or, rather, questions.
I have my appointment with my RE tomorrow, the one where we look at my records and try to figure out what the heck we can do next.
Anyone who has been through RPL testing or IVF: what should I be asking? what tests did your doctor run? I want to be as prepared as possible, so any/all suggestions welcome. The last time I spoke with him, he didn't think any additional diagnostics were necessary but I want answers (if at all humanly possible!)
Thank you in advance to anyone who comments!
ETA: We have already had the whole bloodwork panel done, as well as karyotyping and the thingy where they shoot the dye into your tubes and then xray. Everything has been normal aside from the antiphospholipid antibody.
Most doctors can order a "recurrent pregnancy loss panel" of bloodwork. Mine included (and please forgive me if I'm spelling any of these wrong because I copied them off of the hand written prescription) Lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibody, homocysteine, B2 glycoprotein antibody, Protein C, Protein S. Also, you should ask for a Karyotype test (the test that found T's XYY chromosomes) for both you and your husband. There's one other I couldn't read at all. Anti-D"something"-III. Anyone else know what comes after the D? If you or your husband have any chromosomal issues they could certainly be causing your losses.
ReplyDeleteMaybe ask about the possibility of a balanced translocation of one of your chromosomes.
Ask what he thinks your odds might be if you pursue IVF? Are you going to be shelling out tons of money with low odds? Or maybe you have great odds. Might be good to get an opinion on that.
Any issues with RH factor?
I'll send you some good thoughts for tomorrow and hope that you'll find something.
ReplyDeleteI had a panel of bloodwork done, too. Luckyonce listed most of the ones I remember, but I was also checked for Factor V Lieden and Thyroid problems (TSH?).
Looks like Luckyonce & Cheryllookingforward listed them all. I wish I had more info for you but unfortunately it seems we're all going blind in this search...even the doctors sometimes. I hope your appointment goes well and that your RE is willing to help you search for more answers.
ReplyDeleteAs a side note, I noticed that you mentioned you've been diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome, do you mind writing me at frewgal@gmail.com to tell me about your experience with that. I may potentially have it as well and would like to hear how your diagnosis came about. I'd like to know which of your antiphospholipid blood tests came out positive (if you know). At what point in your loss history did you find this out? Has the treatment worked, or have you continued to m/c even with treatment? Thanks so much in advance, but please know if you don't feel like sharing you don't have to...I'd understand.
Best of luck with the RE tommorrow.
Hi there, not sure what questions to ask, but when I go to the doctor I usually bring my top few questions, rather than a looooong list. It's a balance between wanting the doctor to answer our questions, with not wanting to distract the doctor when they may have some key issues that they want to raise with us. One question to ask is: "is there anything else I should be asking?"
ReplyDeleteI would recommend an endometrial biopsy to check for uterine natural killer cells. Common with APS. I think you should have a full immune workup.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to know when you say you have had the "whole panel" because in my experience these vary from clinic to clinic and often aren't complete.
Lucky has recommended quite a few, I had a very long list, can't remember them all. Double-stranded DNA to check for lupus as well might be helpful.
Good luck, can't wait to hear all about it.
Andie
I have no clue what to ask, so I'm going to send you a lot of good luck! I hope that makes up for my lack of knowledge!
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