Posted by Lindsay Rae on February 3, 2004, at 23:06:09
In reply to Re: Lindsay, posted by twainesworld on February 3, 2004, at 1:14:54
>Hey Twain,
To answer your question, I used to go to a clinic, but being that I became dependent on these narcotic painkillers through a doctor, it stands to reason that I have documents supporting my permanent spinal and disk problems enabling me to see a pain clinic doctor, rather than going through the clinic system. However, I was only accepted by this doctor on the condition that I see a counselor (she used to work for the clinic but was fired when they found out she was also working for the doctor). I get the diskettes from the pharmacy monthly, although all the clinics in Florida that I've been to offer diskettes for a little extra money.
I lived with Chris until my ninth month pregnant, when nesting set in and I felt a need to protect the baby. Emotionless, I packed my car and headed to my mom's house, six hours away. The drug dealer coming to our bedroom window in the middle of the night was the last straw for me. I wasn't here three weeks before my new OB/GYN insisted, during a routine ultrasound, that we head to the hospital immediately for an emergency C-Section. The baby was "growth restricted" according to the doctor, and she would do better outside the womb than in my body for another three weeks. My old OB might not have picked up on the lack of activity in the unborn baby, so I feel like fate brought us here. On the other hand, I was taking a huge chance with the hospital down here. They assured me they had experience with Methadone-born babies, but in fact they hadn't. I mentally gathered all the info I'd gotten from other women on MMT who gave birth, and I insisted the neonatologist use small doses of Morphine over four to six weeks to assure that Amanda would have a smooth transition, since I'd heard from moms whose babies were sent right home that the babies struggled for weeks and were miserable. Here's where it got tricky: Amanda's urine was tested for Methadone, and there wasn't a trace of it. I was thrilled and called all my family members to tell them I'd be taking her right home. The pediatrician was quick to piss on my parade--she told me that urine testing was not an accurate way to check for it, but the first bowel movement (micconium) was. I asked that they check that, but they blew off my request, assuring me that my baby was indeed showing signs of withdrawal, including occasional sneezing, muscle tension, excessive sucking, and hiccups. I was naive, and I wanted her to be comfortable, so I trusted that Morphine was the way to go. They kept her for five weeks, and I literally had to insist she come home at that point because she didn't need to be there. The nurses had to score her at the end of each shift, and they kept giving her a low enough score so she wouldn't be released. The scores were backed up by the nurse's reasoning, including a sneeze here, a yawn there, it was absolutely ridiculous. Come to find out, the neonatologist had only dealt with one "similar" situation, and that was a baby born to a mother addicted to Oxycontin, which is a whole different set of circumstances. They sent that baby home, and he died. So they weren't taking any chances with mine. The faculty lumps all drugs together, so I might as well have had a crack baby for the way I was treated. But that's another story entirely. My counselor was shocked when I told her about Amanda's detox in her first few weeks of life, attesting to the fact that Methadone in fact DOES NOT cross the blood/brain barrier or the placenta. I will do more research on this topic because I'd hate for you to go through unnecessary worry about the baby if this is true. But she could have been wrog--it wouldn't be the first time! Amanda was an angel in the NICU; the nurse's got very attached, although I spent 18 hours a day there. Sure there were a couple who assumed I was using illegal street drugs while pregnant just because I was on Methadone, and my attending nurse who told my parents to get me to a hospital to detox off the Methadone so I can take care of my baby. That ignorant bit__ should be reprimanded for what she told my parents and for throwing out my prescription for Percoset that the doctor gave her to send me home with. That's about the sum of my history in the related topics. Sorry for the long post. EMAIL me at anytime at:
Lindsay_Rae_8@hotmail.comHey Lindsay,
>
> Gosh, listen to ME trying to tell you about Methadone ---- when I could learn a lot about it (and everything that goes with it) from YOU!!! ;o) I didn't realize Rapid Detox was so horrible!!! I knew someone who underwent the procedure (back in the 'dark ages' for UROD), and he didn't mention all the horrors (then again, as I recall, he didn't stay clean either)!! I can't even IMAGINE waking up during the procedure, and didn't realize that was even a possibility!!! And this 'doctor' taking you to CHURCH with him for a week afterwards as AFTERCARE...? That's ludicrous!!!! :o( GAWWWD!!! I guess I shouldn't be suggesting the treatment to people when I OBVIOUSLY know nothing about it!! Thanks for teaching me!!!!
>
> I am SO sorry about Chris -- that must have been (and must BE) SO painful & difficult for you!!!! How old is your baby? Is it tough parenting a baby by yourself while on Methadone (...aside from just the regular 'toughness' of parenting a baby by yourself period)?! I worry about SO many things about having a baby on Meth -- especially about things like 'will my baby have a terrible time detoxing after birth', 'what if I nod while holding my baby', etc.!!?
>
> I am seeing a private doctor now (thank GOD), but I went to a clinic for 4 years when I lived in Seattle (where I'm from). It was a JOKE of a clinic, and the administrator didn't give a rat's a** about the clients -- just about depriving the clinic & clients of necessary programs so he, personally, could take in more money, & the imagined 'prestige' he thought being a clinic administrator gave him (which was ESPECIALLY comical, as he was practically illiterate)!! As you were saying on the WSM board, the cost for MY clinic was high also ($600 a month - and that was sliding scale)! It is MUCH better seeing a private doc!!! Not only does she actually CARE about me, my pain, my feelings, my life, etc., but being trusted to get my script once a month is a BIG plus, as compared to daily dosing (not to mention no surprise UA's & not being treated like a criminal)!! I've never taken the diskettes -- I'm on tablets now, but they used Methadose at the clinic in Seattle. What is the difference between the three, and why are the diskettes preferable (in that your clinic uses those instead)?? I'd sure like to talk to you in greater detail about your experiences, your pain, and everything else (if you wouldn't mind?)! Are we allowed to post email addy's?
>
> Thanks again for setting the record straight on the UROD -- I was WAYYYY off!!!! :o|
>
> Take Care...........
>
poster:Lindsay Rae
thread:305481
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20040130/msgs/309128.html