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[quote author=HopefulinNY link=board=13;threadid=1981;start=510#33279 date=1173625877]
[quote author=HopefulinNY link=board=13;threadid=1981;start=480#33193 date=1173455341]
Hi I am new here. I have battled infertility for 8 years. I am doing my first IVF and the doctor told me today he is going to start me on Lovenox on Monday, and thursday is my FET (frozen transfer, couldn't do fresh due to Ovarian hypterstimulation).
I am so scared and nervous. I don't know why I'm always petrified of doing new meds, and a blood thinner seems so dangerous?
Should I have any concerns and what advise does anyone have for me?? I am willing to do it because I want a child, but I also need to relax and stay calm.
I have read so many posts and it has made me feel better, so any additional advise would be great.
Thanks
Clara
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there an equal dosage of aspirin I can take to be equal to 40mg of lovenox?? I have to admit this is all made me scared stiff, and I don't know what to do after my transfer on Thursday?
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Dear Hopeful in NY: I am so sorry for your struggle with infertility and this drug has provided mothers hope but it of course does not come without risks. It could be just fine: esp. if the dr. is trying to go with the absolute lowest dose possible.
The reason doctors want to use a blood thinner on women with coagulation disorders is because of the increases of weight, blood volume and risk with pregnancy. Preventative thinning helps to counteract the thickening that is produced with various stresses on the body: such as the one that produces Cortisol (stress hormone) in the body which is a very "clotting" and "clogging" substance in large doses or over long periods of time. So understanding how important it is to breathe, relax, and try not to stress yourself is very important: good on you!
The concept of thinning the blood is an excellent one for that reason. There are some alternatives to discuss with your doctor - and these aren't just for during pregnancy - it's an overall wellness approach for women with clotting disorders and of course would require monitoring and as-needed anticoagulation with an Rx if you have a clot or flare-up. But for prevention, I've seen this work as well as any Rx out there and I've spent years with specialists on these approaches.
Perhaps you could print this and discuss it with your doctor, not in an effort to get you completely off of Lovenox, but to use Lovenox as a short-term treatment for ons-set, in it's lowest dosage or as a weapon in your arsenal to be used in moderation for a period of time not longer than 3 weeks:
1) low dosage baby aspirin: it also comes with risks including liver problems and complications - but can and should be discussed.
2) Women with clotting disorders must avoid sedentary lifestyles and sedentary positioning for hours (this can range from constantly being reclined without circulation to sitting for long periods at a desk in front of a computer. The more circulation and safe activity you can offer, the more your body will have circulated oxygen - and practicing deep breathing regularly during the day will also help oxygenate the blood and circulate it. An airline study of DVTs showed a major positive correlation not strictly with the sitting on the planes and DVT: but the lower oxygen levels in the blood combined with the poor circulation. So the net-net for a pregnant woman is combining appropriate and regular movement with deep breathing and fresh air: LOTS of it. Bed rest can be the enemy for a clotting disorder.
3) For women in the lower range of weight gain, good health and the ability to get light exercise, such as 20-30 minutes of walking or swimming or moving around in a pool twice a day, you optimize your ability to reduce your own clotting factors. Gentle movements repetitively for those confined to bed is absolutely critical to avoiding onset of a clot. I've heard about a DVD called Yoga In Bed but can't recommend it as I haven't seen it or tried it yet. Just an FYI.
4) I'm all for a cup of green tea or decaf or a little chocolate - esp. dark chocolate more than 70% cocoa for the antioxidants but you must avoide caffeine at all costs. It is a potent vasoconstrictor - and you need to prevent anything that causes vessels to constrict.
5) Decongestants are also very powerful vasoconstrictors, such as long-lasting cold medicines and allergy products. These must also be avoided.
6) Modify your diet with a diet rich in foods that have vitamin E - such as biologically active tocopherols - 400 IU a day will thin the blood nicely, and as you gain weight you can go up to 600 IU. The naturopathic physicians I have worked with say 800 is getting really on the high end and can cause complications much like an overdose of other thinners, but might be appropriate for heavier-weight ratio pregnancies. Of course, you'd recognize symptoms of over anti-coagulation which could range from tiredness, dizziness, etc. - your body can typically tell you how much is too much for you when you get to knowing and listening to it. A couple of handfuls of almonds per day are a nice way to pack in your vitamin E foods. You can do an internet search or pick up a few good books on nutrition to pinpoint three essential types of friendly nutrient foods: your vitamin E foods, your vasodilating foods and your foods that maximize absorption of vitamin E foods: a concept called nutient pairing. This is your body's best way of assimilating what it needs to run happily while mitigating risk.
7) Here are the really hard ones: NO HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. It's a liver toxin and a genetically modified corn sugar. It's very, very bad for you. Switch to pure sugar - unrefined.
8) NO Partially Hydrogenated anything. This stuff is absolutely awful for anybody, but for pregnant women with clotting risk, this stuff is you enemy too.
9) No artificial sweeteners or diet sweeteners unless you are a diabetic and have no choice: most of them are harmful chemicals and neurotoxins... just get on sugar if you need something sweet because your body can process it with, of all the options, the least risk to your immune system.
10) Other nutrients and supplements: during your pregnancy, this would be iffy; but perhaps after the baby: consider Nattokinease or lubrokinnease: they are excellent.
11) If you toil with fibrinogen levels, consider Wobenzyne - discuss w/ your dr.
12) Look into probiotics: such as in yogurt or supplement form.
Good luck and I hope this gives you some good ideas.
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