Updated: 30 mg Lovenox Daily

I’m not doing so well right now.  As if endometriosis, diminished ovarian reserve, autoimmune implantation disfunction and a thin uterine lining weren’t enough, I just found out yesterday that I have a blood clotting disorder.

The worst part is that I don’t even know what type of blood clotting disorder it is yet so I can’t calm myself through research.  For the first time I am very unhappy with Dr. Sher’s office.  His nurse informed me via email that I had an abnormal result on my thrombophilia panel, meaning I have a high chance of blood clotting during pregnancy and that they want me on Lovenox shots daily for the rest of the pregnancy.  Who sends information like that via email, at the end of the day??!!

I couldn’t talk to anyone at their office until this morning and still know as little as I did yesterday because I’m waiting on a phone consult with Dr. Sher.  Luckily my sister is a genetic counselor and understands this stuff and is also close with my OB, so the two of them calmed me down enough to make it through the night.

At first the prospect of daily shots for the next 31 weeks sounded daunting, but I’ve accepted that I’m not going to have the sunshine-lollypops pregnancy I imagined during all my IF day dreaming, and that’s OK.  But now I have to sit here for an entire week wondering if I’m already too late.  Most people start Lovenox before their IVF cycle, not at 9 weeks pregnant.  What if I already formed a clot and lost the baby since last week?

I honestly just want to cry.  I just want to curl up in a ball and cry, feel sorry for myself, and yell “why me!?” to God.  Instead I’m sitting here at work because I know there is nothing I can do but start the shots and pray really hard that the damage isn’t already done.

If any of you have any tips on Lovenox please share because I could sure use some.

Update:  I have two copies of the MTHFR gene but normal homocystine levels...  So my REs office sent the results of the test to my OB, who shared them with my genetic councelor sister, who shared them with the local pre-natal gentetic councelor, who shared them with the local high risk perinatologist.  Everyone but Dr. Sher thinks the risks of lovenox are higher than the risk of clotting because the gene polymorphism has not caused my homocystine levels to elevate.  Dr. Sher is adamant that I need to be on Lovenox, everyone else is adamant that I NOT be on Lovenox.  Now I don't know what the F to do.  I've always trusted my OB and my sister sent me to the best perinatologist in the state who concurs, but then again I've always trusted Dr. Sher and he's never let me down...

As for worring about the baby all doctors agree that I shouldn't since the MTHFR mutation doesn't cause early losses.  The issue will come in the 3rd trimester when my risk of pre-eclampsia and placental abruption increase.