Possibly pregnant with Rheumatoid Arthritis

[WantBaby]

Hi. I came off medication to TTC. I've recently started having a severe flare and am on co-proxamol and diclofenac and have requested a steroid injection.
Took a preg test last week, which was negative. Have taken another today and there's a faint second line. Need to speak to GP as there's a small risk of cleft palate if am pregnant and have the joint injection
Obviously do not want to risk harm to baby if am pregnant but am in considerable pain. Anyone been in similar situation?? If so, what did you do??

I think that you need to request a referral to an obstetrician because they will have more experience of women taking medication in pg.

FWIW although they come out with this 'the ideal is not to take medication in pregnancy' few people want to be on medication at all. I think that a lot of pg women are on medication of some sort or another.

A lot of symptoms for various illnesses disapear when pg. My psoriasis vanishes pronto when I am pregnant so I don't know if your symptoms may lesson with the influx of hormones. But I second speak to your specialist

I think you need to speak to your specialist. but I also agree with lulalullabye, you might find your arthritis eases up. I have a related disease and understand from the research I've done that the symptoms often go away during pregnancy (fingers crossd its like that for you!),

WB I was on steroids (for Crohn's) for 18 months during and after my pregnancy. Apparently prednisolone doesn't cross the placenta - could you look into taking this if it is appropriate?

When my sister was pregnant, all of her Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms disappared, so you might get lucky.

I agree that you need to be referred to an OB and talk to your rheumatoid doctor as well.

I was always given the impression an intra-articular injection didn't really enter your system, it stayed within the joint? I'm no doctor though and don't know any of the implications.

I have arthritis too (although not rheumatoid) but am lucky that a change to a very healthy diet seems to have sorted me right out.

I would speak to your Rheumatologist and ask to be referred to an obstetrician. I would have thought that being in severe pain wouldn't be good for the baby either so mebe you would need to look at the lesser of 2 evils?

Good Luck, x.

Thanks all for your responses. Yes my rheumatologist has previously suggested oral steroids, which I didn't fancy coz of the side effects but that may be the best option. The rheumatologist also said intra-articular injections carry a small risk of cleft palate - but I really don't want to even take a small risk - don't think it's fair on the baby and will only worry through the pregnancy.
It's encouraging to see no-one has said 'I/someone else was in extreme pain throughout the pregnancy and it was a nightmare'. Hopefully I actually am pregnant and symptoms will go!
Hey fingers crossed and thanks all again