[MeganMomof5]

I just got a call from the nurse saying one of my tests came back positive (and to think the doctor didn't want to test me for anything *eyeroll*)...My test for lupus anti-phospolipid antibody came back positive...since i'm in the middle of switching doctors, they aren't sure what's going to happen...I'm not supposed to get pregnant before more testing is done and I see my new doctor ...She's going to fax all the info over to the new office and she wants me to call next week to see if they got it and I can be seen sooner...What does this mean? will I be able to have a pregnancy with this? I'm just in shock because for the last 10 months I was told nothing was wrong with me, and I was fine...I'm just so worried that i'll never have another baby

[Pitridge]

I think it's great that they finally found a cause of the losses. I know it's not ideal, but knowing what the problem is, it's easier to try to fix it so that it doesn't happen again. I think now they can better preparer for your next pg, and start monitoring you closely from the beginning.

[ldovey83]

That is great Megan.. Atleast you got answers and you can go from there.. I know the waiting sucks.. I am in the same boat there but you just hang in there and hopefully soon you will have that baby in your arms you have been longing for..

[happymommy2010]

Hey Megan! I was just going to tell you that I have anitphospholipid and I take lovenox injections (blood thinner)and have had 2 healthy boys after 3 losses in one year. So I def think it is good news!!!! As long as you are ok with taking shots in your tummy everyday, but to me it is def worth it! And that is what they did for me, should be similar for you!

[ohnicole]

Megan, that is good news that they found a cause. I hope you can move forward quickly with your new doctor and get your next sticky BFP!

[~InHisHands~]

I have no idea what it means exactly but I'm glad that someone finally did some tests. I remember having to push my OB to test my thyroid when he did. He didn't want to & lo & behold it was off. Yay that they found something but boo that you have had to go through all this! I hope they can get you fixed up soon & you can get pg again & carry to full term soon.

[Kary♥RN]

HUGS.... I know how you feel... When they told me I had the clotting disorder.. and the more I read up on it.. the more I knew it was my body that let me down. While most of the studies for my clotting factor, with low homosytine levels.. was just a baby aspirin.... A dammmn baby aspirin?? When they said that could be all i needed??? I was so angry.. I had three losses.. and NOW that would be all I needed???? It is a great thing to know.. that this could be the reason why.. it sucks to know you have been through so much!!!!! HUGS

[Halfbaked]

That's great that they have found something. If it is a clotting problem, that would make total sense. Hopefully the new office will know more about it and will be able to help you. HUGS

[MeganMomof5]

Yes it's hard to know that I had at least 2 healthy babies that died over something that was probably very fixable is really hard (I don't think Ella's loss was due to this, since the test came back negative),plus we are pretty sure she died from a cord accident...My other 2 babies were healthy, and with my 2nd loss i knew something was wrong since the baby was perfect, and then just one day the heart stopped? then the 3rd loss, with the blood clot, bleeding etc, it all makes sense to me now...Not to mention I had spotting with all 3 losses, but I never did years ago when I was pregnant with my living children....I don't know if it's related, but I've always wondered.

[KDD]

I'm glad that you pushed for testing. It's really a shame that most Drs won't do any testing until you push for it. My friend had 3 early losses before they would do testing and it turned out she had low progesterone. Such a simple fix and she had to lose 3 babies before they did anything about it! Hopefully now they can do something for you.

[zkat]

Megan,

It all makes perfect sense and I am so glad you pushed for the testing. The anti-phospholipid is a clotting disorder. The influence of pregnancy hormones and the increased blood volume during pregnancy causes the blood to form clots, especially in the cord and placenta. The clots restric the flow of nutrients to the baby, which then causes the heart to stop beating.

It is an auto-immune antibody, so it is very common to carry to term in one pregnancy but then have problems in later pregnancies.

The protocol is to start Lovenox, which is a blood thinner injected into the stomach. There is some debate as to when to start it. My hematologist had me start as soon as I got my BFP, but others have you wait until after a heartbeat is established. The shots are no big deal - the needle is small and it stings a little, but is very tolerable.

If you have any questions, etc. feel free to PM. I have a different clotting disorder, but I did a lot research on all of them when I was waiting on the test results.

Babycenter.com has a very active group for Lovenox users and it is a great source of info. Lovely Lovenox Ladies - BabyCenter

Kat.

[MeganMomof5]

Thanks Kat....I just looked through my records that I have, and it actually says that this test was negative after Ella's birth, and that my doctor didn't test me for it with my 2nd loss just 5 1/2 months later because my work up was negative before...Do you think that my hemorrhage and bleed in my last pregnancy was probably caused from this? Also, is there side effects because I haven't felt well since my miscarriage...I'm really tired and weak still 10 days later...The nurse said something about me being re-tested in 12 weeks....thanks for the link that group, i'll go read it

[.:Shortcake:.]

Hugs! While I hate the fact that there is something wrong I'm super excited for you that they know what the problem is and they can fix it!

[LisaG825]

I am so glad that they found something. I think it is a great start. I have heard of people having to get injections. I really hope that your new dr. will have a great plan for you.

[~LaurenNoel~]

Like the other ladies said, if you can just get medication to treat the problem, this could be a great thing to find out about. I'm glad you finally got an answer. KUP. *hugs*

[Brittanie]

I guess this is the answer to my question in the TTCAL in Limbo subforum. I'm glad that there's something they can do about it, as much as I hate that there's something wrong.

[KAB]

I'm glad you finally have a possible answer for your mc, that is good news. I hope that your new Dr will be able to help you and you can go on to have your sticky bean!

[luvmykids623]

I'm sorry that something's wrong, but I'm so glad they found an answer.

[zkat]

As far as I know (and I could be wrong) the Anti-phospholipids antibodies themselves do not have any symtpoms per se, other than the clots. If the APS (anti-phospholipid syndrome) is secondary to another autoimmune disease, there would be symtoms of the primary autoimmune disease. There is a wide range of autoimmune diseases but some of the most common are: Thyroid autoimmune, Lupus, Crohn's, Ultercative colitis, Celiac (last 3 are digestive) and Type I diabetes. In my case, I have Thyroid autoimmune and Celiac. My co-worker has Lupus and she has APS as a secondary autoimmune.

It wouldn't be surprising if the hemorrage was caused by clots, but only a Dr. would make that determination. I would recommend a referral to a great hematologist (which is also an oncologist, so don't freak out). I was referred by my OB because of the MTHfR mutation, but upon his full work-up, he found the Protien C/S deficiency, which was the actual cause of my miscarriage and superficial clots that I have had through the years that I thought were cysts.

It is most likely you still feel bad because of the anemia from the hemmorage. It takes the body 120 days to rebuild red blood cells. I read that a hemoglobin count as low as 8 could take up to a year to get back in the normal range of 12. You might ask your doctor if an Iron supplement would help. I know my hemoglobin dropped to 11 and I felt TERRIBLE. Tired, dizzy, extreme migraines, etc. Even being on Iron for 3 weeks, I still get really run down easy.

It is a lot to take in, but it is all doable.

Kat.

[funnygal]

Megan, I too, have a clotting disorder - Factor V Leiden, and am on lovenox and baby aspirin. Maybe what you have is different, but I don't understand how you could test negative for it, and then test positive for it later? I know with FVL, you either you have it, or you don't... it doesn't come and go. Keep asking your dr. lots of questions and make sure they get it all right. You deserve answers!