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.
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