pregnancy and Fm - Fibromyalgia Message Board

beaner · 06-24-2001, 03:02 PM

Hey everyone! I've never really formally introduced myself, but I'd like to before posing this question. I'm 30yrs. old and have been in pain for 10yrs. Went thru the usual runaround with doctors and misdiagnosis for many years and was most recently diagnosed as having FM. Unfortunately I lost my insurance shortly afterwards and have not seen a Dr. in a long time - so these boards are INVALUABLE to me. I try to keep enough stashed for emergencies but for the most part I have been self medicating for 2yrs. From what I can gather, I have relatively mild symptoms. Mostly I live through the pain except on really hard days, when I take opites(Vicodin) and Valerian and my husband holds me until it passes. I work as a stagehand so I have a fairly pysical lifestyle which I think helps me stay out of pain as often as not - but I've had to start stretching more and more to stay lubricateted and I grow stiff more and more quickly. I've got a position as a head of department now which takes me out of alot of the real physical tasks and I stretch constantly throughout the day, especially before a big task.
It's really hard to live with pain as the norm but I decided before I was diagnosed that whatever this thing was I was not going to let it kick my *** ! Igo on the theory of just being as healthy as possible in every other aspect and it seems to help alot. It takes tons of mental and emotional energy, but having a good partner helps alot. My Husband Tom is wonderfully understanding and helpful.

Which leads me to my question. He and I are discussing the possibilties and options we have regarding starting a family. I know my symptoms can often become unbearable right before and during my period. This makes me very afriad of becomeing pregnant. I also am concerned with passing something like this on to my child. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge on this subject? Anything would help. We're open to adoption and infact probably will after one. But, we'd like to not rule out having a child of our own. Any encouragment?

------------------
Keep on keeping on!!
beaner

ReneeW · 06-25-2001, 07:40 AM

Hi, I have never posted to this board, I have just been reading it for a couple weeks, but when I saw your post I decided I had to respond. We are in the same boat. I am 30 and have had FM for about 6 years after contracting Lyme Disease for which I was treated and left with Fibromyalgia. Me and my husband have been married for 4 years and have always been leary of starting a family because of my illness. I have mild symptoms as well, I hurt all the time, but not to the point that I need medication, I take prozac but that's it. I have struggled with they pregnancy alot lately now that I've turned 30 and my husband is ready to start a family. I have also wanted to adopt a second child but preferrably after we had our own first. I really struggled with this and decided that it has got to be God's decision not mine. He knows what's best for me and what I can handle so we decided to start trying and leave it up to him. We have been trying for about 4 months and nothing yet, but we will keep trying. Sometime I get so tired all I can do is go to work come home and sleep and get up and do it again. That's when I wonder if I'll be a good mom. But I always come out of that severe fatigue in a couple weeks and then I think, how can I go my whole life without a child! When I am around kids I feel so full of energy and forget about my problems, so I'm hoping a child may actually help me. If you are a christian I would say pray about it and eventually an answer will come as to what is best for you. Good luck.
Take Care,
Renee

lj-111 · 06-26-2001, 12:32 AM

Beaner,

Medically, I don't know but I really doubt that it's passed on and doctors don't know either, so here is my opinion.

If you are not in debilitating pain as I am and many others, I say go for it...Besides, you have a wonderful Godsend of a husband (thank God)to pick up the slack you may have to leave behind. Don't let this stupid illness rob you of something that could mean all the difference in the world to you. If you want have a baby, I say you should...

If it's so easily passed down, then why am I the only one out of 6 kids who have it? And the only one on my family tree for that matter. Why are these people on here with kids who don't have it and they do? Or the kid has it and neither parent or any other relatives do? Fm takes enough, don't let it rob you of a dream that you can achieve. I do however think you should pray on it. God will answer you, if he hasn't already!!

Lisa

Ps...Tis the purity of a childs laughter, a tiny hand to hold, that is like above all medicines...LJ 2001

[This message has been edited by lj-111 (edited 06-26-2001).]

07-02-2001, 11:10 PM

Beaner-

My pregnancy triggered a big wave of symptoms, culminating almost 5 years after my pregnancy with a major surgery for a "finally discovered" birth defect in my brain.

I had a very difficult pregnancy,I was sick and in a lot of pain. I'm writing this not to scare you but to let you know what mistakes I made. I was working full time, going to school,keeping a house and raising my first child(not mine by birth). I didn't take great care of myself, didn't rest when I was tired,didn't ask for help,etc. My boss was a jerk and didn't want me to leave for doctors appointments,let alone because I wasn't feeling well. If I could do it over, I would have quit my job no matter what the cost, stayed home and babied myself and I think I would have been much better off. I would also start exercising and taking vitamins before getting pregnant. As far as passing something on, you don't have any control of your genetics and you could pass on or not pass on a whole laundry list full of stuff, you can't let that be a deciding factor. Having a supportive husband is definitely a plus for you if you do decide to give pregnancy a try.

With all that said, some people actually get BETTER with pregnancy and the hormones, in my 5th,6th months I was feeling great! And my daughter is a gorgous,smart,funny,little gem and I've never for a second regretted having her, I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. Since I have 2 kids, boy and girl, I have recently decided not to subject myself to another pregnancy.

Be sure to talk to your doctor and your gyn and see what they say. Make sure your docs are people who support and believe you. And I almost forgot, I had severe lower back pain throughout my pregnancy and PT and Chiropractic care helped me a lot.