I didn't know any of the following until today..............A friend called her OB yesterday - she's had a raging headache off an on for 7 days and shortness of breath, pressure in chest and neck, and nearly fainting. The nurse said it was normal as she is 14 weeks preg.!!?? and nothing to worry about but she'd ask the DR. 5 hours later ( after the office had closed)...the nurse calls back and says she's called in an RX- something they always give for bad headaches because it works really great!
My friend goes to pick it up thru the drive-up window. Her husband immediately sees that it has warnings. She doesn't take it.
She showed me this morning--The script was for FIORICET( butalbital, acetaminophen & caffeine FYI- very addictive and not recommended for preg women) AND 2 every four hours or until headache gone!!!!!
I about died! I mean---first of all, they should have had her in the office immediately--(bty pre-eclampsia and toxemia w/the last one). Then to brush her off as having a normal headache-- yes, don't we all get chest pressure and shortness of breath with our headaches????? AND then to prescribe Fioricet. AND supossedly they give it to everyone! eek! A little strong don't ya think???
She has had many problems with this OB- he is always putting her down for asking questions, showing concern. She found out last week that the ultrasound she had after heavy bleeding showed a 2 inch detachment of the placenta!!! her Dr said there was nothing to do and go on normally!! I suggested she stay off her feet until she can get a second opinion.
I told her to get a new OB ASAP! And if any symptoms return- go to the ER immediately!!
Am I overly concerned? Have I blown it out of proportion? I really think she should get another evaluation.
I would help her find a new doc. and make sure it is one that deals in high risk pregnancy. She needs someone with a little more concern and care on her behalf. Let us know how she does and if she is able to get a new doc.
yes- the whole REDRUM thing was spooky. He actually cancelled appts that day claiming he was sick. It was a terrible tragedy- very violent. He thought she was having an affair. He never admitted to it. but it was freaky obvious! soooo sad.
I'd be in counseling if he had been my ob-
Thanks for all the input. She did talk to the nurse. Even with the bleeding, she went to the ER and they did the US. She got the report from the office but they never brought her in!! This is her third baby- I think she knows when things aren't right.
To the OP, Please, please tell me you are going to help her pick out her next OB, this guy is a quack and obviously she is having difficulties getting a good doc!!!!!! And let us know what it turns out to be, her problem I mean.
Talked to my friend today. I called yesterday but couldn't reach her. She was at the hospital!!
On Sat. woke up with a terrible headache and started vomiting. Nearly fainted and hubby called the Drs answering service. Waited an hour then went ahead to the ER. They admitted her over night. Got the headache/vomiting under control, got her on fluids and kept her for observation/tests.
Her dr never called her back or responded to pages. She called the office this morning and again the nurse was rude and said "again with the ER??" !!!OMG!!
Can you believe this stuff?? They told her there was no opening- she told them to put the dr on the phone immediately or she'd report him! He got on the phone and proceded to gripe her out for abusing the ER!!! then when she asked about the Fioricet- he said he gives to everyone for headaches and he claimed anyone who told her it wasn't safe was full of "crap" and to take it anyway!!! I double checked with my Dad who's a PharmD and been a parmacist for 30 years and he agreed with us on it & was very insulted when I said the quack dr thought he was full of it!! :chuckle
The Jerk Dr told her to quit with the hypochrondria and stop wasting their time!!!!
She immediately called me and another friend for referrals. She's changing to the OB of my sister-in-law. He's good and doesn't mess around! I'm soooo happy that she's now in good hands. I hope they get to the bottom of the headaches and she can have a healthy pregnancy and baby after all this!
Tell her to report him to her insurance company quality department.
We had a case today, where I was slow, so I asked my boss if she needed any help, she asked me to contact a doc's office re submitting medical records for review. I looked at the doc's name, and it rang a bell. I checked my audits, and pulled out my feedback form, it was the longest one I ever did, critiquing his note-keeping. I mean he never documented pelvic exams. I looked at my boss's critique of his records, she had the same results I did, and so did the state apparently! So I turned that in to her as well, and they were very happy to have that to take to the Peer Review committee. He will likely now be sanctioned by the state for hefty fines and who knows what else. We do try to be sure our docs provide quality care.
Your friend had many more problems than just headaches. And change that OB!!!!!!! However, I was prescribed Fioricet for my migraines DURING pregnancy, and did take a few, am I missing something?!?!? I know exactly what it was, and tried Tylenol, and that is the only thing that helped. I was rx 20 tabs, and just now I counted, I have 17 left. I trully have all the trust in my OB/GYN, and he knew how I felt about taking anything other than PN Vitamins during my pregnancies. Is there new info on this? I am wondering?!?!? My boy is fine, made 11 months today......wondering.....???????
I am not an ob nurse but my father is a pharmacist and everything that I've read does not recommend Fioricet unless it's an emergency and the benefits outweigh the risks. This must be assessed for each case. I've heard from a few women that were prescribed this drug. The pharmacist at the store said if she had known my friend was pregnant- she wouldn't have filled it without first having counseled her on the literature.
The butalbital (barbituate) is highly addictive for adults and for the baby--especially if taken during the last trimester. The butalbital readily crosses the placenta For earlier term it has other risks and unknown effects. The level of tylenol and caffeine are not recommended as well. If she had taken the drug as the dr prescribed-( 2 q 4h)- she would have injested 3900 mg of tylenol & 480 mg of caffeine in a 24 hour period!!! that's too much!! let alone the 600 mg of barbituate!!
I'm so glad that your son is healthy-- 1 pill contains 50mg butalbital, 325mg acetamenophen and 40mg caffeine. A few of these probably pose little threat and maybe your doc felt it was necessary in your case. BUT this quack dr really pushed my friend to take it regularly--and denied any risks!!:angryfire
the big problem with the whole thing is thathe hasdisregarded all the other symptoms and didn't even evaluate her--and after she spent this last weekend in hospital! He still has not addressed the placental abruption!
She is seeing a High-risk specialist on Friday--thank GOD!!
A few questions. Is this guy really a Dr.? Has anyone actually checked out his diplomas, credentials, and licensing? He sounds dangerous to me, so it might be worth checking out. Stranger things have happened.
yes- I checked online with the Oklahoma board- he's got a license and there were actually no complaints filed. Even though I have now I've heard of more patients getting bad treatment.
My friend saw the specialist on Friday. She couldn't remember the name of the condition BUT he says the baby is taking all her nutrients, water, etc and she gets extremely dehydrated and is malnurished and anemic.
She's on low activity and will visit with him every week for a while. Until they can restore her health. I was so relieved. SHe now realizes how BAD the other dr was. This new guy was appalled and said she could have gotten very ill and had major complications. He also told her that the Fioricet wouldn't have worked because the headache was from dehydration not tension or migrane!! She would have risked it for nothing!
She's feeling much better and I'm sure she's in good hands now.
Im happy she will be going to a new OB. She does however need to alert the Medical Board of his questionable prescribing attitude. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Doc #1 bills her for a full OB monitoring. She needs to get with her insurance manager and make sure he is only paid for the visits she actually made.
I missed how far along your friend is. But I know that about 7 months I began with the headaches and SOB. By the 9 1/2 month I had pre-eclampsia. Baby was 2 weeks past due and back then the OB just said wait. I drove myself to the hospital and called him to meet me there. The nurses had to peel my sandals (thong type) off of my 4+ edematous feet. My hands and face looked like water balloons. Fortunately the doc that was delivering that day was new and he actually stayed with me during induction and delivery.
Your friend is indeed fortunate to have you in her corner.
akcarmean, LPN
1,554 Posts
I would help her find a new doc. and make sure it is one that deals in high risk pregnancy. She needs someone with a little more concern and care on her behalf. Let us know how she does and if she is able to get a new doc.
Angelia