Continued…
Ok…so where did I leave off. Well, as I said, I didn't want to be on any medication while pregnant. So, shortly after the wedding I did become pregnant. For the first 12 weeks or so, I felt ok…just really tired and a little bit of nausea…and mild soreness and stiffness! After that – I felt great!!! My joints didn't hurt for the most part and I had more energy. After the birth of my son, I still felt pretty good day to day. I was breastfeeding also…so I was happy to feel good and not need to be on meds. At about 6 months postpartum…it all came flooding back. It felt like overnight my body changed…my joints became swollen again, I was stiff, tired and in pain. Great…just what I need when I have to take care of the baby. There were many times I couldn't even hold him for longer than a minute or so as my wrists would just give out. I went to my doctor and she decided that I should go back on my meds. So, I started taking prednisone again. A few weeks later…my Iritis flared up again. So back on eye drops I go. This was all helping me with the pain…but I was still extremely weak and stiff some days. When my son was about 1 year old…I took myself back off of my meds…we wanted to have another child sometime in the near future. I dealt with the pain on a daily basis…but I really felt strongly about not being on meds…it was my personal choice. The worst part was not being able to play with my boy the way I wanted to. Whether I was on meds or not, he was becoming stronger than me. He was only a one year old – but could easily hurt me when we were playing, or if he grabbed my hand the wrong way. When I did become pregnant again – I was very happy…until morning sickness hit…blah…lol! Once that started to dissipate, I felt great again. My swelling went down and the pain was barely there. My joints were still just weak. After the birth of my second boy…I was breastfeeding again…and once again, about 6 months postpartum…it all came back. And having a 2.5 year old and a baby…it was pretty difficult. My older son is now a lot stronger than me…and we always have to remind him to be gentle with mommy. Thank goodness for my husband who took time off work to help me out. Unfortunately, my wrists and hands are one of my worst affected areas and they do not have much flexibility in them. That makes it hard to do a lot of things. I have sooooo much trouble un-clipping the kids from their cars seats!!! Does anyone else have this problem? It is such a pain sometimes! And simple diaper changes can be a struggle, they don't want me to change them…they usually get there way…or I have to come up with a great distraction. Even sitting on the floor and playing with them can be difficult…especially when I need to get up…lol! It's not fun being able to be hurt so easily from a 2.5 year old or an 8 month old…but it happens all the time! So as of right now, I am not on any meds. I am hoping to hold off until I finish breastfeeding. I am not sure what meds they will want me on this time…maybe an injectable. I will also need drops again for my eye for sure…ugh.
Some days are better than others…so I take it day by day.
I would like to never have to take meds again. Sometimes the side effects are worse! There have been times when I've gone into remission without the help of medication… Sometimes I just want to live without pain and do easy things like open up jars…or even chew gum.
What meds are you currently taking…or what have you had success with? Is there anything 'natural' out there that anyone has had success with?
I also just want to thank everyone for reading and sharing their stories.
-L
I'm wondering...does anyone else get mouth sores with a flare up? I have such a problem with this! Lindsay, I too have issues with my wrists. It is hard for me to slow down as I have two children and work full time at a school. I often forget I am having a flare until I go to lift something and oooooh, it hurts! I wish you all the best!
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ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that your pregnant body does not seem to know you have rheumatoid arthritis! Why don't they bottle that for a cure, lol?
ReplyDeleteI was an adult and my son was nearly a teenager by the time I was diagnosed, but I remember having trouble just dressing myself. I couldn't imagine having to dress someone else. there were plenty of times my husband had to help with my bra, lol.
I've been eating "Paleo" the last few months, and I think this has helped. I stopped taking meds nearly 2 years ago, and earlier this year started having mild symptoms, but at my age, I'm not sure if it's RA returning or just OA from old joints.
Anyway, the paleo way of eating seems to have tamed the morning stiffness, because when I'm not eating the paleo way, the morning stiffness and pain return with a vengence.
I've also been reading about gluten free diets helping RA or really any autoimmune disease. This would be less drastic a change than going paleo.
I was diagnosed at 13 with JRA. Since then I have been on many medications some sucessfully some not so much. I am now married with 3 young children and I take Enbrel and Arava this combination has helped me immensely. I was taking Enbrel throughout my last pregnancy as it is considered ok. Arava is a big no no though they dont even want it in your system if you are planning to become pregnant so be careful if you think of trying this drug but I can cope now with the pain before I couldnt pick up my babies brush my hair get dressed or even open jars I wouldnt change the meds Im on I am very happy with the way things are going. Hopefully you find what you need to control your RA I know how much it affects you physically and mentally as well good luck!
ReplyDeleteHmm...It is interesting to read about this...I have had RA since I was 2...and have had 4 joint replacements. MTX doesn't allow me to have babies...was warned against getting preggers on it..) I am also on Enbrel and Naproxin...I really can't imagine being off meds for 1 day let alone a year. I have been thinking about going to go the adoption route...but it is nice hearing these other stories!
ReplyDeleteMy pregnant body hasn't forgotten about RA, lol how rude!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI posted yesterday a little about it... is anyone else out there in the same situation as me or has been? My RA is limited to my hands and wrists. I still live in hope that my body may suddenly 'realise' I'm pregnant lol, and settle down, but I'm so happy just to be pregnant that it's just one of those things... I don't know any different really, but I must admit I'm thankful to be off the methotrexate, sulfasalazine and plaquenil, gives my body a rest in another way!
I was scared about coming off all my meds to try, as you know you have to be off the MTX for 3 months before trying, I fell pregnant in the second month of trying (5 months down the line) but just before I got pregnant I had been to the hospital over a 3 week period for steriod injections as I was starting to go down hill again. I was scared I wasn't going to get pregnant, but you just don't know until you try :) But I totally understand where you're coming from.
Good to read more of your blog Lindsay, and everyone elses comments.
Emma :)
Sorry I havent responded quicker but yes, RA and Stills are similar. I am currently on methotrexate, folic acid, and rituxin. They would like me to take other things but I am stubborn :) I also do prednisone drops when I have inflammation in my eye- which is inconvenient due to being a contact wearer.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you posted about your hands and wrists. I have actually had 3 surgeries combined on both wrists. Two on my left, one on the right. Instead of doing two seperate operations on the right one, I allowed them to go ahead if needed to do what was done on the left wrist. I do have two screws in both wrist, they fused together the smaller bones in my hands- they were already starting to fuse on their own which was quite painful as you can imagine.
I am glad I did the surgeries.. the pain before was awful. However, I do not have normal range of motion. I am pretty sure I would break a bone if they were forced to bend or if I landed on my wrists. This was quite a traggic experience due to losing my softball scholarship in college :( I'm sure everyone can relate to losing something whether range of motion, the ability to hold their child, or to just be independent. I have trouble buttoning my own clothes, opening jars, etc.
I can relate to the hand and wrist pain. People also wouldnt believe how challenging chewing a piece of gum would be either. Hope everyone is dealing with this weather..stay warm :)
I get mouth sores with flare ups all the time. They are truly a pain. I use regular Listerine to rinse my mouth out during the day and it does make the sores heal faster...but they never heal fast enough for my liking. I hate those things...ugh.
ReplyDeleteI take Voltaren, Azulfadine, Prednisone, Effexor (for depression, surprise, surprise) and Norvasc (for HBP). I recently added Calcium with D, and K, Glucosimine Chondrotin, and SAMe.
ReplyDeleteHas anybody had success with SAMe or G/C? I am skeptical but trying it anyway.
I swear by Omega 3's pretty high doses...toally safe just makes ya a little fishy. It really helps...its like the equivilant of a low dose prednisone. I have also found Holy Basil to be helpful its an herb that is a natural Cox 2 inhibitor. I still take Plaquenil and prednisone bcs I am in a bad flare and I am trying to get a closer Rheum Dr but these supplements do help! and they are both baby safe!
ReplyDeleteI was diagnosed with associated Fibromyalgia and a yr ago I was on Savella...that med was a godsend. I went off of it for a while but I hope to go back on it, it really helped with the fatigue and muscle aches from the joint stiffness. has anyone else tried that med?
Michelle
CNY
Wow.... I love reading people's comments on this blog (and the blog itself) if for no other reason than to get some explanations! I'm in law school and it's finals week which means hours upon hours of TYPING, which is awful, obviously, so I have been popping naproxen once or twice a day. (I usually use it pretty sparingly if I can.) I have at least 4 sores in my mouth right now and I didn't know whether to attribute it to the Aleve, the stress, or the RA itself. Super painful. Just one more thing to deal with... but glad to know that it does probably have something to do with this and not some other weird ailment!
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