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Cole
07-01-2005, 04:03 AM
Hi-
I was just wondering if there was anyone out there who has had a child/children
and as a result of all the hormones surging within your own body found that after birth you where left a completely new person.

One that was much weaker and prone to illness than before. That has been my situation. I have a 2.5 year old daugther. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism two months after she was born. I was put on thyroid medication. Symptoms improved but then over the course of the past 2 years more things seemed to happen one after the other.

Fatigue being the worst. Which you wouldn't think would be that uncommon since raising a child isn't that easy with all of it demands and night wakings.

But it was more than that and energy to this day is sometimes very strong and I storm the house like a crazy person and clean everything in sight, laundry, bills, extra projects and then there a weeks at a time I feel like I need every bit of strength to walk to the corner playground with my daugther.

Joint pain, fevers and rashes started showing up about 4 months after my daughter was born. Hair loss, not in patches but by the strands is an every day occurence and sun sensitivity.

I am happy to say I feel really good today, like nothing is wrong. But I just wonder how long this pattern will last. I almost don't want to think about it for fear that I will somehow will myself to experience these things again. Crazy I know. :afraid:

I am just nervous though, because I have already had a miscarriage back in March. Had the DNC and put all plans to have another child on hold until I do some more blood work.

I think I have a medical plan for trying to deal with this. But emotionally, I am anxious. I am fearful of becoming pregnant because I obviously don't want to miscarry again or as selfish as this sounds, have my body become worse after another birth.

I read and have heard that many people with lupus have healthy children, but what about the condition of those who give birth.

On a side note: my daughter has been my greatest joy and worth every minute of every day to just have her in my life.

Just wondering if there are any anwsers out there. :flowers:

Cole

alobreto
07-01-2005, 02:45 PM
Hi, Cole! ;)
The hormonal changes that occur with pregnancy and childbearing affect each woman in ways that are unique to her, although some of those changes are common in many other women.

As you probably already know, lupus is of the same ilk, and expresses its existence in different ways in each of us.

Add the 2 unknowns and you get a 3rd unknown. The best answer I can give is that each of us has to choose what is most important to us in our unique situation. Miscarriage is always a possibility in ANY pregnancy, we can't know what is going to happen to a certainty, and yes, children are a wonderful gift.

I wish you well in your decision-making.
Regards,
Angela :flowers:

cornishgirl
07-01-2005, 07:56 PM
Hi Cole, I'm 23 and can relate to your fears about pregnancy with lupus. I am pleased to let you know that when I fell pregnant with my son in the summer of 2001 I felt wonderful and after his birth continued to have another 3yrs of almost complete remission, I was even playing county netball! However I have recently experienced being pregnant again and unfortunatley from the word go it set my lupus into flare and I'm sorry to say it wasn't a happy ending. I guess with this illness you just never can tell what will happen. I try to get my head round the fact that no matter what, in any pregnancy not just lupus pregnancies things can go wrong, and when I feel the time is right I know I shall try for another child again. I totally understand how your fears plague you but actually in most normal pregnancies expectant mothers are worrying all the time as well, it's only natural. Yes we are higher risk and yes we do need extra monitoring but as long as we are doing all we can what more can we do? I like to try and help worried mum's gain perspective only because I so regret not just taking the time to enjoy my pregnancy for what it was. Instead of being excited and happy to go for a scan, I used to dread what they were going to find, whenever I had blood tests, I always expected the worse. Pregnancy is such a beautiful process and the end product as us mum's know is so worth it. If the worse is going to happen hun, the worse will happen and make that a bridge to cross if you get there because hopefully for you, there never will be that bridge. I wish you all the best for you and your family, take care Lucy

Cole
07-02-2005, 05:09 PM
Lucy,

I am sorry to hear of about your loss. But your perspective is wise and your outlook is emotionally positive. Thank you for your kind words.

Cole