Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Hey guys, new here as of today! I am desperate for some advice! I was diagnosed with RA 20 years ago, but have been in remission for the last 15 years, with the occasional 'normal' arthritic pain here and there. I have been very fortunate that I have not had to rely on medications and have been essentially symptom free for so long. Now, I am pregnant (32 weeks) and my doctor insisted my iron levels were way too low and basically demanded I take iron pills, which I have always fought against, only because they made me extremely nauseous. Well, they gave me a prescription and guaranteed it would be easy on my tummy, so I gave it a try and it was! I was ecstatic that I could take it and looked forward to not being so lethargic. After taking it everyday for a week, my RA symptoms came back, and with a vengeance, but I continued to take the iron for the next few days until the RA symptoms were so bad I just knew there had to be a connection. I researched a little online and found that anemia is common with RA and found one article in particular that states: "Anyone with an autoimmune disease, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, should not take iron supplements unless their levels are extremely low. It is important to emphasize that rapid correction of iron levels can actually exacerbate these disorders.". I am confident this has caused the flare up. I see my OB/GYN this week and want to be armed with knowledge beforehand because he is the type to blow off my concerns. The last time I saw my rheumatologist was 15 years ago, so I doubt they even have my records anymore, lol. Any advice?

It is essential that you continue taking iron during your pregnancy. Your iron requirements go up significantly when you're pregnant. Iron is essential for making hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells. During pregnancy, the amount of blood in your body increases until you have almost 50 percent more than usual. And you need more iron to make more hemoglobin for all that additional blood. You also need extra iron for your growing baby and placenta.

Unfortunately, most women start pregnancy without sufficient stores of iron to meet their body's increased demands, particularly in the second and third trimesters. If you get to the point where you no longer have enough iron to make the hemoglobin you need, you become anemic.

The flare may be due to increased iron, but it could also be due to the strains a pregnancy puts on your body. You have to remember the baby is essentially taking your nutrients away from you.

Congratulations on the coming baby.

Isn't it strange how one thing connects to another to cause significent problems? Something we normally would never connect?

Please, talk to doc before discountining your iron. It is very, very important to have healthy blood during pregnancy especially during delivery.

Hoping you find answers soon, dear.

Hugs

I'm also new here, but was very much interested in what you said on how you have RA and the iron pills seem to make it worse. I've never been diagnosed with RA but my grandmother has had RA for maybe 40 years now and I've heard its hereditary, so it kinda makes me wonder what's going on with me. Iam also 33 weeks pregnant today and my doctor said I was on the anemic side so about two months ago had ,,me start taking 2 iron pills a day, well today when I went in to see her she said my iron was still low and she wants me to start taking three pills instead of two. The only problem is that ever since I started taking two of the iron pills my finger joints have been hurting everyday and I've noticed that at night. my. I finger joints turn a light of blue I have no idea what's going on but I thought since I've heard RA can be hereditary that it could be that and by taking 3 pills of iron it would get worse. I told my doctor about my hands hurting and she just said it just because your pregnant. I'm not sure what to do ? Since your kinda going thru the same thing I was wondering maybe you can give me some advice on what I should do. Thank you in advance

My advice would be to find an ob/gyn who isn't the type to blow off your concerns.

But I'd say that to anyone about any doctor who did that!