Anyone's partners on methotrexate for arthritus and have any advise?

[xxwendyxX]

im new to MN and not quite sure of the rules about posting so please forgive me.
My partner is on methorexate for arthritus and we have had mixed reviews from doctors and nurses regarding the side effects with getting pregnant, has anyone had any experience with this? Any help and advise what so ever would be great, we have been trying for 6 months now and i have tried to find information online but there are so many contradicting stories its hard to know what to believe.

Please help if you can x

[insertfunnynicknamehere]

I'm on mtx you need to be off it a min 6 months before trying to concieve. Generally I found remission came with the actual pregnancy though it could vary by type (I have systemic ra) obs cannot be on if bf'ing.
Incidently my pregnancy was unplanned and I was on mtx arcoxia lyrica and various others for thyroid at the time I concieved. My DS was perfect, bit of tongue tie and a strange overbite in the teeth nothing that can't be fixed though could have happened regardless. Do not try it though I was v lucky.
I work for an arthritis foundation if you have any q's

[insertfunnynicknamehere]

Ah your partners male isn't he?

[xxwendyxX]

Thanks for replying, isnt it different if its a man taking it rather than a woman? Ive read some stuff that says all it does is lower sperm count where some sites are really against it, thats where my confusion is from, his consultant looked in his little book and said it was ok now they are questioning it, im beginning to wonder if the consultants really know :)
Can it cause miscarriages like it can with a woman taking it?

[insertfunnynicknamehere]

Well I just checked my leaflet that come in the box amd it doesmt say anything about males. The reason it can cause miscarraige is because it passes through the blood stream to the unborn child. That would not be the case here would it? In fact I think I read an article wasn't there a study where it was found men were unaffecxted. Now studies that wEre valid years ago are often disproved due to new technology and this study could be tOo but I think the risk is minimal. At most it would lower sperm slightly as would any dmard

[xxwendyxX]

Thank you for looking at your information for me, that has put my mind at ease, i can manage with him having low sperm count, i just didnt want to put my unborn child at risk if i got pregnant, thank you for your help! X

[insertfunnynicknamehere]

No worries sure its hard to find the info. If he had a support group in his area I would recommend going it would help to see other dads who did it too.its such a help

[FamilyCircus]

DP was on methotrexate a few years back, but it made him very sick so he changed to leflunomide. With both medications we were told NOT to conceive. I can't remember why wrt methotrexate but with Leflunomide we've been told it can cause birth defects.

We are in our mid-to-late 30's and dearly want another baby before it's too late. DP's consultant has told us that it will take 3 months for the drugs to leave his system and then another 3 months to make sure and then a blood test to be absolutely sure before we can try to conceive, just to be safe, so I assume the risks must be quite high. Unfortunately DP is too ill be off his medication for that long so we are are having to come to terms with a baby being off the cards.

I wouldn't rely on anything you've read on the internet regarding conceiving safely while your partner is taking these kinds of drugs. Your GP should be able to give you good advice though. I'm surprised that health professionals have been giving conflicting advice as were told in very definite terms.

Sorry, I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear.

[xxwendyxX]

My partner was first told when he started the drug he shouldnt conceive on it but that was 5 years ago, when we decided to start trying we waited until he had asked his consultant (the same one as before) who said it was ok so we started trying, he is having to change his meds as one he was taking wasnt working but hes staying on the mtx for now, he is 34 and would never be able to give up his meds so we are trying to find out for sure before we think about other means of having a child, there are success stories out there that i have read so im so unsure, we are seeing this consultant next thursday so im hoping to get an answer from him then.

Thank you for repling to my post, im sorry to hear that you DP wouldnt manage without the drug :(

[FamilyCircus]

Wendy, if you google 'methotrexate sperm' the first hit is an NHS patient information leaflet regarding methotrexate.

Wrt pregnancy it says:

"If you think you are pregnant

Methotrexate may harm the unborn child and cause a miscarriage. Men who are taking methotrexate should note that your treatment may affect your sperm and therefore you should ensure your partner should not become pregnant whilst you are on the treatment. "

It doesn't just lower sperm count.

[FamilyCircus]

I cross posted with you then Wendy.

I'm pleased that you're seeing your consultant so you can get the best possible advice. It may just be a case of there being insufficient information regarding the risks so saying no to conceiving is just to cover against any law suits. I'm also on medication for depression and my GP has told me to not to conceive whilst I'm still on them, although I know loads of people who've had perfectly healthy pregnancies taking the same meds.

I really hope your DP's consultant can help you both.

How is he doing on the methotrexate btw?

[xxwendyxX]

He is doing ok on the methotrexate but is needing anti TNF medication to supliment it and hes in the middle of changing these over so hes replying on methotrexate alone. I hope the medication is helping your DP.

[FamilyCircus]

I've not heard of anti TNF meds.

To be honest Wendy, I think DP left it too late to get any relief from his meds. I think the best we can hope for is for the progression of the disease to be slowed down. He's agreed to speak to his GP about a wheelchair and he was adamant last year that he would rather crawl than be pushed around, so I know he's in a lot of pain. It worries me that he's never actually free from pain.

I wouldn't wish this disease on anybody but it's a relief to speak to someone my age who knows what this is like. Most people start waffling on about their granny's 'osteo' when I tell them DP has arthritis

[xxwendyxX]

Anti TNF drugs (ive just asked my DP to explain) a new-ish drug that alter a protein in your blood to stop it attacing joints and producing inflamtion
few different types but its expensive and given through either injections or Intravenously, if he has RA then he should be able to get it. Maybe worth asking about it next time he sees the GP/consultant?

That was one thing i was hoping for when i started this thread a bit of advise but to also find someone who knew what it was like to have a partner on meds like this, like you most people i speak to think only grannys get arthritus! Hes had arthritus since he was 11 so i think hes just kind of got used to it. hes the kind of guy that wont let anything get him down.

[FamilyCircus]

That's interesting about TNF. DP is seeing his consultant in June so I'll get him to ask about it. It might not be appropriate as his diagnosis was changed from rheumatoid to psoriatic recently, but worth asking. He was given an injection just before Christmas last year that was wonderful, but I never found out the name. He's a bit crap at telling his consultant what he wants, then comes home moody because they haven't fulfilled his hopes [sigh]. I might go with him this time, but I hate feeling like the pushy wife.

Jeez, having arthritis at 11 is dreadful. Poor guy, I really feel for him. It's great that he's not letting it get to him; we are definitely not at that stage yet. DP is nowhere close to acceptance. He bought himself a mountain bike last year which hasn't had much use obv. [shakes head]

How is DP managing with work? My DP was retired at Christmas (massive blow to his confidence). We don't know anyone in our age group who is receiving a pension (FGS! He is 37, not bloody 67). He hates having to answer questions about what he does for a living. I understand, I mean, what do you say "I'm a pensioner!". I never would have predicted this for us, not even a year ago. God, I am bitter about it sometimes.

Sorry to offload on you. We have DP's DLA appeal on Friday and I feel down about it. I've just been on the phone to my mum crying too. Must get a grip!

[xxwendyxX]

I know how you feel it can get very frustrating at times especially when you can see they are in pain and there is nothing you can do to help them. DP has injections every so oftern because his knee swells up, its swollen at the min and it looks very uncomfortable he manages at work ok but we work in an office and just sit down all day so he can manage that, when it comes to breaks he does get stiff a bit and has to take his time getting up and down (what did your DP used to do?) i think because he got it so early on in life and all he wanted to do then was play football with his mates i think hes grown up with it so hes worked out whats best for him. he never lets it get in the way of things and is very adiment of doing all the house work.

It might be worth your DP asking about the anti TNF drugs, when my DP is on them its so much better, hes much happier and can move around much better. it might be the little bit of releive your DP needs.
We receive DLA (hes had it since he was a child though) but i know its hard to get now adays my dads had it refused 3times now and he cant even walk much anymore!
Has he been to any support groups for people with arthritus? talking to someone in the same boat as him might help him.

is there a private mail thing on here? feel free to message, its good to talk to someone who knows what we are going through. :)

[FamilyCircus]

You can pm anyone by clicking on the 'message poster' link on the blue bar above one of their posts. Thanks for offering to chat privately; there are things that I wouldn't post on here because it would feel disloyal, so I will take you up on that offer if I feel I need to offload. Feel free to do the same

DP was working as a postman [hollow laugh] up until June last year when he went sick. He would be out delivering for up to 3 or 4 hours longer than his colleagues and still not get his job finished on some days. He used to come in and collapse on the sofa, get into bed with all his clothes on, fall asleep in the bath etc, as he was just soooo tired.

Royal Mail were excellent when he went sick though. The company doctor recommended he be retired with immediate pension without us having to fight. It was a relief, but kind of bitter sweet too. He knew he couldn't carry on working but to him it felt like major rejection. His employers were so happy to get rid of him that they pay him every month to stay away!

As for future work, DP is hoping he can do the Knowledge of London and become a black cab driver. I don't think he would pass the medical but it's worth hoping for.

I've just told him that I'm chatting to a woman who's partner is in the same position as him and he is quizzing me about how he's coping. Would you mind telling me which joints are affected in your DP. My DP is desperate to know (and apologies for nosiness).

I think a support group would be great for DP as he really needs to speak to people who understand. Do you know of any good ones?

[xxwendyxX]

I guess if he wants to be a cabbie in london that you live in that area? we live up in sunderland so im not aware of any that are down south, there are a fair few forums out there for arthritus suport which might help him a bit. I think the only joints in my DP that are not affected are his little fingers! It mainly affects his knees hips feet and shoulders, I dont want to hog up MN posts too much, feel a bit guilty about that.

[FamilyCircus]

DP is wincing on his behalf. That is very tough!

With DP it's 'only' ankles, knees and elbows.

You can't hog up MN, so don't worry about that.

We are in London, btw, yes.

S'pose I better be getting on now. I'd be really interested to know what the consultant says about trying to conceive. I hope you get the news you're hoping for. PM anytime. Thanks for chatting x