So both my IVF doctor and my gynecologist have told me to stop taking Clexane at 12 weeks, which is what I am today. They told me the Clexane was to help with the implantation of the placenta and that taking baby aspirin would help thin my blood if that was an issue.
I'm conscious that both these doctors don't really know about MTHFR, and don't 100% subscribe to it. So today, on a phone consultation, I asked my naturopath what her opinion of going off Clexane was. She hesitated, then told me I should check my homocysteine levels. She said if they are between 5-7, that's good, and going off Clexane is ok. Otherwise I should stay on it.
To be honest, I trust her over the doctors.
So tomorrow I'm getting my homocysteine levels checked, also my B12/red folate, and thyroid THS levels tested. The naturopath said I need to fast before taking the blood, so before breakfast she said.
Big scan tomorrow... Will keep you posted.
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI am highly skeptical of writing anything like this online, but I've read a lot, and I mean A LOT of posts about this subject. The consensus out there seems to be - do not stop taking the Lovenox, or Clexane injections.
Women are saying over and over that the risk of developing a blood clot with MTHFR is crazy high, especially if you're homozygous for the mutation. Also, I've seen women post that homocysteine levels are not always an accurate indicator for blood clotting. There could be an unknown, not yet researched connection to blood thinners and successful live births too.
Pregnancy is already a state of hypercoagulation, because the body has dramatically increased blood volume. I've read that it can be close to a 40-50% increase, which makes sense because the baby and your reproductive organs are growing and require nutrients/blood.
Many women report staying on the injections simply for peace of mind, but others are adamant that it helped them have live births, when they couldn't before.
This is a difficult decision and you're right, the doctors don't know enough about MTHFR to give good advice. At the same time, you need to trust someone and your naturopath seems to be conscientious about this.
Honestly, I am scared to death to send this to you, because I would never want to be the one that influenced you to make a decision that ended up hurting you or your little one. At the same time, I've read so many threads about this that I feel I have to speak up. I'm guessing you've already looking into this thoroughly online, but here are a couple links. Also, I understand that this is subjective data, rather than peer-reviewed research articles...
http://community.babycenter.com/post/a36421810/okay_to_stop_lovenox_at_12_weeks_anyone_made_this_decision
http://community.babycenter.com/post/a31205247/mthfr
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypercoagulability_in_pregnancy
I hope you don't take offense to this message and I'm terribly sorry if I'm overstepping here. Again, this is a difficult decision. I can't say for sure what I would do if I were in your position. I have thought about it and I think I would stay on the injections throughout the entire pregnancy. Especially if things were going well for me, when they never have before.
Lisa, I wish and your family tons of positivity and strength in making this decision. No matter what you decide, it will be the best decision for you! Trust your instincts on this!
Erin
Thank you so much for this feed back Erin, I really appreciate it and take it on board.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree it's pretty much not worth listening to the doctors, they honestly Don't know. The naturopath is a different story, she's a specialist in fertility and really onto the MTHFR, so my ear is open to her. In saying that, she's a human, and all humans are capable of being wrong and making mistakes.
I can't wait to stop taking Clexane, though know it won't harm me by continuing... I'll read your articles and have a good conference with the naturopath.
Seems silly I know, but I'll be worried about what to say to my doctor re staying on it. They really do look at you sideways when you talk about MTHFR, as though you are a neurotic, half-crazed mad woman. I hate that feeling, and really don't like telling them how to do their job - but I'll put some serious thinking into it today.
Thanks so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it.
Xx Lusa
Oh my gosh Lisa, I'm glad my message was well met! And I hear you, the doctors DO look at you like you're crazy! My OB is blunt and honest and we laugh about how neurotic I am together! She's basically told me that she doesn't know very much about MTHFR and that she's willing to work as a team, by listening to what I've learned and doing a little research of her own.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading how the conversation goes with your naturopath and the results of your blood work!
Hang in there. It's incredible all the work you're putting into this and I think you must be pretty amazing. Although I don't know you very well, I think it's safe to say that you're already a rockstar mom.
Wishing you well,
Erin
Oh, that's such a nice thing for you to say. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm not the type of person to be neurotic, ESPECIALLY over health, I've never been sick in my life, always fit as a fiddle and strong. So this pregnancy issue really threw me. Now when these doctors look at me sideways I feel like saying to them, 'look you big dozo, I'm not a mad-woman, I'm just someone who's been through 8 years of hell, with no explanation, and now I've finally found something that works. Just because you don't know about it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist'. But then I think to myself that they must get a lot of self-diagnosing mad women through the door, so it's hard for them.
My issue is I've moved about so many different countries and been to so many different doctors (only been in city where I now live for a year) that I haven't had time to build up relationship with support network around me. It will come.
What countries have you lived in? I've always wanted to travel, but I've really only traveled around the state I was born in, Maine. New Zealand must be incredible! What brought you to all the different countries? Was it job-related?
ReplyDeleteErin
It definitely makes sense, with all your traveling, that building a support network and working closely with a practitioner would be difficult! I love how positive you are though!! :)
Since we've had pregnancy issues we've lived in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and New Zealand but we've also been treated/operated on in London.
ReplyDeletePrior to pregnancy issues I've lived in Sydney, London, LA. Yes, it was our work that moved us about. Time to settle down now :-)