congratulations!! Everything will work
itself out,just try to relax, (I know that's hard)
and just think, your smart you can figure something
out I bet.
God Bless
No, unfortunately even if she's broke and her husband is not working anymore, it doesn't matter for the Medicaid people. If she makes enough money each month, they won't accept her. That's what happened to me!
Gotta edit that last reply... I'm not a medical doctor, I should've worded it to say MY ADVICE/SUGGESTION is..... :) of course verify everything w/a medical doctor or call into a nursing hotline (since you can't see the dr.)
NSAIDS~ are ok during the first trimester (sporadically) it's during the late 2nd and 3rd trimesters that they cause issues.
Nsaids cause the Patent ductus arteriosis (PDA) in the babies lungs to narrow prematurely when taken in late 2nd and during the 3rd trimesters. This comes DIRECTLY From my son's Cardiac doctor.
The Patend ductus arteriosis is the vein that shunts blood away from the lungs in utero. If it closes preematurely then the pressures in the lungs will go up and can cause damage before baby is born resulting in serious breathing problems after birth.
Since your dealing with alot of inflammation right now, continue the NSAIDS (Ibuprofen) at least for now (a couple weeks I'd suggest) Do NOT TAKE THEM DURING 2nd or 3rd TRIMESTERS!. Once your case w/insurance stabalizes you can get a consult to a pediatric cardiologist.
Nsaids cause the Patent ductus arteriosis (PDA) in the babies lungs to narrow prematurely when taken in late 2nd and during the 3rd trimesters. This comes DIRECTLY From my son's Cardiac doctor.
The Patend ductus arteriosis is the vein that shunts blood away from the lungs in utero. If it closes preematurely then the pressures in the lungs will go up and can cause damage before baby is born resulting in serious breathing problems after birth.
Since your dealing with alot of inflammation right now, continue the NSAIDS (Ibuprofen) at least for now (a couple weeks I'd suggest) Do NOT TAKE THEM DURING 2nd or 3rd TRIMESTERS!. Once your case w/insurance stabalizes you can get a consult to a pediatric cardiologist.
Hon~ CONGRATS!!!!!!
#1 do NOT quit all the meds. Lortab is safe during pregnancy when benefits outweight the risks. Whatever dose your dr put you on, you need to take. Don't worry about tapering that particular med right now. The only worry is closer to term when your taking it and deliver baby can be born w/a little dependency, however that can be easily cared for. I speak from experience as i am required to take pain medication for a back injury I got before getting pregnant. i'm 32w now.
Taper the xanax and the valium as well. Also, as soon as you get some $$ (even a few dollars) go to your local walmat and get some Folic Acid Supplaments.
You want either 1000mcg or 1mg. the FDA says get 400mcg, but when your taking or have taken valium or xanax you want to make sure to get 2mg a day, which would be 2000mcg (2 tabs). This is because those two meds CAN lead to neural tube defects.
The Xrays aren't anything to worry about right now, your early enough (if your 5w the baby is 3w developed.) that they wouldn't have caused trouble. Back in the old days they used to diagnose pregnancy w/an xray. The good news on the meds is that the placenta doesn't really take over til 12w so any risks of addiction in baby are minimal right now.
WHEN YOU GO TO THE ER. MAKE SURE THEY GET AN O.B. CONSULT! They may claim your too early, but it's the best idea. This is because some doctors are so uneducated on what a pregnant woman can safely take they may very well cut you off completely on all meds. NOT something you want right now. my primary dr won't even write ANYTHING but tylenol because he's so uneducated on what a pregnant woman can take. I had to get OK's from my high risk ob to be treated for anything. My primary won't even treat a sinus infection for me!
Cindie
#1 do NOT quit all the meds. Lortab is safe during pregnancy when benefits outweight the risks. Whatever dose your dr put you on, you need to take. Don't worry about tapering that particular med right now. The only worry is closer to term when your taking it and deliver baby can be born w/a little dependency, however that can be easily cared for. I speak from experience as i am required to take pain medication for a back injury I got before getting pregnant. i'm 32w now.
Taper the xanax and the valium as well. Also, as soon as you get some $$ (even a few dollars) go to your local walmat and get some Folic Acid Supplaments.
You want either 1000mcg or 1mg. the FDA says get 400mcg, but when your taking or have taken valium or xanax you want to make sure to get 2mg a day, which would be 2000mcg (2 tabs). This is because those two meds CAN lead to neural tube defects.
The Xrays aren't anything to worry about right now, your early enough (if your 5w the baby is 3w developed.) that they wouldn't have caused trouble. Back in the old days they used to diagnose pregnancy w/an xray. The good news on the meds is that the placenta doesn't really take over til 12w so any risks of addiction in baby are minimal right now.
WHEN YOU GO TO THE ER. MAKE SURE THEY GET AN O.B. CONSULT! They may claim your too early, but it's the best idea. This is because some doctors are so uneducated on what a pregnant woman can safely take they may very well cut you off completely on all meds. NOT something you want right now. my primary dr won't even write ANYTHING but tylenol because he's so uneducated on what a pregnant woman can take. I had to get OK's from my high risk ob to be treated for anything. My primary won't even treat a sinus infection for me!
Cindie
metoprolol is alright to take while pregnant, but inderal (propanolol) is considered the "safe" beta-blocker for pregnancy. Lortab is actually alright to take while pregnant in small doses, although not recommended. xanax is a big no-no, but like spade said you have to taper off of it. Valium's another no-no...actually i'm surprised they gave you Xanax and valium together, Xanax=alprazolam and Valium=diazepam and they're very similar in function. You really need to get pregnancy medicaid (you should qualify if your husband is out of work), it activates temporarily as soon as you're approved (you can go to your local health clinic and they should have a medicaid specialist there to help sign you up) . My recommendation for the moment would be go back to the ER. Tell them you're pregnant and you have to switch meds. They'll see you regardless of insurance, and when/if you get Medicaid it covers up to 3 months of bills before you actually get the medicaid, so it would cover the ER. Until you get to a doctor don't stress out, stressing would probably be worse for your baby! Good luck and stay calm, just focus on what you can do from here on out for your baby and not what you've done up until now :).
You are very early on into the pregnancy so the chance of the medications causing a problem to your baby is very low but there are several medications you are on that you should not take during pregnancy, including Xanax.
What ever you do, do NOT stop taking Xanax cold turkey - to do so is very dangerous (I dont know enough about the other medications you are on to comment on those). You really do need to figure out a way to see your doctor ASAP though. You need proper medical advice in this case. Im sure you can set up a payment plan with them.
What ever you do, do NOT stop taking Xanax cold turkey - to do so is very dangerous (I dont know enough about the other medications you are on to comment on those). You really do need to figure out a way to see your doctor ASAP though. You need proper medical advice in this case. Im sure you can set up a payment plan with them.
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