interesting stat

[tramaddi]

I was at a drug and alchohol conference the other day and the county coroner did a presentation and said most drug related deaths are due to prescription drug overdoses and not meth.  In my area and most of the US I imagine meth is a huge problem and u hear alot about it but more ppl actually die from script addictions.  In my family my older brother and nephew both died from pill overdoeses mixed w/ alchohol.  Tramdol, soma, hydrocodone.  I just thought this was interesting I am still trying to taper I limit myself to 6 pills per day max and am planning and lowering it.  My H and I recently signed up for counseling, we are expecting a baby in January and I am planning on bringing up my addiction in a session and ask him to keep my pills and help me taper so the baby is not born addicted.  I pray the baby is ok so far.  all my prenatals are right on track the baby is measuring fine and the heart beat is 171 per minute so....  

[girly44]

I will pray for you. I hope you can get off of those soon, with being pregnant and all. I am so thankful, I wasn't addicted before getting pregnant. I can't imagine what you are going through. May God be with you and I will be praying for you. Best of luck!

[NautyOne]

Just because the heart beat is normal doesn't mean the babies development is.....just think about every time you pop a pill.......your baby is in you belly trying to grow and develop, but is confused because he/she is HIGH.

Please get medical guidance if you are going to continue this......

Luv,
Nauty..............

[avisg]

Is your OBGYN aware you are still using are you still taking the tramadol?

[tramaddi]

I am well aware of the risk and if I could stop c/t I WOULD, tapering is my best option and I am working on it but it is comments likes this that discourage me from posting here. If you read through the other posts you will see there are other women in this same situation and I don't think reminding them how messed up it is or they are for doing it encourages or makes them feel any better about it, much less gives them ANY hope.  This community is for ppl who are struggling to stop and I don't think it is any easier for me than anybody else and where exactly in my post did u read or infer that I was planning to "continue this"?

[NautyOne]

I apologize if I offended you and the last thing I want you to do is stop posting. It's a very touchy subject for me, and I do tend speak my mind as I feel.  I am not walking in your shoes and the last thing I want to do is judge you.  I care and I am scared for you and your child.  Thats all.  I am not the most gifted with words.......

I just hope if you can't taper....you wont wait till the last mester to tell your doctor.  Tapering is not easy......but doable.  I wish you the best, and PLEASE keep POSTING.

Luv,
Nauty............

[bandnmom]

well nauty that was nice of you to apologize! you were a little harsh!

[rue10]

Sometimes we don't want to hear what we need to hear.  Addiction is tough and getting clean and staying clean is tougher.  Everyone here has either been there or is there at this moment--fighting to be better.  I seriously don't think Naughty was trying to hurt you or discourage you--She was just being honest about her concern for you and your baby's welfare.  Until we get honest with ourselves and those around us this addiction will continue to thrive.  Please continue reading and posting.  Take what helps you and leave the rest.  Also consider this:  someone once told me to "value my verbal shocks."  When I'm affected negatively by something someone says to me or about me, it's usually something I need to take a good look at--there's usually some flaw of mine that needs attention.  

I wish the best for you and your baby.  

[avisg]

I agree with rue I dont think she was trying to be harsh at all however she wanted to get across the point that not all problems can be seen by heart beat and such . What is your taper plan ? How many are you using ? What does your OBGYN have to say .Are you looking into aa or some type of therapist to help with the addiction recovery.

[seeksolice]

I'm in the same boat. Expecting in 3 weeks.

I dont know anything about Tramadol, but I can speak about hydro. IF you were using hydro, the chances are very high that your baby would be healthy, and all the worrying you are doing is moot- as long as your OB knows you are using, you will be fine.  I REALLY REALLY HOPE YOUR OB KNOWS that you are using Tramadol. It is a newer drug, mugh much newer than vicodon, so information could be lacking in terms of pregnancy safety and such.  If you tell you doc, rest assured, they wont take your baby away, or make you quit CT off the meds (trust me on this).  Almost every hospital has a high risk dept, or addiction specialist OB that handles addicted mothers. They see this everyday.  

However----

There have been studies done on the effects of hydro on a fetus. Studies show children born to hydro popping mothers have cognitive delays and lower IQ than normal children/babies.  This is NOT tramadol though, the study was for hydrocodone.

I agree with the above poster- the heartbeat is not a good indication whether baby is healthy- it's an indication that baby is ALIVE, which is the first step, but you need to get regular ultrasounds- even a 4D ultrasound if you can afford it - to ensure the physical stuff is fine.  Sometimes, just like another poster said, we do not want to hear things that are true and accurate. It ***** being pregnant and being responsible for another life- and being an addict at the same time. I'm glad you're in counseling though. Please, please tell your doctor. That is the #1 thing that you can do for you and your baby right now. It takes courage, but better the doctor know now, than test your baby after he/she's born and find out then.

[avisg]

Great post ..I just wanted to clarify a few things hydroconde Is very unluckily to cause problems as long as its taken as directed .

The baby however if still taking it upon delivery does run a risk of the child having withdrawl :)

[NautyOne]

"VALUE MY VERBAL SHOCKS"......Omg, I love that !!!!!!!!!!  I don't know where you got that one--or made it up on your own, but I will call it a Rue-ism here, and claim it as a Nauty-ism to my world.....sorry I'm stealing.  I got a big "F" in the "gifted with words, dept."   Very nice post........

SeekSolice.....Omg!  I was almost in tears with you post....I can only wish to be as blessed of a speaker.  Now that ....both you and Rue is what I wanted to say.  I am a verbal bull in a china shop.......God I hate it !   Nice Posts......Oh, and Avisg.....I love you, girly.....:-)))

Ahhh, Nauty...........

luv,
Nauty.........

[tramaddi]

I was recently prescribed lortab instead of the tramadol during the pg (I have severe migraines and the pg has made them worse).  I was taking up to 15 tram a day pre preg and now I am at 3-4 a day and I think I can drop from that too.  I was hoping my H would help by holding my pills but he doesn't think it's an addiction that it is all in my mind and the w/d are just me wanting it and coming up w/ a excuse.  We are starting counseling and I want to bring it up there.  I haven't told my dr I was hoping to taper myself off and probably could w/ H support. I am 3 months pg andf just feel very depressed about it.  The high isn't even that good any more.  I am very emotional and tend to cry alot lately.  I know I could stop but I'm afraid how I will feel if I do.  I never thoguht I'd be able to make it thru a day w/ just 3-4 pills a day and I have for the last few days. if I feel I need more I take the lortab.I've also takin up walking twice a day w/ a friend.I worry the damage has been done already and maybe I shouldn't have let the pg continue this far but that just breaks my heart....

[joann1975]

I sent you a PM... I understand how you feel right now. I do think it would be wise to tell your doctor though...there could be special tests they could do this early to make sure baby is ok! I am sorry your H isn't very supportive...

[seeksolice]

The damage is NOT already done.

It's concerning that now you are taking the Lortab in addition to the Tramadol.  But, I'm glad you were prescribed the Lortab, because- check this out:

You can quit COLD TURKEY with the Tramadol and will NOT have withdrawals, as long as you continue the Lortab. In my opinion, the hydro is safer than the Ultram, just because of the longevity of the drug and the fact that I have an intimate relationship with it and am familiar with using this drug during pregnancy. Studies are more concise, accurate, and doctors are much more informed of the effects of