Re: Anyone Had active RA and got pregnant?

[Guest guest]

Welcome Jen. Congratulations on your marriage! I had 2 pregnancies while

having active RA, but I was not on RA meds at the time, so I¹m not much

help. I had a mild case of RA that went into remission after my first

child, but by about the 6th month of my second pregnancy, it came back with

a vengeance. I was able to stay off the meds so I could nurse for 3

months, but then I had no choice but to stop nursing and go on meds. I was

very lucky that I was able to have 2 children before this disease turned

angry. I tell you this because I don¹t want you to count on remission if

you become pregnant. I did the first time, but it seemed to accelerate my

RA during my second pregnancy. It was very difficult being in such pain and

not being able to take anything. Thank God for friends that helped me with

my 3 year old while I was bedridden for the second pregnancy.

Another RA patient asked a question to the Intellihealth doctors regarding

having RA, taking RA drugs and pregnancy. I was not surprised to read that

Enbrel is thought of as being safe to take during pregnancy, but there are

no studies taking it during pregnancy. However, it has been given to

animals in high doses with no known damage to the fetus.

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/3460/7997/314445.html

I have some web links at my RA site that deals with RA and pregnancy.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

http://rheumatoid.arthritis.freehosting.net/Rheumatoid Arthritis.html

Hope this helps. Best wishes to your baby endeavors!

a

> Hi All,

>

> I am looking for someone who has had active RA and was on medications

> and decided to try and get pregnant. I've had JRA since I was 12 and

> am now 29. I recently got married in July and my husband and I want

> to try and have a baby. I'm scared about having to stop all of my

> medications and be off of them for at least 2 months then however

> long it takes to conceive. I know once I get pregnant I should be

> fine because in most cases the woman goes into remission. I am on

> injectable Methotrexate, Enbrel, Celebrex, Prednisone, Folic Acid,

> Calcium and Zantac. My JRA is Polyarticular and it's always been

> active. But, for the last 3 years it's been more under control then

> it's ever been do a lot to me starting Enbrel. I feel like I'm about

> to jeopardize all that I've gained.... I've had my right hip

> replaced twice (the last time a year ago, Sept) and the left him

> replaced once. My husband is very supportive and would help me threw

> any flair ups, in fact the day we moved in together was the day my

> right hip dislocated and needed replaced for the second time and he

> handled it like a real trooper and took good care of me but that's

> not the point. I don't want to feel like a burden to him and I

> really really don't want to feel all the pain I was in back at the

> beginning of my illness. I know I will still be able to be on

> Prednisone but I am only on 4 mgs and my doctor doesn't want to

> increase it unless I really need it then he just want's to do small

> temporary increases. To make matters worse because I got married and

> now have different insurance I can no longer see the Rheumy that I

> seen for 17 years and had a wonderful relationship with and now have

> to meet and get to know all new doctors.

>

> If there is anyone who decided to try and conceive while having

> active/medicated RA I would love to hear from you and maybe get some

> adivce. Thank You for listening. Jen

>

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