Getting pregnant

[MariaK]

Hi,
I was just wondering whether anyone could help me with a question. I am scared that I can't have children because I am 29, I am lymphopenic and sometimes neutropenic. I cannot function without my plaquenil,surgam,and other meds. I cannot imagine that I will be able to take them when I am pregnant. I am sure this will have been discussed before on the forum but I would just like to know whether anyone has had a successful pregnancy on plaquenil? Or if anyone managed without their medications?
I just cannot bear the thought of nine months on the sofa (which I feel I am resigned to). I am also scared of my biological clock of course! :afraid:
Many thanks,
Maria

[louisa]

I fell pregnant while taking plaquenil but i was told to stop taking it straight away. The doctor and rumey didnt know at the time if it was safe for my baby. I was 7 weeks when i found out so they had to do some research to make sure the baby was safe and unaffected. my baby was fine but i was not to take my medication untill the baby was born.
The best advice is to speak to your doctors.
I hope you get answers soon
good luck
louisa. :flowers:

[Clare.T]

The only advice is to discuss this with your doctors and follow their advice although it's a good idea to know what the practice is in general.

You might feel you want other doctors if the present ones aren't the right ones and information is one of the ways of judging that.
There is a lot of experience now at high levels ( eg Dr Hughes in London) that taking Plaquenil does no harm. The mother's health and lupus status might compromise the baby' welfare and of course the mother herself.

It's a risk benefit calculation.

Even Imuran has been taken ( organ transplant patients have shown this) without harm. Some other drugs are known to cause deformities or haven't been taken long enough for their to be a body of knowledge
The advice is to be in a stable state. I heard a top expert say the only two problems where she would advise absolutely against is when the mother has had a stroke or severe kidney disease.

Don't take it amiss but it's my opinion as an old fart that far more than the pregnancy has to be considered. It's a twenty year commitment and the first few years can shatter even the healthiest of women.

There are many threads here which discuss the difficulties of this most difficult of decisions.

Wishing you the very best of luck

Clare

[Raglet]

There are various meds that CAN be taken while pregnant, but it is important that you talk to your doctor BEFORE trying to get pregnant.

When I had my daughter my meds were changed for those I could take while pg before I tried to conceived

talk to your doctor, I am sure something can be worked out, many many of us with lupus are mothers so pg definitely is something that can be managed with lupus

cheers

raglet