Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group AS and pregnancy

Hi Kathy
I'm so glad you replied, reading all the posts, I'm starting to get the idea that stoping the meds is not as big a deal as hell, and there's nothing to be scared of.. Going all hormonal I guess I'll be far far away from thinking about pain (I'm already a "hi bright-sunny day:)))" type gal, I can't imagine how optimistic (or silly) I'll be when I'm pregnant)
You know Kathy, I already feel a lot better :)
Love to you all...
Meric

"Dance is a song of the body... Either of joy or pain."
Martha Graham

Hi there!
I just had my son Alessandro a month ago and had to go off all my meds except for an occadional Tylenol #3. I also have a 9yr old and soon to be 3yr old. I didnt start experiencing symptoms of Spondyloarthropathy till I was pregnant with my 2nd child. It went full blown when I delivered her.

I'll be honest with you and say that it was a very difficult pregnancy for me being pulled off Bextra, Soma and Ultracet when needed. From what my OB explained you have a 50/50 chance of going into remission. I had alot of thoracic and rib pain. I had to get some steroid shots but because my tummy was growing the inflammation was constant in that area so I gave up on those. I'm fused at L4/L5 & L5/Si. I was an unfortunate one to develop PHDS. Is pelvis displacement and inflammation brought on by the arthritis. Thats slowly healing now though. Because your pelvis is fused I would definitely discuss the strong possibility of c/section.

I will say my children were worth every ache and pain. They are my big gifts from God.

feel free to pm me if you ave any questions, and best of luck!


Buggy

Hi Meric,

another who had a baby while following the LSD was Janet (buckwheat). She doesn't post much these days, but it might be worthwhile e-mailing her and searching back through her posts to see how she did it.

Best wishes!



...if they be strong or able to endure physic, yet it brings them to an ill habit, they make their bodies no better than apothecaries' shops; this and such-like infirmities must needs follow.

Hi Buggy
I think I'm going to go through all the possibilities before I get pregnant, so that I can remain pain-free during the pregnancy. That'll be when I'm off the medication, 2 weeks later..
I really understand how big a joy giving birth to a child can be. Last year when one of my best friends gave birth to her first baby girl, I shared all the happiness and now I know that it's gonna be worth all the pain and everything.. Thanks for your reply Buggy :)

And Bilko, I'll definitely get in contact with Janet too, I need some advice about LSD during pregnancy.. Thanks :)
Love,
Meric

"Dance is a song of the body... Either of joy or pain."
Martha Graham

Dear Meric,
finally i found some answers, i was about to post exactly the same question. we ve been trying for a baby since january but no luck so far. the trouble is that we couldnt try as much as we wanted to due to my pains which were pretty bad this year. (i was just diagnosed in april.)
a month ago i started belly dance - i love it and i feel soooo good now. so i really hope this could be the right time.

so fingers crossed for you, me and all the others who are trying.
take care


Hana

Hi Meric

Just a quick reply as I am busy. I went on prednisone both pregnancies, before I got pregnant, during and when breast feeding. Unfortunately I wasn't one of those lucky one's who goes into remission during pregnancy, but all the pain was worth it and I would do it all over again. I wanted a third but my rheumy and gyn/ob . totally disagreed as they felt each pregnancy worsened by AS. My only advise is go for it. Prednisone seems safe. It seemed to be the only one that I was told was safe.

Take care

Simone

Hi Meric,
I have a fifteen year old daughter so my pregnancy news is pretty old, but I had active AS when I got pregnant. I was one of the lucky ones who felt wonderful during and after the pregnancy. I asked my doctor why I got so much better and I remember him saying "well, its due to pregnancy-related hormone". I got very excited thinking it may give a clue to how to send this illness into permanent remission. I pressed him for more information and he could only tell me it was "pregnancy related hormone". They didn't even have a more specific name for it. Oh well. If I were a scientist I would be trying to understand that link. I did have to have a c-section though. The AS came back but it wasn't a tough flare. It just sort of crept back into my life.

I adopted my second child so I can attest that there is more than one way to build a family. I went through the whole adoption process with my constant companion, AS, and did not find any prejudice against me because of the illness.

The bottom line is that having a family was the best thing I ever did and I am thankful everyday for being able to have these two girls in my life. Good luck to you.

Joan