Re: Quick catch up! Heidi - hello!

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi:

So happy to see you posting once again! I am so very

happy to see that you are continuing to evade Arthur

so well - you really need that extra energy with all

that is going on with you now. Wow, time does fly -

Fabien is a little toddler! I am glad that he is

thriving, no doubt due to you and n being great

parents. Glad also to see that the second pregnancy

is progressing well, and hopefully you won't have to

go through the premature scare again with this one -

keeping my fingers crossed for you. Please try to

post again after Fabien's little brother is born -

have you decided on a name yet? My best wishes and

prayers for you and your little family, Heidi.

Kathe in CA

--- n & Heidi <octone@...> wrote:

> 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

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

Kathe

" To ride a horse is to borrow freedom. "

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