I'm Pregnant! but i need your help...

Options
LittleFlower
LittleFlower Member Posts: 405
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hi Ladies!

Wow, Lot's of new names on the boards.  It has been a while since i've posted.  I must say i used to check to boards daily, and somehow cancer became a smaller part of my life over the last year (never thought that would happen!)  Still, here I am, because i know this is the only place where i can get some help from my sisters who may have had similar experiences.

 Well, as the topic suggests..I'm pregnant!  It was kind of a surprise, but a well accepted one by me and my hubby.  This will be our first child.  I would love to talk about how excited i am, but really, i'm only excited for a short amount of time each day.. those moments when i don't feel super sick.

I'm about 5 weeks along, have my first prenatal visit scheduled with the OB about 3 weeks away, but i need help now.  As many women do, i started taking an antidepressant and an antianxiety after finishing chemo, and it helped SO MUCH!  I got my life back, started working again...yada yada life was great.  Well, as my period was about a week late, I stopped the meds COLD TURKEY, took a home preg. test and here we are.  I'm too scared to take anything during the pregnancy but stopping those meds so fast.. wow, i feel terrible.  Dizzy all day long.  headaches have gotten slightly better.  nauseated all day.  WTH?  I thought chemo sucked, this withdrawal is right up there! 

I guess i'm looking for someone whose been through sudden withdrawal of these meds, how long do these feelings last?  Seriously, I cannot function....help!

LittleFlower

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • lovemyfamilysomuch
    lovemyfamilysomuch Member Posts: 1,585
    edited April 2010

    I would call the ob right away and see if you can gradually wean off the meds instead of stopping cold turkey!  So sorry you are feeling so bad physically, but SO HAPPY you are going to have a baby!! Wow!! xo

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • daisylego
    daisylego Member Posts: 57
    edited April 2010

    And I would call a psychiatrist. Believe it or not I think there are things that are safe during pregnancy.

    And btw I would like to offer a BIG congratulations!!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LittleFlower
    LittleFlower Member Posts: 405
    edited April 2010

    Thanks ladies!

    what if i don't have a psychiatrist? My onc rx'd the meds and i haven't contacted her, cause i've broached the subject with her in the past and she really didn't know.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited April 2010

    They put me on xanax but that is only safe after the cleft pallet forms.  There was one anti depressant that was safe during pregnancy-I can't remember the name but there is one.

    I am so so happy for you. Congrats!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited April 2010

    BTW-it was my obgyn that put me on the anti depressant. It was something like buprofin (smokers take it when they are trying to quit)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LittleFlower
    LittleFlower Member Posts: 405
    edited April 2010

    i was hoping you'd chime it Pure!

    Thanks for the info, maybe i'll call the ob....though we haven't met yet :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited April 2010

    also- make sur eyou body is alkalined. Buy the strips at the healthfood store.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited April 2010

    Congratulations on your pregnancy!  I understand wanting to stop all medications once you found out your were pregnant, but it's not a good idea to go off antidepressants cold turkey.  I've been on zoloft off and on for ten years and even tapering off I had a few weeks of feeling funky and woozy.  I believe there are safe antidepressants you can take. Hopefully you can get some good advice from your ob or another doc,.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lovemyfamilysomuch
    lovemyfamilysomuch Member Posts: 1,585
    edited April 2010

    buprofin is wellbutrin,  Can you ask your primary for a referral to a psychiatrist?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jpsgirl96
    jpsgirl96 Member Posts: 240
    edited April 2010

    No experience with pregnancy (before or after bc!) but went on Effexor for hot flashes after instant chemo-driven menopause, tried getting off it first gradually then cold turkey and became a basket case.  Saw my primary care guy, who put me back on it, and I've reduced the dose by half but still take it.  Do talk with your ob/gyn about what might be okay during pregnancy - basket case mom not good for baby either!  Thinking good thoughts.  Leigh  PS Happy news!! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited April 2010

    LittleFlower, 

    Congrats on the wee baby!   I have no words of wisdom regarding your withdrawal symptoms, but I just had to pop on here and wish you congrats.

    Bugs

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited April 2010

    I have no words of wisdom on the antidepressant thing either, but I am so very happy for you! Congratulations!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 1,755
    edited April 2010

    Congratulations!  I know that my nephew (who was not pregnant at the time, lol) weaned himself off Effixor and found a lot of help and info in online forums about it.  Perhaps doing a search for that topic would help. This is happily not really a breast cancer question so maybe not that many women here will know.
    BUT how wonderful for you that life has moved on so much that you have non-cancer-related questions and concerns.

    Best of everything on your wonderful adventure!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • maryannecb
    maryannecb Member Posts: 1,453
    edited April 2010

    Congrats on the baby LittleFlower...how nice.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited April 2010

    Congrats on your pregnancy....I know with many antidepressants, you cannot just stop cold turkey but have to wean off them.....I would call your onc or pcp and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist who knows depression and bc survivors.....look forward to hearing all about the pregnancy....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited April 2010

    hope you feel better and CONGRATULATIONS.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited April 2010

    Congratulations on your pregnancy.  I weaned off effexor cold turkey and I wouldn't recommend it but if that is what you choose to do hang in there it will get better.....it just is not a lot of fun. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LittleFlower
    LittleFlower Member Posts: 405
    edited April 2010

    today is day 7 without meds.. the dizziness continues but the headache is not a constant anymore.  i wish i knew how long it would take to go away...   all my googling says the withdrawal syndrome lasts for weeks to months!  it's also worse with the short acting SSRI's like the celexa i was on.  I wonder if docs know how hard it is to stop these meds?  at this point i'm sticking to my guns..no meds for baby, especially this early in the game.  we'll see how things go as i start back to work tom. after a week off.  wonder if i'll make it through the day ugghh.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    Congrats on the pregnancy!!!  I don't have personal experience with anti-depressant or anxiety meds and pregnancy, but know from close friends who have tried to stop cold turkey, it's a terrible withdrawal process and it's better to get off slowly.  Call the dr, see what they can do or suggest in your case.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DCMom
    DCMom Member Posts: 624
    edited April 2010

    LittleFlower,

     I'm of no help on the medicines end, but recognized your name and wanted to say Congratulations.  I'm so glad you are moving on to much happier health issues.  Get an OB involved right away and make sure you take care of yourself!

    Susan

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LittleFlower
    LittleFlower Member Posts: 405
    edited April 2010

    Thanks to everyone for the well wishes!  The dizziness this am is much better.  After a week quitting cold turkey 20 mg celexa, the awful feelings are starting to subside.  I wouldn't recommend anyone go through this if you can help it.  If there's ever a next time on these meds a SLOWWWWWWWW taper is definitely the way to go.

    hoping for a good day....

    LittleFlower

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited April 2010

    Glad you're feeling better.  Cold turkey is definitely a tough way to go, but I respect you wanting to keep your new baby away from drugs.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Billynda
    Billynda Member Posts: 121
    edited April 2010

    I didn't have to take anything like that, but I do know that there are a lot of drugs that are surprisingly ok during pregnancy - you should definitely just give a call to your ob.  That's something that can't wait til your appt., and you don't need to be more uncomfortable than you already are going to be for the next 35 weeks!!!!  Congratulations:)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories