New mom with new diag of RA

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I was just diagnosed with RA 3 months after my baby boy was born. I am in a

strange mindset right now and am looking for support. This is all so complicated

and difficult to cope with since I am hormonal anyway from having the baby and

being a nursing mother. The rhuematologist says she doesn't think my disease

will improve in the next few months, but to wait it out and see how it

progresses, so I will continue to nurse until then. She wants to put me on

Methotrexate and I was hoping for some good info on the drug. I am also on the

look out for good literature on coping with chronic disease and RA.

Any help anyone can give is much appreciated!

N.

[Guest guest]

Hi N. and welcome. This is a great group and keeps us up to speed on the

recent developments. Congratulations on your new baby, and I'm sorry to hear

that you're dealing with RA. The good news is that this disease is more

manageable than ever before. I always recommend setting up 2 (or 3 if you're a

nut like me) rheumatology appts so you can try on a few docs and get their

recommendations. I was trying to get pregnant with our second child when I was

diagnosed, so I couldn't take mtx. I went right to Enbrel and haven't looked

back since. It started working within a week and other than a brief post partum

flare in 08, I look totally normal thank to Enbrel. I stayed on it through

pregnancy and nursing with the blessing of my ped, OB, and rheumatologist. If

you haven't researched the literature, google " Hale breastmilk arthritis " and

you should get some summaries of Dr Hale's work on drugs and mother's milk (he

considers remicaide and enbrel safe while nursing since the drug is destroyed in

the gut). Also the OTIS group in California can be a good source of drug

information, google " OTIS RA pregnancy " . But take care of yourself, get lots of

sleep, and feel free to write anytime.

Kate F

________________________________

From: unico11 <nkapus10@...>

Sent: Wed, August 25, 2010 3:11:51 PM

Subject: [ ] New mom with new diag of RA

Hi,

I was just diagnosed with RA 3 months after my baby boy was born. I am in a

strange mindset right now and am looking for support. This is all so complicated

and difficult to cope with since I am hormonal anyway from having the baby and

being a nursing mother. The rhuematologist says she doesn't think my disease

will improve in the next few months, but to wait it out and see how it

progresses, so I will continue to nurse until then. She wants to put me on

Methotrexate and I was hoping for some good info on the drug. I am also on the

look out for good literature on coping with chronic disease and RA.

Any help anyone can give is much appreciated!

N.

[Guest guest]

Can you nurse w/ Mtx? I don't think I was able to. I was just on prednisone

while nursing. All I can say is I'm sorry you have to go through this. It's not

easy . Just manage day by day. If you need help ask

>

> Hi,

> I was just diagnosed with RA 3 months after my baby boy was born. I am in a

strange mindset right now and am looking for support. This is all so complicated

and difficult to cope with since I am hormonal anyway from having the baby and

being a nursing mother. The rhuematologist says she doesn't think my disease

will improve in the next few months, but to wait it out and see how it

progresses, so I will continue to nurse until then. She wants to put me on

Methotrexate and I was hoping for some good info on the drug. I am also on the

look out for good literature on coping with chronic disease and RA.

>

> Any help anyone can give is much appreciated!

>

> N.

>

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with RA about three months after my son was born, as well. That

was 13 years ago. ;-) I really wanted to breastfeed him for at least a year,

and the only thing the rheumatologist I was seeing had to offer then was

Methotrexate, which I couldn't take while nursing. I was stubborn and didn't

take anything for 14 months. I managed, but in hindsight I think I would have

been wiser to treat the RA aggressively earlier.

Kate gave some really good info. Being a new mom takes lots of energy, and so

it's important to take care of yourself, to feel as good as you can. Best

wishes to you and your little one.

Deanna