Guest guest Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Well I've been off of the methotrexate for 6 months officially now and coming up on 2 months off of my Enbrel. We are trying to have a baby and my rheumy said I needed to have those timelines with the drugs. I can't believe I made it - but so far I have! Some days are good days (energy) some days are bad. But thankfully I'm still pretty young so I am pushing through! My question is - does anyone have any suggestions for alternative methods for energy and pain management that I can use while trying to get pregnant and once I am pregnant? And has anyone had any issues with fertility after having been on RA maintenance drugs? Thanks for any help you can offer me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 I made the decision to stay on Humira while I was pregnant, I am due in less than 3 weeks. I got pregnant right away I am happy to say. > > Well I've been off of the methotrexate for 6 months officially now and > coming up on 2 months off of my Enbrel. We are trying to have a baby > and my rheumy said I needed to have those timelines with the drugs. I > can't believe I made it - but so far I have! > > Some days are good days (energy) some days are bad. But thankfully > I'm still pretty young so I am pushing through! > > My question is - does anyone have any suggestions for alternative > methods for energy and pain management that I can use while trying to > get pregnant and once I am pregnant? > > And has anyone had any issues with fertility after having been on RA > maintenance drugs? > > Thanks for any help you can offer me! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 Thanks ! It's good to hear that info from you. My Rheumy insisted that I had to be off all the drugs for a little while before even beginning to conceive. I sure miss my Enbrel - that stuff worked wonders for me. The Rheumy wanted to put me back on the prednisone while trying to become pregnant but I truly hated that stuff. I went off of that In December of last year and everything about my body improved. What a horrible drug Prednisone is if you ask me! It caused me to gain 35 lbs - in 3 weeks. Yes - 3 weeks. Then the Rheumy kept repeating to me - " You have to lose weight - it's putting too much stress on your joints! " Well duh! I fought and fought and fought that extra 35 lbs and when I weaned myself off the Prednisone I lost 15 of it within the first month and a half. I've been owrking off hte remaining 20 ever since. The Rheumy told me, " I'm going to put you on this steroid called Prednisone - but I want to warn you - it'll make you gain weight. " And then once I did - he kept telling me it was my poor diet and lack of exercise that must be causing the weight gain. I was so frustrated with that. But no matter - I know now not to take the Prednisone - I'm happy with the metho and enbrel. I'm almost looking forward to getting back on them. Is it true what they say about RA and pregnancy? That pregnancy basically masks the symptoms of RA? > > > > Well I've been off of the methotrexate for 6 months officially now and > > coming up on 2 months off of my Enbrel. We are trying to have a baby > > and my rheumy said I needed to have those timelines with the drugs. I > > can't believe I made it - but so far I have! > > > > Some days are good days (energy) some days are bad. But thankfully > > I'm still pretty young so I am pushing through! > > > > My question is - does anyone have any suggestions for alternative > > methods for energy and pain management that I can use while trying to > > get pregnant and once I am pregnant? > > > > And has anyone had any issues with fertility after having been on RA > > maintenance drugs? > > > > Thanks for any help you can offer me! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 Have you had a pre-pregnancy consultation? I would suggest seeing a Perinatologist who is more used to dealing with high-risk pregnancies. I did the research and chose to stay on Humira throughout my pregnancy. It is a Category B drug, as is Enbrel, which means that it has been tested in very high doses in animals who are pregnant with no ill effects. I did not feel I could go off Humira nor that I could sustain a pregnancy in an RA flare. Rheumatologists tend to be extremely cautious with pregnant women and women trying to get pregnant so I would definitely see a perinatologist who has dealt with pregnant women with RA. > > > > > > Well I've been off of the methotrexate for 6 months officially > now and > > > coming up on 2 months off of my Enbrel. We are trying to have a > baby > > > and my rheumy said I needed to have those timelines with the > drugs. I > > > can't believe I made it - but so far I have! > > > > > > Some days are good days (energy) some days are bad. But > thankfully > > > I'm still pretty young so I am pushing through! > > > > > > My question is - does anyone have any suggestions for > alternative > > > methods for energy and pain management that I can use while > trying to > > > get pregnant and once I am pregnant? > > > > > > And has anyone had any issues with fertility after having been > on RA > > > maintenance drugs? > > > > > > Thanks for any help you can offer me! > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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