local anesthetic in first trimester

[ktgrok]

I'm going in tomorrow to have a basal cell carcinoma taken off my nose. I'll be 5 weeks 4 days pregnant. Everything I've researched says there is no evidence that lidocaine causes any kind of birth defect. But, they also say to wait until the second trimester if you can (most of this is regarding dental work). Basal cell carcinomas are not life threatening, but it is skin cancer, and it does grow. It's already probably going to leave me a bit scarred, and if it gets bigger it could mean a pretty significant scar right in the middle of my face. Aside from cosmetics, there isn't much tissue there to work with. The dermatologist office said they do this on pregnant women all the time. And anecdotally I've heard that stuff can grow faster when pregnant, so again, probably should get it handled. 

 

But, I'm still nervous. I guess I could push it off until the 2nd trimester, and it might not get bigger. But it might. plus, I'd have to explain to my mom why I didn't get it taken off as she knows about it and I'm seeing her in a few weeks. And I didn't plan on telling her about the pregnancy yet. And I don't like to lie to her. And it could get bigger. 

 

Anyone have lidocaine the first trimester? Was everything fine? I know anecdotes don't equal data, but it might make me feel better. 

[HSmomof2]

I had dental work done with lidocaine (and x-rays) during my first trimester with dd.....I didn't know I was pregnant yet, but it didn't cause any problems.

[barnwife]

First, I haven't had lidocaine during pregnancy. However, were I in your shoes I absolutely would. And off the top of my head I'd say I'd do it ASAP.

Many of the reason are things you mentioned. Plus, I have a family history of skin cancer - lots of it. 

FWIW, I already had an appt. to have a mole removed from my nose when I discovered I am pregnant. The appt. isn't until I will be early 3rd tri. As it's not an urgent situation, I do plan to reschedule.

If you choose not to do it, I'd simply tell your mom the dr. had to reschedule. I hope all goes well, whenever it happens!

[ktgrok]

Found this, I guess it is true that it grows faster during pregnancy. http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a33595/pregnant-melanoma-cancer-essay/

[EKS]

I had several moles removed when I was pregnant.  It never even occurred to me that a local anesthetic would be an issue (it gets seriously dilutes as it's on its way out).  I have a degree in biochemistry, so I am aware of such things, and my husband is an expert in pharmacokinetics, and he wasn't worried either.  I think that the prevailing wisdom is to wait until the 2nd or even 3rd trimester for *everything* regardless of the objective evidence for risk (seriously).  Anyway, I absolutely would have the procedure done *and* I wouldn't worry about it.   :grouphug:

[Guest]

I wouldn't worry at all over it.

[BigMamaBird]

Your body is amazing at protecting a growing baby from harmful substances.  A little local won't even be a blip on the radar.  

 

Best of luck to you during your procedure.  

[fdrinca]

I had a spot of concern while in my first trimester with DD2. I was monitored monthly, but my derm didn't want to remove the spot unless necessary because of the potential for complications, specifically bleeding issues.

 

I would imagine your global health would be more important than your one-time small exposure to lidocaine. 

 

best of luck!

[ktgrok]

Heading out in a few minutes. Going to ask that they use the kind with epinephrine, because the other stuff doesn't last and because I tend to get low blood pressure when I have bad stuff happen so a bit of epinephrine is a good thing anyway. Not sure they will do it though. 

 

And, in more fun, found a spot that is suspicious on my lower abdomen. Not sure how long it has been there, and it is a different (darker) color from everything else on my body. Not a freckle. Not a cherry angioma. Looks a bit like melanoma, but really really small. So yeah, going to want that biopsied too. I'll ask if they can do it today, but I'm scheduled with the plastic surgeon not the dermatologist so not sure they will. I do have a follow up with the dermatologist next week, so can do it then but would rather get it done today if possible. 

 

Stupid sun.

[3 ladybugs]

I had a mole removed when I was about 9 weeks pregnant with my youngest. He is perfectly healthy except for allergies. Lidocane is fine in pregnancy and not something you should worry about. I should also add that this kid was inside me at 34 weeks when I had an MRI too so he went through "a lot" and is still fine. 

[ktgrok]

So, I'm done! I am so happy with this dermatology office. The surgeon was wonderful, as was the staff. I was kind of stupid though, and just didn't tell them I was pregnant, since they had previously told me the only thing they would do different is maybe use the lidocaine without epinephrine instead of with. And I wanted the kind with epinephrine (my heart rate and blood pressure drop during medical procedures, so the epinephrine helps counteract that). Which was fine, except they ended up adding some marcaine to the mix. Which I found out afterwards is category C drug. I about had a panic attack reading that it has been shown to show fetal death and mutations, until I read that that was only at the maximum dose. Which is a large amount. I had less than 0.5mls of the 0.25 solution, and some of that leaked out. The used mainly lidocaine, and just added a little bit of the marcaine to make sure it lasted long enough. So I'm just not going to worry about it. The amount I got was so freaking low. (and low doses showed no problems in the research I found). 

 

And they did biopsy the other site I wanted checked. He said it looked benign, but I explained that's what everyone said about the ones that turned out to be cancer, so at this point anything that looks different I want gone,and he agreed, saying I know my body best. 

 

So, now I'm curled up in bed, drinking my starbucks, watching Jane the Virgin and taking it easy. 

[ktgrok]

Did more research and feel even better. Other countries have it listed as a category A, and the only studies that found any hard found it at high doses, like around 100mg. I had about 1 mg. And the studies specifically said that lower doses than the maximum had no issues. So whew. 

 

Now to hope that this time the thing they said was an angioma really IS an angioma,and not another cancerous  lesion. 

[SparklyUnicorn]

Found this, I guess it is true that it grows faster during pregnancy. http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a33595/pregnant-melanoma-cancer-essay/

 

Yeah this is what I've heard and had sort of some BTDT experience with that.  I had precancerous growth while pregnant (cervical).  They told me this is common that if you've got something like that going on it sometimes exacerbates while one is pregnant.  It didn't get so bad I had to deal with it until after, but I assume this can happen with other cancer type growth.

So, I would take care of it now. 

[SparklyUnicorn]

sorry..just saw you had this done.