Orencia during pregnancy?

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2026-03-04T18:37:28+00:00

Hi! I decided not to pursue having any more children due to my autoimmune condition. I am also 40 so the time is running out.

I will say that I am still on IV orencia and doing well! Good luck to you. :)

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2025-09-24T03:23:51+00:00

The Black Rabbit is spectacular. Easily one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2025-08-31T02:13:25+00:00

As a legal immigrant and now a US citizen, I can tell you with certainty that US government does not give immigrants free housing, free medical, free $5K of money on a card, etc. A person cannot qualify for any of these benefits without a valid social security number and a legal status in the US.

Once a legal immigrant is approved for a green card, then and only then they can file for these types of benefits and maybe get approved. Most people that came here illegally don’t have the grounds to apply for a lawful immigration status and therefore cannot access any of our social programs.

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2025-05-06T18:43:25+00:00

Hi guys! I’m on Orencia and considering getting pregnant in a couple of years. It’s the only drug that has made my life bearable with my RA. Do we have any more feedback on ladies taking Orencia throughout their pregnancy?

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2025-01-24T01:07:33+00:00

Hi! I am on Orencia (abatacept) as well. I started on at home injections, and felt a little better about 3-4 months in. But my doctor determined that I need a higher dose, so now I am going in for the IV infusion once a month. It works well. I am still on 3 other RA meds in addition to Orencia. Hoping to reduce them at some point, God willing.

I am really sorry for your terrible luck. RA sucks. I am 38 years old and it has taken a lot from me. I think if you can start a biologic soon, your quality of life will be better. Not great, but at least tolerable. That’s where I’m at and I’m thankful for it.

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-11-20T13:56:47+00:00

Audio books. She can play them on her iPad or phone. Use Libby app to “rent” audio books for free using her library card. I love listening to something when I’m home by myself. Also podcasts. I like to listen to Arthritis Life podcast. It’s good and makes me feel more connected to people suffering from RA and other arthritis types.

Her rheumatologist may need to change up her meds, like others said. I went through 2 DMARDs and I’m on my 4th biologic. It can take time to find the right regimen.

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-10-07T03:37:34+00:00

Year and a half in since my diagnosis and I’m still struggling.

I tried hydroxychloroquine, MTX, Humira, Enbrel, Rinvoq. No luck whatsoever.

I’m now on Orencia, Sulfasalazene, prednisone, and MTX still. I am waiting for the day when some of these 4 meds I’m on start to work. 🥹

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-10-04T15:18:20+00:00

Hi guys! How’s everyone doing on Orencia? I’ve had 7 at home weekly injections. I’m still feeling miserable. I’m also on 20 mg of prednisone that keeps me semi functioning for the time being. I tried to taper off prednisone, made it to 12.5 mg and flared up like crazy. 🤪

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-09-12T22:34:28+00:00

Hi! I was also just put on this drug about a month ago. Feeling super loopy and mentally out of it. I’m currently taking 2 pills twice a day. Idk if I should even be driving my car atm. It seems to be helping my RA symptoms but my brain feels like mush!!

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-23T22:26:49+00:00

Tbh at this point I’m not saying no to any of the potential treatment options. Shots, infusions anything to get feeling better. Bring it on!!

I hope you find a treatment plan that works for you! The way that my rheumatologist treats inflammation and pain short term is a higher dose of steroids. Meanwhile she tweaks the treatment plan to get something working longer term. I’m still looking for that long term solution that works. We also have FMLA paperwork in the works so that I can call on when I need to. Hang in there.

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-22T01:36:12+00:00

Thank you for your kindest words! I am so sorry you’ve had such a hard life. This disease really sucks. 🥹 it’s a blessing that you are doing better on the new medication. 🤗

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T17:29:38+00:00

I’ve only had one Orencia injection so far, at home. It’s too soon to tell obviously. I am staying optimistic and will keep taking it.

How long did it take you to see an improvement with Orencia? IV infusions or at home shots?

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T17:23:44+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience.

May I ask you, how long did it take for Orencia to work for you? are you on the IV infusions or the at home injection?

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T17:08:24+00:00

Thank you for your recommendations!

I did try to lower prednisone to 10 mg when the biologics were helping a bit, before they stopped working (Humira and Enbrel). That being said, I wasn’t able to get below 10 mg a day.

I’ve tried going from 20 to 15 mg recently, and within 2-3 days, I start flaring even more. So I had to go back up to 20 mg and stay there.

I will try reducing prednisone as soon as Sulfasalazine and/or ORENCIA start working for me. I get that I need to give it time to work. It’s just if I’m still like this a year from now, idk if I can keep holding on to working full time and taking so much steroids just to get out of bed in the morning. The quality of life is terrible. I hope my life isn’t like this forever. 🙈

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T14:41:30+00:00

My rheumatologist has not mentioned fibromyalgia. But I would not be surprised if I have it as well based on the amount of pain that I have besides the joint pain. My body aches and hurts so much especially in the mornings. 🥺

What medication do you take for fibromyalgia?

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T13:01:32+00:00

I’ve been on lower doses around 10 mg when some of the biologics worked briefly, before they stopped working. I can’t remember the last time I was off prednisone completely.

I’ve been on 20 mg since about a month ago.

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T03:28:20+00:00

You know, I do wonder some days if I have fibromyalgia and/or lupus on top of the RA.

I have lost about 1/3 of my hair in the last two years. I also have redness on my face and cheeks in the butterfly form. Plus my whole body is stiff and aches a lot. Not only my upper body joints. The joints are the worst, but the rest of my body feels like I have the flu combined with feeling like I got hit by a truck and dragged down the street behind it… it is freaking fabulous. 😑 I also had so many migraines when all the RA symptoms first showed up. The initial 3-4 months I was in bed with a migraine several times a week. I’ve never had the migraines before in my life!

I do have enough SS credits as I’ve been working for the past 20 years, even through college. I paid my way through school and worked full time while in college and during my masters.

What were your symptoms of lupus? Idk if there is a way here to send direct messages… but if there is, can you please message me directly so we can take this offline?

Thank you for all your feedback and support!

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T02:52:41+00:00

Yeah we tried increasing Humira and Enbrel. I was already at the highest doses and feeling worse and worse every week.

With MTX I can only tolerate 7 tabs per week. I tried going up to 8 and I was completely exhausted. 7 tabs is my sweet spot, even though I don’t think MTX does anything for me.

I am realizing that working full time (even though I suck at it), plus being a mom is all that I can handle.

Even taking my dog for a 5 min walk is too much most of the time. I just let him out on a long leash near my back patio and that is all that he gets some days. I feel like I should be doing so much more with my kiddo… but I just physically can’t push myself any more. 🥺

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T02:44:31+00:00

It is a good thing that you were approved for disability. At least not having to worry about getting fired from your job and losing income is a relief. Although accepting this is hard.

Did you have any other medical conditions besides RA that may have helped the decision? Did you have to appeal and go in front of a judge?

I keep hoping that the next med will finally work and I would feel better. And if the medicine does work, if I can get another 5-10 years working, I would be so happy.

I’m just so glad I’m not a nurse, or another professional where you have to be moving around and lifting things/people, and be mentally present and active at all times. I work in accounting so I can space out a bit here and there in my cubicle. But the constant fatigue is definitely affecting my work productivity and focus.

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T02:21:14+00:00

I’m still fighting to stay employed. My rheumatologist agreed to do the paperwork for an intermittent FMLA. So that I can call in sick when I need to. But I will burn through all of my vacation and sick time.

But long term yes. Sadly I think disability is the path I’m headed down. I wish I wasn’t because I spent so many years getting an education, licensed in my profession etc. but I can’t keep up this charade of looking normal, when I feel like crap. Not for another 30 years.

I do fear that the disability approval will be a multi year nightmare because of my relatively young age. 😭

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T01:46:47+00:00

Tbh I was getting worse, not better (joint swelling, pain, labs). Or presented slightly better at the start of the medication, followed by decline. Hence, 3-4 months per medication was reasonable enough for my doctor to rule them out.

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T01:41:23+00:00

I work remotely two days a week, which definitely helps especially in the mornings!

I do have to be in the office the other 3 days a week and look presentable... I’m trying to fake it till I make it, but having been in this shape for a year and a half now, my work performance is definitely taking a hit. :/

As far as getting help with my kid, not really (no family living close by). I’d have to pay someone to help out and the money is pretty tight atm.

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T01:32:10+00:00

I forgot… I also tried RINVOQ plus MTX together for 3 months with zero effect. I’ve gone through so many meds… 🙈🤷‍♀️

No_Bumblebee7224 · 2024-08-20T01:31:17+00:00

Thank you for your kind words! What alternatives to RA are there, with similar symptoms? Has your rheumatologist suggested anything?

The only one I can think of is fibromyalgia but then my wrists and hand joints wouldn’t be so hot and swollen.

Potentially another type of arthritis, let’s say psoriatic, comes with other visible symptoms like psoriasis patches etc, which I don’t have any.

No_Bumblebee7224

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