I have a important question.

[Annie2008]

Tomorrow I'll be 20 weeks pregnant, and yesterday I went to another hospital to see another heart specialist whom is going to be my doctor now and will be delievering me.  He told me that I do not have severe pulmonary hypertension, which is good news.  The only problem I have is some narrowing of the patch from my past surgery and why I'm short of breath is because now I'm trying to shove 50% more blood through there.  So he said I should take Lasix which is water pill to help ease the shortness of breath.  Now this pregnancy I have never taken a pill not even Tylenol, no caffeine, and now I'm supposed to take this.  I'm scared to take this - doctor says that it won't harm the baby and they will watch the baby closely so we aren't pulling too much water out of me, but I looked it up online and I'm scared, it says that in animal studies it didn't do well.  They said that the doctor will give this drug if the benefits outweigh the risks to the baby.  

Should I take it (only 20mg every other day) or should I not take it and deal with the shortness of breath the way I have been?!  Just want some advice.

Annie2008

[Annie2008]

I came back home just a while ago - I went to fill the perscription and talked to the pharmacist about this, told them what was going on and why I was going to take it, and that tomorrow I'd be 20 weeks.  They looked it up for me and explained to me that it is safe to take during pregnancy.  I need to take this to benefit myself as well as easing my shortness of breath which in fact benefits the baby too because then we know he isn't having effects of me not being able to breath well.  I'm only taking 20mg every other day so that helps as well.  

I can't be on complete bedrest because I'm high risk for developing blood clots and as far as risks for me not taking it is that I continue to blow up (have been having really bad edema much worse than what's normal in pregnancy) and the shortness of breath will continue to worsen as I get bigger.  At least they can help ease it a little bit - and they promised to go ahead and make sure the baby is fine.

I think I'll be alright and we will see what happens.  I have a feeling I will have to be on this my whole pregnancy....who knows.  I go back on Monday to see them and I will ask them about it again.....I did take one today - and so far I feel no different, I don't have to pee more than normal, but I just started so we will see.

Thanks for the advice,
Annie2008

[JoyRenee]

You could ask if there is a safer alternative. If it was me, I would just put myself on bedrest and not take it. Did he say what would happen if you did not take it? Is there any risk to not taking it?

[MaryAK]

You could always call the pharmacist and ask about any side effects or effect it may or may not have on the pregnancy/baby.  Or, a second opinion if you are really worried.  If it were me, i'd get a second opnion.  I, too, am 20 weeks today and haven't taken anything.  No caffeine, no tylenol (even when the headaches were so bad i couldn't see straight), nothing.  Good luck!

[Grandmatobe]

You have gone past the first trimester, so that helps with some of the initial developments of the fetus.  I was on a beta-blocker when I got pregnant with my oldest, and my doctor switched me to digoxin instead, as it was more "pregnancy friendly".  I took that pill everyday, but still never took a Tylenol, drank caffeine and all that stuff too.

Maybe you could get a second opinion regarding the medicine, just to be sure.