Biologics, latent TB and pregnancy wish

Hi M.K., first, sorry to hear about your diagnosis and what you're going through. You've found a great community here and thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences and concerns. What is your rheumatologist suggesting you do for the TB and biologics? From my knowledge they are supposed to test you for TB before starting on biologics. So that was great your doctor was on top of that. You have a lot of legit concerns here, many which your doctor can help with. I would address these with the doctor first and go from there. Because these types of things do require treatment and we can't give medical advice out. Many people have healthy pregnancies on biologics and after they have healed from other things. It takes a whole time really to address this so if you have a gyno, primary and integrative doctor they can also address these things. TB is widely known and doctors fortunately know what to do about it in terms of treatment. My best advice is to not read the side effects right now. Just listen to your providers. Mamas Facing Forward is a great source (she's a mom with RA) for expecting mothers and woman who want to be a mom one day. I hope this helps and feel free to reach back out with anything else. Sending lots of love, light and healing your way. -Effie, team member

Welcome to the RA community! It's great to have you here, and thank you for sharing your experience with us! Firstly, I understand that starting a new treatment can be intimidating, especially when you read about potential side effects. It can be hard and discouraging reading all of that. But it's natural to have concerns about the medications you're prescribed, but it's also important to remember that every individual responds differently to treatments. The treatment for latent TB usually involves taking antibiotics for several months. While these antibiotics are generally safe and effective, they can have side effects such as upset stomach, liver problems, and skin rash. However, severe side effects are rare, and your doctor will monitor you closely to ensure your safety. Biologics side effects include an increased risk of infections, allergic reactions, and in rare cases, certain types of cancer. Again, it's essential to discuss any concerns with your doctor, who can provide personalized advice based on your medical history and current health status. And when you add pregnancy into the equation, that's another layer of concern that can only be addressed by a doctor. But I will say that in everything, anything is possible. So please do not lose hope in your pregnancy wish. I highly encourage you to seek out the support group Effie mentioned and gain insight from their experiences. When you do talk with your doctor, we'd love to hear how that goes for you and get an update on your process. Sending you best wishes, Latoya (Team Member)

Hi . The only thing I would add to the excellent information from Effie and Latoya is that we have plenty of people here who use biologics safely and effectively. Side effects are real and can happen, but they can be monitored for and there are now a lot of choices, so if one medication is not a fit or has side effects, there are other options.

Concerning pregnancy, we have some patient leaders here who have had children while being treated for RA. Our editorial team even put together a spotlight page on RA and pregnancy, with links to some of our most popular articles on the topic: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/ra-and-pregnancy.

Please know that this community is here for you and feel free, if you like, to keep us posted on how you are doing and to ask further questions. Best, Richard (RheumatoidArthritis.net Team)

Welcome M.K.!
When I started with RA, I used DMARDs. (methotrexate, sulfasalazine.) I never had relief of RA symptoms until I started biologics. When I learned that biologics (in addition to DMARDs) prevent further bone damage, I was ready.
All medications have side effects, and all medications work differently for each person. The great news is that we have many medications to choose from now. It may take time to find the "right" medication, but when you do you will be amazed.

Blessings,
Mary Sophia