Pregnancy and meds

[Alicebee101]

Hi All

A quick background - I've got TI Crohns that went undiagnosed for almost 10 yrs and was finally diagnosed Jan last year. I also have gallstones.
I was on a few meds last year with little success (Asacol, Pentasa, Pred and anti-biotics). I've been off meds for about 7 months and overall feel better off them.

My symptoms are mainly diarrhea, cramps and body pain.
I have no bleeding, fistulas, skin symptoms, joint pain etc.

I'm seeing a new doctor again on Thursday and he will probably want to put me back on Pentasa as a start (On an aside - he did tell me that he's not surprised that I was undiagnosed for so long because Crohns patients are usually thin! Gggrrrrr).

My questions is - have other women been through pregnancy on meds? If so, any issues?

I'm planning to get pregannt within the next 12 months and at this stage, I don't see the point of going back on meds if I can manage without them. My last pregnancy was brilliant and I actually felt great after the first trimester. Obviously if I don't need to expose an unborn baby to meds I shouldn't?

To hear any other personal experiences would be great!

Thanks!

 

[Neko76]

Hi,

I have severe crohns and have had two pregnancies. My first was a let's just say total surprise and I was on Imuran, which I stopped immediately (it is not good for pregnancies). I was not flaring going into that pregnancy and had a great, trouble free time. I started flaring at the beginning of my second pregnancy and I was on Humira, since I was pretty sick they tried switching me to Remicade for my first two trimester, which didn't work.... I had a terrible time and was quite sick the WHOLE time. In truth, it turned out I had colon cancer (I have had severe crohns since I was 8, so 27 years of inflammation caught up to me). They say that how you go into your pregnancy is a good predictor of how your pregnancy will go. I.e. If you are well going into it you have a better chance of staying well etc... I know that there are some meds you cN continue with but a lot that you can't and having a good pregnancy before is not a predictor of how future pregnancies will go. Best to chat with your doctor about what your options are. Oh and both my little ones are just fine. Good luck!!

 

[Alicebee101]

Thanks Neko for your story.

It's very interesting to know that two pregnancies can be so different. My first was so easy from the second trimester I guess I just presumed the next would be the same.

Let's see what the doctor says. I go on Thursday.

Thanks!