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REMICADE & PREGNANCY -- HELP ME!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/4/2008 9:15 PM (GMT 0)

Hi there!

I am new to the forum,

someone in my support group informed me about this website, figured I would give it a shot!!

The year of 2007 was the worst year of my life!

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (Pancolonic) in January, followed by 5 hospitalizations for UC and diagnosed in July with a rare liver disease - Primary Scerlosing Cholangitis...I had a liver biopsy to confirm the disease, my liver has just recently approached cirrhosis....

I had heard that when you have liver disease it is difficult to conceive...does anyone know of this? I also heard that you cannot try to conceive a baby when you are on Remicade that you have to be off the medication for at least 3 months? Has anyone conceived while on Remicade and their baby had birth defects, etc!

I need your advice on what to do, I do not want to miss out on being a parent, it's been my life's dream...I want to have a baby while I can and while my liver is functioning okay before it starts to decline in cirrhosis..

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!

Posted 1/4/2008 9:40 PM (GMT 0)

sorry to hear bout everything that is going on.  There are many different sides to the remicade baby debate and it's a personal decision that you will be making.  If you search this site for remicade and pregnancy you will find some very interesting posts, I can't remember what they all say but it's a start.  Also, I think there may be more people on the Chron's page who can provide info about remicade and pregnancy.

Whatever your decision is, make sure you, your OB and GI and Liver Doctor work together

I understand how you feel (well almost) I also have kidney disease and need to get that taken care of first before I can get pregnant (was hoping to be pregnant at this time but have to wait) and think about the UC drugs I am on.

Wish you the best!

Posted 1/6/2008 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear about the psc. Are you in the care of a good Hep Dr. that knows the disease well? What is the prognosis for your liver? Are they talking transplant any time soon?

I have been "chasing" a diagnosis of psc for 10 years. Recently started urso a year or so ago just in case. Fun fun fun.

I have found my best psc info at pscpartners.org I'll bet some of the members there could answer your questions.
Otherwise, I would talk to whomever you see for the psc and review your desire to get pregnant and talk through your condition and the meds you are on and see how both will impact a pregnancy.

If I were you I would wade in slow.

Good luck.
Posted 1/6/2008 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there!

Thanks for your reply!

My liver (thank god) is functioning quite well...It was alot of pain in the upper right quad and my GI finally decided to do a liver biopsy, came back as stage 3 fibrosis approaching cirrhosis...It just seems to vague and foreign to me! (I'm only 26!) But the biopsy reported that my liver is badly scarred and the ducts as well.  It took a couple months, but the Urso is working great.  I am on 1150 mg per day.  I wanted to get pregnant while my liver was cooperating with me, because I did some research and it says unfortunately that your liver disease worsens with pregnancy...Thanks for your help, I have a FABULOUS doctor he is world renown at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. They are not talking transplant yet, I am trying very hard to take care of myself, lose weight and keep up the antioxidants...Thanks!!

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