Wanting to get pregnant

allypally
allypally Member Posts: 10
edited 13. Dec 2009, 15:37 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi, Im 25 and was diagnosed as having seronegative in August 08. My husband and I are now seriously thinking of having a baby which is great right........
Im scared im taking Hydroxychloroquine, which seems to be helping to a certain amount. But im terrified of coming off the medication to become pregnant. I havent not been taking medication for over a year and i know my condition has worsened in that time.
Has anyone any hints or tips on not being on medication? Any ideas would be gratefully recieved,

Cheers
Ally

Comments

  • chris101
    chris101 Member Posts: 16
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Ally

    I am also taking Hydroxychloquine and am trying to get pregnant. I have been told that this drug is safe to take whilst trying to conceive and throughout pregnancy. So either you don't need to come off it or I do need to come off it! Have you been told it's not safe then?

    Chris
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hey,
    I'm a bit further down the track from you, you may have seen from other posts I'm now halfway through my pregnancy.
    Before we started trying for the bub I was medication free (other than hydrox and amitrip) I also had a med washout, which was drinking wallpaper paste three times a day - pretty disgusting but it was only for 10 days. This bound any nasty meds and got rid of them.

    I got conflicting advice about meds during pregnancy. I stopped taking amitrip when we started trying and I actually went through withdrawal, which no one told me would happen but I suppose after using it for 10yrs I shouldn't have been surprised!
    The withdrawal was awful and I actually thought that I'd have to give up trying. But after a week of thinking I was dying (it felt like I had ants under my skin and I shook like mad) it thankfully stopped. I later found out that I could take amitrip throughout the pregnancy but I've been able to cope without so far.
    I also stopped taking the hydrox as I was told it was completely safe during pregnancy but I wouldn't be able to breastfeed. What I have been taking is a low dose steroid (it also lessens the effects of morning sickness) and have generally been coping well. I've had a few large steroid injections when my flare ups have been too unbearable but as my consultant said there is a certain amount of grin and bear it.
    There is of course the chance that your arthritis goes into remission during some or all of your pregnancy. Mine hasn't as yet but on a bad day I think of seeing the baby at the end of all this. I've also got a good support network set up, which is important.
    My OH and I talked long and hard about starting a family, as well as all the normal worries, financial etc there was also the worry that I wouldn't be able to cope with the pregnancy or the baby. There is still a huge amount of unknown but I was not going to not do it purely based on the arthritis. I wouldn't let it beat me!!
    I hope this has been some use to you and please don;t hesitate to pm me if you want to chat some more.
    Sorry about the enormous post!!

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