Re: Pregnancy Questions for Rheumatologist: Please Help!

[Guest guest]

--- In , " kathryne_j " <kathryne_j@y...>

wrote:

>

> Hi all!

>

> I have been considering getting pregnant for awhile now. I was

> diagnosed with RA about 2 months ago, but have been suffering for

> about 7 months. My Rheumatologist told me to get pregnant soon so

> that I can get on meds ASAP. I spoke to my ob/gyn and she said to

> start the meds and see what my quality of life will be like on

> medication before I start a family. I decided that was a good

idea,

> and I have been on Plaquinil and Piroxicam for 2 months and some

> days are still really bad. I guess there hasn't been a dramatic

> change. I called my Rheumy and told her I haven't had much

> improvement, she said if I wanted to start a family that she would

> prefer not to switch my medication. I am going to my

Rheumatologist

> tomorrow to discuss my questions/concerns abut pregnancy and RA.

I

> am trying to make up a list of questions to ask.

>

> For those of you who have been through pregnancy and RA at the

same

> time. Are there any questions that you wish you would have asked

> prior to becoming pregnant? Or did you have some good questions

> that you could share with me?

>

> Why would my Rheumy prefer to keep me on the same meds if I am

going

> to start a family soon and am having problems with the meds that I

> am on currently?

>

> I guess that I am scared of the unknown. My husband asks me if I

> will be able to raise a child, and somedays I don't think that I

> could I am so tired and hurt all over. I have never been pregnant

> before and have had RA for a short amount of time, so I really

don't

> know what the future holds for me. Any help/advice would be

> wonderful!

>

> Thanks!

>

Hi, You are where I was at a few years ago. When I was dx, I told my

rheumy I wanted to get pregnant again.( I had a two year old at the

time) He too wouldn't give me anything more than NSAIDS and was

reluctant about that. I asked my OB and he said NSAIDs were safe

through conception,although it may take longer to conceive, and even

up to about 20 weeks. In all fairness the rheumy is right. All the

other RA drugs need to be out of your system for a full three months

before you even try to get pregnant because they will harm the baby,

and most of the drugs take many months to even start to have a

beneficial effect. So if you wait to get an effect from the meds,

then you have to stop them anyway you are talking a year or more

before you even try. I dont know how old you are, I was 34 when

this began so waiting wasn't a good option for me. On a positive

note pregnancy hormones will almost always put RA in remission. I

felt great and stopped celebrex by 9 weeks. The disease will come

back after delivery, usually within a few months, so you could start

meds then. I started plaquenil when my son was six months old and

did ok for 2 1/2 years, I just sterted methotrexate a month ago

after a particularly bad flare. I know this is long but I wanted to

say don't let this disease stop you from having a family. There

will be good days and bad but doesn't everyone have something? With

good doctors and a supportive husband, you'll manage. I wouldn't

have done anything differently.

[Guest guest]

Does anyone remember Heidi? She gave up her meds and had a baby boy...spoke at

the time that the pregnancy put the RA into remission (if the fibro fog has

taken over here please correct me)...and last i heard she was pregnant a second

time. I am sure each person is different and there are good and bad points of

giving up the meds to weigh here.

I wish you all the luck and love in the world for becoming pregnant. I

remember how desperately i wanted a child (adopted at 30) and finally becoming

pregnant at 34 (tho i only carried her 6 months...she is fine now)...and my

heart would have directed me to give up the meds...to become so. However, each

person has to make that decision for themselves...and i for one will back them

in whatever one it is.

Love, HUGGS, Prayers, and positive thoughts.

CAT/Jan =^..^=

susan <sasupbin@...> wrote:

--- In , " kathryne_j " <kathryne_j@y...>

wrote:

Hi all!

I have been considering getting pregnant for awhile now. I was diagnosed with

RA about 2 months ago, but have been suffering for about 7 months. My

Rheumatologist told me to get pregnant soon so

that I can get on meds ASAP. I spoke to my ob/gyn and she said to start the

meds and see what my quality of life will be like on medication before I start a

family. I decided that was a good idea, .... "

" ...Hi, You are where I was at a few years ago. When I was dx, I told my rheumy

I wanted to get pregnant again.( I had a two year old at the time) He too

wouldn't give me anything more than NSAIDS and was reluctant about that. I asked

my OB and he said NSAIDs were safe through conception,although it may take

longer to conceive, and even up to about 20 weeks. In all fairness the rheumy

is right. All the other RA drugs need to be out of your system for a full three

months before you even try to get pregnant because they will harm the baby, and

most of the drugs take many months to even start to have a

beneficial effect. So if you wait to get an effect from the meds, then you have

to stop them anyway you are talking a year or more before you even try. I dont

know how old you are, I was 34 when this began so waiting wasn't a good option

for me. On a positive

note pregnancy hormones will almost always put RA in remission. I felt great and

stopped celebrex by 9 weeks. The disease will come back after delivery, usually

within a few months, so you could start

meds then. I started plaquenil when my son was six months old and did ok for 2

1/2 years, I just sterted methotrexate a month ago after a particularly bad

flare. I know this is long but I wanted to

say don't let this disease stop you from having a family. There will be good

days and bad but doesn't everyone have something? With good doctors and a

supportive husband, you'll manage. I wouldn't have done anything differently.

.... "

---------------------------------

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