Community› The Bump Message Boards› Infertility
Infertility
New Discussion

So does anyone else here have RA or another auto-immune disease? P/SAIFW

mandalinn25mandalinn25 member
in Infertility

The only thing that is worrying me from our RE meeting is that he said the only thing concerning him about my health is my Rheumatoid Arthritis and how he feels it can have a major impact on my ability to get pregnant and hold a pregnancy.

 

Now I am newly dx with RA and am not treating it with anything besides Tylenol right now due to no joint damage and very few flares (only 2 so far) and also because we are TTC.  Part of me still questions the dx, since I don't have a positive RA factor, but I know that doesn't mean much.

 

I am just wondering if anyone else is dealing with this and what their RE's have said.  Thanks!

TTC since 2006
Me: 36 DH: 40
DH dx azoospermia My dx: RA & AMA
d-IUI's--6/10, 7/13 & 8/4: all BFN
d-IVF#1--Lupron/Menopur/Bravelle/Novarel; mini-dose protocol
ER: 10/25--18R; 14F; ET: 10/28--3dt of 2 embies; 3 blasts frozen
+ HPT 11/4; Beta #1--14dp3dt: 441; Beta #2--21dp3dt: 9298
One beautiful jelly bean growing! Saw h/b on 11/28 and 12/5!!!
P/SAIF welcome
<a href="http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b315/mandalinn/?action=view
Report Reply to Post

Re: So does anyone else here have RA or another auto-immune disease? P/SAIFW

  • STL34STL34 member

    Me.  My RE (and my second opinion RE) don't believe that it is the reason I can't get PG.  They both believe I will need to be watched closely if I ever do, but even then you have like a 50% chance of a pregnancy putting you into remission. 

    My Dx has changed over the years.  Many of the tests they do aren't conclusive one way or the other.  So, doctors tend to lump you into the Dx where your symptoms fit the best.  My Dx was RA for years.  A few years back, I went to a new RE that I saw when I was treated in the hospital for a kidney infection.  He changed my Dx to ankylosing spondylitis.  My treatment changed a bit at that point and the new treatments seemed to work better.  However, part of the treatment was NSAIDs and I had to stop those to TTC.

    Good luck with moving forward, hon.  I hope you find success soon. There are ladies on PAIF that have autoimmune diseases such as RA.

    imageimage


    ~SAIF/PAIF/Everyone Welcome~ 

    Me= 37 and DH = 41 

    Dx: DOR, Endo, APA+ (really high beta 2 glycoprotein antibody and high everything else tested), heterozygous MTHFR mutation, positive for lupus anticoagulant, high FSH, low AMH and both tubes blocked (per HSG on 3/8/11)

    IVF #1 - long lupron (with HGH, intralipids, lovenox and BA); 4 retrieved, 3 fertilized; ET 2 blasts and 1 frozen = BFN

    IVF #2 - a version of antagonist with EPP (with HGH, intralipids, lovenox and BA); 6 retrieved, 4 mature, 3 fertilized, 2 blasts and 1 frozen blast transferred on day 5 = BFN.

    IVF #3 April was postponed to May, May was canceled. June/July was canceled. Had a cyst aspiration and then began IVF #3 in August. ER on 8/22; ET on 8/24 with AH. +HPT on 9/5. Beta #1 (11dpo) = 3; Beta #2 (15dpo) = 29; Beta #3 (17dpo) = 60; Beta #4 (19 dpo) = 118. Heartbeat at 6 weeks 6 days =132.  Lil is here!

    TTC#2:  Trigger + TI = BFN; Clomid + Trigger + IUI = BFN.

    IVF #4:  BCP + MDLF + Lovenox = 7R, 1F = Transferred 1 6-cell embryo on day 3 = BFN

    IVF #5:  MDLF + Lovenox = 4R, 1F = Transferred 1 10-cell compacting embryo on day 3 = BFN

    IVF #6:  (New RE):  Long Antagonist November 2014 (transferred two 8 cell grade 1 embryos and froze one blast) = BFN

    FET#1:  BFN

    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • mandalinn25mandalinn25 member

    That is interesting I too have been in the hospital for a kidney infection, although it was years ago....hmmm.


    Thanks for the info.  :)

    TTC since 2006
    Me: 36 DH: 40
    DH dx azoospermia My dx: RA & AMA
    d-IUI's--6/10, 7/13 & 8/4: all BFN
    d-IVF#1--Lupron/Menopur/Bravelle/Novarel; mini-dose protocol
    ER: 10/25--18R; 14F; ET: 10/28--3dt of 2 embies; 3 blasts frozen
    + HPT 11/4; Beta #1--14dp3dt: 441; Beta #2--21dp3dt: 9298
    One beautiful jelly bean growing! Saw h/b on 11/28 and 12/5!!!
    P/SAIF welcome
    <a href="http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b315/mandalinn/?action=view
    Report Reply
  • lovesred9lovesred9 member

    My best friend has RA and she got pregnant really easily, just had her baby and felt great during the 9 months.  I hope it is the same for you! 

    IVF w/ ICSI #1 April 2011 12dp3dt beta#1- 49.4 15dp3dt Beta#2- 240.7! 22dp3dt- 4940.4 u/s#1 6w4d- hb 120 u/s#2 8w1d-hb 160 u/s#3 9w4d no hb- missed misscarriage measuring 9w2d D & C IVF #2 BFN IVF #3
    Report Reply
  • wordslikeswordswordslikeswords member

    I don't have RA, but I have an autoimmune kidney disease. No one ever mentioned it being a potential reason for issues conceiving, but I have been classified as high risk and will be seeing a specialist a lot when I do get pregnant.

    If there are immune complications, there are treaments like IVIG infusions which stave off the potential effects of an overactive immune system during pregnancy. My high risk OB does them regularly. I don't think having an autoimmune disease necessarily means it will cause problems though. They haven't recommended anything special for me besides close monitoring :)

    Good luck!

    Me (32) DH (30)

    A Wordy Blog


    Baby Evangeline is here!
    image

    Report Reply
  • naybirdnaybird

    Hi there,

    I don't have RA but I do have immune issues.  I've done intraplipids with my cycles and this time I am going to do IVIG. Also, ask your RE about Humira. 

    Best of luck to you!!! 

    Renee- 37 DH - Chad - 39
    2/06 - surprise pregnancy - twins
    3/06 - m/c 1st baby at 6 weeks 
    5/06 -2nd baby had no heartbeat at 14 wks.
    D&E - Bled out. Blood transfusions. Week in ICU - Cheated Death!
    Diagnosis: Blood clotting and bleeding disorder, immune issues, & cervical stenosis
    5/10 - 1st IVF cycle - BFN
    FET - 10/12/10 - BFN
    1/11 - IVF with PGD - BFN
    IVF - May - BFN
    6/11 New RE - fingers crossed!
    9/11 - IVF - 4 transferred
    10/13 - BFP!!
    It's a boy! Clint Michael, Due in June!!!

    image
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker





    Report Reply
  • CallieMaeCallieMae

    I was recently diagnosed with RA (chronic sinuvitis, RF pos blood test) and we are also trying to conceive. I never had any RA-type symptoms (to my knowledge) until I delivered my first child in '09. At that time it was fatigue and aches and pains. I've since learned that flare ups post-partum are not uncommon.

    Last year I developed the sinuvitis and had surgery, the drs. thinking it was a ganglion cyst in my wrist. That misdiagnosis (and pointless expensive surgery) led to the RA blood tests, etc. I still had the sinuvitis but did not start any type of RA medication due to us trying to conceive.

    I recently had another flare up 2-3 months ago, at the same time I started having wacky periods. I went to my gyno, not thinking it was RA, and she said I wasn't ovulating and started me on Clomid. I was not pregnant after the first dose of Clomid and just finished my second dose this week. The first dose didn't fix my irregular periods, either. Now, I'm wondering (I've never had period issues like this) if the ovulation issue is due to my recent RA flare up. I see the rheumatologist soon and the gyno soon and once I learn something that would be helpful to you, I will let you know.

    p.s. My gyno also told me prednisone can cause ovulation issues, so if you have been or are thinking of taking it for inflammation, talk to your doctors first.

    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"