Pregnant on Methadone

[Jen83]

I am almost 5 months pregnant. I have been on pain killers for five years now. I am with a great guy who doesn't understand what this is like. He doesn't get how hard this is for me. He thinks I want to keep poppin pills. The only reason I am on Methadone is because I cant be sick! I want to ween down, and detox so bad, but I heard from many people that it is unsafe for my unborn child! I am on 50mgs a day. I told my OB, he basically told me I need to find another doctor!! F*cked UP!! He has never dealt with my situation! Instead of doing research and trying to help me, he told me I needed to go to a Primary doc to get a legal script of methadone! I went to a pain management doc, he gave me clonidine, and told me I might have to still try to get my pills from my dealer!! WTF??? She is unreliable, and I have to buy 30's (Roxy's) so I wont WD when I cant get methadone!! I have called other doctors and explained my situation, and none have agreed to help me! I have an APP on thursday with a diff one. Hopefully he will help me! I also need to try to find a new OB that will help me! Everyone told me I needed to be honest with my OB, I finally gathered the courage, and he gave up on me! I am so ashamed, scared, and lonely! I feel hopeless! A few days ago I started feeling baby move, and it made me cry! I love it so much and wish I was normal and clean so I could worry less about giving birth to an unhealthy infant! I shouldn't be stressing because that isn't good for baby! I cant help it though! Someone please give me some advice! I just wish I could sleep one night without having to worry!

[help807]

I am 28yrs old. used to take lortabs 10mg they stopped working so went on methadone. was taking 60mg a day ( I have a broken back) now that im pregnant my obgyn took me off and put me back on lortabs. said it was safer for the baby. but the withdraw is terrible. worried that this can kill my unborn baby. does my doc know what hes doing????

[Jen83]

WOW, crazy!!! I went to a doctor today! He is going to do research, he said he will have me sign release papers. So Thursday he might give me a script!!! Hopefuly! Please pray guys!!! I can't believe she shot up like that!! Messed up man!!!

[ClaireUK]

sorry, it's spelled Finnigan, i just checked x

[ClaireUK]

How are you?  If you have a legal scrip 4 subutex and the dr knows you are pregnant then it should be OK, but you need to tell the dr so they can make sure you and your baby are OK.  I'm sure you'll be fine.  In the UK you have to stay in hospital longer and they check your baby and mark them with what's called the Finnagen test.  It's a score which moniters how well they are sleeping, how much they yawn, how much they sneeze, if they're restless ect.  If they score badly 3 times in a day, they're sent to special care for assessment, and if the baby is sick they give them morphine.  By the grace of God my babies weren't sick but I saw ppl whose babies were.  There was even a mother got removed from the hospital by the police 4 jacking up in the maternity ward and leaving her dirty needles around all those babies (her baby was in withdrawals in special care).  In the UK they don't segregate, you're just in a room sharing with "normal" people.  You need to see how it works over there xxx

[gnarly_1]

HI Jen did you check into the methadone clinic yet...it will be cheaper then getting them off the street ....I know it is inconvenient to go to the clinic daily but at this point I dont think you have a choice...the clinic out here in phx only charges 60 buck a week
you will be getting it legally something that should trump convenience at this point
you need to do this for your baby you cant just be taking random narcotics when you cant get the methadone you need a steady supply and on that is legit to get out of the mess your in....good luck and God bless.....Gnarly      

[avisg]

Just make sure you are honest with the doctors .Its very important ...

[Jen83]

The fact that I was on suboxone and he told me to switch to Methadone, it should make a difference shouldn't it??? I just talked to him, and he gave me a doctors name!!!! He also gave me an information number to get the phone number to a certain methadone clinic!!! Wow guys I feel like a dummy!!

[Jen83]

Yeah, but I was two months and didn't know I was preg, I have proof of when I went to first doc visit. I was on roxy's before I knew! I stopped them cause I was scared, and heard methadone was the safest! I also have a suboxone doc!! I went to him before I was preg...So It's not like I haven't been treated. I could tell doctors I was on suboxone and switched to methadone for safety!! I never thought of that!!!!! I do have a legal scipt for suboxone!!!!!!! He told me to switch to methadone!!!!!!

[jamajessie]

Please call the National Drug Help Hotline [phone] or and  National Alcohol and Drug Dependence Hopeline 1-800-622-2255 they will help you or get u set up with a treatment center in your area. Get your guy to help you also. I know he doesn't understand but this is an illness no different that any other illness that has to be treated. Please try because in some states it is a felony to use without a rx and they will test the baby as soon as it is born and you can be in a world of trouble.

[avisg]

Jen keep looking you will find one .The fact the you are not on the methadone legally is I am sure causing part of the problems .The other thing I would suggest is if you have a rehab or mental health center in your area contact them let them know what your problem is and ask if they know of any doctors that can help you .Hang in there and let us know how things go.

[kris123]

Maybe switch to subutex.  I was on subutex at the end of my pregnancy.  I just had my baby and she had like six bad days and that was just crying and come to find out she wasn't positve for anything, they even tested her poo so I think she is just colic, she has calmed since she has been at home.  Subutex is something you can take from home, please try this because it can save you.  Remember i am not a dr so they also still say use methodone, but in my mind subutex is better

[ClaireUK]

and any confusion, when I wrote meth, it was short for methadone, that's what we say over here lol x

[ClaireUK]

it's late in the UK now, so I'm gonna get some sleep but promise you'll ring up or go and make an appointment tommorow x   If u do it properly you and your baby will b fine :) xxx

[ClaireUK]

Everyone is different but reducing off meth altogether is hard and I wouldn't advise it, especially when pregnant.  You need the doc hun.  Make an appointment tommorow morning...PROMISE xxx

[Jen83]

If I can get myself down to 20mgs, or 10mgs a day, do you think I can detox on my own?? and only use the clonidine for a few days???? Someone told me if I have to, to take 10 % less every 72 hours! I can't get enough Methadones to do it like that though! I only took 15mgs so far today!! I feel fine!

[ClaireUK]

U need 2 get it from a proper doctor or clinic, and I'm not just saying that hun x If u got opiates in ur urine then they should give u a script, even if it's 4 subutex, it will keep u steady.  This is something you'll feel a lot better doing.  Once you're on a stabler script u can stop worrying.  I know it can be hard, and also then you're not asociating with the kinda ppl who sell their scripts in first place.  Is it do-able 4 u hun x

[Jen83]

Its great to have a forum like this! I just wish you guys were really here and not just typing! I wish I wasn't so alone in this!!

[Jen83]

I cant get it from a doctor yet! I am trying though!! I am trying to find one that will help with my situation!!!

[Jen83]

That makes me feel a little better! What about having to take other sometimes cause I cant get Methadone all the time??

[Jen83]

I figured it was like that! My situation isn't to be taken lightly though!!! Do you think I will be ok with the law? I did tell doctors, and tried to find help!!! I was very worried about that also!! I have only been to one OB app cause I havent been able to find one who will help!

[ClaireUK]

This I can definitely help you with!!  I went through 2 pregnacies on methadone and both my children were fine and had no withdrawals.  stick to your methadone, and take NOTHING on top, and asked to be reduced.  In UK the docs try and hammer pregnant women up to rediculous doses of meth 100ml+ so they won't use on top.  But I told them that I wouldn't use and got reduced to 12ml with my son and 24ml with my daughter.  Also, breastfeeding helps ALOT as there's a small ammount of the drug which carries through, and it's healthier 4 the baby:)

[Jen83]

I really appreciate all of your advice. I have called treatment centers. Pain in the ***. One lady told me I couldn't just get a bed! I was like thats messed up! She gave me a number and it was a taxi cabs number!!! WTF!! I did kind of get an attitude with her. Thats because she basically said she couldn't help! I am going to a doctor that might refer me to somewhere! I hope he helps! I am scared!! I am ok as of now because my lady has em! She is leaving for good though, and I will have to pay 5 a peice. Thats hard cause I dont work. My man hates spending money on pills! He doesn't understand that they are needed! He has been told by others though! This blows!!! The methadone clinic is like 20 mins away! Its a pain to get intouch with them! Its very expensive, and I cant make it there every day like they ask!!

[jamajessie]

PS


We are here for you and we understand.

[jamajessie]

It is dangerous to withdrawal while pregnant! Please call around and find a Dr asap. Your original OB must have been a stupid sob. He should have known that it is extremely dangerous for a pregnant woman to go through withdrawals. If he couldn't treat you he should have referred you to someone that could ( if it was me I would sue his *** for abandonment).

I agree with IBKleen go to a treatment or detox center  they will understand your situation and they will make sure you get the meds you need so you wont withdrawal. Most likely they will put you on methadone because they don't like to give to give pregnant women subutex because there havent been enough studies of it'[s safety on pregnant women. They will put you on methadone almost immediately because they dont want a pregnant woman to go into withdrawals.  

Whatever you do just do it asap because you just cant go cold turkey while your pregnant.