I was wondering if anyone else has been through the same as me. I have a 20 month old, and until I had him was always very healthy. 2 weeks after he was born i was diagnosed with PND, and things have never been right. A few months ago I started having pains in my feet when I walk. I was referred to different specialists and eventually I was told i had problems with my arches. i have had special insoles made to see if they will make a difference. Due to the problems with my feet, it is now affecting my ankles and knees - so I really struggle to walk. I then started getting swelling in my hands and my doctor sent me for some blood tests with suspected Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The blood tests have come back showing no flare up with the RA but a very low white blood cell count. My hands have got progressivley worse, and some days I struggle to pick things up or bend my fingers. I have to wait untill June to see a blood specialist to see what is causing the problems. I find each day a struggle and can't even look after my son properly. My husband has to stay at home to help me. I am so scared as to what it might be. We had always talked of having 2 children and before this happened were planning to start trying again, but I feel that if I can't cope now, what would it be like with 2.

Sorry for the ramble, but I just needed somewhere to put down my feelings.

Annie you replied to my post about this a few months back. I suffered crippling hand pain for about a week and was terrififed that i was going to be diagnosed with RA. Fortunately, blood tests came back clear, though i've never really know what cause my hands to be so painful. I don't know your personal situation, but I know that you are entitled to claim disablity living allowance if you have RA and if you get it your husband should then be able to claim carer's allowance for helping you, providing he earns under a certain amount a week. Sorry can't be of much help and hope you feel better soon xxx

Just came across this thread and at last some one has the same as me.

A few months ago I started getting pain in my finger then it went to the finger next to it as well then my whole hand is so painful I find it painful just to squeeze the shower gel out and some times I can not even pick a cup of coffee up with out being in pain .

I have been to the docs had blood tests and came back showing inflammation and I went back and I have to go up the hospital to see a rheumatologist but I got the appointment last week and it is in ..... 8 weeks time I am in so much pain and I am also getting pains in my ankles,legs and sometimes I get sharp pains in parts off my body. It is so hard to explain but after reading this thread think you may know how I am feeling!

Hi girls

I'm in a similar position. My daughter is 3 months old (today!) and since she was born I've had very painful joints - ankles, knees, hips, fingers, wrists...

My RA tests came back negative and I'm now waiting for my Rheumatology appointment in mid July.

I can barely walk some days and can never open Daisy's bottles - it's a nightmare!!!

Nice to have some support from other girls in the same position...

xxx

I have this too! Was properly diagnosed 3 weeks ago.

For me it started in January, I started to get pain in my feet when walking and as the months passed it spread to every joint you can think of. By June I could barely move and like you all say couldn't do anything for myself like brush my teeth, squeeze shower gel or spray deoderant. Looking after my daughters was nearly impossible.

Anyway, I had bloods done at the docs a while back, must have been April and they came back pretty much ok. Then the pain got so bad I was referred to a rheumatologist anyway just to check it out. He said the bloods that were taken were the wrong kind anyway and he wanted to know the inflamation levels so took more blood. He phoned me as soon as he got the results to tell me the levels were extremely high and I had to start steroids that day. You should check what bloods were taken as they might have taken the wrong ones like they did mine!

I have been on staroids for 3 weeks now and they are FAB!!!!!!! They kicked in after about 4 days and I have absolutely no pain atall now. I can't stay on them forever unfortunately and am currently being weaned off of them and we are discussing different treatments which all scare the hell outta me but will hopefully work.

I really hope we all get sorted and on the right meds soon, it's a really horrible thing to have especially so young (I'm 24).

I don't know about any of you, but I also developed alopecia after having Summer last July, and have had slight thyroid problems. Seeing as these are all auto-immune diseases I think it's all linked and it is probably all down to how the immune system is affected when pregnant.

Wow that was probably my longest post ever bar my birth story lol!!!

Take care all,

Faith.xxx

At least I am not a lone I just can not wait to go to hospital I have been waiting ages only a few more weeks left to go.

The last few days I have been in agony I could not even hardly walk down the stairs when I got this morning I was in a lot of pain!

I am just hoping it is nothing serious that will stay with me forever as I am fed up and just wan to cry at times I feel like old women with my aches and pins

Gem x