Lupus Support Group

Hi Chrisstsf, I think that is something you need to speak to your doctor about. Good luck and congrats.

Hello and welcome....I agree with Gidget, make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible. As well as being concerned about a child you may be carrying, you need to be mindful of your own health. It is very important to take notes of all that has happened to your body and the dates of your various treatments. Also take with you a list of all the drugs you are currently ingesting...even over the counter meds.

Take care and take someone with you to your appointment if you can....this is a time when you may need some extra support.

Stay in touch and feel free to ask anything you like....that's what we are here for, good luck.

Chrissi,

You need to talk to you OB and you may need a high-risk OB.

Here's the information that I got from http://www.rxlist.com/cytoxan-drug...

Cyclophosphamide can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman and such abnormalities have been reported following cyclophosphamide therapy in pregnant women. Abnormalities were found in two infants and a six-month-old fetus born to women treated with cyclophosphamide. Ectrodactylia was found in two of the three cases. Normal infants have also been born to women treated with cyclophosphamide during pregnancy, including the first trimester. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking (receiving) this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant.


Me again: The gist of this is that some patients have normal babies and some don't. Some are born missing fingers and toes (Ectrodactylia). That's why they tell patients to be EXTRA CAREFUL NOT TO GET PREGNANT.

Chrissi, Earthwalker makes an excellent point about YOUR HEALTH. The fact that the doc is giving you Cytoxan means you have some serious disease going on. BTW, Cytoxan should be a LAST DITCH EFFORT MEDICATION for women in child-bearing years because it can cause sterility permanently. Obviously that hasn't happened in your case. But your doc must have had a reason for putting you ON Cytoxan in the first place.

Which lead me to this question: what kind of major organ problems are you having? For instance if you are borderline dialysis, there's no way you can continue this pregnancy without hurting yourself and the baby. The next question is can you handle being off your meds for the time it would take to have this baby? I would think if you are getting Cytoxan the answer is NO. And will you be able to take care of this baby? Is there a father in the picture who will help you?

I am NOT a pro-life or pro-abortion person. But there are times when the health of the mother makes abortion necessary. Add to this picture the fact that this child may have been damaged by the Cytoxan (or not) which means a special needs child for you to care for.

Only you can weigh the situation and make a decision about what you want to do. But call your rheumy IMMEDIATELY. And go in to see a high-risk OB ASAP. You need answers to your questions right away before this pregnancy goes much farther.

I'm sorry to be giving an unpleasant picture, but part of being supportive is helping you see your options and pointing you in the right direction to get the help you need.

Tracy