Overraction?? Kinda long to explain the situation....just warning ya! :)

wallserve · June 2015

Good morning. I hesitated to bring this up last week but would really like your opinions. My bp is high so I go to the ob every 2 weeks. This past week I saw a mid-wife - very nice, understanding, etc. At the end of my appointment with her, she had a question for the doctor and asked if I would wait until she could get an answer (of course I was ok with that) she then told me that "Ashley" would like to come in to talk to me. Ok...whatever, sure. "Ashley" comes in and only introduces herself as her name, no title; however, she sits down with her laptop and asks me how long I've had bp issues - so I proceed to answer. She then asked me to not get offended by her next few questions....She asked me if I took recreational drugs or methamphetamines. I am apparently naïve, b/c it still hadn't dawned on me what we were actually discussing at that point. She then explained to me that (1) she is a state case manager and (2) she is not here to judge any decision I have made in the past or present, but only here to offer help and to educate me and (3) the information she is referring to is from my original set of blood work.

Wait, what?! Short of it, my original blood work came back hot for methamphetamines!!! It literally took me probably 3-4 minutes into the conversation for me to realize what the heck we were talking about! I explained that NO...I am not a drug user of any kind (that is not prescription of course). She asked if I was on anything before finding out I was pregnant...NO! Any medications that may come back as being a false positive? HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO KNOW?!?!?! I told her that yes, I was on "something" that was prescribed to me for anxiety. I could not for the life of me remember what it was - but, that once I took a hpt (or 3) and they were all positive, I immediately stopped taking it b/c it clearly said on the label to not take during/if you were pregnant. I had an appointment with my primary physician about a week later and she told me to not take it; however, if I felt the need for it, she would prescribe Prozac during my 2nd trimester. "Ashley" ran off a bunch of meds but neither were mine....that I could remember anyway.

I explained that the last 2.5-3 years of my life have been a rollercoaster and when things finally settled down, I sort of lost it and asked my primary for 'something' to help....Ashley revealed she knew about my husband's deployment, my cancer diagnosis and treatment plan...and she understand and really did feel between my anxiety medication and/or my blood pressure medication, I could very well have a false positive. GREAT!!! So...we are done here right...NOPE! Because I had a positive...false or not, the information has to be sent to my hospital and upon delivery, we will both be tested again and if either are positive, we will be assigned a state case manager through the health department. REALLY!!!!! She said I could re-take the blood test; however, because we do not have state insurance, we have private insurance....I would have to pay for it out of pocket. SERIOUSLY?????

Ok....so, I'm kinda over the whole initial part of the conversation; however, the part of being sent to the hospital and more testing, but I have to pay for it blah, blah, blah REALLY bothers me. I've never even smoked a cigarette much less done or DO drugs!! It's embarrassing and a blow to me. Am I overacting? What do you feel my next step should be? Should I just let it go...let them take my blood again and prove at the hospital I'm not using drugs?

P.S. I immediately called my primary physician and they printed out a list of previous and current medications and faxed it to my ob and "Ashley". I have not heard from either of them since Thursday. Sorry for the long post!!! and Thank you for any response.

Laura&brad1 · June 2015

Wow! I don't even know what to say except how sorry I am that this is happening to you that sounds so extreme and so wrong! I can't believe there was no offers re do the bloodtest on the spot! I would have never known that prescription medication could give false positives.! And would have expected them to ask for a full list of any mess you were taking when U first found out U were pregnant to keep a record of? I would def re take the test I am in nz tho and we don't pay for that stuff so I have no idea of the cost for you but if u can get together the money I would be doing so just to prove that they are wrong! So sorry for you hope your ok try not to stress as won't be good for bubs x chin up you know You have done nothing wrong

kwaldy · June 2015

I'd be pissed, just saying. And while she says she's not there to judge your case I probably would have refused to give information - due to HIPAA you are not required to disclose any of that. I feel like, while they are just trying to be cautionary it seems, they have also overstepped their bounds. I'd ask if maybe they can re-do your blood work now so that they could have something on record of being 100% negative instead of a false positive.
I hope all works out for you, love! That's a crappy situation.

VexyMommy · June 2015

I'm sorry you're in this situation. It really sucks. Faxing over the list of prescriptions from your doctor is helpful to them. You may want to google something like "medications that cause false positives for methamphetamines." I know for instance that my daughter's ADHD medication can cause that. Are there any repercussions at this point besides having to be tested at birth? If not (and depending on your financial situation) I would probably skip the retest. You will be cleared at the child's birth and the state will wash their hands of it.

LauraK33 · June 2015

That is definitely a crazy situation and I'm sorry that you're going through it...It seems like a lot on top of what you've already been through!

One thing I would recommend is going back to the doctor who prescribed the original medication and asking for any documentation he/she can provide. I'd bring this to my next appointment. This way everything is on file and you have documented proof as to why you were on a drug that could have caused a false positive. I'd also keep a copy for yourself, just to be sure you're protected.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this and hope it was just one of those things that they have to do to protect all patients/babies from others who may not be in the same situation.

helsbels222 · June 2015

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I can't say you are overreacting. Pretty certain I would react the same way if I were in your situation. However try to remain as calm as you can (I know, easier said then done). But the added stress isn't good for you. Give "Ashley" a call today to see if she got the fax and had time to go over the list. Hopefully it will clear you and this whole thing will be over. If not, you will be cleared with the retest if you chose to take it. I would fight that by the way. If it's a false positive, why in the world should you be responsible for the retest? But take it one step at a time. Let us know what happens. I hope it all works out.

VexyMommy · June 2015

You could also allege that the lab made an error and unless the lab can prove definitively (which is damn near impossible) that there were no mistakes made while processing your specimens, then they should be liable for the cost of any retest should you choose to take it.

jasbaby2 · June 2015

I can't say you are overreacting, this would upset me as well. As others have said it probably was a lab error. I am actually surprised they tested your blood for drugs during initial bloodwork. I may be naive but I do not believe that's typical.

VexyMommy · June 2015

jasbaby2 said:

I can't say you are overreacting, this would upset me as well. As others have said it probably was a lab error. I am actually surprised they tested your blood for drugs during initial bloodwork. I may be naive but I do not believe that's typical.

It may be a state by state thing, but I believe it's mandated in my state.

bboldery84 · June 2015

I am very sorry you are going through this. Having said that, being in the medical field and then later on in pharmacy I'll just say... Stupid people ruin it for the rest of us. While this experience was bad for you and was completely wrong and unwarranted, there are people that DO use recreational drugs the entire time they are pregnant! These procedures and protocols were put into effect for a reason, for the sake of the unborn child. This time it just happened to be incorrect. They will see that and the case worker will stop the investigation.

lopezalonso · June 2015

I am so sorry you are dealing with this. I too would feel embarrassed and infuriated. I believe that you haven't used drugs. I work as a psychologist and know that certain professional including myself, teachers, and doctors are mandated to report any suspicious things to child protective services. I'm sure your positive blood work was one of the things your medical doctor had no choice but to report. However, maybe there was a mix up at the lab... Methamphetamines are illegal and amphetamines are used to treat ADHD, not anxiety. Maybe your doctor gave you something for ADHD thinking it would help you organize your thoughts and feel less restless? Either that or a total mix up at the lab.

You did the right thing having your primary fax them a list of your meds. If I were you, I would take the bloodwork again but I too would be pissed about having to pay for it.

jasbaby2 · June 2015

VexyMommy said:

jasbaby2 said:

I can't say you are overreacting, this would upset me as well. As others have said it probably was a lab error. I am actually surprised they tested your blood for drugs during initial bloodwork. I may be naive but I do not believe that's typical.

It may be a state by state thing, but I believe it's mandated in my state.

Didn't realize that. I can't say for certain that I wasn't tested (Georgia) but my results said nothing about it. My doctor has a website that I log onto and can get test results. Didn't realize it was mandated anywhere.

I'd take the blood test again. If there is some kind of reason you are getting a positive test result I'd want to have it worked out before going to the hospital to give birth. I would be annoyed that I had to pay for it though.

wallserve · June 2015

To be 100% honest, I held it together until I got home to tell my husband the story. @bboldery84 Yes and I 100% agree with you. I even told the case manager afterward thank you for doing her job. I am a special education case manager and it would be like a parent blaming me for their child's disability....I am not blaming her...it's just her job. And I'm thankful for people that do her job for I know how hard it must be.

MargaretC5 · June 2015

I had a similar situation with a drug test at work. I tested positive for amphetamines. I have never taken a drug not prescribed by my dr and the only prescription I was on at that point was a blood pressure medication. When my employer informed me of the results I was upset and explained that was not possible. Luckily my boss believed me and let me retake the test (company policy was termination). I spoke to the nurse about it and she said mistakes do happen more often then they should. My retest came back completely clean.
It sounds like you have already done everything you can do as far as getting everyone the right documentation.
If it was me I would probably have the blood work done again so I would not have to worry about it (i can tend to stress). You may want to call your insurance and let they know you the the test was inaccurate and see if they have any exceptions for those situations.
I also see no harm in waiting for the retest when you have the baby, you need to figure out if the price of the test it worth it to you. You may also want to ask if you can have the retest done somewhere else and sent to your dr. Walk in clinics are usually cheaper for stuff like that and give you a discount if you pay up front.

Pontot31 · June 2015

Wow. I would have a hard time holding it together.
I'm sorry you're going through all this.

I would absolutely ask for a retest. And I would pay for it myself if insurance wouldn't.
I would not want to have to deal with this after giving birth so I would want to get it straightened out now.

JLW0504 · June 2015

I think it sucks that you had to go through that, but I wouldn't worry about another lab test. If you're clean, you're clean. I'd just blow it over until the birth.

I'd probably binge on ice cream for a week since I eat my feelings but, that's just me.

I would call your OB and "Ashley" to see if they got the fax from your PCP, JIC they may need to fax it again.

oliviaann91 · June 2015

If they give you the option of retaking the blood test now which would stop any further investigation/headache, I certainly would. It isn't fair that you have to pay out of pocket, but I would in that case if it were me. Where I live it is mandatory that the initial prenatal screening include drug testing, as a PP mentioned, some people do abuse illegal drugs during pregnancy which is unfortunate, but also there are some prescription meds that will show up on blood work that people may not realize are an issue. We have this happen at work quite a bit. It may be a medication that has been prescribed to the mother that she is unable to come off of during pregnancy (risk vs benefit sort of thing) that can actually cause the newborn to go through withdrawals. These babies of course have to be monitored closer than the average newborn, and it's good for the pediatricians and nurses to know that when providing care. I don't know. There is a fine line between the helpfulness of it and the intrusion factor, but if it will help my doctor know that another baby will be born addicted to cocaine or some other illegal substance, I am ok with being tested myself. It's very unfortunate that mistakes happen and I can't imagine the frustration of being in your situation! So if you have the opportunity to fix it prior to birth I would try to do that if you are able. The newborn drug testing we do is most routinely a urine sample, and in certain situations the first meconium stool can be used. But in your case if it was a lab mistake or a previous prescription that you're no longer taking I would rather be cleared by a blood draw than have people come bother me and my baby after delivery! Best wishes to you! And I'm so sorry this happened

I hope it all gets straightened out quickly!

bellie1223 · June 2015

OP--Not sure which state you're in, sorry if you mentioned it, but I worked for child protection in Colorado for a while. Unfortunately, how it works here is that once you're flagged for drug use concerns during prenatal care, they almost ALWAYS do meconium testing whether or not you test negative in subsequent tests, and send any positive results to CPS. Negative results get no referral. If it was me, and I wasn't using, I would not pay out of pocket to have another test done. Also a PP mentioned going to a place of your choosing since you were worried about their lab messing up the test--where I worked, we did not accept test results from facilities that we did not contract with, due to those facilities having more lax regulations about how the testing is done. If you do choose to retest, I would check with the case manager about where to go, it would suck for you to pay out of pocket and then have them tell you it doesn't count for anything. It most likely was a false positive or something you were taking in Rx medication showing up as amphetamines--happens more than you think. In my experience those types of drugs leave people's systems quickly because they aren't stored in fats (unlike THC), and won't show up in meconium testing, so you're probably good.

Also thanks for having such a positive outlook, I'm really sorry this happened to you because I'm sure it's just extra stress you don't need. CPS gets bogus referrals all the time, and in my team we were really good (i think) about rooting those out from more serious situations, I'm really hoping for your sake that your workers are good where you're at! In my experience when people would get belligerent and refused to work with their case managers, it was usually because they had something to hide,and the truth would eventually come out through failed substance testing. It totally sucks but just keep doing what's best for your and your baby!!

edited for spelling--grrr pregnancy brain

wallserve · June 2015

Thank you!!

Ceridwen77 · June 2015

I understand why you're upset but remember to look at the big picture. These processes are in place to protect babies from people who are using drugs. You have nothing to worry about if you aren't using and they just want to do a test at birth. But that's not the case for everyone, and someone needs to be an advocate for these babies. Good luck.

wallserve · June 2015

100% agree with your comments...one of my fears is that when they re-test it once I give birth and it will come back positive again...even though I do not do drugs...another 'false positive' due to my bp medicine...which is one of the meds on the list that could cause the false positive to begin with - that I can not stop taking. A 2nd fear is that if this is coming up this way and say it is my bp med...is it affecting my baby?

3JTMom · June 2015

So sorry mama! I am glad you were honest, open and friendly. Do you think that your demeanor may have been part of the interview? Your records with the dr are documented etc, that is good. Hugs mama - I hope your delivery is smooth. Congrats on your LO!

-notautomatic-

JessLawson · June 2015

I'm sorry your having to deal with all this. I wouldn't take it personal though. This Ashley lady is just doing her job. Also, I believe your midwife is legally obligated to report it. Having worked in a hospital laboratory for many years I have seen many positive drug screens done on both mother and baby. Several things can cause a false positive but there are always mothers that use while pregnant. The healthcare staff and case workers have to work together as advocates for these mothers and their babies. All in hopes to better and in some cases even save a life. Just rest easy knowing you have nothing to hide. Don't feel embarrassed that the hospital will test you after delivery. Its more common than you know and most mothers and babies test clean. Sorry your having to pay for those extra tests though. That part I don't agree with.

JessLawson · June 2015

Also, if they get a positive after birth they can't officialy say it's positive. They call it presumptive positive... well at all the hospitals I've worked at anyway. They usually send the urine or blood off for additional testing because many things can cause a false positive. Especially after birth if you we're given medication. Also, your blood pressure medication is very important and like you said you can't just stop taking it. I'd talk to your midwife about any concerns with the medication.

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Overraction?? Kinda long to explain the situation....just warning ya! :)

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