Hi Everyone--
I'm having what seems like a weird problem with my health care provider, and I wanted to check with folks here and get some anecdotal advice/experience.
I was DX with early stage MS in 2007 after a bout of optic neuritis and an MRI showed numerous brain lesions. Was on Copaxone for a couple of years; currently off it because I am now pregnant with my first child and am due in November. I have had no symptoms or flare ups in the past four years and have never had motor skills issues. I was trying to use an OB at my local hospital--this week, she sent me in for a routine consult with Anesthesiology to prep for delivery.
I should also mention that I would prefer an epidural if it's safe and possible at the time of delivery, and I discussed this with my neuro who said there are no contraindications for epidurals and MS. This is also what the National MS Society says. My OB also knew this and was fine with it.
So I went in for the consult and right off the bat, before asking me anything about my MS symptoms, the anesthesiologist told me that two of his eleven people would absolutely refuse to give me an epidural b/c I have the MS dx. He said that their reason was that there's not enough evidence to support whether it's safe for people with MS. I pointed out that the National MS society and my neuro both said that there are no contraindications and he said that didn't matter, their decision was based upon the fact that there wasn't enough supporting evidence and he couldn't compel them to do it. Offered to have him talk to my neuro to learn more about my case--he still said that the two wouldn't be interested in doing that, it had nothing to do with my case. But that given that it was only 2 out of 11, the odds were pretty good that I would get someone who would be willing to do it. (!!)
Smells like a "I don't want to get sued" deal to me. It seems like there are LOTS of things we don't have data for--if I ask for a Tylenol, will these two say "we don't have enough data about giving women with MS in labor Tylenol?"
So, end result--I decided to find a new OB and hospital, at 28 weeks I decided to go to the hospital where my neuro is because I figure 1) it's a much bigger hospital in a city near me, and so they probably have more experience with MS and 2) my neuro is there and I would think that they would be more willing to talk to him and at least consider my particular situation.
So my questions for the group--anyone ever been denied an epidural for labor/delivery just based upon the DX? Any issues that came up when discussing it with OB/anesthesia?
I'm really torn because I like my OB and it would be a lot easier for me and my family if I can deliver locally--but not if there are people there that won't treat me based upon a Dx. I'm trying to figure out if this sort of thing is common--I don't want to go through all the trouble of switching to a different hospital/doc and then having the same thing happen.
Many thanks for any advice.
Geekgirl
I'm having what seems like a weird problem with my health care provider, and I wanted to check with folks here and get some anecdotal advice/experience.
I was DX with early stage MS in 2007 after a bout of optic neuritis and an MRI showed numerous brain lesions. Was on Copaxone for a couple of years; currently off it because I am now pregnant with my first child and am due in November. I have had no symptoms or flare ups in the past four years and have never had motor skills issues. I was trying to use an OB at my local hospital--this week, she sent me in for a routine consult with Anesthesiology to prep for delivery.
I should also mention that I would prefer an epidural if it's safe and possible at the time of delivery, and I discussed this with my neuro who said there are no contraindications for epidurals and MS. This is also what the National MS Society says. My OB also knew this and was fine with it.
So I went in for the consult and right off the bat, before asking me anything about my MS symptoms, the anesthesiologist told me that two of his eleven people would absolutely refuse to give me an epidural b/c I have the MS dx. He said that their reason was that there's not enough evidence to support whether it's safe for people with MS. I pointed out that the National MS society and my neuro both said that there are no contraindications and he said that didn't matter, their decision was based upon the fact that there wasn't enough supporting evidence and he couldn't compel them to do it. Offered to have him talk to my neuro to learn more about my case--he still said that the two wouldn't be interested in doing that, it had nothing to do with my case. But that given that it was only 2 out of 11, the odds were pretty good that I would get someone who would be willing to do it. (!!)
Smells like a "I don't want to get sued" deal to me. It seems like there are LOTS of things we don't have data for--if I ask for a Tylenol, will these two say "we don't have enough data about giving women with MS in labor Tylenol?"
So, end result--I decided to find a new OB and hospital, at 28 weeks I decided to go to the hospital where my neuro is because I figure 1) it's a much bigger hospital in a city near me, and so they probably have more experience with MS and 2) my neuro is there and I would think that they would be more willing to talk to him and at least consider my particular situation.
So my questions for the group--anyone ever been denied an epidural for labor/delivery just based upon the DX? Any issues that came up when discussing it with OB/anesthesia?
I'm really torn because I like my OB and it would be a lot easier for me and my family if I can deliver locally--but not if there are people there that won't treat me based upon a Dx. I'm trying to figure out if this sort of thing is common--I don't want to go through all the trouble of switching to a different hospital/doc and then having the same thing happen.
Many thanks for any advice.
Geekgirl
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