Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Did anyone else take ibruprofen or have general anesthetic before they found out?

11 replies

abbymeg · 21/04/2008 10:35

Long, sorry!

Just back from the doctors. I'm 4+5, and I had surgery on my neck 12 days ago, which involved a general anesthetic and then a loads of painkillers, including ibruprofen at 400mg taken to max dose for 5 days.

Then I had a BFP. I wasn't ttc; I had been for 6 months, but when I found out that I needed the operation we stopped as I knew there would be a risk. So, the BFP was a big shock. I only tested because AF was late and I was popping so many pills that I thought I'd better just check.

Anyway, I went to GP this morning who was really negative, pointing out that general anesthetic in early pregnancy is dangerous, and that ibruprofen has significantly increased my chance of miscarriage. She told me that if I make it to twelve weeks - and (this is her words) many pregnancies aren't viable anyway - that a scan would show if there was something wrong with it.

I asked if I could have an early scan, and she said you won't be able to see much. I imagine she meant the formation of actual organs, because I had a scan at 8 weeks in my last pregnancy and had a kidney bean with a heart beat, which was very reassuring at the time.

She didn't work my dates out, or ask to test me to confirm. She told me all I could do is to book in at the midwife. I asked when, and she said leave it a few weeks. Then I cried. Then she told me I could try and book in earlier.

So, I've booked in to see the midwife next friday. Let's just hope I still have a reason to go by then.

I wanted to post this just to see if anyone has had experience of either general anesthetic or taking large doses of ibruprofen in early pregnancy, and if it had any effect?

OP posts:
abbymeg · 21/04/2008 10:37

I suppose, on re-reading my post, one thing that got to me was her manner.

There is a big difference between pointing the risks out to somebody and leaving them feeling like there is no hope at all.

OP posts:
poppy34 · 21/04/2008 11:33

abby so sorry to hear about all this - sounds like she has the bedside manner of dr death.

I don't know the whys etc of the risks here - its not like you don't know that its not the best news. I would see if m/w more helpful anthen ask for early scan (or even pay for one). Hopefully m/w can help

Babies are amazing things though - so it is not a given that you will m/c or that there are problems with the baby. Remember hearing a story about someone who was told no heartbeat and even had an ERCP only to find some months later that she was still pregnant with a healthy baby that she went on to have full term.

Hoping to bump this for you...

LolaBella · 21/04/2008 16:30

Sorry can't help but really wanted to bump this for you xx Hope others can help xx

abbymeg · 21/04/2008 17:13

Thank you poppy. I think time will probably tell; I will definitely try to get an early scan. Dr was a real charmer .

Lolabella hello missus . I might post on one of the post-natal threads rather than pregnancy. DH looked them up for me in pharma bibles at work. Ibruprofen tends to prevent egg implanting, so that explains why there is a much increased risk of miscarriage. I know they continue to dig in for a while after initial implantation, so I guess the next few weeks are crucial. As for general anesthetic - it's linked to low intelligence and behavioural problems. I would hope to avoid these as the baby was just cells at the time. Still very anxious though. It seems like I am destined to spend this year in a perpetual state of stressing!! I'm trying to calm down and eat brazil nuts and sardines in the vain hope I'll counteract some of the chemical nasties.

OP posts:
JollyBear · 21/04/2008 17:14

abby What a horrible doctor, I agree that you that pointing out the risks is very different to what your describe.

A lovely lady on the conception boards fairy, was mis-diagnosed with a molar pregnancy and had a D&C, only to find she was still pregnant a few weeks later. I presume she had a general .

Can you ring a midwife for a quick chat ahead of your appointment or ring your EPU and ask someone there?

abbymeg · 21/04/2008 17:18

Thank you JollyBear. I'm going to try to speak to someone. My friend's sister is a midwife and said to her that the general anesthetic shouldn't be a problem. I'm still trying to find out about the ibruprofen.

OP posts:
JessJess3908 · 21/04/2008 21:20

Abbymeg, thanks for posting this as I didn't realise until you did that ibuprofen was a problem. I have awful back ache today and downed a couple of calpol earlier thinking i had read it was ok (all this advice gets so confusing).

All i can find on the net is that it's not recommended - no details on why.

But... there are lots of things that are ABSOLUTELY BANNED that women do who go on to have lovely healthy babies (inject heroin, snort cocaine etc). So i whish you all the best and wouldn't give up on your little kidney bean just yet xxx

abbymeg · 21/04/2008 22:14

Thanks JessJess. My DH works in pharmaceuticals; if it was calpol you took, then that's fine - anything that's paracetamol based is okay in pregnancy.

OP posts:
abbymeg · 21/04/2008 22:15

If only DH had known I was pg.. he might have been able to wrestle the nurofen away from me!

OP posts:
tallbirduk · 22/04/2008 10:00

i don't think you would ever know for certain - even if things didn't work out.

I got pregnant a week before doing the London Marathon last year (I didn't know), so took a whole heap of ibuprofen for a few days before / during / after that to help with my aches and pains - I went on to have an MMC

I wonder whether it was the ibuprofen that did it - but I will never know.

jellybeans · 22/04/2008 10:11

Hi, I took ibruprofen before I knew was pg about 4-5 wks and DD is 8 now and fine. I also took Temazepam at about 4 wks pg with DT's (had had a stillbirth 6 wks before and trouble sleeping) and rang the pharmacist, he said anything before or around 4 wks would do 'all or nothing' ie either m/c right away or be fine. DT's were also fine. I know it's stressful but don't worry too muc, lots of people have taken stuff before realising they are pg. GOOD LUCK x

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread