Or know someone who does?

I’m a 17 year old girl and I’m currently using Enbrel to treat Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I don’t have many concerns about the drug, but my main concern which I can’t seem to find the answer to anywhere is:-

Has the drug affected your fertility/ability to conceive/have a successful pregnancy and birth?

Read this whole thing before you get judgmental about weaning.

I have psoriatic arthritis, a genetic autoimmune disease which attacks all of my joints. I feel like I’m 90 sometimes even though I am just 24. I am breastfeeding my son who will be 11 months old on Monday. I can take one of my arthritis medications while I am breastfeeding, but not the other. This is my problem.

I can take my Enbrel, but it is an autoimmune suppressant, which means I can’t take it if I get sick because it could cause a serious infection and possibly kill me. I cannot take my celebrex, which is an NSAID pain reliever which is what I used to take for my achy days and every day when I was sick so I wasn’t in pain. Celebrex passes into the breast milk and it isn’t good for babies and their livers.

I haven’t taken celebrex since I found out I was pregnant almost 2 years ago now. My fingers just don’t work any more (you wouldn’t believe me if I told you how long it took me to type this). When I get sick, I can’t take anything for the pain except ibuprofen in moderation and that doesn’t cut it. My son is walking now and I can’t run around with him very much even when I can take my enbrel because I just get so achy during this time of year. I want to breastfeed till about one year, but I need to wean by then because my son deserves a healthy (relatively) mommy who can play with him and run with him. I am a stay at home mom and he spends most of his time just me so it isn’t like he gets to run around and play at daycare or anything. I’m all he has. I need useful advice on weaning him.

He does take a sippy cup of water (or juice at grandma’s house) during meal times, but he won’t take a bottle. I’ve tried a couple different kinds of formula as well as breast milk and he doesn’t seem to like it. I don’t mind weaning him from the breast to the bottle if that is what it takes. We can work on that habit after I’m feeling better. He eats lots of solids, all three meals and sometimes a snack or two. He does take a pacifier. He doesn’t nurse to sleep. He nurses at bed time and then takes the pacifier and rocks to sleep.

Please give me some advice on weaning him and don’t tell me how magical breast milk is and how a child should self wean and how I should go through all the pain in the world to give my son the mystical powers of breast milk. Yeah, studies suggest that breastfed babies are smarter and healthier and have better eye sight, but walk into a classroom in any high school and point out the kids that were breastfed and which weren’t. I bet you can’t do it because the numbers in favor of breastfeeding are so slight and skewed by family income level (which is a more accurate predictor of future success unfortunately). I was breastfed and have a serious medical condition, but my best friend was formula fed and is in perfect health. Go figure. Don’t lecture me on breastfeeding please. I know the facts and I made my choice. Thank you.

I have severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. I use Enbrel, an expensive biologic drug that works for the arthritis but not so much the skin stuff- especially scalp. I alternate coal tar shampoo and Sal acid shampoo, used topical steroids to no avail. Any advice?
I know, I wish coal tar worked. The thing about UV is I would need to shave my lovely locks (not really). I haven’t seen my scalp but I imagine it is pretty pitted and scarred from the chunks of dead skin I pick off of it constantly (not exaggerating) so I would rather not shave my head- though tempting.

sadly i have been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis which is a chronic and often progressive condition that primarily involves pain and inflammation of the joints of the spine. AS affects the joints between the vertebrae and the sacroiliac joints (the area where your spine meets your pelvis). The dr. told me i have to be on ENBREL which is a type of protein called a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker that blocks the action of a substance your body’s immune system makes called TNF. People with an immune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or psoriasis, have too much TNF in their bodies. ENBREL can reduce the amount of active TNF in the body to normal levels, helping to treat your disease. But, in doing so, ENBREL can also lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. and its a life treatment. Has anyone been on ENBREL and if so how did you feel about it? I’m soo scared please help

I’ve just been diagnosed with PsA and my rheumatologist wants to put me on mtx or enbrel/humira. i think im going to try everything i can before i turn to enbrel/humira because of the cancer thing. if i were to be on those i would have lots of anxiety about developing cancer. anyways just wanting to know if anyone has taken the methotrexate and got good results. also did it help your spine??? my doc said that it wouldnt help the spine…. is there any other meds that have helped?? thanks in advance!!

He has tried several prescriptions (enbrel, and so many topical treatments ive lost count) We have an extensive collection of lotions/oils/shampoos/etc. He has also seen dermatologists, tried tanning, light therepy, etc. etc. etc.

The patches cover his scalp, parts of his arms, back, chest, legs, and other "areas" if you know what i mean. It seems hes tried everything, i know hes utterly tired of the itching, peeling, and psoriatic arthritis hes dealt with for years. I want nothing more than to relieve him of all these things. I love him so much that my heart aches everytime i see him look in the mirror and sigh.

ive suggested several organic and naturopathic treatments, i know hes open to the idea, but im sure hes very skeptical. hes mentioned a few times that he doesnt want to "embarass me on the alter", ive told him his psoriasis would never do anything of the sort.

Please help us, i want so badly for him to be comfortable in his own skin, any suggestion helps. Thank you!

I have Psoriatic Arthritis, and currently take 40mg Humira injection once a week, and have been on it for over a year now. Prior to that I was on Remicade infussions, and prior to that was Enbrel with Methotrexate. They are now saying that people who take Humira or Remicade are 2-3 times more likely to develop several types of cancer. Has anyone developed any problems from these medications yet or has your rheaumatologist taken you off of it because of the risks?

Thank You

I was on Humira and during the 3 months I was on it I was so tired all the time I could barely function day to day. I also had a constant headache and felt like I had the flu for 3 months. I experience severe weakness in my arms and legs. I will probably get recomended for Enbrel and was wondering if anyone switched and what the results where. I have sever psoriatic arthritis and am in terrible pain. I have not taken anything for my arthritis for 2 months.

Had psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis and was on enbrel®. Had total pain relief and cleared my skin. Now it quit working and all my symptoms are coming back. Any suggestions?

I have psoriatic arthritis. The meds control the psoriasis but not the arthritis very well. I often wonder if taking these meds is worth future effects. Most of the time I feel fatigued and very sore. I also take 4 high blood pressure meds. I hate taking so many meds, and it’s very expensive. Is there anyone out there who has taken the methotrexate and enbrel injections for any length of time? I would like to know if you have experienced any adverse effects. I am not interested in switching to humira or remicade b/c my insurance does not cover them. I am also interested in any feedback from other psoriatic sufferers.