[futuremommy]

Hello Everyone, I think I posted this in the wrong forum before so I am posting it again here. Sorry for doing it twice.

I am new to this board, but it seems like everyone is helpful, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I used to be an athlete, broke/tore almost everything, had many surgeries with more to go, and now I take Lortab 10/500 four times a day and Ambien to sleep at night. This has been my schedule for about 3 years.

A couple of weeks ago, I discovered I was pregnant. So with Mom's advice, I scheduled to see an OB-GYN. He did an ultrasound, told me I was 12 weeks, but seemed to be in a hurry and rushed out. I didn't get a chance to ask him about the medicines I was taking.

I tried to look up info online and I got conflicting information. So sites said it was Ok to take while pregnant, some sites said that it is bad for the baby and should not be taken, and some sites said if you stop taking it while you are pregnant, it could result in miscarriage. I DEFINITELY don't want that to happen.

So, I decided to ask my pharmacist one day when the store was not busy. Usally there is a nice lady there, that I know, but this guy must have been new, because I hadn't seen him there before. He looked at me like I was crazy and said " Why would you do that to your baby! Nothing is safe to take except Tylenol! The baby does not deserve to have those medicines fed to him". I then told him that I don't mind if I stop taking them, but I feel sick on the days that I don't take them. He then began to talk to me like a child (a 3 year old) and said "You can get addicted to that stuff. Once you take it, you can't stop. Have you ever heard of "Rush Limbock"? He was taking 'Oxy-crack' and was all in the news"! I told him I had never heard of him. He said with a mean stiffled laugh "Well, there are billboards all over about people on Oxy-crack! What all are you taking?!" Terrified, I then gave him my name and information, so he could look it up. He read down the list of everything I had EVER taken. He loudly said "hmmm....Acyclovir, Allegra, Ambien, Amoxicillin, Flagyl, Lortab, Naproxen, Retin A, and Tylenol 3. Well, I guess I don't see 'Oxy-crack', but what you are taking is bad enough! I see you faithfully get a refill of Ambien and Lortab every month. Tell me this, I don't ever see where you had a script for birth control. Ever think about that?"

At this point, I was embarrassed, offended, and feelings were hurt, so I thanked him and promptly left. I felt like I was lower than low and the worst person on earth. I have tried to be a good person, I have never tried a ciggarette, never drank, don't like to cuss (but I will if pushed). I know I started sex at an early age, but it has been with the same person, and he told me he was sterile and couldn't get anybody pregnant. I'm not running around sleeping with everyone in town. I have never been in trouble with the law. I didn't know that I was pregnant, but I don't want to hurt the baby in anyway. I'm also scared to talk to anybody else, ESPECIALLY my doctor, because he seems to be a joker too.

A friend told me to go to one of those pain management places, but I'm told if you go to any of these pain management places, they will help, but they will treat you like a criminal. I am terrified to talk to anybody else. Is there somebody I can call and talk to over the phone, without them thinking I am an evil person who is purposely endangering my child. I don't want anyone to threaten to take my child either, and someone said that is what could happen if I continue to take it througout the pregnancy. I'm lost, confused, and don't know what to do. I have never been in this situation before. I do pray, but I need someone physical to answer me and give the right advice.

[ymccormack]

You need to file a complaint against that pharmacist. The comments he made to you were completely out of line. You were asking him a perfectly reasonable question.

For him to use terms like "oxy-crack" and to comment on your lack of contraception.

Uh. I would have let him had it if I'd been behind you in line!

Look...you're not taking too many pills. My suggestion: You need to taper off slowly. Give someone you trust your pill supply and let them know how many you are allowed and at what times.

You can do this!!!!

Then, once you have the baby you can go back on the painkillers if you still need them. There's a whole string from pregnantmama on "need to talk" I think.

I was in the same boat as you...I tapered off. You can do it! Just do it now -- don't wait too long.

Hope this helps...oh and take your vitamins!

YO