My sister told me I should check out this site because I was born with BPFFD. I am 31 and a wife and mother of two beautiful children. Here is my story. I was born in 1977 with this birth defect that the Doctor attributed to a morning sickness medication that my mother took while pregnant. My femur bones are very short, and I am missing the ball of my right femur. I am 4 feet nine inches!I have never had any surgeries because my only options were the lengthening or the amputation of my feet just to make me taller. The orthopedic doc said I probably wouldn't walk but I walked at 22 months, probably wouldn't do the things other kids did, I rode a bike by the age of four, there was nothing I couldn't do. I went to a public school, played on the volleyball team, gymnastics team, I was even on the track team. My parents and older sister had a huge hand in my confidence. They never treated me like I was "different" or "special", they made me do things for myself and not always depend on them for things. I think that is the best thing that a parent can do for their child! I had a hard time as a teenager with the boy thing but my dad always told me my time would come. I met my husband when I was 21 and we have a little boy that's almost six and a two and a half year old daughter. Pregnancy was hard towards the end but I delivered both babies vaginally and had no complications. You probably think that my defect isn't severe, but it is. I have arthritis so bad that some days I can barely get out of bed, I have a hard time walking through the grocery store, and chasing my kids is almost impossible but I consider my self lucky! I don't have to use any type of walker or cane yet but I know my time is coming. I don't know if this has helped anyone or even if anyone will read it, but I just want people to know that just because you were born with a disability, doesn't mean you can't live a fulfilling and happy life. Be thankful that the defect isn't life threatning!
Comments
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing your story. I was amazed at how much we have in common! I'm 31 also and have 2 small children. I had amputation on one side and nothing done to the other. My mother also suspected morning sickness medication that she took, but who knows what did it! My daughters are 5 years and 10 months and, like you, I had vaginal deliveries with both with no problems- other than having a really hard time getting around towards the end. Oh, and another thing, we're almost the same height. I'm 4'8". Too funny.
I found that yoga helped the hip pain somewhat.
Thanks for the tip. I
Thanks for the tip. I haven't tried yoga but my husband always tells me I should!
Ok so this is the first I've
Ok so this is the first I've heard about morning sickness medication possibly being a factor in causing PFFD. What medication was it that your mother's took? And does anyone else who has PFFD or has a child with PFFD have the morning sickness medication involvement. I myself (son born with PFFD) was on several anti-nausia medication while pregnant with him.
Just curious....
morning sickness
My mom took a medication called Bendectin while pregnant with me.
I took Phenergen and Zofran
I took Phenergen and Zofran when I was pregnant with my son. Anyone else take either of those?
I looked Bendectin up online. It doesn't look good. But I don't think doctors are prescribing that anymore. There were several lawsuits against that company at one time, but they were unsuccessful.
also took anti sickness drug
My daughter was born with bilateral PFFD class D and I was also given an anti-sickness drug during the early stages of pregnancy. I took them very reluctantly and minimaly, not that it made any difference anyway. I can't remember the name of the drug as i've not thought about it in a long while. I'm sure its written down somewhere but it doesn't change anything now anyway. Though it would be interesting to know if any others have similar questions relating PFFD and anti sickness drugs.
meds
1
meds
check out Alvin Law's website, he is missing both arms and it is attributed to anti nausea medication called Thalidomide, I don't know the specifics but I attended a lecture of his and bought his book. I think the meds were discontinued in the 70s. Hope this can help. www.alvinlaw.com.
Thalidomide
I've read a lot about Thalidomide... it's crazy how wide spead they used it. My mother did not use Thalidomode, though. It was another one.
Thalidomide
My mother took Thalidomide but that was back in the 50's. It was given mostly in Europe countires. It was some nasty stuff, caused alot of children to be born with PFFD. Some children were also born without arms. Unfortunately Thalidomide is still out there and being used for other illnesses. It was brought back onto the market back in the late 80s
Hi
My name is sinead and i'm seventeen. i have PFFD on both of my legs. I didnt know anyone else has arthritis along with this condition. I thought i was the only one. My doctors say I have it because my hips aren't formed all the way and I dont have that much cartilage in my sockets. It really good to know that someone else has it too.
Morning Sickness Medicine and PFFD
Its wonderful to read that you proved the doctors wrong and there was nothing you couldn't do.
Is the arthritis in just your hips or is it also in your knees?
Thalidomide, which was a morning sickness medicine, has been linked to PFFD (see http://www.pffd.org/what_causes_pffd.htm ) but it was discontinued in the early 60s. My understanding (based mainly on the chart on that page) is that if there was an exposure around 28-36 days into pregnancy it could cause PFFD or other leg development issues. If the exposure was about a week earlier it could have affected the arms.
It's so great to hear your story!
You remind me so much of my daughter!!! She was a cheerleader and even competed in the Miss NJ Teen Pageant. Of course, when bathing suit round came up, the couple seated to my left made a comment regarding what the heck was up with her leg and up was she thinking, when I happened to turn to the gentleman and said, obviously, "being a much greater person than you could ever imagine"!!!!!
Anyway, sometimes I wonder what it will be like for her to carry through pregnancies? And, you've answer that!! So thank you! Also, more recently when at the hospital, I was told that she could infact now carry PFFD down to her children. Do either of your children suffer from it as well?
Well, as I said in my profile, she's truly an amazing woman and I admire all of you that have had to go through this, I've seen it, I've been there and it's certainly no easy ride!!!!!
M
Hi, I am also new in this
Hi, I am also new in this site. You are a very interesting mother. We as parents treated our son with PDDF Unilateral as a normal child, as what our two children we cared too.
My third child is also short with his age. He can do everything as a normal individual too. He is now a second grade in school. He can play, dance, and even join the Tai Kuan Do. All the movement he can do more stronger is his arm. I always do all the possitive way for him. Giving all he can and feels that he can do even his different. I told him that he can do much better as a normal person because god made him much stronger as special child.
Praises for you too. I am a mother here in Asia, and I think for millions of mother, I am one of the luckiest Mom, that God gave me a special child with PFFD. I am proud to have one, to care, love and adore. Thank you.