|
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/20/2009
Posts: 9
|
Hi there
I have never posted on the forum but have been a member for two yeras!
I was diagnosed with RA back in November 2008 and responded well to plaquenil and had not many problems. Got pregnant last march and went of all medications and no problems I am now 9 weeks post natal and gave up breast feeding one week ago to go back on medications because of I am suffering debilitating joint pain. been to seen rheumatology nurse and told this is common poat natal joint pain and not my RA. has anyone expreienced this?
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
|
Hi, welcome to the forum!
I have never heard of post-natal joint pain but I do know it is common to have a flare up of your RA postnatally. I'm not saying your nurse is wrong because she has seen you and has access to your blood results but I would try to get a second opinion on this.
Have you seen your GP? If necessary he should be able to get you an appointment with your consultant if he thinks your RA is flaring.
Good luck with it, and now that you have plucked up the courage, keep posting!
Congratulations on the birth of your baby!
Is it a boy or girl?
Love, Doreen xx
|
|
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/20/2009
Posts: 9
|
Thanks for the advice Doreen
We had a bouncing baby boy and we called him Harry ( I can't seem to add a photo of him on my post!)
I have searched the internet this afternoon and found on mumsnet that quite a few women experinece post natal jont pain and sounds very much like the pain and stiffness I am experiencing but also feels just like my RA too...the nurse spoke to the rheumatologist and he was the one that suggested this without even seeing me! so they have advised me to take paracetamol ( on top of the tramadol I am already taking) and come back if it gets any worse. My ESR is raised but my CRP is normal so I suppose it all makes sense but it is very frustrating as I struggle with night feeds and getting baby changed and dressed in the mornings. My health visitor has been very supportive and referred me to home start for someone to support me in the mornings. So feel I am maybe a bit luckier than some who struggle along on their own.
Janine
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
|
Hi Janine Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the arrival of baby Harry. Like Doreen, I wouldn't want to doubt your nurse/rheumatologist however, the arrival of my daughter triggered my RA about 12 weeks after giving birth. Fairly low key joint pain in my ankles and feet but nonetheless nine months later I was diagnosed with sero-negative RA. I had no symptoms that I'm aware of before the birth and it seems the hormonal changes set the wheels in motion. I have had two pregnancies since and required very little medication during the pregnancies, but the RA re-appeared within three months each time. I would be inclined to keep a very close eye on things as it doesn't take much for RA to flare and when you're a busy Mum the last thing you want is to be laid up unable to do anything. Pleased you have got some support ... someone listens these days! I had three babies, twin boys and then another boy, all under 16 months, a 6 year old and RA! Not a good combination! Do keep posting, it will be lovely to get to know you and hear about baby Harry  Do take care, Lyn x
|
|
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/20/2009
Posts: 9
|
Thanks Lyn
I feel heartened by your response!
It really does feel like a rollar coaster ride of emotions! I was determined to breastfeed and struggled with it for the first six weeks I ended up suplementing with formula on my GPs advice as Harry was losing weight between week 4 and 6 despite feeding what felt like 24 hours a day!
Once I supplemented he was a much happier and less hungrey baby and then all the joint pains started hence my decision to give up breastfeeding at 9 weeks and go back on medications. The nurse gave me a steriod injection about 2 weeks ago which made no difference hence the conclusion that the joint pain is not RA...I must admit I have always found the steriod injections effective in the past.
I agree that I will just keep a close eye on things and my husband suggested I keep a pain diary. When I was first diagnosed with RA it started about March 2008 but I never got diagnosed until Novemeber as it started so mild and just got gradually worse, so my feeling is that this is similar.
I can't imagine having another baby!...one is quite enough! he is smiling, cooing and laughing and is an absolute pleasuare to have in my daily life. But very hard work especially when my fingers don't work properly and there is no strength in my hands and wrists. But it is amazing how you just learn to adapt out of necessity!
Thanks again for your advice and support.
Janine
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
|
Oh Janine, Harry sounds gorgeous! Hope you can work out how to put a photo on here, we'd love to see him!
Are you still taking the plaquenil? That's a good idea to keep a pain diary, it will give the docs a clear view of what is going on with you.
It's good that you've got help with little Harry on a morning. If you look back at past posts I think there is a thread with lots of tips for coping with babies and RA. Jenni's the expert on this and I'm sure she'll give you lots of tips when she sees your post.
Doreen xx
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
|
hi Janine
My hands and arms killed after having Bernie. She is now 3.
Get some bottles you can manage- we had MAM ones.
Get a Rabbitt changing mat (you gently strap baby down it makes it 10times easier)
Rest when Baby sleeps.
use pillows (I had my bump pillow) to support baby when feeding.
I used a Mei tai sling to help too- no tricky catches and great for bonding plus no hand strain.
Can you see an occupational therapist? Talk about joint and energy conservation (at least 2 appts there)
I could never manage the nights with Bernie- my husband had to do that and still does.
With kind support
Jenni xxhow to be a velvet bulldoser
|
|
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/20/2009
Posts: 9
|
Hi Jenni
Sorry I haven't replied sooner we had a hectic weekend. Thanks for the much needed advice!
I now have my middle finger contratcting into my palm at night so I have no grip in my left hand when i wake up because it is stuck down! so i am thinking I will need to call OT for a night splint.
I ended up going back to my GP yesterday as I was in pain all weekend depsite my husband giving all care to harry, he has been very sympathetic and changed me on to arcoxia anti inflamm and put me on contracpetive pill to sort out my hormones if they are the cause.... he seemed a bit dubious as to what the cause might be.
I think alot of the time I get left to my own devices because the rheumy and my GP know that I am an OT so expect me to sort myself out! which I have adapated in lots of ways but just having an objective eye does help!
Will keep you informed of my progress!
Thanks Janine X
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
|
jaykiwi wrote:
I now have my middle finger contratcting into my palm at night so I have no grip in my left hand when i wake up because it is stuck down! so i am thinking I will need to call OT for a night splint.
When you finger sticks- mine do sometimes. get them into some hot (almost too lot to bear) water.
soak them and gently move them.how to be a velvet bulldoser
|
|
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/20/2009
Posts: 9
|
Hi Jenni
I try to get into a hot shower before harry wakes up in the mornings and work all my joints including my finger and keep stretching it out although I noticed this morning I can't get it fully straight. I have called OT dept and the Rheumy OT will call me back.
I feel off colour and exhausted just waking up this morning. Harry slept right through from 8:30pm to 7:30am he is only 11 weeks- can not believe it! unfortunately my sleep was disturbed with pain. This feels just like a flare and feels like all the sypmtoms I experienced leading up to my diagnosis in 2008. If I am no better by next week I will call rheumy nurse again and myther them to be seen by consultant!
GP said if this is post natal jont pain then that can last up to one year... I know that I can not stand this level of pain another week let alone a year. So fingers crossed that arcoxia kicks in over next few days. I am back on my placquenil for about 3 weeks now so hopefully that one kicks in soon as well.
Fingers crossed
Kind regards
Janine xxx
|
|
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/20/2009
Posts: 9
|
Thank you to Gail from NRAS helpline for sending me a pain diary to record all my sypmtoms for my hospital visits.
Much appreciated
Janine x
|
|
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/20/2009
Posts: 9
|
Hi all,
Thanks again for all your support, saw the consultant on friday as I was getting no better and life was getting much harder looking after harry (3 months old) as some days I could barely pick him up. Anyway rheumy took one look at me hobble into the room and knew straight away I was in a flare and seemed a bit exasperated that the nurse hadn't picked up on this 4 weeks ago in clinic. He has put me on pednisolone to get the flare under control and said the plaquenil may take up to 3 months to work properly. so fingers crossed he promised I would feel much better by monday....except i now have a cold that I caught off harry...we had to take him to out of hours GP today to have his chest assessed as his cold/cough had got quite nasty I thought it had gone on his chest. He got the all clear and is hopefully over the worst.
So much for a nice chilled out weekend....I suppose we can goodbye to those for a very long time!!!
Janine x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
