This is my first post here (save for the introduction one). Apologies in advance, if I am asking in the wrong forum.
I’d love to hear your experiences about being pregnant with ME and while on Benzodiazepines. I am also interested in your experience of withdrawing Benzodiazepines while pregnant. Did you receive any other medication to swap the Benzodiazepine with?
I am on Lorazepam, 1 mg daily. It helps tremendously with POTS, energy, hypersensitivity, sleep and PEM, among other things.
This is probably another dream that will be buried by this illness, but, I am considering having a child. I made many attempts to get off the Lorazepam over the years. I did get off once, but a Doctor put me back on it, when I was doing particularly poorly.
Since then, severe (to me) protracted withdrawal made it impossible to discontinue it. My main disabling symptoms when withdrawing are worsened POTS (fainting, blood pressure lability, heart racing), neurological issues, vomiting, hyperventilating, inability to eat, worsened dysautonomia (hot flush, tremors), visual disturbances, insomnia, and twitching. These manifest in such intensity that I end up in the ER. Despite withdrawing slowly, starting with -2%.
If I was to go through with my decision, I’d have to choose between two evils: potentially harming the baby through Benzodiazepine, or potentially harming, or losing the baby through being off Benzodiazepine. It doesn’t help that time is running out for me to conceive, nor that Lorazepam is the only medication that helps me stay functional.
It is worth noting that Doctors in my area would never allow a pregnant woman to be on Benzodiazepines. I would be put on a fast withdrawal schedule and possibly Antidepressants (which I do not tolerate). My concern is that my withdrawal symptoms would lead me to lose the baby, or they would severely affect the baby.
I haven’t found a doctor who is knowledgeable of protracted withdrawal in my area, let alone one who understands ME/CFS. Unfortunately, psychiatrists I consulted for my withdrawal significantly downplayed the length and intensity of withdrawal systems.
I have read experiences of ME sufferers getting off Benzodiazepines on health boards, but would really appreciate input from others who were in my situation. Thank you for reading.
I’d love to hear your experiences about being pregnant with ME and while on Benzodiazepines. I am also interested in your experience of withdrawing Benzodiazepines while pregnant. Did you receive any other medication to swap the Benzodiazepine with?
I am on Lorazepam, 1 mg daily. It helps tremendously with POTS, energy, hypersensitivity, sleep and PEM, among other things.
This is probably another dream that will be buried by this illness, but, I am considering having a child. I made many attempts to get off the Lorazepam over the years. I did get off once, but a Doctor put me back on it, when I was doing particularly poorly.
Since then, severe (to me) protracted withdrawal made it impossible to discontinue it. My main disabling symptoms when withdrawing are worsened POTS (fainting, blood pressure lability, heart racing), neurological issues, vomiting, hyperventilating, inability to eat, worsened dysautonomia (hot flush, tremors), visual disturbances, insomnia, and twitching. These manifest in such intensity that I end up in the ER. Despite withdrawing slowly, starting with -2%.
If I was to go through with my decision, I’d have to choose between two evils: potentially harming the baby through Benzodiazepine, or potentially harming, or losing the baby through being off Benzodiazepine. It doesn’t help that time is running out for me to conceive, nor that Lorazepam is the only medication that helps me stay functional.
It is worth noting that Doctors in my area would never allow a pregnant woman to be on Benzodiazepines. I would be put on a fast withdrawal schedule and possibly Antidepressants (which I do not tolerate). My concern is that my withdrawal symptoms would lead me to lose the baby, or they would severely affect the baby.
I haven’t found a doctor who is knowledgeable of protracted withdrawal in my area, let alone one who understands ME/CFS. Unfortunately, psychiatrists I consulted for my withdrawal significantly downplayed the length and intensity of withdrawal systems.
I have read experiences of ME sufferers getting off Benzodiazepines on health boards, but would really appreciate input from others who were in my situation. Thank you for reading.
