RA and pregnancy

[Guest guest]

Hello, everyone. I am desperately looking for some people who have RA

and have been/are considering being pregnant while diagnosed. I'm

particularly interested in what people have done to manage their

symptoms during and after. I was diagnosed with RA almost 13 years ago.

It has been thankfully a slow but unfortunately steady deteroriation.

I have been very lucky to have two healthy pregnancies (my daughter is

4 and my son is 11 months). I have taken MTX in the past but stopped

prior to having my first child. I have taken Enbrel and am on it now,

even though I'm nursing my son still. The latest data says that it is

highly unlucky to pass into the bloodstream. However, even with the

Enbrel I cannot get lower than 10mg/day with prednisone and the

side-effects of long-term steroid use really scare me. I was hoping to

have one more pregnancy but my rheumatologist (who is wonderful!) is

really not encouraging it because she would like to see me in try some

other meds to help control my symptoms better. I am wondering what sort

of luck people have had with dietary changes. I have done some research

about no-sugar, anti-candidiasis, food sensitivities, wheat allergies,

etc. I just became more overwhelmed and confused. I actually am a

pretty healthy eater (lots of veggies, whole grains, etc) and I swim and

exercise daily, so I'm not sure where to start. I still hope for that

" magic bullet " sometimes, even after 13 years of dealing with the ups

and downs. This week I am going to try some acupuncture for flares in

my wrists and ankles. Anyway, thanks for listening. Would love to hear

any and all suggestions.

[Guest guest]

Welcome, ! We do have several people here who could answer some

of your questions about RA and pregnancy. I can't help you from personal

experience in that regard.

It sounds as if you have a healthy lifestyle and a concerned

rheumatologist, so that's very good news.

Unfortunately, when it comes to meds and diet, it's a lot of trial and

error. RA patients also have various experiences with pregnancies. I'm

not sure anyone can give you that " magic bullet " you're looking for.

That doesn't mean that your desire to have a third healthy pregnancy

while controlling your disease is hopeless and that nobody can give you

direction, it's just challenging.

Here are some articles that may be of interest:

From the Hospital for Special Surgery, " Pregnancy in Autoimmune and

Musculoskeletal Disease " :

http://rheumatology.hss.edu/pat/interviewsummaries/sammaritano_int_tran.asp

Also fro HSS, an " Ask the Expert " question: " What has been the

experience with anti-TNF agents during pregnancy? Should they be

discontinued prior to pregnancy and, if so, how far ahead of a planned

pregnancy? " :

http://www.rheumatology.hss.edu/phys/askExpert/answers/019.asp

" Pregnancy Prognosis " from Arthritis Today:

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2001_archives/2001_03_04_pregn\

ancyprognosis.asp

" The Use of Etanercept and Other Tumor Necrosis Factor-a Blockers in

Infertility: It's Time to Get Serious, " an editorial from the Journal of

Rheumatology (September 2003):

http://www.jrheum.com/subscribers/03/09/1897.html

[ ] RA and pregnancy

> Hello, everyone. I am desperately looking for some people who have RA

> and have been/are considering being pregnant while diagnosed. I'm

> particularly interested in what people have done to manage their

> symptoms during and after. I was diagnosed with RA almost 13 years

ago.

> It has been thankfully a slow but unfortunately steady deteroriation.

> I have been very lucky to have two healthy pregnancies (my daughter

is

> 4 and my son is 11 months). I have taken MTX in the past but stopped

> prior to having my first child. I have taken Enbrel and am on it now,

> even though I'm nursing my son still. The latest data says that it is

> highly unlucky to pass into the bloodstream. However, even with the

> Enbrel I cannot get lower than 10mg/day with prednisone and the

> side-effects of long-term steroid use really scare me. I was hoping

to

> have one more pregnancy but my rheumatologist (who is wonderful!) is

> really not encouraging it because she would like to see me in try some

> other meds to help control my symptoms better. I am wondering what

sort

> of luck people have had with dietary changes. I have done some

research

> about no-sugar, anti-candidiasis, food sensitivities, wheat allergies,

> etc. I just became more overwhelmed and confused. I actually am a

> pretty healthy eater (lots of veggies, whole grains, etc) and I swim

and

> exercise daily, so I'm not sure where to start. I still hope for

that

> " magic bullet " sometimes, even after 13 years of dealing with the ups

> and downs. This week I am going to try some acupuncture for flares in

> my wrists and ankles. Anyway, thanks for listening. Would love to

hear

> any and all suggestions.

[Guest guest]

I had 2 children and with my first I went into remission and stayed

in remission for 3 years, which

ended when I got pregnant with my second child. When I was about 4-5

months pregnant with

my second, I went into a flare that wouldn't end even after I gave

birth. I breast fed both of my

children, my first for 6 months and my second only for 3 since I

needed medication that I couldn't

take while breast feeding. I didn't take any prescription medication

while pregnant, but I know

I took something like advil or tylenol, but it's been to many years

ago for me to remember.

I have some information on my website about RA and pregnancy:

http://arthritissupport.info/Rheumatoid Arthritis.html

I hope you can start your family and go into permanent remission.

a

On Jan 2, 2006, at 11:56 AM, kathryne_j wrote:

> Hi all!

>

> I have had RA symptoms for about 7 months now, but have recently

> been diagnosed. I have been on Plaquinil and Piroxicam for about 2

> months. I have a noticed a difference in the way I feel, but still

> have bad days and stiffness and swelling. I got married about 4

> months ago and we would like to start a family. I guess I am sort

> of scared of getting off the medication for a month before we can

> start trying, and then if I don't get pregnant right away having to

> stay off the medication. I am also worried that pregnancy will make

> the symptoms worse. From what I have ready pregnancy will make most

> womens RA symptoms better.

>

> I guess my question is what was your personal experience with

> pregnancy and RA? Did you have a big flare up after the birth of

> your child? Were you able to breastfeed?

>

> This is all so new to me. I want to make sure I know as much as I

> can before I bring a life into this world.

>

> Thanks for your help!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

just over 1 month pregnant - PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:

I have had RA for several years now and had been on Plaquenil for a couple of

years when I

decided to get off birth control and try to have a baby. I got married in July

of '05 and off

birth control in early Sept., at which time I stopped the Plaquenil. I got

pregnant in

October, but had a miscarriage about two weeks after finding out (over

Thanksgiving) - I

personally believe MY miscarriage was due to not giving my 38 year old body

enough time

to adjust after getting off the pill. I found out this past Tuesday that I'm

pregnant again

already. I didn't notice any big changes when I got off the Plaquenil, but have

been having

a flare (off and on) for the last several weeks. I attribute it to the

combination of no Plaq.

and the weather, but who really knows for sure. The early stages of pregnancy

could be to

blame. The most recent flare was actually the worst ever. I have heard from

NUMEROUS

sources that pregnancy often leads to a temporary remission. I'm still on

Prednisone and

Sulfasalazine and have been told by my rheumy that both are safe, though I must

stop

Sulfasalazine before breastfeeding. I truly believe that I'll go into remission

soon and am

looking forward to it. I was also given the greenlight the other day to take

Darvocet for

pain if absolutely needed, but I only caved-in when I just didn't think I could

take it

another minute. Your OB might refer you to a perinatologist who can answer more

of your

questions. Or a combination of your OB and rheumy might do just fine. Probably

a little

fear of your condition's behavior off meds is a healthy thing. I'm very

concerned about a

flare after birth and I think it's a realistic fear. BUT, knowledge is power

and there are

things you can do to take care of yourself. If you read my posts over the last

several days

(starting on Thursday night), you will get a feeling for the frustration of

being pregnant on

RA and trying to manage a flare. It hasn't been fun. But I'm still glad I'm

pregnant and I

believe that it will only improve. If I have to sacrifice breastfeeding (which

is something I

really, really want to do) for the ability to take better care of my baby, I'll

do it and be

grateful there are meds that still work for me. Good luck. You'll find tons of

support and

knowledge here.