Pregnancy and AN

[Wounded101]

Did anyone find they had more symptoms when pregnant? I recently gave birth (3.5 months ago!) and not entirely sure if I'm anxious or whether symptoms really are more noticeable than before.

I spoke to my consultant who said I shouldn't worry too much as my next scan is in 6 months and they'll take it from there but it's always on my mind so it seems quite a while until I'll know for sure, anyone else experience something similar or did it not make a difference?

I did read online sometimes it can result in faster growing AN but my doc said the correlation between the two isn't strong.

[Anne121]

Unfortunately I cannot comment regarding symptoms and pregnancy as I’m still trying to conceive.However when I did speak to my consultant regarding trying for a family he advised me that the hormones can encourage growth but then other cases nothing changes he basically said it was a gamble and they could not give any defined answers but if I was to conceive then they would offer me MRI scans whilst pregnant.

[Wounded101 in reply to Anne121]

Thank you Anne. I also did speak to my consultant and I was originally added to high risk pregnancy but then they took me off, no scans at all everything normal. And when I did mention AN my doc dismissed it as tye correlation not being strong.

[Bullpenn]

Hello wounded, I don’t know as I found out after having my third when he was nine months but there was a period on the lead up to getting diagnosed that my symptoms got worse, my balance, the numb patch and the tinnitus all at that time. I think it’s tiredness that effects it. I don’t know about growing faster as it’s typically to grow a couple of mm a year.

Must be very hard, I know I found it difficult not to breastfeed after the mri.

Just take it easy and a day at a time, I had my op 6 weeks ago and I have just come back from a holiday with the kids and I still done everything slides, teacups the works.

It feels like a lot at the moment especially with caring for the kids but it does get easier.

[Wounded101 in reply to Bullpenn]

Hey Bullpenn, thank you so much for your reply. I feel better knowing I'm not alone, motherhood itself has been a struggle as a new mum I often question whether it's AN or Anxiety. At first I had thought it was just in my head however I have read pregnancy and increase in oestrogen can lead to tumours growing faster. I really hope this is not the case.

You're very brave to have gotten through this, especially with 3 children!

[Bullpenn in reply to Wounded101]

Firstly congratulations, enjoy your baby. Do all the things first time mums do, join baby groups, meet new mums. It sounds stupid but try not to think about the tumour.

Whether or not you are on the surgery list or watch and wait it is a small growing tumour which most importantly is benign.

Motherhood is hard especially with a newborn but just enjoy it as they get big so quickly.