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...
Hi everyone. I wanted to see what you think about this. After discussing with ob/gyn docs (specialized in high risk preganancy) and my rheumy, I came up with a plan and was treated with plaquenil while trying to conceive. According to my rheumy's preference, I stopped taking the plaq once I got a pos. pregnancy test. Both my reg ob and the high risk ob said I could continue the plaq and they support that for reason to control the disease during pregnancy and they have no concerns regarding the baby's safety. the rheumy said that he expects the preg would put me in remission and hoped I would not need any meds.
Think all docs were of the opinion I would restart plaquenil if my symptoms became problematic. My ob is obviously deferring to my rheumy for that decision.
I am now at 9 and half weeks. Like any woman at this point, I am nauseous and feel aweful. But I noticed last week my fatigue got so bad for two days where I just had NO energy, then my hands and feet hurt for a couple of days. My hands and feet keep turning ice cold off and on. I hate not knowing if the fatigue is sign of the RA or the pregnancy.
My husband and I both are wondering if there is reason to be on plaquenil to prevent the disease from coming back with vengeance (realize this is most likely what will happen) or to keep it controlled. Of course I will discuss with the rheumy, but was wondering if anyone has seen research encouraging treatment of RA with plaquenil during pregnancy.
Think all docs were of the opinion I would restart plaquenil if my symptoms became problematic. My ob is obviously deferring to my rheumy for that decision.
I am now at 9 and half weeks. Like any woman at this point, I am nauseous and feel aweful. But I noticed last week my fatigue got so bad for two days where I just had NO energy, then my hands and feet hurt for a couple of days. My hands and feet keep turning ice cold off and on. I hate not knowing if the fatigue is sign of the RA or the pregnancy.
My husband and I both are wondering if there is reason to be on plaquenil to prevent the disease from coming back with vengeance (realize this is most likely what will happen) or to keep it controlled. Of course I will discuss with the rheumy, but was wondering if anyone has seen research encouraging treatment of RA with plaquenil during pregnancy.
I remember being totally and absolutely exhausted from about 10 weeks on in all my pregnancies. So bad, in fact, that I had to take 2 our naps, after sleeping 10 hours at night. I think that pregnancy is a shock to the system, and the body just needs to sleep more.
However, since the hands are flared, which are the first joints to flare, usually, I would worry the fatigue is more than just pregnancy related exhaustion.
My thought, is that if you get flares everywhere, you are not going to be able to exercise or do things to keep yourself healthy. Plus, I have found that sometimes if you go off a drug and start to flare, the disease will get worse. I would go back on it, if your doctors have OK'ed it, and you are getting worse. But that is just my opinion. Or maybe wait till your 4th month? That is when the baby's organs and body is fully developed, if you are worried about that.
I hope you figure this out.
If both your regular OB and the high-risk one say the plaquenil is safe, that counts for a lot. It's your rheumy's name on the prescription though, making him the most concerned about covering his hindquarters. I know plaq is considered to be the safest in pregnancy.