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Hi everyone, Basically this message is for Heathermak who after reading all of her insight, seems to be an unbelievably positive asset to this site. I keep getting depressed seeing all of the side effects and negatives, and then read her stuff and feel better. Ok, I have been TTC for almost 2 years and finally after a number of surgeries, got my BFP last week (I am still learning all the acronyms-lol). I am so excited, but also weary about possible m/cs. I saw that you were given metformin and lovenox, which i am on both along with the progestrone. my drs is great, but his down side is he never explains anything - thats why your info is so helpful. did they ever tell you why you were put on metformin- is it because you have pcos- or can you need it even if you dont have that. i am just concerned because i dont even know what that is- and this is the 1st time ive heard that i have clotting problems also. any info you can provide would be great. good luck to everyone still trying. it has been an unbelievably long haul for me, so there is hope... thanks, maria

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Hi all,
LAst week my Hematologist told me that the Prothrombin Gene Mutation, although a clotting disorder, may not be the cause of my m/c's. So now I am really frustrated. My OB says it is and now he wants us to see a fertility doc? WHY? I have no problem getting pregnant, just staying pregnant. I have no family h/o clots so is there something I am missing? Anyone else have Prothrombin Mutation? I keep hearing it is a new discovery, about 10 years ago and many docs do not know about it. HELP!!!!!!!!!! Did I mention I have a 4 year old daughter and was put on bedrest at 26 weeks for pre term labor and did not get a clot. My hematologist seemed surprised by that. Also, what happens if I am on Lovenox and go into fiull preterm labor agian and this time it is not stopped. My OB keeps saying he can reverse the Lovenox if that happens, but will it cause more complications? Am I over reacting? Anyone, please help. I am so very angry and frustrated.
thanks, Anne

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Maria,

First of all - CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is fantastic news!!

Secondly, thank you for your kind words. Really. I can't take credit for anything - all I want to do is share my experience and hope that can help someone.

You are such a dear and I wish you - truly wish you - the best with your pregnancy!! I know this has been a long haul for you, and I am so glad to see that you know there IS hope - proof with your BFP!!!

I was given the metformin several years before I got pg because of suspected PCOS. They weren't 100% sure I had it, but to be safe they put me on it. They put me on that and TONS of other pills to keep everything in check. But, I recently had an u/s of my ovaries and they found 12 little cysts in my right ovary in a perfect little circle - textbook PCOS. So, there you go.

I see an endocrinologist every couple of months and he is the one who put me on the metformin. He NEVER explains anything to me. Never. So, I have to go home and look it up, or take questions to my OB/GYN the next time I go. The sad part is I'm actually looking into a career in genetics because of all the information I know have tucked away in my little head...so you're not alone, most docs don't explain much of anything, then leave you to figure it out on your own.

What I would do is gather a list of questions - keep a running list - and take them with you the next time you see your doctor. I usually go in with a FULL page of questions - and I scribble answers right on the page so I know what it all means. Your doctor should answer any questions you have, and you will CONTINUE to have them, so always take a list of questions - you DESERVE answers!!

My single best piece of advice is this - if you feel your doctor isn't taking you seriously, giving you all the information you want, taking time to hear you and your concerns, press harder. If that doesn't work and you're still not happy - FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR!! You wouldn't take shoddy treatment from a car mechanic, and this is FAR more imporatant!! The problem is most doctors don't have time to fully brief you on your condition, so between appointments is when you have time to come up with questions...so write down EVERY question you have so you can take them to your next appointment.

Oh, sorry - the metformin will actually work with your body to combat any PCOS issues you're having. For some reason, the metformin works as a key to help all your hormones work in harmony to help you achieve pregnancy, and keep that hard-won pregnancy. The man who actually discovered this fact and continues to do groundbreaking studies on the metformin connection is Dr. Charles Glueck, and his website is:

http://www.jewishhospitalcincin
nati.com/cholesterol/index.html

Dr.
Glueck is the guy in the picture at the top right with the crazy eyebrows. You can e-mail him if you like, but bear in mind the man is a scientist first THEN a doctor, so your reply may be in the form of a one word cryptic reply. He's not an ass, he's just used to being in a research envrionment first. He has actually consulted with people in many other countries to help them achieve pregnancy. But, as I said, he's so well published now that many doctors are following his protocol for the metformin as it relates to PCOS and infertility.

I really hope this has answered your question. I rambled on, but I wanted to make sure you had all the information I could give you. If you have more questions, let me know - I am ALWAYS glad to help as best I can. This is a crappy road to have to travel, so we have to help each other out as best we can.

Again, CONGRATULATIONS on your BFP!!! Keep us posted!!!


Heather

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Anne,

You're not overreacting, you're just been thrown a curve.

As I told Maria, I would come up with a list of questions and ask your OB and your blood doc...get AS MUCH information as you can from them...why do they want you to see the RE?? Hmm. Keep a list of questions and make an appointment to talk to your OB and get answers!!! They can't just tell you this and send you on your way...you need to know why!! So, go find out!! Then, keep us posted!!!

Sorry you're getting the runaround, and I'm sorry this has upset you...just work through the anger and frustration then go get some answers!!


Heather

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I have already posted this but I think that HeatherMac did not read it. I am pregnant, going to my 10th week. I am so happy, Thanks to my Lord. I have been taken out the lovenox because I was getting allergic reactions I was put on Fragmin 0.3ml now and let me tell you that I am a little more clmed because this injection hurts less than lovenox. So I hope this months go by quick because as you said if it is for my baby I will do it but it is something that really depresses me. Congratulations to u all and best wishes.

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Mary,

CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is wonderful news!! I know you're thrilled!!

I'm also glad you found a medication you were able to tolerate better than the Lovenox. It's a lifesaver, so I'm glad you and your doctor were able to find a more suitable medication for you.

Continued best of luck to you with your pregnancy, and KEEP US POSTED!!

Congrats, Mamma!!


Heather

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Thanks once again for your kind words and info. Yes, I actually started a list already and that has seemed to be helping. I've always refused to read anything on pregnancy, just not to torture myself becasue i thought it would never happen. Well, Ill keep you posted and say prayers for everyone. I know the pain and wish I could make it happen for everyone.

[quote author=HeatherMak link=board=13;threadid=1981;start=90#24592 date=1156474861]

Maria,

First of all - CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is fantastic news!!

Secondly, thank you for your kind words. Really. I can't take credit for anything - all I want to do is share my experience and hope that can help someone.

You are such a dear and I wish you - truly wish you - the best with your pregnancy!! I know this has been a long haul for you, and I am so glad to see that you know there IS hope - proof with your BFP!!!

I was given the metformin several years before I got pg because of suspected PCOS. They weren't 100% sure I had it, but to be safe they put me on it. They put me on that and TONS of other pills to keep everything in check. But, I recently had an u/s of my ovaries and they found 12 little cysts in my right ovary in a perfect little circle - textbook PCOS. So, there you go.

I see an endocrinologist every couple of months and he is the one who put me on the metformin. He NEVER explains anything to me. Never. So, I have to go home and look it up, or take questions to my OB/GYN the next time I go. The sad part is I'm actually looking into a career in genetics because of all the information I know have tucked away in my little head...so you're not alone, most docs don't explain much of anything, then leave you to figure it out on your own.

What I would do is gather a list of questions - keep a running list - and take them with you the next time you see your doctor. I usually go in with a FULL page of questions - and I scribble answers right on the page so I know what it all means. Your doctor should answer any questions you have, and you will CONTINUE to have them, so always take a list of questions - you DESERVE answers!!

My single best piece of advice is this - if you feel your doctor isn't taking you seriously, giving you all the information you want, taking time to hear you and your concerns, press harder. If that doesn't work and you're still not happy - FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR!! You wouldn't take shoddy treatment from a car mechanic, and this is FAR more imporatant!! The problem is most doctors don't have time to fully brief you on your condition, so between appointments is when you have time to come up with questions...so write down EVERY question you have so you can take them to your next appointment.

Oh, sorry - the metformin will actually work with your body to combat any PCOS issues you're having. For some reason, the metformin works as a key to help all your hormones work in harmony to help you achieve pregnancy, and keep that hard-won pregnancy. The man who actually discovered this fact and continues to do groundbreaking studies on the metformin connection is Dr. Charles Glueck, and his website is:

http://www.jewishhospitalcincin
nati.com/cholesterol/index.html

Dr.
Glueck is the guy in the picture at the top right with the crazy eyebrows. You can e-mail him if you like, but bear in mind the man is a scientist first THEN a doctor, so your reply may be in the form of a one word cryptic reply. He's not an ass, he's just used to being in a research envrionment first. He has actually consulted with people in many other countries to help them achieve pregnancy. But, as I said, he's so well published now that many doctors are following his protocol for the metformin as it relates to PCOS and infertility.

I really hope this has answered your question. I rambled on, but I wanted to make sure you had all the information I could give you. If you have more questions, let me know - I am ALWAYS glad to help as best I can. This is a crappy road to have to travel, so we have to help each other out as best we can.

Again, CONGRATULATIONS on your BFP!!! Keep us posted!!!


Heather

[/quote]

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Maria,

I refused to read ANY pregnancy books because the information about being pregnant over 35 sounded like a death sentence...like women over 35 might just have one foot in the grave. What is this, Logan's Run??

Anyway, I found one good pregnancy book called:

"You're All In One Resource for Pregnancy & Childbirth" by Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones...a Mother/Daugher writing team. The portions about c-sections get kind of preachy, but more from a "too posh to push" standpoint. Other than that, it's a great resource and NOT NEGATIVE!!

Most pregnancy books (i.e., "What to Expect When You're Expecting") start off each chapter telling you all the horrid things that could go wrong with you and your baby. So, I vowed not to ready ANY pregnancy books until I came across the one I mentioned above. It has words of caution, but it's not the kind of book that will make you paranoid to fart for fear of causing brain damage to the fetus.

I'm making an assumption that you're over 35, so if you are NOT, please forgive me...the book I mentioned is a GREAT resource for anyone pregnant and not interested in negative pregnancy books.

Keep making your list of questions - every visit to your OB you should have a list of questions in hand. Trust me, you'll never run short of things you want to ask!! You've never done this before, and it's like learning to ski by going down the black diamond run...so it is PERFECTLY OKAY to have lots and lots and lots and TONS of questions!!

You're doing great - just please remember to keep us posted!!


Heather

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hello everyone.This is my first post ,although i've read all of the messages.Its nice to hear about other women who are going through this too because no one that i know is! i am on my second pregnancy (7 weeks), i lost my first baby at 5 1/2 months. I just found out that i have a blood clotting problem and just started taking lovenox a couple days ago. i just wanted to know if anyone has had a reaction to taking it.I saw that Mary had one, what was your symptoms? Ive been dizzy all day and a lot more nautious than usual,just wanted to know if anyone else had problems.i so thankful to be pregnant again and to have a prevention to my problem,but all this stuff we have to deal with stinks.any info would be greatly appreciated.
heather m

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Hi. My name is Erin and I am new to this forum today. I was just reading some of your posts and was so encouraged that I am not alone. I was hoping that I could connect with anyone's story who is familiar to mine or has answers to any of my questions. So here it goes.....
I am 29 years old and have been married to Joey the love of my life for 9 years and we have been trying to have a baby for a year and a half. When I was 14 I had my first blood clot- no cause, no history. I was put on coumadin (blood thinners.) They studied the issue and never came up with any answers so they took me off the coumadin and I developed another clot. Unfortunately I waited way too long on my original clot thinking it was a pulled muscle so now I am left with a damaged valve in my left calf and a permanantly swollen leg. So anyway- I was fine and was living taking coumadin since we realized I needed to stay on it then in my teenage carelessness I went on a choir tour and forgot my pills and of course I got a clot. Then the last clot I had was in 1997 right before I got married. I had an extremely heavy period and went in for my pro-time (test to check coumadin levels) and got a call later that afternoon from my mom to meet her at the hospital. I was so angry because I felt fine and it was an inconvenience for me to deal with this since I was shopping with my friends. I went in and they said that I had lost too much blood and so my coumadin was thinning the blood I had left too much. They wanted to do a transfusion. I thought they were crazy- I felt fine. They didn't make me because they said I had good color and seemed to have energy so they just fluffed up my blood with vitamins and told me not to take my coumadin for a few days. I said "are you sure?" They said yes and I was nervous for good reason because everytime I have not taken coumadin, I get a clot. Sure enough it was a weekend so day 4 hit and I had a clot. Okay so that's my history. Now here is my present...
Now I have been fine on coumadin all these years but now Joey and I would like to start having children. Keep in mind I have wanted to be a mom since we first got married but we lived away from our families and I wanted to wait until we were back home. So. I go to the Dr. and they switch my to lovenox. 40mg a day. I questioned this because it seemed to be too little since we are treating my blood clotting condition and also it is based on body weight and I am overweight. They said nope- this is the right dose. So for the last year and a half that is what I have been taking. I have only had 4 periods and they have been very light (my periods can be irregular but are not very light- this was definately abnormal) but for the last 8 years I had taken micronor for birth control so I chalked it up to that. After a year I finally went in to talk to an OB. She started me on Provera(to start my period) and then Clomid (to help me ovulate). I did two rounds to no avail. Then she said okay one more round and then I will have to send you to a specialist. Well , mentally I needed a break so I still have not taken the third round but in the meantime she wanted me to see a hemotologist to partner with me since it would be high risk. Now I finally got answers! I saw my hemotologist who informed me that this whole time I should have been taking 240mg a day not 40mg and she wanted me to get a ultrasound on my leg right away to make sure I do not have a clot. I did- I am fine and clear-no clot- Praise God! But since she increased my lovenox I have never even gone up to the full dose. 6 weeks ago I was just starting a normal period when I started upping my dose. I started with 120mg and that is as far as I have gotten. I have been bleeding horribly for 6 weeks. Pretty regularly but sometimes a spontaneous gush. So gross and kind of scary. I called her 3 weeks ago and she said stop taking it for one day and then do half doses and work back up. Well, I did and it didn't help. Right now I am kind of self diagnosing and taking every other day or so just to keep the bleeding under control. I am going in to see her on the 9th. Does anyone have any experience with this? I am obviously taking too much right? Sorry for the long story - I just wanted you to know who I am and what my situation is.

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Wow...Heather M and Erin...lots of really hard questions...but I would suggest you both take a list of questions to your respective doctors. Having never had either of these side effects, maybe someone else here has and can help with their experience.

Heather - Congratulations!! I hope this is a wonderful experience for you!! Erin - I hope you're able to give us good news about your situation soon!!

Again, welcome to you both - keep coming back. Post as long or as short as you like, just keep us posted on your situations.


HeatherMak

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Hi. I stumbled on this site by accident and i'm glad i did!
I have had eight m/c - just had extensive genetic testing - I'm normal (some consolation).
My doctor mentioned that "The "immune panel" however showed increased Antithrombin III Activity".

Can anyone help me with an explaination? Has anyone had this diagnosis and gone on to have healthy babies?

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Hi,

I just found this board and wanted to ask some advice. I am 34 and on BCP to start my 3rd IVF cycle. I have suspected PCOS and am on metformin as well as a daily baby asprin, folic acid and pre-natal vitamins. I became pregnant through IVF last May - we were expecting twin boys but lost them to a what they think was a placenta abruption at 20 weeks. I was devastated and have done a full blood work-up since then with a perinatologist and a hematologist but everything has come back normal. I also went to another maternal fetal medicine specialist for a 2nd opinion. My dilemma is that my original doctor said that for my next pregnancy he would recommend a therapuetic dosage of lovenox regardless of my normal blood results because I might have something that can't be detected yet and having the late loss was reason enough. My 2nd opinion, however, doesn't believe there is sufficient cause for me to take anything. I'm not sure what I should do - I want to err on the side of caution but am not sure if my doctor just really wants to be able to do something for me and things the lovenox will help ease my mind. Does anyone have any advice on this one? I could get another opinion and go with the majority but now that my IVF cycle is going to start in a couple weeks I'm running out of time - I just need to decide which doctor's advice I should follow.

Anyway, good luck to everyone here and thank you for listening.

-Susan

Reply

Susan,

First of all, let me say how sorry I am you've been through what you've been through. I wish you much success on this round.

If I were in your situation, I would opt to take the Lovenox. Really, what could it hurt? If it might help, then I would do it. But, that is just me. Though, you mentioned another opinion, that couldn't hurt either. Find another doc, explain to them the time constraints you're under and get an appointment ASAP.

Keep us posted and, again, best of luck.

NMT,

Let me also start by saying that I am sorry for what you've been through.

While I have no idea what Antithrombin III Activity is, I might suggest you look for a second opinion as well. You could get an appointment with a hematolotist or an endocrinologist to discuss what exactly the repurcussions are of this disorder and whether or not it has anything to do with your repeated m/c. One doctor never has all the answers.

Try not to do too much research on the internet because you'll get conflicting information - and some of it might be wrong. If I were in your shoes, I'd find an endocrinologist and get some information.

Keep us posted and good luck.


HeatherMak

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Hello-

I just wanted to introduce myself. I was just searching the internet for any information on lovenox and pregnancy and found your postings. I can't begin to tell you how helpful they have been to read.

I am 16 weeks along and found out yesterday that I was considered to be a high risk pregnancy because of the Factor V and complicated migranes that I have. I was very surprised by this news and very nervous.

Like many of you, I have to start injections of lovenox, which scares me to death. I have major fears of needles. Do any of you have someone inject it for you or do you do it yourself?

Do you know if you can have a "normal" delivery being on lovenox? I really am just learning about it today for the first time. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

I have already learned a lot from your postings and wish all of you the best of luck during this time.

Thanks-

Sarah :)

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welcome to the forum sarah!

well as far as "normal" delivery, i havnt experianced it yet. but what little i have been told about my delivery

1. i will recive blood

2 i will b induced, so no c-esction unless something happens.

so im thinking it will b a relitivly normal delivery. as normal as i can get.

good luck dear and enjoy the forum, there are a lot of wonderful women on here and they are excellent support and full of knowledge

Dora

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