Hi all. I'm new to this but not to CFS. I've been sick since early 1998 and officially diagnosed in late 2001. I was reading the forum (which is just great by the way...wish I had found something like this 7-8 years ago) Anyways, my question is this: If a woman living with CFS becomes pregnant can it be passed on to the child? Any feed back on this would be great. Thanks a bunch!
Cutie Pie
This is a great question and I'm not sure I know the exact answer. I don't think you can necessarily pass the illness on to a baby, but I have read a lot of research about the role of genetics in autoimmune diseases and I'm pretty sure CFS is considered an autoimmune disorder. I know for myself, I have an aunt who has lupus and I have a brother who had chronic ebstein barr and several people with rheumatoid arthritis. I was diagnosed years ago with CFS and I'm now being treated for lupus. I have 2 kids (a daughter 4yrs old and a son 8yrs old). Thankfully my daughter is very healthy, but my son has been showing signs of chronic illnesses since last year. He has had a great deal of fatigue and pain and catches every illness under the sun. So he's being followed by his pediatrician and may have to have a referral to a rheumatologist.
So, I don't think we necessarily give our illnesses to our children, but they may be more succeseptable to developing an illness.
Dx: Suspected Lupus 2004, CFS 1991, Secondary Raynaud's 2006
So, I don't think we necessarily give our illnesses to our children, but they may be more succeseptable to developing an illness.
Dx: Suspected Lupus 2004, CFS 1991, Secondary Raynaud's 2006
Meds: Plaquenil 400mg, Tramadol 100 mg 3x day, Amitriptyline 10mg, Neurontin 100mg