Thursday, February 5, 2009

Drugs, drugs, drugs



I've (Suzanne) been suffering from a hacking cough for weeks. This week I developed a fever and then an earache. I'm miserable. I went to the doctor, but saw a Physician's Assistant. I usually prefer Physician's Assistants because they can give more TLC than doctors in most cases. Well, I wasn't examined.
"It may be reflux if you're not coughing up anything," she said.
"We've had walking Pneumonia in my school," I said.
"Just take what's on your list of drugs. There's nothing I can do."

She said I could take plain Robitussin and Tylenol and sent me on my way.

I was miserable. My cough was leading to vomiting (violent), and I lost my voice. I had to call in sick to school and I sound like a bass-baritone man. In desparation I took a Mucinex tablet.

I was wracked with guilt. This wasn't on my list. It's a category C drug. Tyrone will never forgive me. I fretted and cried and cursed myself while enjoying a loosening of the vice on my chest and the ability to keep food down.

Tyrone came home and held me. "You really are a Catholic mother. All this guilt."

What a sweetie.

"Didn't you tell me that women smoke crack and have healthy babies? Let it go, Mama. You're a good mama." He held me close and kissed me.

Our baby will be okay. But I learned some interesting facts as I read up on crack, heroine, marijuana, and other illicit drugs in pregnancy.

  • In Massachusetts a woman can be charged with a criminal offense if she takes illicit drugs during pregnancy if she seeks prenatal care and intends to carry her child to term
  • In Massachusetts a woman can take drugs, not seek prenatal care, and get an abortion without consequence
  • According to "American Pregnancy", some use of illicit drugs may not be harmful to a fetus early in development.
  • Some people think that sudafed is unsafe during pregnancy, yet it's on my list of safe drugs from my doctor.
It's all rather confusing and stressful to sort out. Suffice to say, being a mother is a huge responsibility. This is beginning to dawn on me.

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