Quick catch up!

[Guest guest]

Hi there everyone!

I just came home from holiday to over 900 e-mails in my in-box so am VERY

far behind but wanted to pop in and say hi to all you lovely people and fill

you in on the latest with the baby. I also saw a few posts on pregnancy-RA

and thought maybe my story could give anyone trying a little hope.

Also ((((((((((((((Huge Hugs and welcome back to Jan!!))))))))))))))) it was

great to see you've joined the group again. I'm pretty much a permanent

lurker now as I have so little time what with running after Fabien, I try to

keep up with the posts when I can but am finding I spend very little time on

the computer these days and with the second baby on the way it's about to

get worse!

I'm 5 1/2 months pregnant with number two and it's another BOY!! So far

everything is going very well.

For those of you trying here's my little RA-pregnancy story.

I was diagnosed with RA when I was 25(which is also when I joined the group)

I'm 30 now (Yikes time flies!). When I found out I had RA I had already

been trying to fall pregnant for about 2 years and as I was in major flare

for a long time the doctors told me to " Hurry up " so I could start the

DMARDS (this was easier said than done as I have endometriosis). I was put

on Prednisone while I was trying to fall pregnant as my Rheumy said that the

NSAIDs were out (I believe she said it was because they have a miscarriage

risk) and so were the DMARD's (although my Rheumy has since told me that

many Lupus sufferers stay on Plaquenil when pregnant so??). The Prednisone

worked very well and I was on it exclusively for over 2 years before I

finally fell pregnant. I continued to take the Prednisone at lower and

lower doses until I was 7 months pregnant at which time I tapered off

completely and enjoyed a full remission which was fantastic!

Just after I stopped the prednisone the baby stopped growing. We picked

this up when I was 7 1/2 months pregnant and the end was very worrying as he

just didn't gain weight. My Gynae thought this was caused by the RA

although I never did understand why and have never read anything about this

happening because of RA, I also did my own research and read that Prednisone

could cause growth retardation so who knows. It was interesting to see

someone else mention something about RA and small babies. Finally at 8

months, a week before the doctor was going to induce me because of the

problem, my waters broke and I gave birth to a premature and small (2.3 Kgs)

but healthy baby. He had slight respitory distress at birth and we spent 10

days in hospital with him in an incubator but he was absolutely fine after

that.

Within a week after Fabien (my little boy) was born old Arthur made a

comeback and I went into a flare. All the doctors were adamant that I stop

breastfeeding and start the DMARDS immediately but I just couldn't cope with

that idea (I'm a little stubborn ;-) After crying on my Rheumy's shoulder

(she was actually a breastfeeding mom herself at the time so was very

understanding) we decided to try and get the flare under control with

Voltaren (she felt it would be OK for the baby) and as much rest as

possible. She thought I would last a few weeks like that before I would

have to start the meds - I ended up breastfeeding him for over 2 years!

Fabien is now 2 1/2 years old and a very healthy, happy little boy. I have

been in remission for ages now with a few small/medium flares for the first

year after he was born which I managed to get under control with rest and

Voltaren. I think one of the best things I did was to stop working full

time so that I am far less tired and stressed than before. I noticed a

direct correlation between the amount of stress I had and the flares and now

if I start getting any of the warning signs a flare is on the way (major

fatigue or any stiffness) I just push the " STOP " button and rest as much as

I can. I've joined a gym, taken up a weekly meditation class and eat

healthier which I'm sure all helps but realise that I am very very lucky!

I'm now pregnant with my second baby so the remission should last at least

through the pregnancy. For now I'm feeling very blessed and lucky for this

respite from nasty old Arthur, enjoying every second of my remission and

praying that it will last forever!

So that's my story! Lots of love to all my old friends here and hi to all

the new members!

Heidi