Re: New member from Indonesia

[Guest guest]

Hi Tien,

You can have children with RA, but I have been so sick for two

years between having RA and other conditions that I personally

wonder how I would care for a baby at this point in my life when I

have so much fatigue. You would stop meds while you were

pregnant then resume. Women tend to go into remission during

their pregnancies because of a natural steroidal hormone.

Of course, there is likelihood of passing on the disease. My

husband and I plan on getting genetic counseling as we both

suffer from Autoimmune disorders and then make the decision

to have a child

> Hi,

>

> I joined this group about a week ago. By reading your emails, I

don't feel alone anymore, i'm really glad to be the member of this

community ( I mean it!).

> I'm 27 at the end of this month, got RA since 8 years ago. Quite

struggling and painful life I had since diagnosed as RA +.

> Began with hurt on my joints of knee, then i got surgery on my

knee......(oh GOD I forgot what it is called), then I cannot walk at

all (i use crutches for about 2,5 years), then on early 2003 I begin

to walk slowly until now. I took medicine (voltaren, kenacort)

everyday (even twice a day), but since 21 September 2004 I

decided to stop because I feel :

> 1. Start to loose memory ( i only remember things happen 1 - 2

years ago)

> 2. No improvement on my condition, but by taking medicine I

just don't feel hurt

> 3. I wanna have a baby ( just married on March 04), and i think

drugs is not good for a baby, right?

>

> I just want to ask :

> 1. Is there any of you begin to loose your memory after having

taken drugs (voltaren, kenacort, etc) for about 7 years??

> 2. Is RA patient can have a baby (pregnant)? does the baby

also have RA disease?

>

> Thanks all for your attention,

> Tien

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the board. Voltaren (Diclofenac) is an old and usually weak RA medicine. Kenacort (triamcinolone) is a corticosteroid. I'm not that familiar with either of them and don't know what side effects can happen. Perhaps a pharmacist could help you with that because they specialize in knowing about medications. Kenacort sounds like it may be similar to Prednisone which is another corticosteroid that is often used to help the symptoms of RA but which does not do anything to slow or stop the permanent damage that can occur with untreated RA. Unfortunately Prednisone often has some troubling side effects and should be used only at the lowest dose that will permit you to function moderately well. I suspect that the Kenacort was helping your symptoms but not really improving your condition.

Unfortunately I know of nothing except surgery that will help joints that have already been damaged but there are medications that can slow or stop the progression of the disease. These are called DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs) and the one most commonly used is Methotrexate. (Drugs can go by many names and I only know the ones used in the US. They may go by a different name in Indonesia.) Unfortunately Methotrexate is known to cause abortions or birth defects so you should avoid that. Unfortunately a lot of drugs are to be avoided when trying to conceive and even through nursing a baby. I think Prednisone can be used any time, but it is not a DMARD.

There is at least a weak genetic component to RA but it is by no means certain that your children will get it. I think it might double their risk of getting RA but the chance is still fairly low. Also new treatments are being developed all the time so a cure might be found by the time your children might need treatment.

We are all saddened by the devastation in Indonesia from the earthquake and tsunami. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and we are sending as much aid as we can. God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: Tien Mulyanthi

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 4:03 AM

Subject: New member from Indonesia

Hi,

I joined this group about a week ago. By reading your emails, I don't feel alone anymore, i'm really glad to be the member of this community ( I mean it!).

I'm 27 at the end of this month, got RA since 8 years ago. Quite struggling and painful life I had since diagnosed as RA +.

Began with hurt on my joints of knee, then i got surgery on my knee......(oh GOD I forgot what it is called), then I cannot walk at all (i use crutches for about 2,5 years), then on early 2003 I begin to walk slowly until now. I took medicine (voltaren, kenacort) everyday (even twice a day), but since 21 September 2004 I decided to stop because I feel :

1. Start to loose memory ( i only remember things happen 1 - 2 years ago)

2. No improvement on my condition, but by taking medicine I just don't feel hurt

3. I wanna have a baby ( just married on March 04), and i think drugs is not good for a baby, right?

I just want to ask :

1. Is there any of you begin to loose your memory after having taken drugs (voltaren, kenacort, etc) for about 7 years??

2. Is RA patient can have a baby (pregnant)? does the baby also have RA disease?

Thanks all for your attention,

Tien

[Guest guest]

Thanks a lot for your detail explanation. Will try to find DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs) treatment in Indonesia.. Btw, I remember my knee surgery was Synevactomy Surgery, does anyone ever did it?

We're all in Indonesia are very touchy and sad of what happen in Aceh & SumUt (earthquake & tsunami), more than 113,000 people died.. even family of my office's friend. Really pray this won't happen again.. ever..

---- Original Message -----

From: Harold Van Tuyl

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 1:31 AM

Subject: Re: New member from Indonesia

Welcome to the board. Voltaren (Diclofenac) is an old and usually weak RA medicine. Kenacort (triamcinolone) is a corticosteroid. I'm not that familiar with either of them and don't know what side effects can happen. Perhaps a pharmacist could help you with that because they specialize in knowing about medications. Kenacort sounds like it may be similar to Prednisone which is another corticosteroid that is often used to help the symptoms of RA but which does not do anything to slow or stop the permanent damage that can occur with untreated RA. Unfortunately Prednisone often has some troubling side effects and should be used only at the lowest dose that will permit you to function moderately well. I suspect that the Kenacort was helping your symptoms but not really improving your condition.

Unfortunately I know of nothing except surgery that will help joints that have already been damaged but there are medications that can slow or stop the progression of the disease. These are called DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs) and the one most commonly used is Methotrexate. (Drugs can go by many names and I only know the ones used in the US. They may go by a different name in Indonesia.) Unfortunately Methotrexate is known to cause abortions or birth defects so you should avoid that. Unfortunately a lot of drugs are to be avoided when trying to conceive and even through nursing a baby. I think Prednisone can be used any time, but it is not a DMARD.

There is at least a weak genetic component to RA but it is by no means certain that your children will get it. I think it might double their risk of getting RA but the chance is still fairly low. Also new treatments are being developed all the time so a cure might be found by the time your children might need treatment.

We are all saddened by the devastation in Indonesia from the earthquake and tsunami. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and we are sending as much aid as we can. God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: Tien Mulyanthi

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 4:03 AM

Subject: New member from Indonesia

Hi,

I joined this group about a week ago. By reading your emails, I don't feel alone anymore, i'm really glad to be the member of this community ( I mean it!).

I'm 27 at the end of this month, got RA since 8 years ago. Quite struggling and painful life I had since diagnosed as RA +.

Began with hurt on my joints of knee, then i got surgery on my knee......(oh GOD I forgot what it is called), then I cannot walk at all (i use crutches for about 2,5 years), then on early 2003 I begin to walk slowly until now. I took medicine (voltaren, kenacort) everyday (even twice a day), but since 21 September 2004 I decided to stop because I feel :

1. Start to loose memory ( i only remember things happen 1 - 2 years ago)

2. No improvement on my condition, but by taking medicine I just don't feel hurt

3. I wanna have a baby ( just married on March 04), and i think drugs is not good for a baby, right?

I just want to ask :

1. Is there any of you begin to loose your memory after having taken drugs (voltaren, kenacort, etc) for about 7 years??

2. Is RA patient can have a baby (pregnant)? does the baby also have RA disease?

Thanks all for your attention,

Tien