Hi ladies,
It feels like it's been a while. Babyjoy, so sorry to hear you had a flare. Glad it's under control. You're off the methotrexate aren't you, as you're TTC? Glad your rheumy has re-estanlished their place with you. They are important people I have discovered! Mine is wonderful even though I cried my eyes out when I went in last time. And it seems I will have a long relationship with him. There's not many out there though.
I've been on methotrexate for about 6 weeks now (10mg once a week) and am feeling pretty good. No major side effects apart from a bit of nausea the next day. I'm down to 5mg of Pred a day. It did make me gain weight but Christmas didn't help either! My rheumy wants me off the Pred in the next 5 months. Hopefully I won't flare. I'm still having a small amount of pain in my feet, but the pain is nothing compared to the pain I had in my entire body 2 months ago. Glad I made the decision to go on medication. I'm such a better wife and mum.
I'm still having issues with not breastfeeding. I really miss it. But talking to everyone on this forum really helped (thank you!!!). I also wrote everything down and sent a letter into a well known parenting magazine. They actually published it in January's edition! I actually had forgotten about the letter until someone pointed it out to me. I think I just needed to write it all down and do something with it. Once I had sent it, I forgot about it completely!
It's great to read about other peoples medication as well. Gives me something to discuss with my rheumy at the end of the month.
Hope you're all pain free. Good luck with TTC this month Babyjoy.
Hi everyone!
It's been a while since I popped in. We're still not pregnant, but fingers crossed for this month! Flares are happening daily now... morning stiffness followed by the odd joint playing up during the day, then serious aching all over at night. By the time I get to bed and lay there really still, it feels like I have clamps on my ankles, wrists and knees and someone is tightening them. Fortunately my pain tolerance has improved over the past few years so I can sleep okay.
WARNING TMI: The problem with RA and trying to conceive a baby is that ... um... certain sexual positions really hurt! My hips scream at me while my shoulders stiffen and knees crack... my moaning and groaning is not due to pleasure, it's because I'm in pain!
I'm so lucky my DH is understanding.
Hope you are all doing well... keep us posted! I'm signing off now...
I see this post is a little dated but maybe someone will still respond..I also have RA, and I'm sero-negative and have been going on three years. I have three children ages, 11, 14 and almost 16 and have had two failed IVF cycles and will be moving on to donor egg.
My dh and I began our journey of IVF before I developed RA, and now I'm scared to stop my meds for fear of the pain that I will have without them (Enbrel, Methotrexate, and Plaquenil) I still have joint pain most days, although it is only unmanageable if I get sick with a cold or something like that..
My children are from my first marriage and my dh very much wants a child of his own and feels empty without one. Right now I'm trying to get over my fear of stopping my meds and dealing with the pain as we go through an IVF cycle.
My children are much older and able to care for themselves and I also worry how I will care for an infant and if I will be able to nurse as I did with my others or if I will be forced to go right back on my medications, so many worries!!! I agonize constantly over this and no one here understands what I'm going through, not IVF (especially donor egg!) We thought I would be a great candidate since I had had three children but we were very wrong! With an FSH level of 5, I failed miserably, and on my second try my FSH went to 35. At 35, I was told donor egg was my only option and by the time we were saving for it, I developed the RA and here I am.
Since I'm sero-negative I keep thinking maybe some day the joint pain will just go away, but it has been three years and I started out on all the NSAIDS and now I'm on Enbrel so it doesn't look like it's improving any.
MaddiesMom... I can feel your frustration, fear, pain and anxiety... it's all familiar to us women with RA or similar illnesses. I can only suggest that you try and stay positive that your IVF will be successful and that your RA will take a back seat while the baby-making process takes place... you might actually surprise yourself at how well you cope without medication.
I have been off meds for eight months now as DH and I are also trying to conceive.
I was terrified of how my body would handle it but I've coped amazingly well, and I've found new alternative ways of dealing with the pain when it strikes. I'm incredibly frustrated that we haven't fallen pregnant yet and my rheumatologist isn't happy about me being off MTX but I'm not giving up yet! I'm still working part-time and looking after an energetic toddler, and the pain doesn't go away fully, but it's managable.
One idea for you might be to see a naturopath, herbalist or nutritionist to help you formulate the best diet for your needs. Or try some relaxation techniques such as Tai Chi (apparently it's great for RA but I'm yet to try it myself). Stress is one of my main triggers, which is why I suggest relaxation as a way of coping.
There is definitely a fear of not being able to breastfeed so I can truly understand your anguish over this. In my case, I only lasted four months, then had to wean my daughter and go onto meds again. It was a very distressing time for both of us but in the end I was a better Mummy when I could move again! I'm going to be a lot stronger next time (emotionally) and stress a lot less (being my first child I worried about everything!) and hopefully will be able to nurse for a lot longer.
I really hope you can find your inner strength again - after all, you are a superwoman having already raised three kids! - and that you are successful in having another precious baby. In the meantime, I'm here if you ever want to vent or chat!
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