Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pregnancy

RA is a kick in the butt painful fight I know how bad you hurt here are some healthy remedy's I know work as I use them. The medications you mentioned will not be good for you and the baby or while your trying please try these like I said they do work
1) if you can handle hot food
Cayenne-one quarter teaspoon 3xa day with a teaspoon of honey
make a paste out of cayenne put over inflamed joints at bedtime wrap with RED flannel they will fell real good in AM (not perfect but good)
2)go to a local herb store and ask for Cats Claw & follow the instructions
3)oil rubs with heat packs when really hurting
8 drops violet
20 drops olive oil extra virgin
5 drops benzoin
also when at your local herb store ask then what they have in stock when I was in my 20,30,&mid 40's thats all I used to control my RA & fibromiglia they really do work its just a matter of finding the correct one for you PLEASE ask a herbalist. Herbs are so much better for your body, don't get me wrong I'm now 50 and I am on enbrel& methotrexate plus others but it worked for years GOOD LUCK & GOD SPEED

It would be worth trying some herbal or alternative solutions. One solutions that claims it works specifically for Reumatoid arthritis is OPC. This is an antioxidant that fights free radicals in our systems. You can get it from any Market America rep. or their website www.marketamerica.com. I would also go to your local health food store and ask the people there. They have many different things that could possibly help.

My father in law has parkinson's and when the "medicine" wasnt doing the job he started looking outside the box. He is doing great and into his 11th year of the disease. These things can really help and they are not just bunk. He is seeing an energy healer which might also be an option to help your symptoms. These people will not claim to "heal" you. It will just help aleve your symptoms. Good luck and keep an open mind!

Arbonne has two products that I always recommend to anyone with arthritis problems or fibromyaligia...they are Arbonne's Joint Formula and their Herbal Muscle Massage...I have FM and these two products I can not live without. I have some clients that take the joint formula every day, but I take mine everyother day. If i forget to take it, I really do feel the effects in my hips and shoulders...the pain gets so bad. During times of flare ups, I use the herbal muscle massage as temporary relief...I love this product...will last a SUPER long time!!! Also, if your husband is a golfer, my husband swares by this product (huge golfer). He applies it before he goes and plays golf, and it when he is golfing, b/c of the use of those muscles (shoulder and back where he had applied it) the product kicks in!!! Awesome product. I understand your pain and know how excruciating it can be. These two products aren't expensive, and are definitely worth a try!!! If you do get pregnant, the muscle massage is safe to use during pregnancy, and the joint formula may be too, but with any dietary supplement, I always ensure everyone clears them with their doc before continueing them! You can check them both out by going to www.kristenstemple.myarbonne.com and clicking on "shop online" to browse our catalogue. These two products are listed under our BioNutria line of products subcategory of Fitness. Good Luck to you no matter what you choose...I hope you can find some relief!

K.
www.kristenstemple.myarbonne.com

Hello

I do not have arthritis yet, but I am on the verge. I am 29 and have not been kind to my body. I played sports, ride horses, and I am a plumber. Every joint in my body hurt. I started going to the chiro and that helped. I also ran across a juice made from mangosteen. It is called Xango. I started taking 2oz twice a day and in 2 to 3 weeks my joints did not hurt anymore. Now I will not go without it. I skipped two times and I walked up the stairs and my knees hurt so bad I didn't think I was going to make it. I went to the fridge and took my 2 oz and by that night I felt better. If you would like more info please let know. I also have a lady that has rheumatoid arthritis on Xango and she is very happy with it and is also loosing weight in the process.

I have a friend who was diagnosed with RA during her last pregnancy. She was swollen and had nodules and the whole bit. Couldn't buckle her baby into carseat, or even undo cap on baby shampoo. She found this supplement called RELIV. She started taking it and ALL signs of RA are gone! She had been on medications for months - nothing worked until this. I am always a skeptic, but saw this with my own eyes. One of our other friends has arthritis related to psoriasis, and she started taking it. She has amazing recovery as well. They both have tried at some point to stop taking it (it does cost $60 a month), but the symptoms come back. It tastes pretty yucky to me - like soy, and gritty. They drink it mixed in Naked juice - not as bad. Supposedly safe for pregnancy, but if you want to try it, I would suggest showing the ingredient list to your doc. It's just lots of vitamins and minerals etc.

Hi R.,

I do not have RA. My autoimmune is multiple sclerosis. Prednisone is also used to treat my MS, which I am currently having a "flare up." I am on an oral dose, 60mg, for 2 weeks and then I will taper down in the next 2 weeks. It is helping me with my current symptoms. Obviously we are coming from different points, I am not dealing with pregnancy and your losses, which I am sorry for you. When I was pregnant, my MS was in remission, as you mentioned the hormones, etc.

You have alot on your plate and dealing with RA is enough to fill it, autoimmune diseases are overwhelming and trying to figure out what will work for your situation as far as medicines to get you through this is difficult. Listen to your body, if you are in pain and miserable, try the prednisone, to reduce the inflammation.

I don't know side effects as far as pregnancy, and taking it prior to becoming pregnant, talk with your doctors, both OB and rheumatologist, see if they can discuss together.

My side effects are mild from the prednisone, increase appetite, jittery. I will tell you I am functioning better from the prednisone, that is me.

Good luck with everything, I hope your body, mind and spirit continute to heal.

I am 44 and was diagnosed with RA at 35. I understand the pain you are in and prednisone was suggested to me as well. Because you are so uncomfortable and to prevent some damage to the joints because of the swelling, I would look into taking it short term. Get your OB and RA doctors working together for the best course of action. With my pregnancy, didn't have RA with first, but with second, it was not changing, the RA that is. I was sore for a while during the pregnancy. It did get better, but not like they had predicted. I found changing food habits helped. No hamburger (less red meats all around), less tomatoes and acidic drinks didn't help either. I have continued that regimen and it has helped. A lot of fruits and veggies, chicken,pork have worked for me. I believe prednisone is safe. You may want to try for some relief, the less stress your body is under, the better for you for a safe and successsful pregnancy. Get your doctors to work together - be very pro-active in making that happen. I have a great OB if you are interested. She is a high risk doctor and I trust her and she listens. I am currently a methotrexate injection medication person and although I hate drugs, it does work for me. You may find that after pregnancy too that some drugs don't work the same way as they did before your bundle of joy. Prednisone is safer than the anti-inflammatories while trying to get pregnant and I believe during pregnancy too. You may have to be monitored more closely, but it definitely worth investigating further. Many best wishes to you! Please let us know what happens. Mother of two, 14 yrs and 5 yrs. Still have RA, but it doesn't stop me.

I have been on Prednizone and HATE it.I would recommend seeing a chiropractor they can help with the pregnancy trouble as well as the pain.If you want more info email me.

Kris

Certified Birth Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Counselor
Certified Infant Massage Instructor
Lamaze student

R., I am a chiropractor that specializes in wmen, pregnancy and children and I have personally helped a few women with RA get their lifes back functioning 100%. I am in Villa Park, IL. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

you have had so many responses...I will be short. I have lupus and take plaquenil. I messed around w dosage and quit taking with my 1st pregnancy and ended up very sick. this pregnancy I have continued my plaquenil (I am assured that studeis show it is safe) and am doing so much better. Also found out I have blood clotting disorders called thrombophilia and have been on lovenox for that...so have some tests done for thrombophilias and maybe keep taking plaquenil. best of luck to you.

R.:
Sounds like you have been through a lot. You said that with the pregnancy hormones (more progesterone) you didn't feel it as much, right? Swelling is painful and Omega 3's have a profound effect on inflammation - asmatha, joints, etc. I would suggest good vitamins with a good source of Omega 3's with vitamin C. Also, natural hormone balancing cream has helped many women regulate their hormone balance and help them conceive when they wanted to. It sounds like you could use some of this as well. A hormone workup with your bloodwork (saliva test is best) will tell you about your hormone level. Pain, anxiety, lack of sleep, etc. all contribute to your body's being "out of whack".

I can help with a source for these that I use which is all natural, no chemicals, medications, etc. Meds can do this too. People have come off of their meds just by taking the right vitamins and supplements. There are so many positive stories out there. You should not have to "grin and bear it". Almost all medications have some sort of side effect. If you don't want to chance it, then you should seek alternative methods or a different doctor. I am not a doctor and I don't know about RA but I do know that by keeping the body regular with hormones and the necessary vitamins that it will "run" better. I would be more than happy to talk with you about this and how you can get the best there is. I feel for you and hope you can get this issue resolved.
K.

I do not have RA but I do have a related autoimmune disorder (Sjogren's Syndrome.) I have had 2 children and I was diagnosed incorrectly with Lupus in between the 2 kids. I also had infertility issues and a miscarriage as well. The rhumatologist told me that there is an increased risk of miscarriage when you have an AI disorder. What does your rhumatologist say about your pain and pregnancy plan?

I do not mean to scare you, but I would really really encourage you to ask your doctors for a specific antibody test. There are 2 labs called SSA and SSB antibodies, they are also called the "Sjogren's Markers." They are present in women with AI disorders, although most commonly in Sjogren's patients. (I wasn't diagnosed with the Sjogren's til after my daughter was born and the symptoms were so benign I never thought about it being "anything.")

Anyway, the presence of those 2 markers can cause a heart defect called "Complete Heart Block." The treatment is usually a pacemaker implanted either at birth or sometime during childhood. My daugther has CHB and my first rhumatologist did not catch the positive SSA and SSB as a problem, but my OB did when I went in for my first OB visit. Her heart rate was fine until my 20 week u/s, and then it went down to 60 in utero. My son (my oldest) had a neonatal lupus rash from 6 weeks to 6 months old. Luckily he did not have the CHB. I don't know what antibody causes the rash. My DD had a bit of the rash but nothing compared to what my son had.

Like I said, I really don't mean to scare you, because life with a CHB child is just fine, my DD is fine now, but it was a long, hard road. I did take dexamethasone to ease the effects of the antibodies on her which did help some. I don't know if dex would help you at all, but it is safe.

Your docs may indeed have already run these tests but if they have not I would request them. There is so much you can do (take dex through the whole pregnancy for example) that can minimalize the damage to the heart if you do have the antibodies. You just need to know if you do so that you're not caught off guard. I was totally caught off guard. I'd never heard of any of this.

Feel free to email me through here if you'd like. I have always said if I could help one mom avoid what we went through I would talk and talk about this.

they are DEFINITELY related, I know so much aobut this to type and there is a grat yahho web group you need to joing. the only way i got/stayed pregnant was with LIT , Humira and TONS of prednisone. you should see a reproductive immunologist. there is a great one is CA and you can do everythign by e-mail and jsut send in your blood to him. the best man for the job just dies last year so sad but you will find the internet group your best resource i will fidn the site and send it to you. hang in there
J.

Hi R.:
I don't have experience dealing with RA - god bless you for being able to handle the pain. I do recommend going to see Bonnie Minsky and her "fertility" plan. She is a nutritionist in Northbrook and helped me get through a celiac disease diagnosis and subsequent infertility without using drugs. I'm due any day now with our first! A lot of her plan involves managing a healthy diet and eliminating certain foods like soy (a lot of those foods can also trigger flare ups in other autoimmune diseases ironically) but I felt so much better trying it that way before diving into the expensive infertility treatments. I believe her website is www.nutritionalconcepts.com. She may also be familiar with the different drug treatments that are safer to use during/before conception.

I wish you all the best!

I am a 63 year old grandma of 3, you need to go to www.knowthecause.com with an open mind and read some of the chapters of his books and try his diet and what he says to do about what your problem is, I wish I would have learned this all years ago, although I did have two successful pregnancys but a miscarriage and was diagnosed with Lupus which is so far in remission and so have alot of other health issues gone away, I was given massive doses of peniclin by a dermatologist when I was 21 for acne, which started me on the road to ill health and a fungal infection that played havoc in my body. Good Luck and I pray you have a successful outcome in your health issues.
L.

R.,

I am sorry you are forced to deal with this experience. I am a yoga instructor in Valparaiso, and I have a few students in my classes that have RA. They have told me that since starting the yoga classes, they have seen a vast improvement in the amount of pain and swelling they experience. I teach a gentle class on Friday evenings, which seems to work really well for my RA students. If you are interested in learning more and would like to try out a class, take a look at the studio website - www.asanacenter.com.

Take Care,

H. C

R.,
I am sorry about your losses. Once you become pregnant, I would highly recommend you seek care from a Perinatologist, this is a High Risk OB. A lot of OBs claim they "specialize in High Risk Obstetrics"....but this is not the same as a Perinatologist. They are also known as Maternal Fetal Medicine doctors (MFM). They are truly specialized in these topics, (many people just meet them at their 20 week ultrasound if there was a concern with their first ultrasound),
I am a labor and delivery RN in the North Shore and would be happy to recommend a few to you, as well as some OBs that may be able to help you if you did not want to go that route.
But after two losses, I would want the most specialized care out there. By the way, just because you are seeing these doctors, it does not mean they would just "put you on all sorts of medications", or avoid "alternative therapy". They just have the most experience and the most current research.
I wish you the best and hope you are feeling well today!
K. RN BSN CCE
____@____.com

My younger sister has rheumatoid arthritis, and has talked to her doctor about medication/pregnancy and what to do. I thought she had said that using Humira or Enbrel(injectibles) was OK even when trying to get pregnant, and I know that medication really helped her - although I believe with her insurance it was still extremely expensive, which is why she stopped taking it. That may not be an issue for you, though. I would ask your Dr. about these, and see what the risks are associated with pregnancy, etc. Also, she is now on Remicade in combination with other medication, which I think you can also have when trying to get pregnant. This is a treatment administered intravenously at specific time intervals. I'm not a Dr. and have not talked directly with one about these options, but figured maybe you can ask your Dr. about these specific medications and the risks involved with pregnancy for each, and see if they are right for you based on that information. Hope this at least gives you something to discuss with your Dr. and that you feel better!

I've heard that 2 teaspoons of apple cider vineger in water or tea daily does wonders for arthritis, but I don't have arthritis so I don't know. It's worth a try though. It's a taste you will have to get used to though. I've used it for a different reason, and got good results.

Don't know about Rheumatoid arthritis, but I did develop a form of pregnancy arthritis associated with swelling during pregnancy. It was pretty painful and didn't go away for about six months after I had my daughter. I noticed that I was developing it with this pregnancy, but I started taking B6 (100 mg in at night) for my swelling ankles and I noticed the arthritis has pretty much cleared up too. It could help.

Don't take more than that though without a doctors knowledge because I've read higher doses can cause temporary nerve damage.

Have they done any gene tests. I had two miscarriages right in a row after my second child and they did a battery of tests that included drawing 19 vials of blood. They didn't find anything but a gene mutation called PAI 1. There are two or three variations of the mutation that are linked to blood clots in your uterus, your legs, heart disease and I think something linked to breast cancer. At any rate, I have the least severe form but it does cause blood clots in my uterus when I'm pregnant and thus caused two miscarriages. That is the theory anyway. I got pregnant a third time and they put me on a blood thinner called Lovenox immediately. I am presently 36 weeks pregnant and I'm doing great. The only problem I had was some extra heart beats that may have been caused by the blood thinner. I started taking magnesium (250 mg) twice a day and it has cleared up almost completely. As long as I don't over do it on refined sugar.

Good luck!!!

R.,

I'm so sorry your having to go through this!
I would talk to your OB before taking the steriod, mainly about how long you need to be off of it before you try again for a baby.
They put me on the prednizone (I'm not sure how to spell it either) right after I gave birth to treat Bell's palsy and told me that couldn't nurse because it would hurt my little girl.

Good luck!
E.

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