Advice for man with RA wanting to start a family

porrig
porrig Member Posts: 25
edited 14. Jan 2010, 10:47 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi everyone, this is my first post.

I was diagnosed with RA about five months ago, and have been on MTX for about 4 months, plus naproxen, and about 6 weeks ago I was started on plaquenil. So far the only thing that made a noticeable difference is the naproxen which has helped my knees so I can walk without limping, but I've been told it takes a while for the other drugs to kick in (I've also had steroid shots that don't seem to have made any difference).

My wife and I want to start a family, but I can't find any info online about the effects of plaquenil on sperm count or taking it while trying to conceive. I know I'll have to stop MTX. I'm concerned about the long term impact of stopping the treatment until we conceive, especially if it takes a while.

At the moment my RA isn't affecting my ability to work, and I can't afford to let it.

Does anyone have any advice about treatments you can take whilst trying to get pregnant? Or any stories about how stopping drugs has affected you?

My main pain areas are wrists, knees and ankles. My fingers lock every now and then too. My shoulders are painful when I lay down, but I haven't noticed any discomfort during the day.

Comments

  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Porrig,

    Welcome to the site and nice to meet you. I can't help you but I wonder if it might be an idea to ring the helplines, their number is at the top of the page.

    You could also talk to your rumo but that takes time and the helplines are very good, kind and know answers so well. Take care Cris

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