pregnancy without Arthritis drugs?

[Lyddie]

Hi. I'm new here and I have a few question, but first a little about my self so you all can understand my problems better. I will be 20 in two weeks and have had PA for over a year and a half. My PA is as bad as my Aunt's RA. Before Vioxx (very shortly), Celebrex, MTX, and now finally Enbrel I could hardly get out of bed to use the rest room let alone go to college full time (which I need to do to stay on my insurance). It effects all of my joints to some extent with the exception of my left hip and my right shoulder.
Now my PA is under control thanks to my wonderful Rhumie, but I have serious concerns about my future. As a very young woman, I still want to have children in the future. I know many meds cause birth defects and my Enbrel hasn't even been studied in pregnant women yet. What I want to know is how bad is pregnacy on an unmedicated women. My PA was horrible before the meds and if I stop them to become pregnant some time in the future how dangerous is it to my health and that of my future babies? Has anyone else gone through a pregnacy without their meds? Who knows, by the time I'm ready to have children they may have decide Enbrel doesn't hurt a thing, but I'm still concerned. Thanks for your help everyone.

Lyddie

[Cat13]

I am 26 and I have had PA since I was 22. I got pregnant when I was 24. I wasn't taking anything but anti-inflammatory's at the time. Now I am on Humira. I do know that pregnancy supresses your immune system. During the time of my pregnancy I did not take any kind of medicine and my PA went completly away. My toes where still swollen but there was no redness or pain. However, about 2 months after I had my son the PA came back with a vengence. I breastfed him for 10 months until my milk dried up. I took anti-inflammotrys again druing that period. They did not really help much acually but I was not working, just staying home with my son. So being pregnant is kind of like being on Enbrel or Humira. I hope I was helpful.

[RichJ]

hi lyddie,
sorry i can't help much but welcome to the p family. you will met some of the wonderful people on here and will find alot of great info. welcome and nice to meet you.

have a good night all

richard

[Lyddie]

Thanks. I had heard some where that pregnancy supresses the immune system, but then again everyone keeps telling me that PA strikes in one's 30's so I suppose everyone's body is different, lol. It is comforting to know that someone has gone through this before me, though. Thanks alot.

Lyddie

[teddyg]

Hi Lyddie,

I am the same, I have had three babies and each pregnancy I have had almost total remission from PA. It's really nice!! Somedays I almost wish I could be pregnant again so I could get rid of my PA! lol....but then I look at my three children under three and think...no not yet!!!

Hope all goes well for you when you get to that stage.

Georgina

[lulu'smom]

Hi Lyddie,

Yes, from what I understand prenancy causes your immune system to suppress, so it doesn't reject the baby? In any case, pregnancy worked wonders for my P. I didn't experience any PA until after though. And, my P as well as PA were pretty horrible quite quickly after birth. When/if you do get pregnant, just don't let yourself go! I sort of ignored my symptoms because I was so busy with the baby. Pay attention to your body, and get treatment immediately. Stay ahead of the P/PA and you should do well!

Pregnancy was 9 months of smooth skin for me!

Nancy

[adamalexa]

My Rheum told me that indeed PA all but disappears while you are pregnant, but comes back with a vengeance afterward. This was true for me. If I were in your shoes I would try to find all the info I could about pregnancy and PA medication, and consult with a Rheum who has had a lot of experience treating pregnant women, and what they recommend. I just started Enbrel and those serious side effects are scary since I have 2 little kids, but my reasoning is that I need to feel at my best while raising them, so I'm praying for the best. I notice that I am quite crabby when I don't feel well, and I don't want that for my kids! Good luck.

[sabsmako]

My daughter is now almost 7 months old (wow...how the time goes). I was on Enbrel when I got pregnant and stopped right away. My psoriasis came back within 6 weeks, but the PA wasn't really that bad. I had pain every once in awhile, but nothing severe.

[traceyo]

hi

i am currentlyu trying to find out how bad it is. i've come off mtx, arthortec and other anti inflamtorries and i am survicing on paracetomal and a steriod injection.
yopu do have to come off most drugs, but you can strill take sulphazalazine( i don't it makes my tummy poorly), have steriod injections and my hreumy has recommended imuran but i trying to stay off this.

it can be done i just hope i get pregant quickly and feel the benefits.
my advice it to plan it with your drs i had to go for it as i'm 36.
good luck tracey

[froggyshelley]

Hi, I am brand new to this board. I was just diagnosed with PA today. They have been looking at me for 4 years now trying to figure it out, RA to Sarcoid, to everything else. Anyway. I had my first baby 1 year ago and my pregnancy was great, no symptoms at all. About 3 months after giving birth my hands started hurting and then I flared 4 months afterwards and my fingers are still swollen. I just stared Humira in January and it is working pretty well. But my rheumy said I can be on Humira through the next pregnancy, she said a lot of fertility doctors use it so women can get pregnant. It is a natural protein that the body makes, but yes it does lower your immunity to things, that is the scariest part!

[RichJ]

hi froggyshelley,
sorry i can't help much but welcome to the p family. you will met some of the wonderful people on here and will find alot of great info. welcome and nice to meet you.

have a good night all

richard

[froggyshelley]

I guess I am relieved to finally diagnosed with something. It has been a 4 year on going battle of trying to figure out what on earth is going on! So thank you for the support! And thank you for the welcome!