Are you ladies seeing maternal fetal medicine docs aka perinatologists? And how many appointments are you all having right now? All my specialists want to see me every 2 weeks and I'm not thrilled with that. I'm a pediatric nurse and I work 2nd shift. They are doing extra testing on me. I had to have an echo cardiogram and I have to see an opthalmologist and just am over it all already. I didn't have this many appointments when pregnant with my DD.
I just am monitored by my OB (specializes in high risk/auto immune disorders) and my PCP. If a problem arises, I will begin to go see my specialists who will work closely with my OB. Monitoring LO growth with frequent US because of last pregnancy and our IUGR scare.
Hi! I've had moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease for 12 years, along with lots of related issues (abscesses, fistulas, osteopenia, osteoarthritis, etc.) I was diagnosed at age 18. For the last 5 years my husband and I have been TTC but were deemed infertile (MFI) and were barred from infertility treatments because our infertility doctor wouldn't go forward without my gastroenterlogist's approval and he was too much of a pansy to approve me.
I found out last week that I'm pregnant when I went for an abscess lancing in the hospital. They always do an HCG before anesthesia, and it was positive! Had our first OBGYN visit yesterday and I'm 10 weeks, and everything looks good so far! Phew! My Crohn's seems to be happy about the pregnancy, and I've been feeling pretty good so far thankfully.
I stopped all of my meds (with physician approval) except my Humira (40mg 2 x week) and Pepcid. My OBYN is keeping extra tabs on me and wrote a lab slip for the blood work I requested; so glad she knows my history and understands that I know what I'm tlaking about regarding my body (generally speaking)!
I'm going to be a planned C-section due to the fistulas and whatnot, which is scheduled so far for February 15th!
Good luck everyone! I agree with the PP who suggested having a fun/ inspirational page on Facebook for some good thoughts! I also follow Chronic Illness Cat on Facebook, which I find absolutely hilarious
S/P L salpingo-oophorectomy w/ septic torsion 1999, dx moderate to severe Crohn's dz 2004. DH S/P hypospadic sx w/ multiple subsequent scar tissue removals, S/P herniorrhaphy. Married on 10/7/2006! TTC since May 2011; abnormal SA #1, better SA #2, normal HSG 7/2012, dx MFI/ low egg count, IUI!
I have SSA antibodies so the specialist wants to monitor me every week starting at 18 weeks for fetal heart block. Is anyone else dealing with this? Stressful!
Okay I just need to vent frustration for a moment. I am type 1 Diabetic and have nearly impossible blood sugars to control on a good day. When I'm pregnant I bottom out in the first trimester until it levels off (last time I was at the insulin levels of a 7 year old). I literally just spent the last 5 hours eating and drinking sugar in order to hover around 70. Clothes were already tight. I guess I can throw the whole "gain only 35 lbs" thing out the window again. Awesome.
Okay I just need to vent frustration for a moment. I am type 1 Diabetic and have nearly impossible blood sugars to control on a good day. When I'm pregnant I bottom out in the first trimester until it levels off (last time I was at the insulin levels of a 7 year old). I literally just spent the last 5 hours eating and drinking sugar in order to hover around 70. Clothes were already tight. I guess I can throw the whole "gain only 35 lbs" thing out the window again. Awesome.
Hope you feel better and are able to get your sugar under control more. If baby and you are healthy in the long run, I wouldn't worry about the pounds!
I know that's not what you want to hear, I am rolling my eyes at myself for saying that. It's kind of like at the end when people say the baby will come when it's ready.. Just want to be like you can really stop talking... Like 5 minutes ago!
Vent away! If you need some encouragement, I'm here! I'll try to not be too cliche though! How much did you gain with the first? Were MDs upset about it?
My sister has Lupus and developed severe IBS symptoms this Spring and was diagnosed with UC but they changed her diagnosis to Crohn's just this week. She currently has two fistulas, one that might require surgery. She just got approved to start Remicade and will begin that next Monday. She does hope to have kids someday.
I really feel for you. It took seeing what she is going through to really "get it". I was so naive, I thought Crohn's was just really horrible chronic diarrhea until my sister developed it and now I know better.
Hi! I've had moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease for 12 years, along with lots of related issues (abscesses, fistulas, osteopenia, osteoarthritis, etc.) I was diagnosed at age 18. For the last 5 years my husband and I have been TTC but were deemed infertile (MFI) and were barred from infertility treatments because our infertility doctor wouldn't go forward without my gastroenterlogist's approval and he was too much of a pansy to approve me.
I found out last week that I'm pregnant when I went for an abscess lancing in the hospital. They always do an HCG before anesthesia, and it was positive! Had our first OBGYN visit yesterday and I'm 10 weeks, and everything looks good so far! Phew! My Crohn's seems to be happy about the pregnancy, and I've been feeling pretty good so far thankfully.
I stopped all of my meds (with physician approval) except my Humira (40mg 2 x week) and Pepcid. My OBYN is keeping extra tabs on me and wrote a lab slip for the blood work I requested; so glad she knows my history and understands that I know what I'm tlaking about regarding my body (generally speaking)!
I'm going to be a planned C-section due to the fistulas and whatnot, which is scheduled so far for February 15th!
Good luck everyone! I agree with the PP who suggested having a fun/ inspirational page on Facebook for some good thoughts! I also follow Chronic Illness Cat on Facebook, which I find absolutely hilarious
I gained almost 60 lbs with my daughter. 20 alone was from hypoglycemia and then another 15 or so was only water. It only took about 6 months to go away (breast feeding def helped). Yes the doctors looked at me like I was secretly eating big mac's 5 times a day lol. It's just hard to gain weight so fast. Especially when I try so hard to have a healthy diet!!! Thanks for listening to the rant .
I'm hypothyroid and have been since I was 11. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 15 though. After about 10-12 years of fighting with doctors and being my own health advocate, I think my thyroid is finally at a good spot with my meds. I've had to beg to have my meds increased because even though my levels were technically normal, I still didn't feel good. I always thought I would have a hard time getting pregnant or that my thyroid would make the pregnancy difficult, but so far so good! I'm 11w2d and I've actually lost 10 pounds since finding out! I told my mom it's never been so easy for me to lose weight lol
I gained almost 60 lbs with my daughter. 20 alone was from hypoglycemia and then another 15 or so was only water. It only took about 6 months to go away (breast feeding def helped). Yes the doctors looked at me like I was secretly eating big mac's 5 times a day lol. It's just hard to gain weight so fast. Especially when I try so hard to have a healthy diet!!! Thanks for listening to the rant .
Awesome job getting the weight off! Just try your best and if you gain that much weight again... You know you can get it off! I wish I could eat five Big Macs right now!!
I'm in the same boat as you. They are starting me at 16 weeks w full echo. I'm in a study so I can take the Doppler home w me at monitor the baby heart beat. I get fatigue and dizzy spells. My dry mouth seems to be gone but the fatigue is hitting me hard.
Does anyone else here have a spinal fusion? I was paralyzed from a spinal cord injury in 2012 and underwent an emergency 360 spinal fusion with rods/screws from L4-S1 to walk again. My SI joints are next to be fused, but not until after the baby is born. I live in daily pain, without medication since weaning for the pregnancy. After the fusion, I developed a post-op blood clot in my left leg that almost led to full amputation. The clot ran from my pelvis all the way to my ankle and had to be cleared with surgery on my leg. Now in pregnancy I'm on twice daily blood thinning injections and labeled high risk. My heart goes out to all of you who have to battle chronic pain or conditions on top of the miserable pregnancy symptoms. Let this child ever tell me they hate me haha
I'm hypo, thyroid cancer survivor after complete thyroidectomy. I already felt like crap before but it has become worse. I just take comfort in knowing I'll meet my sugar plum in February. I suffer from many problems but I'm currently taking Ambien for insomnia, zoloft for moods/depression , propranolol for night sweats. The pain meds I only take in an extreme severe case...then my endocrinologist warned me that auto immune disease can improve while pregnant but can get worse after the baby is born... that's not what I wanted to hear lol. It's good to know that I'm not alone
I have PMDD and seasonal depression, ADHD and anxiety. I have recently come off all my meds (week 3 off of all meds) and i just want to say if anyone else had to do this, i feel your pain. I am just over 10 weeks pregnant.
I went through major depression and lack of interest in most things and almost got fired from my job because of it. I can say now I'm not 100% , most likely from the above conditions and from the now added extra emotional hormones, but If i can do it, you can do it!
It took about 3 weeks for me to come back around to semi normal. I had terrible nightmares, and social withdrawal, high anxiety and just plain didn't care.
I was lucky to have a supportive partner and family members to get me through this extremely painful and tough time.
I have been taking natural sleep aid gummies in hopes to sooth my my mind at night, but i am not sure if they are even working. I still am having crazy dreams and walking up every hour.
I am also struggling with major constipation and can't go to the bathroom, its like every 4-5 days. This causes me to be extra cranky and ill feeling. PLEASE, if someone has suggestions, please fill me in! I just want to be normal again while doing the best i can for my baby! I am taking fiber gummies everyday.
Thank you all, and my heart goes out to those with extra problems / issues!
I've had fibromyalgia since I was 10, officially diagnosed at 20 and have been self treating for the last 10 years. I can't even imagine what all of you are going through having to ween off medications.
I'm currently 11w3d with my first. I read years ago the increased blood flow of pregnancy helps reduce symptoms but thus far I have to disagree.
I'm 4'11" and was a 32D before I got pregnant. As if that wasn't awkward and unconfortable enough I'm at least a DD now. Between the added weight in my chest and waking up 3-4 times a night to go the bathroom, I'm definitely in the midst of a flair up.
All that being said, I've been told by 2 different specialists over the last couple years I'd never conceive without IUI or IVF. DH and I had just decided to start IUI in October when I found out I was pregnant so I'm willing to put up with all the pain my body can throw at me if it means I get to hold my beautiful baby in 7 months.
Good luck to all of you! I hope you're all able to find some relief over the next year!
Ps. A tip for those battling depression either as a side effect from your withdrawals or your disease/illness itself, start eating yogurt everyday. Not only will it help regulate your digestive tract, studies are also showing the acidophilus boosts serotonin levels.
Severe Crohn's Disease here! My immune system actually seems to be loving pregnancy - my symptoms are down, and I'm able to eat fresh fruit and vegetables (this summer produce season has been bliss). But I am seeing a perinatologist for a few things, like growth/anatomy scans, and it looks like I'm headed toward a planned C section to preserve what little bowel function I have left. Not what I would have planned, but if it's the bets option, then it is.
I too have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was diagnosed when I was 13 (29 years old now) and my condition is considered "severe". I've been on Enbrel (2 injections per week) for 16 years and came off of it when DH and I decided to get pregnant. I'm 16 weeks, 3 days today and I wouldn't say my disease is in remission, but it's definitely tolerable which is WAY more than I could have ever hoped for. I'm pretty sore when I wake up in the morning and right before bed, but as long as I'm active during the day, the symptoms subside a bit. Best of luck to you ladies. Hang in there!
Hi all! Belatedly joining the thread. I have hashimoto's thyroiditis and have been doing... okay. I struggle with fatigue anyway, so that hasn't changed, but pregnancy has brought back another fun autoimmune side effect I thought I'd left behind years ago - horrific acne! It's just terrible. I know it's a side effect of normal pregnancy too, but it's very severe. Hoping it clears up as pregnancy progresses or at the very least once baby girl is born.
Otherwise, thyroid level wise, luckily, I've been doing great and baby girl is healthy and growing right on target. I have to get my blood drawn every 4 weeks and see my endocrinologist, but so far so good. If my levels are good at the next blood draw (I'll be 21 weeks) my dr says I can just stay on my same dose until baby is born. Which would be great because I am tired of having so much blood drawn. Between my endocrinologist and my obgyn, I'm shocked I have any blood left!
Anyway, just giving extra support out there to anyone struggling with an autoimmune disease or chronic illness on top of pregnancy - it's tough but you're doing great! Hang in there!
Hello ladies. Joining the thread now as this is the first time I've run across it during my lurking. I have ADHD and a slew of back and hip issues. H and I were rear ended last June. I've been to see several Drs and specialists over the last 14 months. I finally was seeing a pain management and spine specialist who was able to determine that I have degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis of the spine and sacralisation of a rudimentary disc. He basically told me I have nerve damage they were going to investigate and an extra disc in my lumbar spine that's partially fused to my SI joint. H and I were blessed with this pregnancy before I could get too far into diagnostic testing and I've had to quit all meds. I'm experiencing severe hip and back issues that were to be expected. I just keep reminding myself that in a couple months LO will be here and it will all have been worth it.
I'm so sorry @xkatiekx that must be terribly painful. Good for you for keeping positive and focusing on the end goal! Hoping your pregnancy goes by quickly, healthily and as painlessly as it can!
@maureenmce thank you and I hope the same for you. When I hear other people's stories it just makes me appreciate that everyone is different and every pregnancy is different. I kind of feel like if it wasn't my back or hip it could have been something else and we're all here to get through it one day at a time
Re: Autoimmune/invisible illness mamas
I know that's not what you want to hear, I am rolling my eyes at myself for saying that. It's kind of like at the end when people say the baby will come when it's ready.. Just want to be like you can really stop talking... Like 5 minutes ago!
Vent away! If you need some encouragement, I'm here! I'll try to not be too cliche though! How much did you gain with the first? Were MDs upset about it?
I really feel for you. It took seeing what she is going through to really "get it". I was so naive, I thought Crohn's was just really horrible chronic diarrhea until my sister developed it and now I know better.
I'm currently 11w3d with my first. I read years ago the increased blood flow of pregnancy helps reduce symptoms but thus far I have to disagree.
I'm 4'11" and was a 32D before I got pregnant. As if that wasn't awkward and unconfortable enough I'm at least a DD now. Between the added weight in my chest and waking up 3-4 times a night to go the bathroom, I'm definitely in the midst of a flair up.
All that being said, I've been told by 2 different specialists over the last couple years I'd never conceive without IUI or IVF. DH and I had just decided to start IUI in October when I found out I was pregnant so I'm willing to put up with all the pain my body can throw at me if it means I get to hold my beautiful baby in 7 months.
Good luck to all of you! I hope you're all able to find some relief over the next year!
Ps. A tip for those battling depression either as a side effect from your withdrawals or your disease/illness itself, start eating yogurt everyday. Not only will it help regulate your digestive tract, studies are also showing the acidophilus boosts serotonin levels.
(Sorry for the novel!)