I'm ready... but what about meds?

[specialcay06]

My husband and I have been talking about trying for a baby this year. Being a teacher, we decided a good time to try would be Sept/Oct since that would allow me to finish a whole school year of teaching. (But of course, things rarely go as planned...)
Anyway, I had a urodynamics test yesterday, and my uro-gyn decided to start me on Elmiron. I'm already taking Elavil and Pyridium (as needed). The dr. said to me, "You're not trying to get pregnant, are you?" and I said that we've been talking about it and would like to try this year. She told me that I would have to stop all meds before trying.
So my questions: Does this mean that the meds will prevent me from becoming pregnant? Or does it mean that it is dangerous to be on the meds while trying? Also, How long should my body be clean of the meds before we start trying???
Thanks for any insight anyone can provide...

[Claredale]

I already had my kids prior to having IC so I don't know the answers to your questions, but I do know that there are people on here that have been able to be on certain meds (even some pain meds) while pregnant. There have even been a few that symptoms went away while they were pregnant. I would start looking for a ob/gyn that deals with high risk pregnancies, since that is what I have heard so many say they have done.

Hopefully some of our new moms will check in and answer you. You can also do a search on the the threads on pregnancy. That should get you started on some info.

Tracey

[Briza]

Cailyn,
Here is a link to a thread regarding Elmiron and pregnancy. This ICN member doesn't post often anymore, but she has been on Elmiron for a few years now and recently posted and has the same concerns that you do, so I thought it might be of some help to you, at least regarding Elmiron...

http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49543

Since like I said, she doesn't frequent the board often anymore, so she may or may not respond to a pm if you have any further questions, but I do know that she does her research, is very well-educated, and very nice and helpful, and knowledgeable, especially regarding her good experience with Elmiron, so if you were to pm her I'm certain she would give you the very best of what she knows if she were to get a pm from you concerning this. If she doesn't repsond, I would imagine it would be only because she wasn't alerted to the pm.

I am a teacher, too, so I can very well understand wanting to plan things for summer! I hope things work out that way, but of course you will be happy :) whatever the due date is! Best wishes...Bri:)

[Krisi]

Here is an link that includes an article that you might be able to get from your local university journals. http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Pentosan-Polysulfate-Sodium Anyway, it basically states that they believe Elmiron doesn't pass through the placenta. Also, I am currently in the same situation as you but I can take mine until I become pregnant. If you talk to a maternal fetal medicine specialist they might let you take it all the way through. Elmiron is a category B, the other two are C's. I am also on that combination of drugs plus a couple of others. I did go and talk to an OB to see what their rules were. You can always shop around for them.

I know you can take medicines in pregnancy though. My mom was on a category D with me. Not during the first 3 months though. I would just talk to your doctor. Oh and btw I turned out perfectly fine and have a Master's Degree in Engineering. Send me a PM if you want to talk.

Krisi

[LeeAnn]

I was on Atarax, Ditropan, and Elmiron my entire pregnancy. Didn't know I was pregnant til I was 17 weeks. Went off all meds for 2 weeks until I could see an OB. I found a high-risk OB who has experience with patients who take all kinds of meds. He told me to go back on those 3 meds (life was hell without them). One was category B and two were category C (I think). These meds do not prevent you from getting pregnant. Doctors are just concerned about the baby's health. You need to find a "high-risk" OB b/c they are used to women being on meds for one disease or another. They are comfortable with letting women stay on meds. If your OB told you that you "have to" go off all meds, that means they lack experience with medication during pregnancy and/or would rather not bother. Find someone else. With these 3 meds, I found pregnancy to be one of the best times in my life. Pregnancy and breastfeeding have alleviated my symptoms more than anything, hands down.

I had read that Atarax was a TOTAL NO-NO in the first trimester but when I found out I was pregnant, it was too late, I was already in the 2nd. My OB assured me that everything would be fine and that Atarax is actually the first choice for women with rashes or anxiety while pregnant (besides IC inflammation).

Some doctors do not even allow their patients to take TUMS for heartburn. Now come on! That is practicing medicine with the philosophy of CYA (cover your ***). Any person off the street can tell a pregnant woman not to take medications. That's easy and does not require an expert. Doctors that actually use their knowledge to practice medicine with care and compassion and balance this with risk, win a special place in my heart.

P.S. My baby boy weighed almost 18 pounds at his 4 month check-up! And is 26.5 inches long! Huge boy.

[Charisse]

I agree with Leann's post 100%. I've been on Elmiron my entire pregnancy and do not plan on stopping it. I've had a high-level ultrasound and all kinds of tests and my baby is 100% perfect. I'm also on a few other medications for my stomach and allergies and my OB was very reassuring about them. I interviewed a different OB 2 years ago and she was the kind who didn't want me taking anything. Well that's just not possible for me so I ran as fast as I could from her office. My feeling is these drs that tell you not to take anything have no experience with women who do need medication and so you'd be better off with someone who has seen other women with pre-existing health complications. Of course it's best not to take anything but I wouldn't be pregnant today if I couldn't stay on all my medications.