Pissed off --Advice needed!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-13-2003
Pissed off --Advice needed!!!
17
Wed, 07-23-2003 - 1:51pm
I'm sorry, but I need to vent.

Went to the Dr.'s this morning for an appointment to review blood work. Apparently, I got the Rubella vaccine when I was younger, but they didn't find enough anti-bodies in my blood which means I need a booster vaccine. They called last wednesday to make this appointment, and DH and I have been BD for the entire time, really trying hard to make a baby.

Apparently, I have to wait to see if I'm preggers, if I'm not, then get the shot, then wait 3 WHOLE MONTHS before trying again. We just don't have that kind of time!!! I've read on this site, that it is safe to get pregnant after 1 month from the shot. I'm so confused! And if I am pregnant, than I am causing huge risks to my baby if I run into someone who has the virus! Why didn't they tell me last week??? The Dr. could have saved me all sorts of trouble.

Argh!

Thanks for letting me get all this out. Now I just need to worry and wait. Does anybody have an advice?? I really need to know what my options are.

Thanks,

Ginger

TTC #1, CD17, C1



Pages

Avatar for soprano1965
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 07-23-2003 - 2:12pm
I am sorry you are running into this right now. Before I conceived my first son I went for a preconception visit 3 months before we started trying to check and make sure I didn't need anything, but obviously that is no longer an option for you. For the safety of your future baby, I would wait the 3 months until the vaccine gets out of your system and is effective. Why do you say you do not have that kind of time? In the grand scheme of things 3 months is just a blink of an eye in your lifetime, and it's not worth any risks you may pass along to your baby. I know how frustrating it can be to wait, but it really is not something you should chance, it's not worth the 2 or 3 months you could gain on your possible baby's birth day , KWIM? If, God forbid, something were wrong with the baby you would not be able to live with the guilt of not waiting.

kim

Avatar for victoriantins
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Wed, 07-23-2003 - 2:19pm
I'm sorry they didn't tell you last week! I had the same thing happen to me.. only it was closer to a time I'd taken the vaccine.. it should have still been in my system. I have since found out that I don't hold a titer to measles. (the only one out of the MMR combo).. How weird is that?!? Anyways.. I have also heard conflicting info on this board and in research. Some say that you can ttc as soon as 1 month after the vaccination.. others say you must wait a full 3 months.. I'm sorry I can't help clear that up.. just wanted you to know.. Someone here understands your frustrations! (myself and whoever else has gone through this..)

HUGS to you!

My only advice is to look it up on the internet.. and anywhere else you can find info on it.. and then do what you feel is best in your heart.

Just a side note.. after a scare with my younest dd (just this past weekend).. after coming home from camp.. with the beginning sypmtoms.. and then a rash (thanfully NOT measles!!!)... I found (through info sites) that annually.. there's less than 30 cases in the US each year. (I'm sorry.. I don't know where you live..).. and for each country.. as the "development level" goes down.. the # of cases goes up.

Hope this helps.

Jen

Avatar for morgan_67
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 07-23-2003 - 2:24pm
I didn't find out I needed the rubella booster until I was pregnant with my surprise baby. they won't give it to you while pregnant, so my dr. told me basically to stay away from college students and the indigent. For some reason those 2 groups are the rare that still carry it here in the USA. I never had any problems, got the booster right before being released from the hospital after having my son.

Sorry you are going thru this!

Morgan, mom to Daniel, Andrew, and Katie

 

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-13-2003
Wed, 07-23-2003 - 2:27pm
Hi Kim,

You are right. 3 months is not that long! I guess what I am really mad about, is that I might actually be pregnant now - and if the Dr. didn't make me wait so long for the tests to come back, DH and I wouldn't have been BD'ing and would have been using contraception. I just can't go back in time and change things. So it's the worrying about if I am pregnant and waiting until I get AF....from hopefully AF won't appear, to now thinking ...hopefully AF will appear.

I did look up rubella on this site:

http://www.parentsplace.com/expert/midwife/qas/0,,239688_111812,00.html http://www.parentsplace.com/expert/midwife/qas/0,,239688_100266,00.html

And it appears I can get the vaccine now (whether I am preggers or not) or if I am not, get the vaccine, and wait only one month. I'm not sure my Dr. will go for that...but I can at least tell her.

What is also frustrating, is that my Dr. asked if I wanted to go on the Pill for the 3 months from the vaccine ->>which made me wonder - 1 month of the pill and you need to use other protection and then it's good for two months....but then I would have to wait another 3 months before trying again for the pill to wear off! How ridiculous. I was on the pill for 10 years, and I really think it is not necessary. My DH and I used condoms for 2 years while trying to not get pregnant.

I do want a healthy baby, and yes, my being impatient isn't worth risking the health of the baby! I just hope now that I am not pregnant.

Ginger

TTC #1, CD17, C1

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-13-2003
Wed, 07-23-2003 - 2:34pm
Hi Jen!

Thanks for the info!! I live in Canada and so I imagine the risk is pretty low. What also really bothers me is - I've been walking around most of my life susceptible to rubella--> why not test earlier? Like early 20's?? when I was in University?

Less than 30 cases in the US? What is the big scare then! What are the odds of me running into someone with rubella.

Anyhow - I'm so glad to hear I am not the only one going through this. Your support is much needed!

Thanks for the hugs and the info! I will be checking out stats for Canada and see if I can find anything.

Cheers,

Ginger

TTC #1, CD17, C1

Avatar for soprano1965
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 07-23-2003 - 2:39pm
I can definitely understand your frustration! Dr's often don't tell us things in a timely manner, if even at all. I would definitely not go on the pill again, just for 3 months, that would definitely screw your system up! I hope everything works out well for you, I'm sure even if you are pg it wouldn't be all that bad, as those diseases are really not that prevalent. I am even delaying the MMR vaccine for my toddler, and I feel ok about that.

GOod luck!

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2003
Wed, 07-23-2003 - 2:48pm
Hiya Ginger! I live in Canada too and had to make a hard decision concerning the rubella vaccine. I too had the booster when I was just a baby and had a severe allergic reaction to it which nearly caused death. My Dr initially wanted me to do an updated vaccine since, same as you, I didn't have enough antibodies left. I decided it wasn't worth the risk of another reaction that- now that I'm older- may actually be even more severe. Same thing too...I'm thinking if I haven't gotten it in the 30 odd years I've been around, then what are the chances of me contracting it in this short(okay-lol- not so short anymore) time of TTC and pg? I don't think the risk is too great. I do agree that if possible you should take every precaution, but I too would find it hard to be waiting 3 more months before TTC! Yikes!

GL with your decision and research!

((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))

Tara

 

 Tara~ co-cl of Pregnant after TTC

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-13-2003
Wed, 07-23-2003 - 2:57pm
Tara!!

Thanks for your message. I fell MUCH better now after reading everyone's posts. I just would really hate to do something harmful for the baby. What are the chances? Exactly!! Slim to none likely....I've been walking around all this time without the proper anti-bodies..so how high are the risks? and Jen mentioned there were 30 cases in the US.

However, I will be diligent and stop TTC right now. If I get AF, I might consider going in to get the vaccine, but not without discussing this to the Dr. If I don't get AF and I am pregnant - well, there's no use in worrying about it, now is there?

I'm in Victoria, BC, whereabouts are you??

Cheers,

Ginger

TTC#1, CD17, C1

Avatar for soprano1965
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 07-23-2003 - 3:01pm
hey ginger

i was visiting seattle last week and we took a day trip to Victoria!

my inlaws are going there too and going to stay at the empress. I bought some stuff at that store downtown "lush", very cool

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2003
Wed, 07-23-2003 - 3:06pm
I'm in Brampton Ontario~ just outside Toronto. I have a very good friend living in Victoria though! She is 5 months pg and has her own graphic arts/ advertising business....know anyone that fits the description?

Small world sometimes!

(((((((((HUGS)))))))))))

Tara
 

 Tara~ co-cl of Pregnant after TTC

Pages