Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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CanadianRA 04/21/2015

Just fishing to see if anyone stopped taking Plaquenil before trying to conceive. Is there a reasonable amount of time that is required before trying? I will consult with my Rhuemy of course but just wanted to see if anyone had any experience with this! Thanks for reading.

ashleymariecushman 05/13/2016

I am currently working on conception and am currently on plaquenil. Interested in following this thread

pittRAlady 05/13/2016

I was advised by my rheum, ob, and internal fetal Medicine that I did not need to stop taking it before trying to conceive. They also said I could take it during pregnancy. Since my symptoms improved upon getting pregnant I stopped taking it about a month in. I started taking it right after delivery. All doctors have cleared me to breastfeed while taking also. Including baby's pediatrician. Baby is two and a half months old now.

californialynn 05/14/2016

Just a reminder that this is an inherited disease. It's very possible for your child to inherit it. If so, it can be worse that the degree of your own RA.

51percent 05/14/2016

CaliforniaLynn....Ra does tend to run in families but is not directly inherited..like a gene malfunction causes it. What you do pass along is the tendency to develop auto-immune diseases but what disease the question. My son is 38 and last year had one finger knuckle go red and hot and swollen but nothing more so far. My daughter however, who I had before I got Ra, has developed ulcerative colitis...an auto-immune disorder. But both kids know that early treatment is the best way to keep whatever they get, under control. As a result, my daughter's UC has vanished. She needs to stay on her meds to prevent it from coming back but so far, so good.

So there is really no direct connection with Ra and certainly no way to know if it will be worse than yours. In my case, the disorders they have are better due to awareness and early action.

I've battled Ra for 39 years and at 64, can truthfully say, Ra hasn't stopped me from having a pretty ordinary life. With all the very nasty inherited disorders out there, I'd say RA is one of the better diseases to have. My opinion....but borne of having lived with Ra for 39 years. If you have to have "something" I'd take Ra any day.

Jen

iinatiff 05/14/2016

I am on it but I am in menopause so cannot help there just have your eyes checked out

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