Pregnancy and Arthritis

By MJK Sunday, September 13, 2009

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My husband nad I want to have a baby. I got off my methotrexate about 4 weeks ago and am feeling the pain. My gynecologist said I need to get off my other meds too. The ones I need to get off of are my Naproxen and Zyrtec. I'm more concerned about the Naproxen, it seems to be the only thing keeping me together. I take prednisone, but is that my only alternative for my pain, cuz that alone doesn't help as much. I have severe allergies too.....is there an alternative allergy medicine I should take? Anyone have any answers please share, cuz I feel very naive. I haven't been off my meds for years and I'm feeling what it used to feel like and it's not that fun, but I guess that's what has to happen!

Comments (14) | Add comment

9/14/09 2:18pm

My husband and I are looking at having a baby in the near future also. I am currently taking Humira (starting my third month today) and Naproxen. Naproxen is the only thing that has worked for me for many years, and like you, I think the only thing holding me together. I've had JRA since I was two, so my joint damage is somewhat significant and in every joint from my jaw all the way down. I have three broken PIP implants in my right hand that need to be replaced before we can start trying. If there is any other woman out there that has been through a pregnacy while battling JRA/RA please share with us.

2/16/10 10:33pm

I am pretty sure that RA becomes dormant, (inactive) during pregnancy. However it can worsen after the baby's birth.

Jen143

2/25/10 11:51am

I was diagnosed with RA when I was 18. I am now 26 years old. I got married in 2007 and we wanted kids right away. We got pregnant at the end of 2007 and had our precious baby girl in 2008.

I was on Enbrel, plaquenil, and sometimes prednisone. When I found out I was pregnant I got off of the Enbrel but stayed on plaquenil and prednisone. About 3 months into pregnancy my RA went in to complete remission and I felt great, so I stopped all meds.

Pregnancy and childbirth went great. I had an epidural and a c-section and no complications due to RA.

We are planning our 2nd child and I think I may try to stay on Enbrel.

I went to the rheum. yesterday and had a scare. My neck and bottom of head had been hurting. Dr. said sometimes people with RA get inflammation around the spinal cord and sometimes disc and vertebraes move and put pressure on nerves, etc. She said this could lead to a spinal injury and even paralysis. I had x-rays and they were normal, thank God. And I have an MRI scheduled soon and hopefully it's normal too. Then we can start thinking about baby number 2.

My dr. has always told me to try and have my children at an early age because of the RA.

Ellen Galo

9/16/09 12:55pm

Welcome to the site! I wish I could offer some help, but I'm at the opposite end of the age and childbearing spectrum and didn't have RA then. There are quite a few people on this site who came down with RA immediately after pregnancy and are closer in age.

Wish you well, hope it all works out!

jenmik

9/16/09 6:56pm

Hello! I had been living with RA for about 5 years before I got pregnant with my youngest. At that time I was taking Arava, mobic and plaquinel. I had to take an arava detox for 14 days, and wait 3 months being off any medication. It was a terriable 3 months, but finally I got pregnant, and 3 months into my pregancy the RA did not go away, it got worse!! My rhemy gave me meds to take that I gave to my OBGYN, which he said I could not take and is dangerous to the baby. I asked the OB if I could get on predisone, they told me no, not this far into the pregnancy and they said I should of stayed on predisone before I got pregnant. It was currently too late, because they feared it would suppress my immune system further than it was.

As my luck would have it, my RA did not go into remission! It was worse than ever! The only thing that they gave me for the pain was darvaset (sp wrong.) The OB gave this to me, and said that they dont know what the stress of the RA pain is causing the baby, so taking this painkiller is better than nothing. And he said that they had women who had cancer while pregnant taking vicidon. They (OBGYN) monitor me really good. Doing an ultra sound ever other week starting at 23 weeks, with a fetal stress inbetween. My RA started to have an effect on the baby, and I had her 3 weeks early. A health baby girl!!

It was a tough 9 months, and a major bummer because I was looking forward towards remission!! Just listen to you doctors. Once your pregnant I would put all your trust in the baby doctor. They know what is best for the baby. Who knows what would of happend if I would of listen to my rheumy and taken those meds that cut off blood supply to the fetus!!! Needless to say, I no longer see this rheumatologist!!!

I hope I did not worry you, remember most women do go into remission and find relief during pregnancy! You can do this, your much stronger than you think!!!

Good luck!

awamiba

9/17/09 8:22pm

I had two babies while dealing with RA (& depression & sleep disorder & migraines). Both times, after detoxing for a while & getting pregnant nearly immediately (once before we were een trying), I started feeling better. My RA went into a complete remission during both pregnancies, and stayed away until I was done breastfeeding. (My migraines, on the other hand, got worse & weirder & I slept barely at all for 9 months, but that's besides the point) If I could be pregnant foreer without any untoward consequences (like paying to clothe & feed 900 children), I totally would. :)

peapops

9/18/09 8:42am

i have a question ? what about adoption ? There are so mant babies in this world who NEED LOVE and believe me the baby will become yours and your husbands . I am way beyond child bearing age but i know when i am without my meds i hurt like i never knew why i was hurting. Good luck in whatever you decide.

jujumom

9/19/09 8:19pm

I unexpectedly got pregnant at 30 after having RA for 10 years. I was on Plaquenil which I had to immediatly discontinue. But much to my suprise my Doc was right, he said usually you go into remission during pregnancy, I did. After the baby was born I stayed off everything because I was nursing. When the baby was 3 months 2 weeks old I woke up one morning and couldn't move..Back on the plaquenil.

Lis

11/24/09 2:59am

Did you have to stop breast feeding?

I've just been diagnosed with RA. My baby is 4 months old and I'm breast feeding.

I do have occasional flare up but mostly I can take the daily pain. My only concern if I continue to breast feed and don't take meds the joints will get damaged and this will have an impact later along the line.

I haven't seen a rheumatologist yet so obviosly this is something to be discussed - but I'm worrying endlessly

jujumom

11/24/09 3:14pm

By that time I had already stopped breastfeeding. I would suggest that you see a specialist to get started on long-term treatment. Good Luck

tammy

9/20/09 2:19pm

I was on Enbrel throughout my whole pregnancy and pre-pregnancy. I was put on the med sooner than most patients because it had the least side effects for someone trying to get pregnant. My baby is now 10 months old and is healthy and perfect as can be. I continue on Enbrel now because is does treat R.A. very well.

MJK

9/22/09 5:53pm

Thank you all for your advice you've all been very helpful

much smarter now

10/19/09 1:20am

Try a natural remedy. I was sick for 3 months, the doctors thought I had RA. They wanted me to drink their kool aid but I know once you start you can't ever stop. I met a nutrionist who had me remove sugar and grain (yeast products) from my diet. I ate only salads, veggies, fruits, and lots of yogurt (3 times a day a snack or a meal). She then had me take high doses of vitamin D, and fish oil. I also would rub aloe vera on my joints before bed. After a few weeks I started to feel better. Then after a few months every pain went away. I had more energy and as a side bonus I dropped 14 lbs. I will tell every one I see how this nutrionist cured me. My mom has RA and now after 20 years of taking doctor prescibed meds she is dying from liver complications. You are too young to get on that merry go round of RA meds. If this natural way can work for me it can work for you. I was so sick for 3 straight days every joint in my body was burning. I could barely get out of bed (I'm 47 years old). Just try eating yogurt and taking vitamin D. If it works for you then tell someone else! Maybe between you and I we can save alot of people from suffering needlessly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS I have 2 kids a daughter 9 and a son 12, I did this for them!

MJK

2/25/10 6:26pm

My husband and I have been trying now for about 7 months. I see my gynecologist and rheumatologist in april. When we first started my rheumatologist said that he won't let me try forever because he doesn't want me to be in pain that long. It's become very frustrating for me. All your guys advice has been awesome, but I don't know what to do. I'm scared my rheumatologist is gonna tell me to stop trying for a while, but I don't want to. If i talk to my gynecologist do you guys think she'd let me get on fertility even though it hasn't been quite a year, just to speed things up. I understand that when I do get pregnant that the pain could be just as bad if not worse, but honestly i could deal with it if i knew that i was pregnant. I shouldn't complain, there's people that wait a lot longer to have a baby, but I also know they aren't in the same situations as people like me are.

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