Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Pregnancy Question

You are doing NOTHING wrong!

It is most likely that you are suffering from the sudden withdrawal of a 'easy' energy source for your metabolism and your body is not yet fully keyed up to switching on more ketotic metabolic energy pathways.

Maybe try to include some fruit / fruit juice several times a day in the early days so you have simple sugars that are readily digested higher up in the digestive tract so that You and not the Klebs in your large intestine can utilise them for energy.

There are PLENTY of folks who complain about the lack of energy on the LSD / NSD in the early days.

Hang in there - it *does* get better with time.....

You really need to talk to your rheumatologist ASAP about a (hopefully) short term management plan for pre-conception and pregnancy. It might include COX-2 type anti-inflammatories - safest on the GI tract and maybe sdome purely analgesic med too so you can function with less pain.

- this is no easy road, that's for sure! I actually found that the natural steroids made by the placenta were a real life saver during my pregnancies!

Thanks guys, you really are so great and your help and advice has been wonderful. I feel alot better hearing from people who actually live through this and can give first hand accounts as opposed to my rheumy who really is a great doc but can never really know how it feels. he is so blaise about telling me that kids might not be an option but doesnt understand that he is crushing my dremas...he is adamant that i have to be off humira well in advance of conception and throughout. I live in the west of Ireland so I guess there is alot less experience of such matters here but I guess ultimately I will have to make up my own mind about all this and hope he supports me but you guys have been great and I really do believe I can have a baby so thanks again. And I am delighted to hear others feel low energy on LSD diet...its a relief really. Will try join womens forum now...didnt know there was one!!

Hi there i was diagnosed with AS a year ago and currently i am taking
Enbrel and your questions really struck a cord with me.
I have one georgeous 4year old who i had before been dx but i know now that i had AS then and years before too.
I had my son with natural labour no c section although all the labour pains was in my back i really suffered but in pregnancy i was totally pain free it was the best 9months of my life.
I have also been told that i need to be off meds for atleast 5 months before even tryin to get pregnant and as i would love another baby i now find myself in your situation regarding meds it is so frustrating as its such a life changing desision, i hope you have much luck and if i find any information i will post to you.
Much luck
Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,
Yes I am receiving same advice from doc to be clear of drugs for 5 months prior to conception however what I have found is after a couple of weeks of trying to stop (which I do regularly just to see what happens) I become very unwell to the point where I just have to take the injection and then I am perfectly fine again. What I have noticed from reading here is that alot of people stop after conception and some go right through. I think for me, I will keep taking meds until pregnancy and then hopefully I will be one of the lucky ones and the symptoms will go into remission during pregnancy...I dont mind going straight back on meds after delivery but if I am really honest I am a little scared about the injections while pregnant despite the fact that many have had perfectly healthy babies, it still scares me a bit. In your case I suppose since your symptoms went away for the first pregnancy, then they hope fully will for the second and you can stay clear of the enbrel for the 9 months. Fingers crossed. I will keep you posted on how things move along for me and tell you what docs say etc :-)