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Impact of AutoImmune Medications on TTC

5 replies

Psoriasisissues · 08/06/2020 14:28

Hi,

I'm struggling with the management of my psoriasis and the impact of this on TTC Sorry if this is long.

I was diagnosed at 20 with a strong family history of Ps and PsA. Since then I've burned through the various pathways. I tried topical for 6 months, then light therapy, which cleared during treatment but was then back within a month, far more serious than it had been before and I ended up as an inpatient having dithranol. I left hospital on ciclosporin. Since then I've had methotrexate, stelara, humira, cosentyx and tremfya. Nothing seems to work long term and I'm losing hope. It's always the same story - it works for four months and then starts a slow slide into a flare.

Never during a consultation has a consultant or anyone eve asked me about my mental health. (It's dreadful and on my notes probably). Depression, anxiety...I was also very unlucky to have just started training for a very stressful profession when I was diagnosed.

I am getting married and we want to TTC. Only when I specifically mentioned it, a year before the planned start date for TTC, did they say anything about the bombshell that there is only 1 treatment that they think is safe for pregnancy and it has a six month wash out date. Fine. Swap me please!

This drags on for over six months. Finally they have agreed to swap my meds. Here's the thing - with a six week washout period beforehand, just in time to clash with my wedding which they've known about (I specifically discussed looking less of a monster well in advance). This is also clashing with building work so not the least stressful time to do this! Confused

I don't know whether I'm being unreasonable but I'm so disappointed in my consultant. Had they bothered to ask or even question vaguely close to the subject of fertility I would have mentioned it but I thought a year in advance would be enough time. I'm going to look dreadful on my wedding day (I reach 90% coverage with the majority on my face, ears, arms and inverted pso). I have days where I can't walk as my knees are agony, my hips pop out of joint and my fingers swell.

Has anyone else been a similar position or got advice? I feel so miserable and frustrated.

OP posts:
Psoriasisissues · 08/06/2020 14:30

Just to be clear - the medication I've currently on requires a minimum of six months after it has been last injected before TTC.

OP posts:
theotherfossilsister · 20/06/2020 12:05

I have just been put forward for Cimzia as apparently it is safe to ttc on this. We've been trying for almost two years now, and my joints have really deteriorated while I've been off MTX.

GrumpyHoonMain · 20/06/2020 12:10

I have Graves disease and was given steroids and Soy solution to help me conceive as my antibody and white cell counts so high. This was a last ditch attempt after years of IVF failures and it worked. So hang in there.

theotherfossilsister · 20/06/2020 12:14

@GrumpyHoonMain sorry for hijacking, but please can I talk to you about this? I have several autoimmune disorders and have been struggling with TTC for ages, with one known chemical pregnancy and nothing else. (A few late periods where I couldn't bear to test though.)

At the moment they are not pursuing this as a reason for our failure to conceive, but I am convinced it is down to my immune system.

GrumpyHoonMain · 20/06/2020 14:33

@theotherfossilsister - sure feel free to PM me.

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