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RA and pregnancy..worried

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 5/16/2006 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
HI
I have been taking remicade and methotrexate for a few months now. I have
had great relief and finally can move around again. i was in a lot of pain for
a long time until they finally found out what it was and what to take.

anyway, my latest concern is my husband and i want to have another baby.
I know i have to go off the meds to get pregnant.

has anyone had any experiance with RA and pregnancy?

first i wondered how long do i need to be off the meds before trying? i have heard
4 months for methortrexate and 2 months for remicade. does that sound right?

Also did you go into remission during pregnancy?

I am really worried and trying to make a decision soon about whether to
go off the meds. i really want to try and have another baby.

I would love any input.

Thanks
Posted 5/16/2006 1:38 AM (GMT 0)

Talk to your doctors about the length of time. I always add a little longer to be sure. The doctors can also rx something to help get the mthx out of your system.

With my first I didn't go in to remission, but I didn't have any flares. The strange thing was, my immune system was like an iron door the whole 9 months - that may have something to do with it. I went in to remission with my 2nd child. about 10 hours after having him, my RA came back 10fold. I haven't been the same since. sad   It was a rough pregnancy, I was very ill the whole time (pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.) but, my arthritis was completely pain free. Go figure.

I will say, so as not to scare you too much - I planned my 2nd WAY too close to my 1st (concieved 8 months post 1st), espeically considering the 1st was a c-section and knew I'd have to have surgery again w/the second. That may have something to do with what happened with me. Every pregnancy is different, so you never can tell even with your own body.

How your body reacts to pregnancy (including remissions) is actually due to how your body reacts to your husband's DNA, I'm told. So, morning sickness and all the other pregnancy woes really ARE the man's fault! tongue But, remember to THANK him if you go in remission! ha ha!

Good luck, and remember, stress is sometimes worse than all these other concerns/issues combined!

***

Posted 5/16/2006 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
thanks for replying. did you go on any meds between the 2 babies?
also do you think that MTX or remicade affect fertility? my son is
1 year's old and we are thinking of trying again in the fall. That would
mean i would stop my meds now and then in 4 months or so we would
start tying. I guess part of me is worried if i dont try and have a baby
soon it will be too late. i am 32 and if the fertility gets affected then
what if it doesnt happen? anyway..sorry to ramble on. I apppreciate your
input. Good luck with your kids and i hope you are feeling well.
Posted 5/16/2006 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
You are still very young at 32 unless you have reason to believe you naturally have fertility problems. From what I know, methotrexate definitely affects a growing embryo/fetus and it definitely affects a man's fertility (but I'm unclear if it affects a womans.) However, with that said, I do know that in a man's case - the fertility issues resolved themselves once the meds are out of your system and their body has time to replenish itself.  So, I think your main concern is to get the med completely out of your system before conceiving.

As for Remicade, it seems there is a semi-recent post about Remicade and fertility. If I can find it, I'll bump it up for you. I know when I was on it, they said don't get pregnant on it, but it only takes 8 weeks to get out of your system.

I was not on medication between pregnancies. I nursed right up until I got pregnant the 2nd time and then nursed my 2nd. I had given up on my rhuemy for a few years and was on pain meds and whatever my PCP at the time was giving me until I found out I was pregnant. Late in to my 1st pregnancy I switched HMO's and got a new rhuemy who kept an eye on me, but didn't want to give me anything until I was ready. Luckily, my 2nd was ready to wean at the same time I was due to extreme joint pain. At that point I started the more aggressive medication as previously all I'd ever been given were NSAIDs which never did a thing for me.

 

Posted 5/16/2006 4:07 AM (GMT 0)

I bumped up a couple of posts regarding Remicade and other meds during pregnancy. Take a look. One has a link to the Chron's forum where a woman just recently gave birth to a baby while taking remicade thruout pregnancy.

**

Posted 5/16/2006 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Oh wow! Much good luck with everything. My boyfriend had ripped out a newspaper article last summer for me about a woman who had severe RA who went into a 10 year remission after conceiving. Wonderful eh?
I wish you well.
Erin
Posted 5/16/2006 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
CaMama Hi,I would like to say that yes it does effect women.When I was put on Methotrexate I was asked if I was planning on having any kid's and I told them no so that was not a big concern to me.I do remember asking why they ask and they said that because if I was then methotrexate was not a good choice.I do hope that this help's clarafies(sp) this for you.Oh and yes there is a med that help's get the metho out faster but I cannot think of the name of it right this minute.
Posted 5/17/2006 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
thanks for all the info. its nice to hear from people who are
going thru many of the same things as i am. This RA is still
fairly new to me and i am still trying to cope. all the shared
experiances are really helpful.

I hope that everyone is flare up free!

Thanks
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