Was trying to keep this brief but failed miserably 😂
Husband has Rheumatoid Arthritis. He's 51 and was diagnosed approx 2 yrs ago. He's on a cocktail of drugs as a result. A couple months ago he was also put on Nortriptyline to help with both the pain and depression.
Once the nortriptyline kicked in he had about 4 weeks of reduced pain and there was a significant improvement in his mood. (He is negative by nature which doesn't help!) but Happy days! Had my lovely husband back!!!
I am 36 and expecting our second child.
C section booked for next week. Baby was unplanned (long story of how the mishap happened) but I chose to keep the baby against husbands wishes. He has never really come to terms with this. But, I couldn't go through with a termination which is what he wanted me to do. Nonetheless he has stuck around albeit making life very miserable at times.
I recently got a hideous virus that literally wiped me out. Husband then got it. We're now back to square one with his RA. He's gone into a flare, mood has massively dropped again and is back to being incredibly negative about baby.
He's talking about coming off the nortriptyline as he feels it's not working. I've told him to speak to gp re this.
He's due to see rheumy next month.
I'm going into a full blown panic of how much the baby is going to impact on him physically and mentally (sleepless nights and endless crying that usually accompanies a newborn!)
I accept it was my decision to continue with the pregnancy and am in the mindset that I will be caring for baby as though I'm a single parent so as not to rely on husband. I do 95% of the work with our 6 yr old anyway! I'll relocate to the spare bedroom with baby to try and minimise the sleepless nights.
He hasn't been to one appointment with me throughout the pregnancy and initially refused to be at the birth, although ahas now said he will be there.
I'm at a loss as to how to handle the sudden dip in mood and ongoing flare. I'm struggling being heavily pregnant with pain/exhaustion/carpal tunnel but daren't moan to him as it's not a scratch on what he suffers!!!
Feeling helpless...anyone else been in a similar position? Thoughts anyone?!