new here; ? re: RA & breastfeeding baby | Arthritis Information
Hi all, I am new here. I am 38 years old, and was dx with RA about 2 years ago. I had it for several years before that, but didn't know it. Just blamed the finger pain on everything else. And yes, I am a physical therapist who should have known better, but am my own worst patient.
I am going back to my rheumatolgist on Wednesday, I haven't seen him since dx. I was pg last year and felt great. Needed no meds. Prior to that my rheumo was able to stop my flare up just with a short round of Mobic. Well, now I have a 4 month old boy (also have 2 little girls), and am nursing him. I planned on doing it for atleast 1 year (new recommendations, and I did this with my girls). Can I do it and be on meds? Of course, I will ask my doctor, but just wondering if anyone has been in my shoes?
Also, I know joint protection in crucial, right now I am not working. How am I supposed to work with such a major flare up? I am asking myself if work is even in my future.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, hoping to get to know some of you.
it was many years ago and the dr made me quit nursing before he would put me on the big drugs. i held out for over 7 months because i wanted to nurse my son for a year. i never cried so hard but i had to quit nursing, moving was becoming impossible. i got RA 2 weeks after his birth no signs of RA before hand but it came on in full force. my son developed an ear infection immediately after quitting nursing and had to have tubes put in his ears at 10 months. i cried so hard thinking it was because i could not breast feed him, but he is 22 years old now and stronger than ever I am so proud of both my children a daughter 24 who i did nurse a year and my son :-)
wonderwoman2009-03-29 21:29:32hello momsuz... welcome.
and congratulations!! what a blessing -- a new baby!
Sorry that your time now is being hampered by this ugly disease...... LIke wonderwoman says, you will probably need to stop nursing to medicate...but you will need to take care of your children and that may be a means to your end... doing what is necessary for now, not jsut what we want to do...
Two years ago, I thought I would have to stop working..but I am feeling stronger and better every week..
It's a damned if you do (stop breastfeeding) and damned if you don't (pain, inability to move and exhaustion) ... tough place to be, but we all understand and we've all been there...
I wish you the best! Hang in there..
Make sure you get a bf-friendly doctor involved. I had a friend go to the ER for pain, they basically said "no drugs for you!" because she had a 3 month old...they are so concerned about liability. Have your OB call your RD to discuss.
I ended up stopping bf (albeit when baby was 11 months) to go on Mobic. Before that I was on as much Aleve as they would let me take, which did help, but not enough (and they wanted to start me on MTX). I think you can take prednisone?
Anyway, here is a great web site on point:
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