Three Doctors - Three Answers

[Independent Gal]

So, in my experience, it often happens that if you ask a couple of different medical professionals the same question, you get different answers. Some are more up to date on the research than others, some have different areas of expertise or experience or strength than others, and some stuff is more a matter of opinion than we might like to think. Just like any other profession.

So I''ve made it a point of principle to always "bother my pretty little head about it" when it comes to medical stuff, if it''s important, and gather as much information as possible.

I was taking a testosterone suppressant to help clear my skin before the wedding, and the dermatologist said it''d be good to wait a couple of MONTHS or so after I stop taking it to try to get knocked up, to make sure it''s out of my system.

I tried a little experiment, and called my pharmacist, my ObGyn and my GP today and asked each of them "How long after I stop taking it is it safe to go ahead and try?"

Sure enough I got 3 more and different answers.

Pharmacist: "Depends on your proteins. Probably a month."
GP: "A couple of weeks, I guess"
ObGyn: "approximately 4 days"

Right. OK. So I called them back and asked if they could explain to me the process by which the stuff leaves my system so I could try to figure out who is right. The only one who could really do this was the ObGyn, who explained clearly about the half life of the stuff, etc.

Anyway, we''ll probably give ourselves a leeeettle extra time, just in case.

But just an object lesson in getting multiple opinions on medical stuff, when it counts.

 

[anchor31]

Date: 4/18/2008 4:20:22 PM
Author:Independent Gal
So, in my experience, it often happens that if you ask a couple of different medical professionals the same question, you get different answers. Some are more up to date on the research than others, some have different areas of expertise or experience or strength than others, and some stuff is more a matter of opinion than we might like to think. Just like any other profession.

So I''ve made it a point of principle to always ''bother my pretty little head about it'' when it comes to medical stuff, if it''s important, and gather as much information as possible.

I was taking a testosterone suppressant to help clear my skin before the wedding, and the dermatologist said it''d be good to wait a couple of MONTHS or so after I stop taking it to try to get knocked up, to make sure it''s out of my system.

I tried a little experiment, and called my pharmacist, my ObGyn and my GP today and asked each of them ''How long after I stop taking it is it safe to go ahead and try?''

Sure enough I got 3 more and different answers.

Pharmacist: ''Depends on your proteins. Probably a month.''
GP: ''A couple of weeks, I guess''
ObGyn: ''approximately 4 days''

Right. OK. So I called them back and asked if they could explain to me the process by which the stuff leaves my system so I could try to figure out who is right. The only one who could really do this was the ObGyn, who explained clearly about the half life of the stuff, etc.

Anyway, we''ll probably give ourselves a leeeettle extra time, just in case.

But just an object lesson in getting multiple opinions on medical stuff, when it counts.

I agree. If you can''t get a second (or third) opinion from a doctor, at least ask your pharmacist, and with each answer, ask them to explain why. If they can''t explain why, then they don''t really know what they''re talking about. Good thinking, Indy!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Yanno, after having taken a hormone suppresent for recent Gyne surgery I had, wonder if the Pharmacist''s answer doesn''t have some credence. Accordingly to my ObGyn this drug was only supposed to last "one month" in my system; but I had ongoing menopausal symptoms a month after the drug was "supposed" to be gone. Or maybe my proteins are weird. (no wonder the nurse laughed at me when I mentioned the drug was only to last one month.....)...and of course it is a different drug than you were taking......

cheers--Sharon

 

[Pandora II]

I sometimes ring the Drug Company and ask them!

 

[Independent Gal]

Pandora, that is a great idea! I''m going to do that tomorrow.

The bottom line may be that nobody REALLY knows.

The pharmacist said that this drug was OK to take during pregnancy in a pinch anyway, so that it wasn''t toooo big a worry. Still. Don''t want to frakk around with stuff like that, right?

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 4/18/2008 8:09:04 PM
Author: Independent Gal

The bottom line may be that nobody REALLY knows.

I think THAT is totally the reality. I was on meds that I elected to go off of before TTC. My doctor told me that "on average" it takes only a few days to get the meds out of your system (the pharmacist told me right away-which was clearly wrong based on the most basic web search--> moron). Here we are two weeks out and I am still having withdrawal symptoms. I think it really has a lot to do with how your body works.

Luckily for us three dr's told us we could ttc even while I was on the meds, but it just made me uncomfortable.

 

[pavelover]

hi Neatfreak,
I have experienced withdrawl after stopping ssri''s. It is so incredible that a lot of doctors do not even believe that withdrawl exists(or at least they didnt a few years ago). General primary care docs don''t seem to really know much about the meds in general. When I had specific questions, or said- I am experiencing X, and it says on the pamplet to call the dr., the dr. didn''t seem concerned at all and it was so confusing. I guess there are sooo many medications and it would take up all of one''s time to learn every drug/side effect, etc, but it isn''t very comforting to get all different answers or to not know if you are getting the right one.

IG- I think you are smart to be so thorough with what you do. I believe concerning the drugs for pregnancy, if you trust your OB, go with what she believes, especially if she can give you the explanation. Good Luck!!!

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

Contact a reproductive endocrinologist or perinatologist - the big guns (specialists of specialty).

These guys see it all and get the hard-to-conceive, impossible-to-conceive lot. Not to mention all the high-risk pregnancies.

My peri was up on current research on meds and consulted a couple of books and a FACOG website for all studies. He cited research studies and details.

Usually reg. OBGYN''s see the average no nonsense pregnancy w/o the bells and whistles that some of us have.

I''ll take a perinatologist over an OB anyday as my regular Dr.

 

[LegacyGirl]

I just asked my sister (who studies micro and molecular biology) and she said the OBGYN had a point about the half-life of the drug but that waiting a month would probably be best because everyone''s body is different and you want to be 100% sure.

 

[Independent Gal]

Thanks everyone! Good ideas and great info. We''ll probably lean toward the safe side, and I''m going to contact the drug company on Monday as well.

Honestly? I''m pretty scared of this whole pregnancy thing anyway, so even though I''m also excited, waiting a little longer is fine with me!

 

[icekid]

Indy- I suspect there isn''t a tried and true answer since who would volunteer to be in this study? I''d err on the safe side, as well. Good luck