The Results Are In

The good news is, the NK cells test is back (much quicker than the two weeks I was told to expect), and it’s normal. Yea! So we don’t have to figure out how to pay for IvIG. I’m very relieved, but not entirely surprised since thankfully all of the immune tests I’ve done have come back normal.

I can’t exactly say the same thing for the thrombophilia tests, though. Apparently I’m heterozygous for the Factor V Leiden and MTHFR gene mutations, meaning my blood tends to clot too easily. The RE is recommending baby aspirin, mega doses of folic acid and heparin injections throughout the cycle and the (hopefully resulting) pregnancy.

I’m a bit freaked out now. Seeing as how I haven’t even begun the cycle yet, much less received any sort of beta results, I realize I’m starting to worry and obsess just a wee bit early. What can I say? I worry more easily than most people breathe.

The thing is, PCOS raises the risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. The Factor V and MTHFR raise the risk of blood clotting and, again, pre-eclampsia. From what I’ve read, the heparin will reduce the risk of clotting and pre-eclampsia. However, I’ve also read that you have to stop taking the heparin before delivery so that you don’t bleed too much, and stopping it then raises the risk of blood clots and pulmonary embolism. Neither scenario sounds particularly comforting.

So, I called a perinatology practice this morning to schedule a pre-pregnancy consult. I figure they deal with this stuff for the majority of the pregnancy, so they may be better able to address my freakout than the RE can. Especially since I won’t be seeing the RE for follow up since we’re traveling out of state to cycle.

I remember when my co-worker was pregnant, she had headaches from time to time but opted to suffer through them because she was too terrified of what taking a Tylenol might do to her baby.

If this cycle works (trying to think positive here), I’ll be taking baby aspirin, metformin, heparin injections and who knows what else. Tylenol sounds like candy at this point.