New here...health concerns

[icequeen_ah]

Hello everyone!

I'm 32, have a beautiful 5 yo girl, and am thinking about having a second. However, I'm very worried. I have a pituitary tumor that likes to change size on me, PCOS, thyroid nodules with hypothyroidism, and epilepsy. Almost everything I'm on says "causes birth defects"!!!!!!

So I'm scared of what to do, how long to get off the meds, CAN I get off the meds, etc etc. Most of all I want a healthy child (not that I wouldn't love any child) but I don't want to risk subjecting that child to a life of issues because of my meds. Last pregnancy I stopped all my asthma meds, and while it was hard, I made it. This time the problems are a bit bigger.

I'm going to my dr's this week and next to get suggestions on tapering off, but any advice on vitamins/folic acid? I was thinking of getting pre-natals from my OB/GYN and folic acid, but any other suggestions/advice would be appreciated.

Goal is to have a baby by the end of next year :)

TIA

[LauraT]

you need to have a serious talk with your ob about the risks - also talk with your prescribing docs about what you can taper off of and if there are any safer alternate meds. Good luck!

[PokeyPoke]

TIA

Well first, good for you for taking control and planning in advance for your second pregnancy.

I think this is a great time to talk to your doctors, all of them and let them know about each other (so they can also communicate with each other) and tell them you want to TTC by the end of this year or early next year. This gives you some time to start TTC for a baby by end of next year.

For just this year, they will probably want to put you on category C or B drugs that are comparable to what you're using now, if you're on something stronger like category D drugs. And be prepared to hear that there may not be something in a lesser category. Then do your research on what percentage of the pregnant population tend to get these birth defects.

For example, I have epilepsy too and was on carbamezapine. Told my doctor I wanted to start planning for pregnancy in the next 6 months. She referred me to a neurologist who suggest Lamictal after a bunch of tests (MRI, EEG) I took that home and did research in a bunch of reputable science journals to see what my odds were. I was really comfortable with my risks, even on Lamictal and now we're just seeing how I am doing on my new drugs. I am seeing him today and hopefully he gives me the okay to start! :)

Good Luck to you!

[Nichole U]

Definately tell your DR how serious you are about TTC... maybe there are other meds you can switch over to that are in a lower pregnancy category... (As, Bs and Cs are thought to be the most safe) I was on methotrexate (class X, the most dangerous) for an inflammatory condition in my eyes so when I wanted to get pregnant with my first I got off that and was put on prednisone (category C) and things worked out with me... and pregnancy quiets some conditions down... like inflammatory conditions... so maybe you can ask if any of your conditions might quiet down if you were to get pregnany therefore reducing your need for meds. But always have a game plan with your DR for that what if scenerios. Im an RN and just knowing how dangerous some of these drugs are is scary! So I would look your drugs up in a drug book or on a drug website and see what preg. category they fall in... if its an A or B you should be good to go as long as your DR agrees. If its a C then its a risk vs. benefit thing... but usually its ok... D and X categories are definately not something you want to mess with. Hope this helps.

Good luck and join us on the TTC 2nd time or more when you're ready!

[Nichole U]

P.S. I definately think folic acid and prenatal vitamins is a good thing to start before conceiving. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects in the early weeks of pregnancy. Im taking 0.5mg (500mcg) a day just to feel better about it all. But definately ask your DR first if thats ok. He can give you a script and its cheaper (one of those $4 drugs at walmart)... or just prenatal vitamins which already have folic acid in them!