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Date: 15.02.2012
From: kay

Subject: enbrel and pregnancy

Hi, i'm new to this forum and am looking for advice please. I've had psa for 12yrs. I've been on every treatment going and have been on enbrel for a few years, it has been a life saver for me, joints all calmed down and skin cleared. My husband and i want to start trying for a family so back in October 2011 i came off enbrel as my rheumy told me i have to be off it for 6months before even trying! my joints got really bad over xmas so we decided to start trying. However, now my rheumy has said that new research shows that u don't need to come off enbrel while trying but come off it once/if i conceive. I'm really confused, i've come this far off enbrel, although i have got alot worse i don't know whether to go bk on enbrel while we are trying but could this affect my unborn child? just don't know what to do for the best? anybody else been in this situation? any advice please?
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Date: 15.02.2012
From: bsk

Subject: Re: enbrel and pregnancy

All you can do is be as well informed as possible. Have you looked for research papers on the web? That's what I would do or you could ask your rheumy to send you copies of the research.

Also, do you trust your rheumy? I think you have to have confidence they are giving you the best advice possible. Usually doctors err on the side of caution so would be surprised if what s/he was saying was inaccurate. The last thing they want is more problems for you (and themselves lol!)

If it is any help, my rheumy nurse has told me that more and more is being found out about these drugs. You could look on the various arthritis research websites too, arthritis research uk for example and many of them have help lines. The NRAS is particularly good.

Best of luck in making your decision.
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Date: 15.02.2012
From: rhona

Subject: Re: enbrel and pregnancy

hi kay, i don't know much about enbrel and pregnancy but as bsk says you should follow the advice of your rheumy. i have heard that quite often when you become pregnant the arthritis can go into remission so it may be that you wouldn't need it during the pregnancy. good luck x
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Date: 15.02.2012
From: charlotte

Subject: Re: enbrel and pregnancy

I am not sure where i have seen it but i have read that a lady concieved whilst on enbrel and was ok etc.

i agree with Rhona and bsk in that you need to trust your rhumy team

good luck
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Date: 15.02.2012
From: davina

Subject: Re: enbrel and pregnancy

hi kay i also asked about this and loulou is the best person to talk to

this post i did a few months ago, plz read. x


http://www.arthritisforum.org.uk/cgi-bin/showthread.pl?threadid=2400&offset=250

hope it helps x
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Date: 16.02.2012
From: kay

Subject: Re: enbrel and pregnancy

Thank you all for your advice, it's really nice to have somewhere i can come for help and advice on this horrible disease which seems to be taking over my life at the moment! I'm seeing doc next wk so will see what he has to say! I'm thinking at the moment that i'm going to have to go back on enbrel as my joints are really deteriorating and i have no quality of life, which is no good when i'm trying to conceive!!
Thank you all again.
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Date: 21.02.2012
From: X Kerry x

Subject: Re: enbrel and pregnancy

Have you tried sulfazalaine? I conceived on thy and it's fine to stay on while youre pregnant. I was on it for 2 weeks but became really ill and was admitted to hospital. At the time they thought it was down to the sulfazalaine but then found out if got pregnant on the same day I started taking it, I stopped taking it when i was ill but carries on being really poorley for the next 9 months so now they are putting it down to the pregnancy and have said I should start taking it again. I was meant to be going on methotrexate but obviously found out I was pregnant the day before I was due to start it so didn't. I was then told I should start it once my baby was here but as soon as she was born we decided we wanted another one and didn't want to start the methotrexate. So I've been told to go back on the sulfazalaine but I havnt yet, I'm scared I'll be poorley again. My joints are so bad though, I'm in agony every day. My daughter is 5 months now, and every day is a struggle because of this awful disease. Ask your rhumy about sulfazalaine though, it may be better for you x
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Date: 23.02.2012
From: Louloubelle

Subject: Re: enbrel and pregnancy

Hiya Kay

I stayed on enbrel for PsA right up until having a positive pregnancy test in January 2010. I took the "read-between-the-lines" advice of my rheumy (he's so funny - he has to tell me the nice guidelines but makes it very clear if he disagrees with them).

He was adamant that there would be no reason why I should come of enbrel at all during pregnancy but said it wasn't worth the risk as there is no clear guidance on this, however, after I gave birth to my healthy little boy he has since advised that, due to the severe nature of my arther I would be allowed to continue with enbrel throughout pregnancy if I was to fall again. He tells me there is no reason why enbrel should affect an unborn baby and they now regularly allow use of enbrel through pregnancy in the USA so they now have much more info re: this subject.

I had quite a delay going back onto enbrel after having Oscar due to other medical issues but started back on it about four months ago and found improvement within a week or two. I found pregnancy difficult to begin with as my arther was horrid - I was also taking sulfasalazine as this is definitely safe to use during pregnancy but unfortunately it didn't work for me.

I hope i have been of assistance but should you want to ask anything else then please do not hesitate.

Good luck

Lou xxx
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Date: 29.02.2012
From: kay

Subject: Re: enbrel and pregnancy

Thank you for your replies. I saw specialist and he recommended that i go back on enbrel while i try to conceive as i am getting worse so that is what i have done, it's not what i wanted to do but needs must.
Yes i have tried sulfazalaine a few years ago and it didn't work for me.
So for now i just have to wait for the enbrel to kick in! (who knows how long it will take this time!?) and hope that i catch soon and that it doesn't affect the unborn child in anyway!
I'll let you know how i get on!

Thank you again
Kay
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Date: 01.03.2012
From: louloubelle

Subject: Re: enbrel and pregnancy

Hiya Kay

Good luck woth trying for a baby.

I stayed on anti tnf until I was 5 weeks pregnant! I also had to have two rounds of chemotherapy towards the end of my pregnancy and my son was born happy and healthy!!! He honestly does not have a single thing wrong with him, in fact, he's now 17 months old and a real little bruiser!!! The placenta does an incredible job of protecting the baby so please don't worry at all.

Lou x
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Date: 23.06.2012
From: Kay

Subject: Re: enbrel and pregnancy

Good news... I'm pregnant!! Yey. 12weeks gone. I came bk off enbrel as soon as I found out so hopefully everything will b ok with baby. My psoriasis and arthritis is coming bk tho!! I'm in agony with my jaw. Maxillo facial want to give me a steroid inj in my jaw but I don't c obstetrician till mid August to check if this is ok, has any1 had steroid inj whilst preggers?
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Date: 23.06.2012
From: marlene

Subject: Re: enbrel and pregnancy

Hi Kay let me just say congratulations!!!
Sorry can't help with info on steroid jab.how about NHS direct or GP? Maybe your local maternity unit may be able to help. Hope you find out soon. Take Care.
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