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• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Interview 01 >> Worries about stopping the RA medication to start a family.

Psoriatic arthritis diagnosed at 15 then RA at 25 ('99) but delayed as negative blood tests. Initial treatments DMARDs and steroid pulses. Currently steroid tablets, NSAIDs, Methotrexate injected weekly & Anti-TNF Infliximab infusions began 2 months ago.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 6-10 years >> Interview 31 >> Talks about medication in pregnancy and the worry of conceiving whilst taking penicillamine.

Diagnosed '93 after quick onset. Side-effects from various DMARDs. Currently on Enbrel (anti TNFa) twice a week, Brufen retard 2400mg/day, Prednisolone 7.5mg/day and Paracetemol as required. Both elbows replaced (2002) and knee washout operation.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Interview 39 >> She and her husband discussed medication and its implications for pregnancy with the consultant.

Diagnosed for 9 months but symptoms for 4/5 years. Current treatments Sulphasalazine,voltarol, thyroxine, ventolin, coproxamol. Diclofenac twice daily.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Interview 48 >> Partner worries about his wife having to stop medication to start a family.

Partner was diagnosed with RA at 25 has had the disease 5 years.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 26 years plus >> Interview 27 >> The symptoms were not bad during her two pregnancies but after the births they came back with a vengeance.

RA diagnosed 1975 after stiff fingers. Elbow replacement '91 and 2 toe operations. Currently Methotrexate 10mg/week & folic acid 6/7 days, daily Cyclosporin 150mg, Diclofenac 100mg suppository, co-codamol as required and Losarlyn 100mg (blood pressure).

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Janet - Interview 56 >> She wants children but is concerned about her age and worried of the prospect of stopping her medication before conception and during pregnancy.

Diagnosed in 2006. Janet takes Methotrexate 15 mg but experiences severe sickness and nausea. She will start taking Methotrexate in injection form and hopes this will reduce its side effects. She also takes: Tramadol with paracetamol; folic acid and amitriptyline at night when needed.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Interview 58 >> Professor Robert Moots advices and informs about biologic drugs and pregnancy.

Robert Moots, Professor of Rheumatology, School of Clinical Sciences at the University of Liverpool and Consultant Rheumatologist at University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 6-10 years >> Tara - Interview 53 >> Talks about medication before and during her second pregnancy and managing pain without drugs.

Following her diagnosis Tara was put on Methotrexate and this controlled her illness very well. She came off Methotrexate after deciding to have a second child. She describes her antenatal care as 'excellent' and felt safe and reassured. She is currently on anti-TNF treatment: Humira.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 6-10 years >> Tara - Interview 53 >> Talks about the antenatal care she received with her second pregnancy. She felt very supported and reassured.

Following her diagnosis Tara was put on Methotrexate and this controlled her illness very well. She came off Methotrexate after deciding to have a second child. She describes her antenatal care as 'excellent' and felt safe and reassured. She is currently on anti-TNF treatment: Humira.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Kate - Interview 52 >> At every opportunity, her consultant raises the issue of the importance of not getting pregnant while on Enbrel. She and her husband have decided not

None of her previous non-biologic treatments have worked long-term. Her condition deteriorated to such an extent that she was housebound and needed help with most things. Currently she is on Enbrel and Methotrexate and her condition is much improved.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Emma - Interview 61 >> Emma and her partner would like children in the future. At present, they are very careful to avoid an unplanned pregnancy and Emma is on the contracep

In 2008, aged 21 Emma was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Currently, she is on a combination therapy that includes Sulfasalazine, Methotrexate and Naproxen as a painkiller and a new biological drug called Cimzia (certolizumab pegol). The plan is to eventually reduce her RA medication to Methotraxate and Cimzia only.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Emma - Interview 61 >> Emma and her partner would like children in the future. At present, they are very careful to avoid an unplanned pregnancy and Emma is on the contracep

In 2008, aged 21 Emma was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Currently, she is on a combination therapy that includes Sulfasalazine, Methotrexate and Naproxen as a painkiller and a new biological drug called Cimzia (certolizumab pegol). The plan is to eventually reduce her RA medication to Methotraxate and Cimzia only.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 16-20 years >> Pat - Interview 59 >> Six weeks after her first child was born Pat woke up with stiffness in her arms and legs, she went to her GP who told her it was ‘just being a mum’. I

Pat was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis aged 25 but it took almost three years and a progressive deterioration of her symptoms for her to get an appropriate treatment. Her disease has remained active and to date she has had ten operations and four implants. Pat participated in a clinical trial for a newer drug called Golimumab (Simponi) but the therapy failed to improve or control her rheumatoid arthritis. She is due to start another biological therapy; Rituximab.

• Topic
• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Pregnancy & breastfeeding >> Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Emma - Interview 61 >> Emma and her partner would like children in the future. At present, they are very careful to avoid an unplanned pregnancy and Emma is on the contracep

In 2008, aged 21 Emma was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Currently, she is on a combination therapy that includes Sulfasalazine, Methotrexate and Naproxen as a painkiller and a new biological drug called Cimzia (certolizumab pegol). The plan is to eventually reduce her RA medication to Methotraxate and Cimzia only.