Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Feeling so down :(

My back is killing me!!! I am depressed and crying. I cant find a position that would give me at least some relief for a minute. I dont know what to do.
My husband had to carry me to the bathroom.
I am so scared what this can do to my baby. Can the pain hurt him/her? Mentally I guess it could, if it took too long.
I want to stay off any medicine but I dont know if I can handle it much longer.

I know I will feel much better in the morning, but just now ........... I d like to get rid off the hurting half of my body!

How am I ever going to handle the next 6 months of pregnancy? The labour? The little baby?

Well, at least I can post here cause you know what I am talking about. It is hard to tell about your pain if the people you are telling have never been through it or even close to it.

Hana

Hana,

I've been there, done that. It is a helpless feeling to be pregnant and have to be carried on and off the toilet! I had to resort to ibuprophen. The risk of bleeding is increased with nsaids, so the last month I only used tylenol for pain. The fourth month I had bronchitis and my chest hurt so badly from all the coughing that my OB. put me on vicodin along with the antibiotic. She felt that it was necessary to have something for pain and that these were reasonable choices. Overall my pregnancies were pretty good as far as the A.S. is concerned. My first two deliveries were natural. The first was a slow labor and the second very fast. My third turned breech two weeks before her due date. They tried to turn her and she got stuck so we opted for a c-section that night. I wasn't diagnosed properly until a few months after my third child was born. At that time my s.i. joints were completely fused so I'm thankful she was a c-section. God took care of what could have been a bad situation.

Hang in there, it is all so worth going through the discomfort.

God bless you and yours,

Kirst

Hi Hana,

Sorry to hear about the pain.... try to take one day at a time and not worry about the next six months. Maybe that is easier said than done.... but seeing I have no experience with being pregnant (obviously) that is the best advice I can hand out.

Best wishes and prayers that your pain is eased!

Take care,

Tim

Hope is only a post away with KickAS.

Hanna,
I wish i could tell you what to do...I also have been down with that horrible pain. Used every medication the doctor could use but nothing helped. I know you can not use heavy pain meds due to your pregnancy. I feel you pain (flare-up)...but one thing you can do that will give you some relief.....get some cold(frozen) pack and freeze the pain area. Sometimes I had to fall asleep with a cold pack where the pain was so intense. I hope maybe this will help you a little.... God be with you and yours.

Dan

Hi Hana,
I had a friend who had sever A/S and she went onto a low dose prednsone, becuase of a flare and was assured it wouldn't hurt the baby. The baby is now 15 years old. I would call your Rheumy stat and he/she may send you to a specialists who is really well read on this.

Take Care,
Janet

Dear Hana,
Hi, I do hope that very soon you get some relief from the flare up that you are having. My AS began when I was pregnant with my third baby and I was in a fair bit of pain with no inkling as to why. I remember getting through the day was a very big effort and I had two beautiful little boys to look after also whom I wanted to be the best mum ever for! I couldn't understand why my pregnancy was so painful and why I was having so much trouble getting around! I was also very worried about how the baby was going and growing - if I was feeling so poorly! Well I think mother nature has set things up sooo beautifully! The baby I delivered was just gorgeous! She didn't seemed too concerned about it all ! A tiny peaceful gorgeous angel! Hannah has been a delight to me and her dad since the day she arrived!
I suppose the point I am trying to convey is try not to worry Hana! Just do the best you can with what you have got! I dont really have much to offer in the way of ideas for pain relief while pregnant ( maybe baths, hot wheat bags, massage, rest ). Try to take things one day at a time. I hope that your flare is short lived and that the rest of your pregnancy is easier to manage Hana,
Take care,
from Debra.

Hana,

Please check for private message

Martin

Hi Hana,

I know just how you feel. I was left unable to move in my last pregnancy and in chronic pain with electrical shocks throughout my body and my pelvis ripping apart.
Hot wheat packs are a wonderful idea, so are warm baths. Please although keep in mind that you are not to remain in a hot bath for too long as over heating is harmful to yourself and the baby during pregnancy.

Up your water intake to help flush out any toxins that may be present. This may help with the inflammation levels also. Water is great for cleaning the system and the more you can get the better for you and the growth of baby. You are at a time in pregnancy where the placenta is now doing the work for the baby and this in some women brings in a new fluctuating level of hormones for the mother to deal with. Hopefully they will settle and give your body a chance to deal with the new changes and the A.S.

Remember that the pain is usually inevitable and there is always a level of discomfort for all pregnant women during pregnancy and labour at some time. Bearing this in mind and knowing that sometimes medications are 50/50 for side effects in individuals you may want to consider focusing on how to un-stress. The more tight and upset you are then the lower your pain threshold may drop. So consider weekly light massages, deep tissue massages are not recommended during pregnancy, use oils (check with a professional as some are not to be used during pregnancy) Play your favourite music and watch that well worn out old favourite movie that is at the back of the cupboard. Get hubby to rub your feet, this way you will have them elevated...and get a soothing refreshing massage at the same time.

Most of all remeber that it is only temporary and that once you hold your gorgeous little bundle of joy that it will all be a distant memory. One that you may consider going through all over again!

Best of luck
Sal

P.S I'll buzz you next time I see you online on icq!






The most important questions you will ever answer are those that your children ask you.

ditto on what Martin said.

Hi Hana...
Sorry to hear you are in so much pain.
Try to hang in there and call your rheumy and see what he/she can offer you for some relief. Try some cold/heat rotating. That helped me sometimes when I was pregnant.

Unfortunately with pregnancy, there's discomfort period. With AS...that just adds more pain that we wish we could avoid. I was sick with some symptoms of Spa when I was preggers with my 2nd child four years ago, but with my 7 month old... I suffered alot more than I care to remember now. My OB/gyn pulled me off all meds. The only thing that I was allowed were steroid injections. Both OB and Rheumy agreed they were safe for baby if injected directly into site. Bad part was that my sternum and ribs were so inflammed from baby growing that my normal shots that had helped in the past...were short lived. I had to take Tylenol #3's a few times. I would break the tablet and take half in the morning and another half at noon. It didnt take all the pain away but it did help take some of the edge. I also had SPD. If your lower back is hurting you more so and intense pain in your hips...pm me and I can tell you about some of the signs of that. Ob told me it was due to the arthritis flaring in my hips. Geez!

I dont think your pain can hurt him/her, but I think you are going to hurt more inside if you wait to get some pain relief. I did what I listed above..and I now have a VERY healthy 25lbs 7month old baby boy! He is QUITE healthy! I also took fish oil capsules that my Rheumy said were great for the baby's mental health development. When he saw him the other day..he was rolling over laughing at how big he is. So apparently he was right!

Take care..and feel free to pm me...believe me..there's plenty of us momma's with AS that have been there.

hugs]]]


Buggy