Hi, I know this is about 9 months from your original thread but I have been looking up everything I can regarding this disease as my 31 year old daughter started with terrible joint pain about 3 weeks afte giving birth. She had an uneventful pregnancy and straightforward birth. She had conceived via IVF and had had high Prolactin levels which I wonder is causing her problems now. After taking anti-inflammatories without much real improvement she visited a rheumatologist who said she may be in the early stages of RA. This was a terrible shock to say the least! However, she has visited the acupuncturist who helped her before her third and last IVF attempt and, cross fingers, she is almost back to normal. She is also taking some Chinese Herbs and Diclofenac. She has noted that she is no longer feeling that she NEEDS the Diclofenac but still takes it just in case. Either the disease is not RA (they are not sure of course yet) or it is and it is going, hopefully for ever. She did have a set back last weekend when she could hardly walk, move again but her period had just started so I think hormones might have been the cause.
There is also a wonderful website by Margaret Hills who advocates Cider Vinegar, watching your diet and Epsom Salt baths but only if you do not have high blood pressure. Take a look or get her book.
I do hope you are feeling better and if not perhaps get some help from the Margaret Hills site or perhaps acupuncture.
Take care. Motheroftwo
This article and the comments with it were very helpful to me so I wanted to add my story. I am 32 years old and I was diagnosed with RA 10 years ago. At first I had a little swelling in my hands and shoulders and as soon as I was put on Plaquenel I went into remission for 5 years until after the birth of my first child. Three months after my daughter was born I noticed pain and swelling so my doctor put me back on Plaquenel and it helped a bit, but as my daughter reached 9 months old my symptoms got worse and my RA moved into my elbows, back and neck. Because I wanted to breastfeed I stayed on the Plaquenel and dealt with the pain that lasted for about 5 more months and then slowly decreased. I felt pretty good some soreness and stiffness, but overall normal for awhile. When my daughter was 2 1/2 I gave birth to my son, I had a great pregnancy with no RA pain. I love being pregnant, I feel normal again, but after my son it only took two months and my RA came back slowly getting worse and moving to my right foot, knee and hip. I went back on my plaquenel and also breastfed for 5 months. It is hard to care for a newborn along with a preschooler with fatigue and pain and very little sleep due to middle of the night feedings. I also think I dealt with depression due to fatigue, lack of sleep and everything to due caring for little ones. In the midst of this time I would tell my self I don't ever want to do this again (care for a baby and deal with RA). In the mornings I had trouble picking him up and clothing him, but we managed and got through it. I also struggled with being a "grumpy mommy" it is hard to have patience with a two year old when you are in pain. I didn't see my doctor during this painful time due to really bad insurance and medical costs. I tried to wait it out knowing with my daughter the pain just went away. Summer came and I felt really good for awhile until two weeks ago and I had the worst flare up I have ever had, I could hardly walk due to a swollen knee and I was forced to see my doctor. He gave me steroid shots and wants me to go on Methotrexate. I don't know if I want to go on this medication, because it takes six months for the medication to take affect and you can't get pregnant while taking it. We were hoping to have a third child, but now I don't know what another pregnancy would do to me. My doctor doesn't believe that pregnancy progresses the disease, but I whole heartly do in my case. This is why I am researching about RA and pregnancy. If we don't have more children I am completely open to adopting, there are so many children in this world that need homes and I would love to care for a baby and not be in pain at the same time. I pray and trust God for my body and family and that my husband and I will make the best decision. I hope my story helps someone going through this.
I know this thread is kinda old....but I was wondering if any of you with RA also have positive AntiNuclear Antibodies while pregnant?? I am 32 years old, have had RA for 10 years, and am also 5 weeks pregnant. I have positive ANA, and am scared to death about having miscarriage after everything I have read online about having positive ANA and reaccurant miscarriage. It mostly mentions Lupus, which I dont have. I DO NOT have ACA or APA...just plain old ANA. ANY input would be greatly apperciated!! Thabk you guys!!
Congratulations, this is Monica again and I am 32 years old and I have had RA for 10years old and I left the last comment before yours. My husband and I decided to go for a third baby and I am 5 weeks pregnant too. I have never heard of positive ANA. Is this your first pregnancy? I am usually RA symptom free during pregnancy so I normally don't see my rhuematologist during pregnancy, but I am currently having a flare and I am going to my doctor this week. My blood doesn't actually have the RA factor, but my symptoms are RA. Sorry I can't answer your question, but I will pray that your baby is safe and healthy.
I am 37 years old I have had RA for 6 years I have never been on drugs I have managed it with chinese herbs and accupunture. I only had it in my hands and toes. I have always done alot of excerise had a physical job and had a normal life. My baby is now 5 months old and my RA is terrible. It was bad during the pregnancy and required steriods in the knee and wrist but then calmed down. By the time by baby was 7 weeks it hit me like a tone of bricks swollen knees, hands, feet, shoulders and the worst of all in my ankles making it impossible to walk. I have been scared to go on the drugs for years because of the side effects and I can find very few people that say the drugs have made there life better. At the same time I can't keep going like this I was once a active healthy person since getting pregnant it has nearly been 13 months of being able to do very little. I am on anti inflammatorys which help a bit. Just wondering how long these flare ups last and have other people gone back to how they were before having a baby? I go to a specalist in 2 weeks and I will have to try the drugs.
WHen I became pregnant with my second that is when RA decided to peek its ugly nose into the picture. I didn't take anything and within 9 months both wristes became completely fused and to this day are locked for good. I became pregnant 15 years later unexpectedly and like many I worry about birth defects of enbrel being it is new drug yet scared to go off for fear I will loose function of another or multiple joints such as my feet should I continue with this pregnancy. I am sure I won't make it to retirement but don't want to speed up the disability process if I don't have to.
AS much as a new baby sounds I don't know that it is a good idea for me. I have 2 other kids to care for and make sure grow up and become independant responsible children. I need to work. I do well on medication and think that if I truely want a baby I can adopt being there are thousands of children in this country who have been abandonded and need love. Although this is a difficult decision I am very hesitant to keep going from fear of chronic pain and permanent disability of joint(s).
Hi, I have come back to this website as I recently stumbled upon something that helps RA greatly. I recommend you google Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). There are several websites and yahoo groups. I found a comment about it on the Daily Mail Health section and have not looked back since.
This drug has been used in large doses for drug addicts since 1984 an American doctor, Dr Bihari, found that this drug in minute doses helped MS sufferers and then other autoimmune diseases. It works on the endorphins and is non-toxic in large doses. Trouble is that because this drug is out of patent and therefore NO money can be made from doing clinical trials for use on other diseases, it won't happen unless the NHS funds trials. A petition, handed in by Dr Chris Steele, has asked for funding to be made available as this drug will save money as it is less than £1 per day.
A friend's father has MS and he has been prescribed it by his local hospital who told him that others are benefitting from this drug.
Visit www.ldnnow.co.uk and http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/
I cannot bear to think that young mothers are suffering as my daughter has. She is going to ask for this drug when she goes to hospital next, taking with her the LDN fact book!
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
