Withdrawal

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

I have been taking 12 norco a day for 4 years.. it started out with a little? Then amounted to me taking 180 every 2 weeks!!! I am now 6 months pregnant. My baby kicks like crazy, and he is fine no abnormalties or defects. But I am not oblivious. I know I need to get off the meds. I was hoping to do it around 7 months so if anything happens the baby will have a chance of survival, seeing as how withdrawal has a high chance of preterm labor. Well with my wonderful Kaiser (not good) doctor, the one that prescribes me ALL my diabetic supplies and pain management prescriptions, informed me that there is a lapse in my insurance and she won't be giving me anymore medication. There is more to the insurance story, I was off and on with it I was kinda lucky to have her keep seeing me as it is, but anyhoo... So now I have one more refill... 12 norco a day "habit" (in quots because im physically addicted).... and the anxiety of what is going to happen when it runs out and I have nothing to take? Should I go on methadone? Should I ask my ob/gyn for methadone? I have told her that I am taking pain pills she said be careful it is hard when you have such pain and are on so much, but to not go thru withdrawal. She knows I take them from my primary care physician but will she help me if I have no one to go to? I am so confused and scared of losing my son... I have withdrawn before and it was a nightmare I woke up and couldn't breath I think it was because I have been on it for years.. I definitely don't want to have a baby suffering from NAS but man has anyone experienced the worst nerve pain in their neck/arms/wrists/legs? Times it by 10 and that's how I feel off pain meds. It's crazy.. Debilitating.

[ShayD36]

Hi there. I read ur postings from 2011. I am in a sorta same situation with my pregnancy and opiates. I am an addict and take quite a few of oxycodone a day.  Can u tell me what your outcome with your baby was?  I too am worried, but have had sciatica and hip/back pain for five years now. The pregnancy was an oops, but I love my little girl and don't want her to suffer the way I have when I've tried to quit. I also don't want CPS to take her away from me.  So what happened with your baby?

Thx!!

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

I actually put together my bed frame today it was (of course with my luck) in a box in 3 pieces. I was shocked how much I could do without pain, I am hoping tomorrow I don't feel pain usually that is how I get it, it's like an after effect. I am 6 months prego now, when will it be not ok to lift heavy things? like 50 lbs

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

I am Type 1 I have had Diabetes since I was 7 years old, They said it is risky for me to have children because I have had a bad control of my sugars through the years... My normal range is 150 to 200... but I am trying to not stress so much about it. Thank you for the good wishes =) and good luck to you too mommy I am so excited to have my son it truly is a miracle, I am truly blessed to have what I have right now and I am thankful every day =)

[going2bemommy]

i too am insuling diabetic only in pregnancy but it starts EARLY so i hear u on that it is relaly stressful and hard to control all of this for that reason this is goign to be my last pregnancy we have a 10 month old boy and now r having a girl i think that God has blessed us well so we are going to be doen i really wish u the best and hope things go good for u:) blessings
3

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

Thanx I can worry about blood sugars and finals now! =D lol well mainly finals! Have a great day now everyone!

[Ashelen]

I'm super happy for you that you've found a taper that's working and you're getting on a lower dose! Obviously, less is best, but we can only do what we can do, so taking it slowly and listening to your body is vital!

I'm really happy that your high risk doctor and OB are taking good care of you, so I know that you're going to be just fine. I've said it before and I'll say it again..it's possible to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby when taking pain meds, but the key is the help of your doctor...without that, all bets are off. And since you seem to have a knowledgeable, helpful, supportive medical team behind you, it's time to relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

Please continue to post and keep us updated with what's going on with you!

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

It's not just on here mind you I have a friend that told me I was literally killing my baby lol A pregnant woman will always stress, and an important thing to remember is to take into consideration everything that people say when you ask for it, I was well aware that I was gonig to get tons of different responses cause I asked a question. The Dr that had me on the norco for so long was not really a good Dr she could have put me on something better... Now that I see it I never understood why she did that. Then she tells me to not ween, then she says I have no insurance so oh well... Seems wrong huh? Seems very wrong seeing as how I was paying out of pocket for the scripts anyways, My initial question was pertaining to "what if I run out with nothing to do" now that I got assurance that I will be taken care of pain-wise and withdrawal-wise I feel much better, but it does not mean I am giving up on weening off! Just cuz they will give it to me doesn't mean I need it, I realized that now. I am comfortable going lower and lower but I am gonig to do it more slowly. I am just glad I got from 12 to 7 now. I think I am gonig to stick with 7 for a week and see how that goes, I would really hate myself if all of a sudden I got terrible pain and got back onto more.

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

Yeah a woman messaged me her story of being on more then me, and having a baby with no withdrawals! I honestly am going to be responsible in every way, BUT, when it comes down to things that I feel are no point to stress about I put it into GOD's hands and I feel like he will take care of me. I think you are right about the stress thing, that makes good sense and seeing as how stress also causes my blood sugars to raise thru the roof, and cause more nerve pain, I think it is best to not stress so much. The withdrawals are not that bad, and now one pill does what 3 used to do so I feel so much accomplishment. Thanks SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO talk to me I really love hearing about it from women that gone thru the same thing it gives me so much peace of mind.

[vicki595]

I remember and I know what you're talking about there...

I'll say this from my own perspective and other members can jump in with theirs:

To give advice to a pregnant woman can cross a dangerous line. Mostly, what I THINK doesn't matter...the doctor needs to know. It's the most prudent advice and the safest. MH is about being safe...if I were to tell someone that I think it's just fine to take the pain med, blah blah, and something should happen...you know?  I don't want to live with that. I think most of the members feel the same way...  I know it's frustrating to hear it when you want an answer and want to be reassured but we just can't ever say" Oh, that's okay. You're fine."   It's not safe. I mean, if I tell someone that 4 per day is okay, conventional addict wisdom will read that as "if 4 is okay than I'm sure 8 will be okay too." So, that's always the place I'm coming from...

Right now, I'd like to tell BOTH of you that I think it takes ENORMOUS strength and courage to be pregnant and taking pills and get on this forum or any forum and put it out there for the world to see!!   It takes some kind of guts, and to me, it demonstrates how great a Mom each of you are!!

[vicki595]

Thanks Ash!  You little "pregnancy guru"!  I knew you were without internet and I was waiting for you!


GWMW:  Have you known all along it was a boy??   Need help with names??  LOL

Check in...xo

[going2bemommy]

i also was on here not too long ago w questions i got nothing but judgement and the same answers to go to my ob when telling them i DID go to my ob he wanted me to see a pain dr if i needed help she wanted me on methadone which i was UNWILLING to do i know the harm from that and all i heard over and over is it could hurt the baby i could have a miscarriage on and on and on to the point i quit posting i didnt need judgement or people's "opinions" that were for 1 not helpfula nd they said the same thing even tho i was saying i was seeing my dr anyway i come back now and then to read but usually dont post i just wanted to tell u where i am now 22 weeks and doing GREAT i am OFF the pills and have been (tho i wasnt really ONLY taking them for pain if fact mostly it was just because i was scared to go into w/d) what i did was accept a 1 week script for methadone (which btw everyone on here told me it was IMPOSSIABLE to go on it short term) well i'm telling u it wasnt impossiable in fact it was fairly simple and pain free almost so it has been almost a month and i am off and doing fine and so is my baby girl:) best wishes and blessings to u i hope u can figure this out i know u dont wan tto harm ur baby i didnt either and everyone made me feel like a murderer who didnt care but God knows my heart and that is also where i gained a lot of my strength for when we r weak He is strong. I will be praying for u i dont need to give a opinion the only 1 i would have is to try and get down to less and that is what u r doing so u will do fine w u and the baby

[littlebit667]

Wonderful post!

[dominosarah]

Thank you Ashelen for posting!  What would we do without you!!     sara

[Ashelen]

Hi there!

I am very sorry that I missed your post but I was without internet for awhile, but I'm back now! (thanks for giving me the heads-up on this post, Vicki!)

I HAVE been in your shoes. I wasn't taking quite as many, but I was prescribed AS MANY AS 1-2 Norco 10mg every 4-6 hours almost my entire pregnancy with my son (who just turned 15 months) and near the end I was on 1-2 10mg percocet every 4-6 hours (although I never took more than 1 norco or percocet and never closer than 6 hours apart because I was paranoid lol).

So I want to reassure you..yes. you can take these meds under the direction of your OB and have a perfectly safe baby.I'm glad you're seeing a high risk doctor...that's exactly what you should be doing.

I'm glad your high risk doctor told you to stay on them...tapering down from the dose you were on too rapidly could cause more than fetal discomfort, it could lead to fetal seizures or even death. BUT...staying on them carries only the risk of neonatal withdrawals which are heartbreaking, but if you taper to a low enough maintenance dose, you may be able to avoid those all together. I was on pain meds with my daughter as well and neither of my children were born with any withdrawals or dependence issues, despite the high dose I had to be on near the end with my son.

Now that I'm pregnant with baby #3 (due in April!) I'm on 1 5mg Norco a day, or every other day, depending on my pain, but once I get into the 2nd trimester I'm sure I'll have to up my dose because the pain is intense...pregnancy always throws my body out of whack and completely destroys my ability to cope with pain. I HATE having to take meds during pregnancy. Hate hate hate it. I don't even like taking cold medicine whenI'm NOT pregnant, so it kills me...but you've gotta do what you've gotta do. Pain releases a stress hormone into our system, and it goes directly into the baby when we're pregnant. This stress hormone HAS been proven to cause growth delays and problems, whereas narcotic pain medicines have been used for hundreds of years with no long-term affects other than the neonatal withdrawal period.

I don't advocate it for everyone, and you HAVE to do it responsibly, stick to your script, and be open with your OB...but since you're doing all of these things, you and your baby will be just fine.

I'm the Co-Community Leader in Pregnancy 18-34 here on MedHelp and aside from my personal experiences with safe usage of pain meds during pregnancy, I've helped more women than I can count who have had to treat pain during pregnancy and NOT ONCE have I heard a bad outcome as long as they were working with their OB. the only time problems come around is when someone isn't completely honest, or tries to hide something from their OB.

People are quick to judge those of us who have to take medication during pregnancy, but narcotic pain medicine is (shockingly) safer than ibuprofen during pregnancy, and certainly safer than anti-depressants, yet those are waved off by the same people who condemn chronic pain patients for becoming pregnant. Do I hate that i have to take pain meds during pregnancy? More than I can possibly express in words. Will I let my pain keep me from having children and a life? No way.

Anyway I've gotta get the kids some lunch but Vicki told me to swing by and I wanted to give you some words of experience. Don't taper too quickly, ok? If you can only cut out a half of a pill a week that's still progress, and I've known women on SIGNIFICANTLY higher doses of medicine than you or I, of much stronger painkillers, who have had healthy babies.

Msg me if you want to, but I'll stop by when I can and see how youi're doing; please come by the Pregnancy 18-34 forum...there are some awesome women there.

-Ashe

[vicki595]

I'm so happy for you!!   That's just the thing to do and you did it! Now,everyone is on the same page!  I'm sure you're very relieved to say the least!!

Yes...please stick around!  If you didn't find a similar situation on the other forum then I'll try to bring the CL to you! I know there are several!

Please stay in touch!  xo

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

I am really actually excited to keep this thread going with updates and insights on how the whole thing will go, I looked all over and I do not see anything from any woman that is going through what I am, and gave birth and documented what happened to share on here or even just a couple of events. I am going to keep going on what the High Risk Specialist said was appropriate which was the lowest threshold of pain I could take, and that the norco was not going to affect the baby in any way long term and he sees no reason for me to be in such pain and to try to go as low as I can and it's fine. I am very excited to get down to the lowest point!
I tried to image a person in remission that happened to get pregnant and be on painkillers to have a baby, what would people think of that, sometimes I think people over analyze the situation, and put people with chronic pain in the same category as drug addicts. I appreciate the help because so far no one has done that to me on here! I appreciate the help and support and I hope for the best..

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

UPDATE!! Wow so seen a high risk Dr today and my little son is doing great. Thank GOD because my sugars were 300 today and that really stressed me out! But I asked him about the Painkillers and he said to get down to a level where I can maintain comfortabiltiy on the pain, and there was no reason why I couldn't take it there is no long term effects and everything will be fine. I am on 8 a day now.. he said I should not drop from 12 to 8 in one day but I am actually doing well... I am hoping to get down 4 by next month THANKS!

[vicki595]

Yes!  There are quite a few woman who have come through the forum in your exact position. Also, I'm going to give you a link to one of the pregnancy forums here:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Pregnancy-18-34/show/152

This is a wonderful forum with very supportive women!  Some have been or are currently on pain med for chronic pain.

Believe me, I am not judging you AT ALL.  I promise!   I'm just thinking about your health, the baby's, and those 12 pills per day. Now,I understand that you want to taper that down and the doctor you see today will help you with that, I'm sure!

Let us know how today goes, okay?

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

Oh I apologize I forgot to mention, or I didn't clarify, I have lost my insurance with my regular dr that prescribes me the painkillers, she gave me one last refill. It is 180 pills, enough for me to ween off safely, that is why I am asking. It is stressful going from a Dr I been with for 4 years and knows my pain, to a brand new dr that doesn't really know me and see's I am pregnant and taking this much lol I am just worried is all

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

I am more scared of the pain, but honestly when I started the medication 4 years ago I didn't think I would be on this level and I didn't think I would have another baby. My OB/GYN said that because of my being type 1 and having 3 miscarriages in a row it is likely my body can't take it. I have been Type 1 since I was 7, my 4 year old daughter is a miracle and so is my son. But I remember being pregnant with my daughter and  the Dr telling me that she would come out in pain and need to be in the NICO for weeks because my sugars were higher around 250... and that she would be a very high birth weight, they even made me have a c section. (I didn't start the painkillers until 4 months after she was born, that is when the pain was too much to handle, it began when i was 8 months pregnant) so when she was born with no problems and 8 lbs, I really felt misled and wondered why they really made me think that my daughter was going to come out all messed up and she was fine, no low sugars. So NOW when people say oh yeah your baby is going to come out screaming and with a bunch of abnormalities and going to be in horrible horrible pain, I don't really believe it, and I genuinely feel that it is not going to end up like that. Maybe a little while but HAS ANYONE GIVEN BIRTH IN THIS TYPE OF SCENARIO? OR JUST READING WHAT I AM READING ON OTHER WEBSITES? Not trying to be mean but I read everything there is to read on this and I was looking for more of an insider opinion of maybe a mother who gave birth to a baby going through what I am going through. I already know to listen to my dr, and she is telling me NOT TO TAPER and I want to knwo why that is and get a genuine true life story or someone that had a baby on painkillers, went home with the baby and what happened. BUT I HONESTLY am not trying to imply I don't appreciate the opinions everyone has one and being in this forum I expected that, I don't have an ob/gyn yet I am going to see one for the first time on monday, my primary care physician told me to stay on the meds but I think it is time to ween off. My ob/gyn will most likely agree, does anyone know someone that had a baby on opiates? or a friend? or have done it themself? I would love to get a woman's story that is going through exactly what I am, pain and all. Because everyone can have an opinion, but when you share an experience is what makes a connection and helps more. Sorry.

[vicki595]

Okay. I'm sorry you're upset. Please just speak with the doctor...what you are doing may be just fine!  I have no way of knowing,personally, I only know what I know to be true.

It seems the word "choices" annoyed you.  I'm sorry. I have my opinions and philosophy as well as anyone else!  I believe we always have a choice. Some are important,some are dumb,some we will thank God that we made them, on and on...A choice is a decision,right?  It could be anything BUT when you make one choice it leads to another and sometimes that causes a situation, and another choice needs to be made., etc...that's all I'm saying and I don't want to debate or get you angry.  
Just the opposite, I'd like the two of you to be okay!  You focused on THAT word but you read where I mentioned withdrawals,right? The fetus feels what you feel and that's pretty well documented. I'm not sure if anyone truly KNOWS that feeling but they get pretty agitated in utero and are very miserable when born addicted.  Their vital signs are off and they cry and cry and cry...that's what I'd like to emphasize to you.  

You've got maybe 10 weeks to taper properly. The doctor can tell you how to do that (we can't).  
I hear you, I know you're scared and upset and you'll get this done!  Many women take vicodin throughout their entire pregnancy and do fine. You take/took too much per day. You need to get that down properly,okay?

If I came across as though I was making a judgment, I wasn't at all. I wouldn't dare do that!!   I just want you guys to be safe!

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

How is having chronic pain ever my choice? This is what does not compute, maybe it was a bad idea for me to get pregnant at this juncture in my life, but the amount of pain I go through calls for such painkillers, what else were they made for? I admit that they amount is way too much and I don't know why my doctor ever though that 60 mg of Morphine and 12 norco a day was ok, but then again she has been there since the beginning of my pain. I stopped the morphine months before i got pregnant, it was just making me drowsy and drugged up it wasn't helping pain. The norco helped with pain that I had, and when I got pregnant I knew I would have to taper down and feel some sort of pain, and the reason why I have pain is not because I am not taking enough painkillers, it is becasue my brain is asking for more and more, but the real concern most people have is that the baby will suffer so much pain, and horrible withdrawal, and tell me that I made bad decisions, I just listened to my doctor and relieved my pain. Painkillers and babies DO NOT MIX. I get that, and I am not saying that it's ok to have my newborn go through 2 days of withdrawal, all I am saying is that it is kinda contradictory that people keep saying that it is not a big deal and that it is mostly mental, yet make it seem like I am killing my baby... Like I chose purposely to make my baby suffer for my pleasure, when in fact it is because I am relieving pain that my child will come out and suffer some symptoms. I spoke with a Dr that thought this concept and it washarsh but he also stated that why does no one make a big deal about the traumatizing effects a child goes through when going through the birth canal? Their heads completely change shape! But that is normal right? I just think that people that abuse medication should be catagorized differently then those who are just taking it responsibly and choose not to be a masochist. If my child was about to be hit by a car I would jump in front, if he were shot I would take the bullet. So when some people insinuate that I am ok with putting my newborn through the worst 4 days of his life upon being born, try to put yourself in the position of having debilitating, bed-ridden pain. So I think I am making a pretty good choice here to taper down to 3 or 4 then stopping 2 weeks before the baby is born, but I was just making an insight because it says they siffer 4 weeks of pain and other sites say 3 - 4 days. And I was wondering how a NICU nurse knows they go through 4 weeks of withdrawal? Do the babies stay in the NICU until the withdrawal symptoms go away? Or do mothers take them home... I also heard that SIDS is more likely to happen to those born with NAS? How likely is this? Any opinions?  Thanks for the post though I appreciate the opinion.. and if I seem hostile in any way I apologize I am pregnant and withdrawing.... with no BZD's

[vicki595]

Addicted newborns are miserably heartbreaking.  Whether THEIR withdrawal lasts 2 seconds or 2 months isn't relevant at all here. I wouldn't want MY child to suffer my own bad choices and I'm sure you don't...

You need to go over ALL of this with your doctor. I assume the high risk specialist is an OB?

If you're feeling withdrawals, it's certain your baby is as well. Please don't taper or stop until you speak with the doctor!  Please don't...

There are some very specific ways to take care of you,your baby, and your pain. Speak with the doctor and be as honest as possible. They see this sort of situation quite often...

Your doctor is who you need here...and it's ultimately his advice you need to follow...

All the best to you and your family. Keep everyone here posted!

[GodWrksNmystryusWYS]

Hey I have one more question. OK I know I need to ask a professional but they go by the book and statistics anyways and I don't really want to call the NICU and ask personally, BUT how long does the effects of withdrawal last in a newborn that has a tolerance like mine? Everyone says that it is all mental and that it goes in 6 days and it isn't really "that bad" so... a newborn does not have the mental craving of drugs as adults do, they don't have stress and anxiety so does it last 72 hours? 6 days? 4 days? Thanks for hte support too guys.