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Aih, Pregnancy and Imuran..

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Posted 12/23/2009 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
I have AIh. I'm 32 years old and had it for 20 years.. I have been married for 5 years and wanting to have children. I'm finally 6 weeks pregnant after trying for one year. I'm currently on 50mg on Imuran. My doc says it's should be okay to have a safe pregnancy on the Imuran. He said I need to be on it so it's safer for me to be on it to stay healthy. Is anyone on Imuran and pregnant? Or has anyone been on Imuran while pregnant? Were your children healthy? Please let me know. I'm very nervous about Birth defects.
Posted 12/23/2009 5:52 AM (GMT 0)
Congratulations! I remember when you posted originally, asking about getting pregnant with AIH and on Imuran. I believe you had an answer from someone here at that time, though I don't recall exactly what she said.

She ended up having an abortion 3 mos. into the pregnancy. This is something you should really look into more and perhaps get a 2nd opinion as to the safety of not only your baby but also yourself if you continue with this pregnancy.

Hugs,

Connie
Posted 12/23/2009 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Please, please speak to your hepatologist and gyny! Also, there's a Yahoo group 'aiHep' and there are some folks on there who have had successful births but I don't know what their medication regimen was during pregnancy. There is a very high risk of flare right after the birth too. The health of the baby right after birth and in the future is of prime importance. Drug side effects could take a long time to show up. Sometimes, adoption is also a great answer ( I know it's easier for me to say that seeing as I have one of my own (pre-AIH)) but still speak to your docs, please.
Posted 12/23/2009 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Danny. I have been talking to my Doc for years. He is all for me getting pregnant. He has had a few women on Imuran and they all had successful pregnancies. I'm only on 50mg Imuran that is it so I think I hope I'll be okay. Did you have kids being on Imuran??

Posted 12/24/2009 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bulldoglover,

As long as your doc is A-OK with it, then I guess it's fine. Nope, I had my girl well before I got sick. She was 8 when I was diagnosed. They had been watching me for what they thought might end up being Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder as my ANA was elevated as of 2003. I had joint paint in my hands but no other markers were elevated so I went to a rheumatologist every year to monitor. So it wasn't surprising that I ended up with an autoimmune disease (I also have 2 sisters, from different moms, who have MS)...it's in my genes.

I was told by my hep that if I desperately wanted any more children then we'd need to discuss it at length in a few years...I'm already 41 (I was 38 then) so I'm good with not having any more. I'm also a single mom and I'm really happy with just the one! I had a severe onset of AIH too so that's likely why they were leaning towards me not getting pregnant again. My hep said I'll stay on meds indefinitely as I would probably flare and each flare is usually harder to get into remission. I play it really safe now! Stress is always there but I try to dodge it whenever I can!

I do wish you a super easy and wonderful pregnancy! A lot is mind over matter so try to focus on all the positive.
Posted 12/29/2009 6:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I've been on 125mg of Imuran for 4 years for ulcerative colitis and I'm now 27 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I've had a great pregnancy so far and the baby is perfectly healthy and growing right on schedule. My GI had told me before getting pregnant that it was better to continue the Imuran than to risk a flare during early pregnancy. Good luck and try not to worry too much!!
Posted 12/29/2009 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Nel and thank you for your post.  I know bulldoglover will love to communicate with you.   Congrats on both you and bulldoglover's pregnancies.....Lot's of thoughts and prayers for easy pregnancies and healthy babies.....
Posted 2/25/2011 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Nel. So you did have a safe pregnancy on Imuran? That is so nice to hear. I have miscarried twice in the past 2 years. The Dr. say it has nothing to do with the Imuran or my AIH. You baby is healthy and no birth defects? I'm only on 50mg Imuran. Did you breast feed on the Imuran?? Thanks so much for sharing. I can't wait to hear from you.
Posted 2/25/2011 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bulldoglover,

I thought I had written to you prior to the last thread you posted. As I said in the last one, I know there are others with AIH who have had successful pregnancies and deliveries. I should have specified that those ladies were still on Imuran at the time. You should definitely stay on meds during your pregnancy and 50mg is a low dose. My point was that for me, personally, I wouldn't do it again. I, luckily, had mine well before I was diagnosed.

My other point was that you see a high risk gynecologist. Your hepatologist and your gynecologist should be in contact with one another. During the pregnancy, your AIH should stay under control...pregnancy hormones, proteins and whatnot are great on a lot of autoimmune diseases...it's after delivery that you risk having a flare. They will likely also give you stress doses of steroids during labor and delivery to help thwart a flare.

I hope you didn't think I implied that your miscarriages were in anyway associated with your Imuran. I have a friend with RA. She's had it since she was 3 and is, at this time, only maintained on 5mg of pred. She's been on many other meds though. She's had 2 successful pregnancies and I think, 3-4 miscarriages. Maybe it's related to her disease, maybe not. A high risk gyny will help sort out if you are rejecting the pregnancies because of your meds or your disease or just because. My friend was also on a daily injection to help her body out. I will write back as soon as I have the name of it. Her rheumy put her on it. The only 2 pregnancies she used it were the only 2 that were successful...so maybe you could talk to your doc about it?

I'll let you know shortly!
Posted 2/25/2011 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
So I checked...she had had some possible issue with clotting at one time. So her rheumy thought this injection might help....and maybe that's what did it however, it may not be applicable to you as it's a clot inhibitor. It's called Lovenox (Enoxaparin). Because you have a liver disorder that may not be an option. It still doesn't hurt to ask about ALL your options.
Posted 2/25/2011 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Dany, I was on Lovenox for some time after my initial hip replacements, injecting myself at home. Of course, I didn't have AIH, but hep C.

Hugs,

Connie
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