thread: That wasn't the appointment I expected!

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  1. #1
    Registered User
    Add Footsteps on Facebook

    Mar 2008
    Waterloo, Merseyside, UK
    2,543

    huge hugs huni - i really do understand the dilemma. iam waiting to go back to my fs and talk about the reality of pregnancy with the state my womb and organs are in and the pain etc from the scarred tissue. iam on morphine aswell for the pain so i don't know what to do myself.
    i think you need to talk to your DH. I really hope things improve hun- its not easy.
    if you want to talk pm me, lots of hugsxxxx

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Apr 2010
    WA
    457

    BW,
    You have a lot of thinking and talking to do, and I hope you can come to a decision which feels right.
    On the issue of anaemia in pregnancy I have a similar probem. I had iron injections (ow) in my first pregnancy, and nearly took myself to hospital towards the end of my last pregnancy as I couldn't stand up at all and felt very desparate. I have spoken to an ob and midwife about it and next pregnancy we are going to go for iron infusions from the outset. They are extremely effective and just require heading to the day unit of the local hospital. So maybe if you could have a similar plan that would be one less thing to worry about?
    I know a couple of mums with Rheumatoid arthritis (sounds similar to your condition). Some days are harder than others and no doubt its bloody hard work. Good support is really important for the bad days, and eventually your little kids become big kids and don't have so many physical needs... Is there a support group that you could perhaps talk to others about their experiences of parenthood?
    Good luck,

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    6,706

    PollyA, I have a serum-negative form of rheumatoid arthritis, so you were right on the mark! It isn't causing joint damage but can and will flare up in every single joint of my body - even some of the really fun non-movable joints. I had bad flares after pregnancy which made caring for my new-born a little tricky. In some ways it was good that he was born at 36 weeks weighing just under 2.5kg - I had a very sleepy, light baby who did the newborn eat/sleep thing for a bit longer than most babies. He's now a hyperactive 13kg 18 month old, though. I will certainly keep your suggestions in mind for how to deal with the anemia in a future pregnancy - thank you for that information!

    I still haven't spoken to DH. He worked ridiculously long hours on Monday and is quite tired and run down. This morning I did mention the liver problems and the switch from methotrexate back to prednisone - but that was it. When he's in this kind of state, small amounts of information at a time work best. It came up because he wanted to take last night's left overs for lunch today and have lamb shanks for dinner tonight. There's no way my liver in its current state will cope with a meal of lamb shanks (too greasy, I don't much like eating lamb at the best of times!) so I said I'd do the lamb shanks for him and Sam, but would have last night's left overs for dinner instead. He seemed ok with that. I guess there's no particular hurry to make a firm decision yet on what I want to do. I have to give it a little time for the methotrexate to get out of my system before we do anything, anyway.

    I won't increase the salazopyrin until my liver feels a bit less congested, and my rheumy wants me to stay on the megafol until I am advised otherwise by FS/OB. I have ridiculously high folate levels from the last check my GP did, but I'll be a good girl and follow instructions. Ironically, in that last check, I also had very high iron levels and currently don't take any supplements containing iron! Already have the calcium/vitamin D supplements going to help my bones cope with the prednisone's calcium depletion...

    Rambling... I just wish it was an easier decision to make!

    BW

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Feb 2006
    NSW Central Coast
    5,301

    Wow, hun. what a tough decision. Whatever you choose will be the right thing. Just trust yourselves and go with whatever it is life throws at you.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Perth
    486

    Hi BW. You seem to be going through a very tough time. Have you weighed up the positives and negatives about having another baby. Actually write them down and look at them and analyse. It's easy to say you want another baby but it has a big effect on your life and the life of your child and husband. I am in the same position. My DH desperately wants another but I know that I am not healthy enough to cope with another. Be good to yourself, you are going through alot.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    6,706

    If it weren't for the fact that I had frozen embryos, I could easily walk away with Sam as an only child and be happy. But knowing that he has two potential siblings in the freezer makes me feel like I really need to give them a chance. I can't donate them. I can't just give away Sam's siblings. The way I feel today has me thinking that a second child would be doable. But I'm all too aware of the fact that there are days where Sam feels like too much and I have no family that live close...

    I guess I just have to wait and see what DH thinks and hope he comes home in a better mood today!

    BW

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    6,706

    It's a bit sad that nearly three weeks after the appointment I finally managed to tell DH all that was said. Along the line of "I think my rheumy is full of crap because..."

    He hasn't made any comment on it.

    But I think I've decided what I want to do.

    I am going to consult with an FS or two, including one who's a reproductive immunologist (Sydney girls will know who I'm referring to!) and possibly another rheumy. Time to bring out the arsenal of second opinions!

    If it really is now or never then I guess we suck it up and jump on in. At least I know there will be a reprieve from the arthritis pain when I jump up to 10mg of prednisone to cycle, and when I'm pregnant.

    If it's not a now or never thing, then I think I'd like to leave it for another year. I prefer the idea of an age gap on the other side of three years! I know many people manage with much smaller age gaps, but I'm not many people and I do have significant health issues to consider and virtually no family support anywhere near close to us.

    BW

  8. #8

    Nov 2007
    Earth
    4,434

    You have me speechless darl, I really don't know what to say. I can't offer any wisdom, but I wanted you to know I'm here if you ever wanna PM me as a sounding board