IVF cycle while having rheumatoid arthiris

Let me give you a better understanding from my previous post why I rheumy has me on Enbrel injection. I been with my previous rheumy for 7yrs since I was diagnose with rheumatoid arthritis. I have been on planquenil 200mg 2x daily but occasionally when I have bad flare my dr prescribe 10mg of prednisone and I start feeling better.

However, in February 2014 my husband and I made an appointment to see a fertility doctor because I want to try for another child. During the interview with the fertility dr he ask if I had any medical conditions and I stated rheumatoid arthritis. The doctor as if I was currently taking any medication and I stated planquenil & prednisone. The fertility dr stated I had to stop all medication during the iVF cycle which I needed to get a written letter from my rheumatologist stating it was fine. My rheumatologist didn't with the fertility doctor that I needed to stop the medication but he gave me the letter. My rheumatologist stated that my joints will start hurting. Just to let you know I successfully completed the IVF cycle in April 2014.

In May, my foot started hurting. In June my foot started swelling up. In July both my feet swelled up & I was in extreme pain and was rush to the hospital. I was admitted in the hospital because of the water retention in my feet which doctors thought I was having stoke. EKG & ECO were normal but the blood work shown that I had very active inflammation which was causing all the pain in my joints. I was asked if I was currently on any medication & I said I just went back on plaquenil because I had to stop all medication due to an IVF treatment.
I was give morphine for the pain, LASIK for the water retention 20 units of prednisone intravenously & plaquenil. The next morning a rheumatologist went to visit me stated stated that plaquenil was not a very effective drug to treat RA & prednisone is a temporary treatment. The rheumatologist at the hospital stated that my rheumatologist need to change my medication. I was released from the hospital after 4 days.

Went home felt a little better but the next two days later my feet swelled up again & my pain level was a 7. I went to work with the pain but it was getting worst to the point I was barely able to walk. Went to see my rheumatologist gave me a cortisone shot on each shot and prescribed LASIK because of the water retention on my feet. This was the first time the flare up on my feet that wasn't getting better. Cortisone shot was not helping much went to see rheumy again & gave me another cortisone shot. My husband had to carry me to my rheumatologist office because I couldn't walk. This was the third week in a row that I was in his office & still there was no solution to my pain. My rheumatologist said to me that there was nothing else he could do for me and referred me to physical therapy in august. Went to physical therapy and still no relieve which was now September. My husband was so aggravated with my rheumatologist that he said, it time to find a new
Rheumatogist because I was getting worse.

I did make an appointment with a new rheumatologist. The new rheumatologist asked how long I have been with the swelliness & the joint pains and I stated for approximately 4 months. Rheumy asked if I had missed work and I said, " no I have been going to work like this in pain" she said you're strong. Rheumy asked what medication I have been taking & I said plaquenil & prednisone. Rheumy continue by asking if he had try any other medications and I said " no". Rheumy stated we are starting from scratch so she began by conducting a complete blood work. Blood work came back and she confirmed having rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumy asked if I have been on MX and I said, " no but I informed her that I was planning on having another child". Rheumy reviewed my blood work and notice inflammation and numbers were very high confirming I had rheumatoid arthritis. She gave me a cortisone shot because she noticed I could lift my shoulders. Rheumy informed me that she was putting me on Enbrel injection because is safe to take during pregnancy. I still in pain because I'm only up to my second shot of Enbrel. Has any been told to stop all medications before starting an IVF cycle? How did you manage the joint pains and inflammation?

If you successfully completed an IVF cycle in April 2014 aren't you pregnant now?

I don't have RA but I did do 7 IVF cycles, and my guess is that your RE (reproductive endocrinologist) wanted to have as much control as s/he possibly could over your response to the IVF meds. IVF is a very expensive and physically intense procedure, and success rates are generally no higher than 30% in any given cycle.

In my first IVF cycle I injured my foot right before we were to start meds. I needed an outpatient surgery but my RE made me put it off until after the cycle was over. Now that I think about it I wonder what would have happened if I conceived in that cycle? I certainly could not have had surgery on my foot while pregnant. I ended up firing that RE many years later for being a complete idiot. It took me a long time to come to that realization.

I think you need a different RE.