Medication and Pregnancy

[Lisa25]

Everyday I battle with wanting another child! I am taking detruisitol for my IC and have serveral different opinions weather I should come off this during pregnancy. Some say yes and some say no. I would really love to talk to other people on this subject please.

[an0bgobeloba]

hi! i know exactly how you feel!!! i want another baby sooooo badly!!! the heart ache is one of the hardest thing i've had to deal with (second only to my daughter getting sick!) it's good that you are doing so much research!!! i've never taken this med nor have i even heard of it. but i hope you find some answers here. my regular doctor would like me to meet with a high risk ob if i get pregnant again. he is hoping that a high risk doctor will be more familer with meds and their effects. it's a hard decision and really only one that you and your drs can make! but i will be thinking of you and keeping an eye on this thread :)

[Lisa25]

Hi thanks for your reply nice to know that I am talking to people in the same boat. I am in New Zealand and feel very alone in dealing with this. I dont know anybody else here that has it, and no support groups. I soo want another child but want to know that there is a safe medication that I could take if I need it. I have two girls Maia age 3 1/2 and Brooke age 22 months. I only got IC in Feb this year and I already hate it!

[angel7655]

Hi lisa,

I know how you feel. We have two little boys and were about to try for our third when my IC flared and we found out I had pelvic floor dysfunction and bladder retention. Everything we had planned for has been put on hold. We even bought a mini van thinking we were going to need it. There is nothing worse than the thought that you might not be able to have a child. I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the meds you are on. I've seen lots of women on here however who had healthy pregnancy and were oked by there docs to take medication. Maybe go and speak to your OBGYN. I have an appointment next week with mine and i'm hopeing for the best. Keep us posted...lots of luck sending your way...

[77amy]

You asked if there are any medicines that are safe to take while pregnant. I'm not a dr., and you want to ask you doctor before you decide to take something while pregnant. But I would suggest that you ask your dr. about Elmiron.

My urogynecologist said she thought that elmiron should be safe for me to take while trying to get pregnant, or while pregnant... it is listed as the type of drug that is safe while pregnant. However - you want to talk to your doctor before you make that decision.

Elmiron totally fixed my I.C. Of course, results vary as you will see as you read other posts.

good luck!

[JenAZ07]

Sorry...I haven't taken this medication before, but I just wanted you to know that I stayed on almost all my meds while I was pregnant. (narcotics, meds for RLS, muscle relaxers, etc.) I, of course, tried to take the bare minimum, but would take what I needed to not be miserable and stressed about the pain all the time. Dr said the stress of being in pain was worse than actually taking the med. My twins were early (35wks), but that is very common for twins. They spent a few days each in the NICU (again common for twins), but neither had any issues related to the meds I took while pregnant. I did have a high risk OB, and would strongly encourage you to consult with one before you get pregnant. The OB I used delivered my first son and I discussed the meds I was taking with her before I got pregnant and it made me way more comfortable (and not as worried) about needing the meds while being pregnant.

Good luck!!! :smile tee

[Lisa25]

I am sitting here crying I just got a email back from my urologist, and this was his exact words

Thanks Lisa,

Precautions with detrusitol are recommended in pregnancy.
Sadly, all of the drugs that could potentially help with the
overactive bladder symptoms would also be contra indicated.
a lot of women find that symptoms do get better during
pregnancy but obviously there is no surety of this.

I hope these comments are helpful.

Kind regards

I feel like my journey to have another child is over!
What do I do? Please help?

Lisa

[Lisa25]

I have emailed back asking about Elmiron will see what he says.

[an0bgobeloba]

no, no, don't panic!!! he said precautions are necessary, he didn't say it wasn't an option!!!!!!! you still have options! a high risk ob may be able to work closely and monitor this med or a different one like it, or maybe even just a lower dose of this one!! and as your dr mentioned about 50% of women experience complete remission during pregnancy. so meds may not be an issue at all!!!!! you don't have to give up your dream or plans of a baby! you just have to put in a little extra work! i have cried to bff many times that it's just not fair! that i just want to have a "normal" pregnancy!!! it's not fair, and i'm sorry that the best time of your life has to be ruined with worries about meds!!!! but you do not have to give up your baby!!!!!!!!! i hope that you will continue to seek medical opinion about this!!! HUGS!! keep in touch ok?!

[angel7655]

oh lisa...

don't be upset...talk to an OBGYN. My urologist told me the same thing. They have to tell you that. Discuss it with someone who is the expert in pregnancy, not someone who only deals with the bladder and kidneys. It will be ok, look at all the other people on this site who have had healthy babies.

[Lisa25]

Thank you ladies, I have spent the night crying just feel like there is no hope. I have been to see a Obstertrician who has told me that no medication is the best way to be really. She wouldnt discuss taking medication during pregnancy so felt a bit helpless there and $250 poorer.

I also asked her for special moniotoring during pregnancy and she said it want necessary, I felt like it was a door that had just been slammed really!

Today will be a better day, I have had a talk with hubby and this is something that I want so badly where there is a will there is a way!

Thank you ladies for all your supprt I have been searching for some support like this for a while and finally I can talk to people abou the same issues.

Lisa

[prestwood16]

Dear Lisa,
Just to give you hope!! I'm 5 mths pregnant (it's a boy) and I have severe IC!! When I first got pregnant I freaked about my IC and how would I deal with it while pregnant, because my OB took me off EVERYTHING, but Pyridium!! At first I had no IC problems, but around mth 4 my symptoms returned!! While yes painful, not anything like the pain I suffered before being diagnosised with IC!! I usually take the pyridium and it helps!! They have allowed me to start my Self Instillations again, so I'm thinkful for that!! But, as far as the overactive bladder part, first the bigger the baby gets it sits on your bladder & I believe with any woman you will go more the normal!! I took Vesicare before I got pregnant for overactive bladder, while I have noticed I'm going more, I don't believe it's as frequent as before I was diagnosised!! Also, 70% of IC women go into remission while pregnant!! I'm not in remission by any means, but I'm able to tolerate the pain and do my normal activities, where when I was 1st diagnosised I couldn't leave my bed bc the pain was so intense!!
What gets me thru is knowing I have a life growing inside me and can't wait till he's here to spoil him roitten!! I know IC is scarey, but do not let IC hold you back from your dreams!!
Oh, and while I do not take Elimiron my OB said she had done some research and found that Elimiron is very safe to take while pregnant!! And, with any good doctor they will help you thru, they do not want you in pain and will find something to help you thru the 9 mths that will help you but want hurt your baby!!
Again, this isn't a walk in the park, but the pain I'm suffering is well worth what I get in the end, my baby!!

[Lisa25]

Thank you ladies for all the messages of hope. I am lucky in the fact that I dont have the pain with the IC, which sounds like it is terrible I only have the urgency which I find is mind boggling in its self. It seems to be quite hormonal related, I am good while I have my period, the week after my period is not good, and neither is ovulation, I am trying diet options to.

I want this child so badly, and thank you your messges have brightened me up to the fact that maybe not all is lost! I just have to go about it the right way.

My poor hubby dosnt know how to support me but is doing his best. I thought it just would have been nice to know that while being pregnant there is medication I could take if the urgency skyrocketed I wanted a backup plan if that makes sence.

Lisa

[mrachel]

Lisa,
I had severe IC and was on bedrest before I got an interstim. When I got pregnant I had to turn it off and was so scared that I was going to be in bad shape. I was one of the 70% that did very well without much medication for IC during the pregnancy. I did take pain meds occasionally for bladder pain but I never went back into retention and my frequency/ urgency was not terrible either! There is hope! Now I am getting ready to try for baby #2 and scared because my Interstim has to come out due to complications. I won't have much to help me while I'm trying to concieve. I do suggest you talk to the dr. about heparine/marcaine instills. They were safe and very effective for my flares during the pregnancy. There were also some meds such as elmiron and attarax that I stayed on until I got pregnant so check with your dr. about that.

Also you may need to check into getting a different OB...possibly high risk so they will work with adjusting meds instead of eliminating them. I had a plan of action in reguards to drugs that we would try if need be before I got pregnant. This helped me to feel prepared and gave me a sense of security that I had some treatment options if I needed them during pregnancy.

I wish you the best and hope you don't give up on your dream for another child!