I'm having a really bad time right now - :(

maestra wrote: We got back from our trip on Tuesday night. It was great! But no pics. Jaci did beautifully, on the plane and in the hotel room.

Right before we left, I started to get headaches at night. I would take ibuprofin, but it didn't help. I went to my dr- and she said it was viral sinusitis. She told me to take sudafed, and then use a nasal spray. I did that. The whole time we were in San Diego, I felt better. But the last day, the headaches started back. Hurt into my teeth and in my ear, as well as my temple, all on the right side only. Well, Tuesday night, after we were back home, the pain came back again so fierce that nothing would help, and I just kept grinding my teeth and hoping they would fall out so they would stop hurting.

I went to the local e.r. and they did a CT scan. When they did that, they thought they found a ruptured anurysm and admitted me to the hospital. This was early weds morning. Thursday am they did my MRI- and found that it was not an anurysm, but a cyst in my brain. They also determined that this is not causing my headaches. So now I have to have an MRI every six weeks to be sure that this cyst (which is very close to my brain stem) doesn't grow at all. If it does, it may have to be removed.

They have decided that the headaches are migraines and gave me Imitrex- which I cannot bf until 24 hours after taking it. I only have to take it when I get a migraine- at most 2 x per week. But everyone I talk to tells me since I have to take this med, now it's time to wean Jaci. But I don't want to and she doesn't either. The other ped in her office that I talked to also wants me to wean. What do I do? Anyone have any experience with this or know of anywhere I can go for info?


TIA

shelrae00 replied: You poor thing! I am so soory youa re going thru all of this. I know the cyst must be scary and I don't have migranes but I get headaches bad enough that light and noise bother me and I get sick to my stomach and that is bad enough!

I would be really bummed about weaning too. It is hard cause she wants to still nurse I am sure and you want to nurse her but if you have a bad headache or migrane I imagine it is hard to take care of her.

Does she take a bottle? Maybe she could bottle feed on the days after the meds and then nurse the rest of the time. But will she accept that? What a tuff spot you are in. I am sorry I have no real advice, I just feel for you.

I will include you in my prayers that the cyst does not change! And that you figure out whatever is best for you and Jaci.

I am glad you alteast had a nice trip and she did so well!!

My thoughts are with you (((HUGS)))!!!

Shelly

TLCDad replied: I've had tension type headaches almost daily for over 5 years. Doctors never really come to a final conclusion on what was causing them except a combination of Stress and Sinus issues from Allergies and possible eye strain. It has gotten to the point that I live with it.

Our thoughts and prayers will be with you and hope your cyst does not cause any problems.

MommyToAshley replied: Oh Maestra, I am soo sorry you have to go through all of this! I know the cyst must be a scarey thing. I have heard of cysts going away on their own... I hope yours does that and doesn't get any bigger.

I wonder if there is something else that they can give you for the migraines that you can take while BF? It makes me sad when a Mommy wants to BF but something interferes with it. Maybe you can pump on the days that you don't have the headaches and get a little stockpile going. Then, on the days that you do have to take the meds, you can feed her the expressed BM and pump and dump to keep your supply up.

I will say a prayer for you that the cyst doesn't get any bigger and you find a way to continue to BF.

You are in my thoughts and prayers!!! Please keep us informed on how you are doing!

I wish I was there to give you a great big HUG!

Kirstenmumof3 replied: OMG I am so sorry to hear all of this! I hope the cyst doesn't grow and that everything will be fine!

When I first had symptoms of PPD I didn't want to go on meds because my doctor told me I would have to stop breastfeeding! I came to realize that doctors just don't have all the answers! I would get in touch with a Lactation Consultant and see if she could find out more about this medication! It just doesn't seem fair to have to stop breastfeeding! I know a lot of women take a lot of different meds and still breastfeed! You could also try researching this medication via the internet!

Lots of HUGS for you and I really hope you don't need to start weaning her now!

~CrazieMama~ replied: Oh my goodness!!! I am sorry you are going through this!!! Bug hugs to you and your family. I do hope you feel better. I know this hard to get through, but think positive and all will work out. Hugs to you again...

amynicole21 replied: OMG, that is horrible!! I am so sorry to hear this. Here is more info on migranes and pian meds... I haven't had a chance to read all the way through it, but you may have some options.

http://www.kellymom.com/meds/migraine-meds.html

I hope you can work this out! It would be such a shame to quit bfeeding now!

Mommieto2Girls replied: I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope all goes well and everything will be ok. Please keep us posted.

Schnoogly replied: I agree with Amy--check out that site. There must be a med you can take while BFing. Most docs don't think twice about prescribing something that isn't compatible with BF. It's up to you to ask for something else, or do research to find out what is compatible. My dermatologist prescribes all kinds of stuff that isn't compatible with BF for my atopic dermatitis, and I have to keep reminding him, "I'm breastfeeding, can't take that etc." I also don't believe him when he says something is OK to take while BFing, so I research it myself.

Hope you feel better soon! It's good they caught that cyst too! I will ask about this on the pp breastfeeding board for you. There are lots of really really knowledgable women there.

Steph

catou_98 replied: My, it must be so scary to find out you have a cyst, I don't know anything about the breastfeeding issue as I don't breastfeed but I'd still still like to offer my support HUGE hugs to you, I'm keeping you in my toughts!

¤Heather¤ replied: Big hug sweetie!! I will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. It must be so tough with breastfeeding. I know what you are going through. I had a lot of pain in my legs after delivery and I refused to take any meds because I didn't want to stop BF. Good luck to you sweetie!! Hopefully, you can get it all straightened out...but I think what others have suggested is a good idea. Pump to keep up your supply. It can work!!

Schnoogly replied: The women on the pp bf site say that Imitrex is considered safe for BF ("moderately safe") here is more info I found from a doctor commenting on it:

Sumatriptan, trade name for Imitrex, is a newer anti-migraine medication that is closer to the serotonin reuptake agonists. It has been studied during breastfeeding and a small amount does get into the milk. The total amount of drug found in the milk after a single dose was very small. This concentration in milk corresponded to an infant exposure of only 3.5% of mother's dose. The oral bioavailability is only 14%; thus, the infant would only absorb 0.5% of the mother's dose. Thus, it is not thought to be a risk to the suckling infant. The milk half-life is 2.2 hours. The concentrations in milk are very low.


So i wouldn't think you need to wait 24 hours. Like any med, feed before taking it would be ideal. Maybe try BFing her and see how she reacts? She isn't a newborn so I would think it would be even safer than if she had very little body weight.

I also found that some docs/pharmacists take a conservative approach to BF and prescription drugs. My zyrtec has a special "do not breastfeed" label on it but I did a lot of research and it is perfectly safe--they even give it to babies. It just reduces my supply a little.

HTH
Steph

Source: http://www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme...klc_ans159.html

CantWait replied: I'm so sorry you're going through this right now. I only hope that you can find a way to continue bf, I know how important it is for the both of you. I wish I had some advice but all I can offer is my support and hugs

maestra replied:
Thanks! There was very little info for even the pharmacist to look at for Imitrex, but lots for all the other migraine meds. I think that I will try to pump to build up a supply, then wait a few hours after taking it before bf again. The thing that worries me is that Imitrex is designed to constrict the blood vessels, as the enlarging of them is what causes most of the headache. So it worries me for her to get any of it. However, I am not going to let them to make me stop bf when I KNOW that Jaci is not ready. She has almost been bf constantly since I got home, and will not let me out of her sight. It is nice to know that you are loved !

Thanks all of you for your kind words and hugs! I am feeling a little better, even though it is weird to think that there is something in my brain that shouldn't be!

supermom replied: Sorry that you are going thru all of this and my thoughts and prayers will be with you. I would have suggested what they were telling you along with checking with your dr to see if there was anything else you COULD take instead that is more conducive to BF than the meds they gave you. Almost everything that isn't extremely safe while BF does have an alternative.

I am glad you have decided to keep on keeping on, and if you need any help and/or encouragement, please let us know....

HUGS to you and yours and let us know how things are going with you, Jaci and the BF