Pregnant and freaking out

[signmeup]

Hello all.  I am a new member and having difficulty finding answers for my questions on the internet, so I thought I'd give some background on myself and see if anybody here has gone through what I am currently going through and offer some advice.  K, here goes.....I am currently 6 weeks pregnant (calculated from 1st day of last period, so actually only about 4).  I found out 8 days ago and immediately stopped everything I was doing which was drinking and taking suboxone, 8mgs every other day for an addiction to pain pills (20-30 norcos a day).  Problem is, I THOUGHT I could quit suboxone cold turkey since I have long gotten over my addiction to pain pills but when 4 days had passed, I started to experience withdrawals.  The worst w/d for me being the "creepy crawlies" in my arms and legs which just don't let up!  I became REALLY upset realizing that I wouldn't be able to just stop.  So I took an 8mg Suboxone which almost immediately made me feel better and then got on the internet.  Basically, what I found out was that I should switch to subutex, which I did TODAY and that my baby MAY experience withdrawals.  When I went to the doctors today he told me that my baby WILL experience withdrawals for about 7 days which has made me extremely upset!  I am married and we have a 14 year old and we have been loosely following the rhythm method with withdrawal method for over a year with the thought that if we get pregnant, we will have a baby.  I did this "loosy goosy" approach because I knew that I am such a scardy cat that I wouldn't deliberately TRY to get pregnant, but that if it happened, we would then be blessed with a baby.  Well, now I wish I never would have done this!  I am now faced with the dilemma of either having an abortion or having anxiety throughout the whole pregnancy that my baby will experience withdrawals which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.  If my baby dies after it is born I just would check out.  Both of my parents have passed away and my BEST friend just died 5 months ago.  I lost my dream job 3 years ago due to some really jacked up office politics and haven't worked since.  I thought that getting pregnant would be a wonderful thing for me and my family and give me a new outlook on life, but now that I've realized I can't just stop taking sub like THAT, I am FREAKING OUT!  I don't think that the stress or the consequences for my unborn is worth it.  I really need some TRUTH and advice either way...I was on my way to being fine.  I was planning on looking for a new job and getting my life back. I thought I was DONE being dependent on anything even though I was taking suboxone every other day for pain management, I thought if I HAD to, I'd just take some tylenol and be OK.  Well this wasn't the case and now I'm really scared.  Any input will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

[madtram]

Absolutely keep your ob/gyn informed, however from the limited number of studies, the consensus seems to be that more foetal distress may be caused by  the mother undergoing withdrawal particularly in the early developmental stages of pregnancy so it would not be recommended that you undergo a stressful withdrawal at this point.

There is a reasonably easy to read medical review at:

http://www.turningpoint.org.au/library/CTG_Bup_Pregnancy_060104.pdf

if you would like to read more for yourself.

Best wishes

[signmeup]

Thanks for all the info shared.  It helped, even if all of it wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear, I needed to hear it.  Yea, I don't know WHY I was put on such a large dose in the first place.  And I'm not talking 8mg/day.  They tried to have me take 16mgs in the morning and 16 at night of suboxone when I first got on a year ago!  I KNEW this was too much, so I did 12mgs about every three days for a long time, then decided to go down to 8mgs every three days and things are fine.  Like I said, I don't even take it every day!  I actually think I can do a 2mg per day deal when I get my new meds (hold up at pharmacy), or at least be able to do 4mg!  And then see about tapering in my second trimester.  We will see.  I will also be seeing a high risk OB this Friday who specializes in opiate dependent mothers.  I'm writing my questions down for him and look forward to meeting him this friday.  I'm praying he's a nice guy - his secretary was VERY sweet.  So I'm doing what I have to do for now.  Thanks for all the support!  You're all so sweet!  I DO get some relief in hearing that your babies were fine and no withdrawals, loandtansmom, how much sub were you on?  If you don't mind me asking...I need all the stories, good or bad, I can get!  And nursegirl and gnarly, thanks so much for your info.  I need to make an informed decision.  Oh, TroubleinOhio: what website are you talking about?

[febninthgirl]

First off pls don't do anything without talking to your doc. Not sure why you are on sub but if you are on it for the reasons it was really made for(HUGE ADDICTION) and not being able to stay clean,there are other meds out there that not in such a high class of narcotic. You can go to your pharmacist and they can print out the classes for them pls do not go over a class C drug. If you do however feel that you can stop and stay clean by all means go to your ob to set up a very strict and so taper for. It is better for the baby to be taper in the womb. One thing you do have going is you r only 6weeks by the time you stop your baby will be ok when bundle of joy is born. Pls don't stay on it your whole pregnancy. There is not a lot data and studies done like other meds out there. Right now you have time on your side try to relax and just make a very informed . God bless you and you baby

[nursegirl6572]

lee....Thank you so much for the kind words...you put a smile on my face!

signmeup...I agree with the others not to panic.  It certainly is a scary time...but if you are 100% honest with your OB, they will develop a plan that is right for both you and baby.  If for some reason you stay on the Subs throughout your whole pregnancy, the delivery team will know just what to look for as far as withdrawals, and any other possible adverse effects, and will be at the ready to treat the baby.

I forgot that one of the sweet young girls on my staff (nursing assistant) also was on Suboxone when she found out she was pregnant. She had battled some pretty big addiction problems before that (heroin, crack, etc)...and she said that she just put her mind to it, knowing that it would be uncomfy during the taper...but that EVERY ounce of discomfort she felt was for one HUGE awesome goal...her baby.  She swore she would be 100% substance free when she brought the baby into this world...and she did it.  She did an approx 2 week taper off the Sub (per her OB)...she is due the end of Dec and is doing great.  I give her all the credit in the world...she is so young, yet she really turned her life around quickly after finding out she was going to be a Mom...even becoming a CNA in a field that is sometimes brutal...all to better her life.

Anyway, went off on a bit of a tangent, but I wanted to let you know that it IS possible to get yourself off the Sub....it wont be easy I'm sure, but goodness, SOOO worth it.  It just may take some time and work.  Just be sure that everything you do is under the care of your OB.

Hope you stick around here...you will have wonderful support and always honest advice.  The very best to you.

[avisg]

Disscuss everything with your ob you can have a happy health baby OK so dont worry yourself sick .Yes changing over the subutex is the right thing to do .Work out a taper plan to get your self slowy down to a lower dose dalily they can easly get you down to 2mg or alittle less a day .I would stay there until you deliver .Then afterword if you want to go all of the way off do it then .Some babys do have some WD but many others dont .
If the ob thinks its ok to go all the way off before birth then that is a possabilty too but do try to get on the lowest amout you can if all of the way off is not possable  .

[gnarly_1]

hi...wow your plate is full...but not hopless....first off I am a personal friend of a neo/natal
nurse thats job is bringing babys off heroin ,methadone,sub pills..ext...if all else fails
there are compassionate nurses out there that can help ween your baby off...I actuly
used her formula for getting off methadone witch is 10% every 72 hrs its what they use for the babys...after speaking with her about my own experience I asked her how the babys responded....some ok some she said you could still see the withdrawals after the methadone was stoped but all have survived...my advise to you is taper off slowly
your withdrawals as well as your babys will be minimized and there will be no need to
deal with it in the delivery room at all...tapering can be difficult but it is doable and you have some good reasons to get clean b/4 your delivery...my heart goes out to you and I will pray that you can quit and be free of the sub b/4 you deliver your baby
good luck and god bless ....Gnarly