Pregnant, on Fentanyl & TERRIFIED !

[Melissa_1982]

I am currently 23 weeks pregnant, on 100 mcg per 2 days of Fentanyl & due to a miscalculation by my dr have NO meds for at least 3 days. How dangerous is this to my unborn child? How bad is the withdrawal gonna be, how long will it last & what withdrawal symptoms should I expect? I'm EXTREMELY scared for the safety of my unborn child as well as myself. I have 2 other kids that I am raising on my own & need to know what to expect. PLEASE HELP !!

Melissa

[SHELLBELL79]

OK Melissa, I do not understand what the heck is going on! This would never happen in America! I detoxed cold turkey off 150mcg of Fentanyl and was in the ER because of it and was treated great and they don't usually treat detox patients in the ER good at all! Your freaking pregnant and on the strongest pain medication in the world! This is soo harmful for your baby! I really don't see how all these doctors are refusing to help you! Have you ever seen a newborn detox off a narcotic? It is so painful for them and dangerous even when they give them small amounts of Morphine to wean down. Fentanyl is no joke! I was told by my old uriologist that this patch would help me take less Vicoden. I had no idea what it was ti'll I decided to detox off it. Then I found out what it's like to want to die and beg God to just take you! I have detoxed off Vicodin HP, Norco 10's, etc....those were a freaking walk in the park compared to Fentanyl. I feel your pain....this why I don't understand why Any health professional would jeapordize you and your babys life. You need to contact someone that can really help you! If you are not helped and taken care of, who is going to be there and take care of your children? Please demand help and tell these doctors and nurses to educate themselves on the damn drug and how serious it is!!!! You and your children are in my prayers!!!!

[Melissa_1982]

Mike,

TY for the msg. I'm north of Toronto & have been dealing with the hospital in Newmarket.  I did not chose to have a baby on these meds, I was on birth control & took it religiously at the same time every day, but my original OB found that I'm infertile UNLESS I'm on some sort of birth control.  All 5 of my kids ( twins born @ 24 weeks deceased ) were conceived on some sort of birth control, whether it was different strengths of the pill, the patch, & the depo shot.  Years of no birth control & no pregnancies, but cervical cancer & massive cysts that took away my fertility until birth control was started.  I know that my child may be born with withdrawals & need to be watched in the NICU for a week or 2.  I also know it's safer for him to go through those withdrawals after being born then it is to go through now.  Continuing the pregnancy while on these meds was not an easy choice, but due to health issues including having suffered cervical cancer & cysts that have destroyed 1 ovary & damaged the other I was told by my original OB that if I wanted any more kids they highly suggest doing it soon.

Coming off this Fentanyl is the most painful thing I've ever had to suffer through.  Yes I'm still on the meds, but the large drop hit VERY hard.  If I wasn't pregnant I would fight it out & cut it out entirely, but right now is not the time to do it & definitely isn't safe.

After having my oldest daughter it was discovered that I have severe lower lumbar spinal stenosis, something I was probably born with & parents ignored the pain complaints I made.  Originally I was started on T3s, then went to perks, oxys & then Hydro-morphones. I had L5-S1 decompression done in 2006 which did nothing to help.  There have been 2 surgeries booked since, but got pregnant both times & surgery was cancelled. It's progressing through my entire back & apparently I may be wheelchair bond within 5 years unless it slows down.  I was on the different meds for a few years & then met my husband.  I found out AFTER marrying him that he had an addiction to pain pills & he was stealing my meds every chance he got.  My family dr saw how much pain I was in, but couldn't prescribe the pills without worrying whether I was getting them or not so she decided Fentanyl would be the next option.  I asked if there was anything I should know about & she explained it was the same as the pills but taken less often basically. I trusted her.  Fentanyl IS NOT just for terminal patients, it's often prescribed for people who have tried numerous other pain meds & haven't received adequate relief from them.

I'm 24 weeks as of tomorrow according to the dr's dates BUT based on my dates I'm almost 27 weeks. I've argued that point with my OB, the hospital & my GP & have been told it's impossible.  I didn't know sperm could live 2 1/2 weeks inside. lol. Dr's are so insured.  I have asked to be referred to a pain specialist & now have to wait until the baby is born & then the referral MAY be put through.  

I have spoken to Women's College Hospital in Toronto & have been instructed to follow up with my family Dr & OB & if I am still not satisfied then to come in & be seen. Easier said then done since I don't drive, have 2 kids I'd have to take with me & it would be roughly 3 hours by bus each way.

Good luck with your weaning. :-)

Melissa

[faith_hope_love]

Hey Melissa, I can't believe that nurse said that you can't have withdrawals from Fentanyl...what an idiot!  This seems like the twilight zone.  I am still praying for you and your baby.   The post from Mikeyjr that lives up there too seems to have some good ideas.  Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.  Lyn

[Melissa_1982]

According to the ignorant useless nurse I saw the last 2 trips to L & D it is up to the dr on call if, when & how they treat a patient.  The fact that she had already told me she would do nothing for my pain & I ended up back several hours later seemed suspicious.  I tried to explain that I had asked to be taken to the ER not L&D but because I am over 20 weeks regardless if it's pregnancy related or not I end up on L&D, which makes no sense as when I left & went down to the ER they had NO plans on sending me back upstairs cuz it had nothing to do with the baby. Also according to this so called nurse you can't get withdrawals from Fentanyl & even if it was possible it would not affect the baby what so ever.  I lost it on her explaining that since I got pregnant I've made sure to do my research on the risks of the meds & what would happen to my child. Went as far as to speak to the head of paeds at that hospital who also runs part of sick kids paeds dealing with babies born to addicts.  He also happens to be my oldest daughters paeditrician.
I don't understand how this OB who is fairly new DID NOT learn any of this in school.  Why the hell should I have to teach her by risking my childs life?  This dr & I had issues when I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter & her refusal to treat then almost ended up killing both my daughter & I. I had been rushed in several times leaking fluids & bleeding heavily. EVERYTIME she was on call she would watch me for 10 hours or so & then send me home.  TWICE there was a c-section booked by another dr , but she came on at shift change. The original dr planned on staying to do the c-section to make sure that my daughter would make it & this b!tch would cancel it saying it wasn't warranted. I lost almost 70lbs with that pregnancy & bled from 17 weeks until 39 when a hospital in Toronto finally stepped in & ordered that they cease the pregnancy.

[mikeyjr]

OMG  
>>>> Melissa<<<<
The one thing that sticks with me that I have read hear is "you need to take care of you". And my spin on that is (!!!!!!!x10) you need to take care of you!!!!!

Where in Ontario are you?

What hospital did you go to? I would insist on different treatment, a different hospital, Air Flight to Sick Kids! You have a child that needs treatment like your local hospital can not give! Your baby is #1. Sorry but your decision to have a baby while on these meds was.... wow! What can I say... had to be hard, but also "crazy!!!” I bet your OB didn't like the idea. Don’t get me wrong.... I feel for you and wish you the best.

I too am going through withdrawal now (“doctor’s oversight”). I'm in day 4 coming off Oxycotin (320mg/day) CT. Another Ontario doctor! I couldn't imagine coming off Fentanyl. And tomorrow I will see the doctor for more. I will be dropping my dosage down to 80-120mg/day and then weaning from there.

Anyway......

From everything I have read on opiate drugs you should only receive a 10% reduction at a time. 10% not 50% or 100%; and that comes from the manufactures (Pharmaceutical companies not wanting to take the responsibility just ask your pharmacist. Also, look on the Pharmaceutical Company’s website, specifically info about your medication). So, who should take that responsibility? Your doctor. There is some very strict legislation coming into effect here in Ontario that is going to make it very difficult for doctors to just prescribe whatever they want. I only hope it also includes rules of practice on taking patients off these medications too, but I doubt it will.

Why in the world did your doctor think you needed something that strong? That drug is for terminal patients, people on the downward slope... from what I have read you’re not that person... unless you’re holding something back. What was the diagnosis? I mean.... wow! What was this doctor thinking???

Seriously... if you’re not in TO.... you should scream bloody murder till they send you to Sick Kids. Period! It is your baby.... Lie.... Lie you’re a** off, tell them your 26 weeks. Insist its 26 weeks. Bring a calendar and count backwards and say that’s when it happened and don't you let anyone else say differently. Tell them it has to be because that’s the date you had sex and conceived because you didn't any other time and anything else must be wrong including your OB. We are in a province that will not let a baby die because a stupid doctor thinks its ok. Many will standup with you but you have to start the process. I would even threaten to call CTV (this can be very powerful), but then call if you have too. Insist and DO NOT take NO for an answer, do what ever it takes to get the treatment you seek.
  
A good pain specialist can determine what malpractice is and what’s not. But any human can tell you if you loose that baby while in professional care because of refusal to treat, its MALPRACTICE. Stand up for yourself, even if it hurts. Stand up for your baby!

I have written all this with sincere compassion for you and your affliction. It’s an affliction that many have shared and suffered.

I HOPE that in someway this inspires you.

Even if your doctor "fixes it" to your satisfaction, please go see a pain specialist.

I wish you the best,
Mike

PS
I have found listening to my favorite music as loud as possible helps, even if it’s just with headphones on. Keeping hydrated is very important and if you can not eat - take vitamins, by the handfuls. By-the-way your Baby still needs food. Don’t lose sight of your goal!

And remember - others do care.

[dominosarah]

If you were here in the States you would be in the hospital as the baby is their first concern.  I just cant wrap myself around all of this.  Why the lack of concern on everyone's part?  This baby has got to be suffering greatly here.  You are in wd's, vomiting, not able to eat, having contractions and they wont do anything?