dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy

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dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« on: September 07, 2009, 09:27:47 AM » by happymamaof5

I was wondering if anybody has any info on auto immune diseases - specifically antiphospolipid antibody or lupus. We have had three pregnancies and have lost two babies and have one miracle! Since we lost our second child in Feb. I have been on a fact-finding mission. I have had three consultations with different Dr.'s and two of the three agree that I should be tested for an auto-immune disease. I am so discouraged about this. To be tested costs $3700 and is out of our budget! We are terrified to get pregnant again and chance losing another baby. What the Dr.'s are concerned about is that I've had an unexplained stillbirth at 37 weeks, very low birth weights, lots and lots of bleeding during pregnancy, placenta abruption, a pre-term birth at 24 weeks. Does anybody have any information about this or suggestions?

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Re: dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2009, 12:05:43 PM » by mykidsmom

Quote from: Shana on September 07, 2009, 09:27:47 AM

This sounds more like not enough progesterone then an auto-immune disease. I would recommend you look first into that (it's also MUCH cheaper!). A simple blood test would indicate your progesterone levels. However, a "normal" range (especially if it's low normal) means NOT enough progesterone despite what your MD would tell you.

You can read the thread on here about progesterone. You really need to find an MD or ND that deals with progesterone on a daily basis. But this sounds much more like what your issue is.

patti

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For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day.

Re: dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2009, 09:41:46 AM » by morningglory

Shana, I have anitphospholipid syndrome, and I have many of the same problems. We lost our son at 36 weeks, had placental abruption, hemmoraging, he was small for the gestational period, etc. It can be a very dangerous disease, and while you are the only one who can make the decision to be tested, you should probably look into the symtpoms and implications. I had a mini-stroke after that pregnancy as a result of the disease, and nearly died with a different miscarriage. The disease is just as dangerous to the mother as it is to the baby. Honestly, I can't imagine why it took so long for your doctors to suggest APS. Here's a link to help you, and you may want to start taking a baby aspirin every day to keep from clotting until you know for sure. I believe that low progesterone and many other things are interconnected with autoimmune diseases, so Patti is probably right about that.

http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,11009.0.html

http://www.apsfa.org/aps.htm#2

« Last Edit: September 09, 2009, 05:18:38 PM by morningglory »
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Re: dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2009, 01:02:12 PM » by happymamaof5

Thank you SO much for your reply and the links - they were very informative to me. We changed insurances in May and I contacted them last week to see if they would cover the blood test my Dr. wants me to have and they won't. I then asked if they would cover the heperin during pregnancy if I needed it and they said they wouldn't since I had pre-existing symptoms ----- very frusterating. So it's either don't have another baby or go a natural route which I have no idea how to do. As far as the baby asperin - do you just buy whatever kind or is there a certain one you should use? Also, what other means have you found that are natural blood thinners that have worked for you? Really, I'm just clueless about this but I really want to learn! I have had my progesterone tested 2 or 3 times and it has always been in the normal range except during the beginning of my first pregnancy.

Thank you ladies!

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Re: dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2009, 05:38:40 PM » by morningglory

I'll link you to the natural blood thinners thread. Bilberry is one of the best on paper, along with large doses of cod liver oil and Vitamin E. But I have never treated myself naturally while pregnant, so I really don't have any practical experience to give you. Undecided

I would maybe try to read some of the yeast/leaky gut threads, since I'm certain that's where autoimmunity starts, and try to alter your diet. Lots of natural foods and herbs can thin your blood, and getting enough essential fatty acids can help keep the autoimmunity in check. If I were to get pregnant again with no means of being tested or treated medically, I would probably get a good quality baby aspirin, like Bayer, and take bilberry, cod liver oil, vitamin E, and maybe garlic. A good B-complex is a good idea too during pregnancy.

Then you should also look into the possibility that your hormone levels could be low, which they probably are. Doctor's tests give you a "normal" range, but it's different for every person and pregnancy, so I wouldn't necessarily trust their results. If you could find a good naturopath that can do medical tests, it would probably be much cheaper than in a hospital. Patti is the resident progesterone expert, so I'm sure she could help you more with that. Progesterone cream can go a long way to keeping you and your baby healthy, and iodine helps your body utilize the progeterone and balance your hormones.

I'll PM you later with some more info.

http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,18166.0.html

http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,11010.0.html

http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,11010.0.html

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Re: dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2009, 10:18:30 AM » by happymamaof5

As far as checking my hormones - would a saliva test be accurate? I have done one before but it's been awhile.

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Re: dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2009, 12:49:58 PM » by mykidsmom

Quote from: Shana on September 11, 2009, 10:18:30 AM

As far as checking my hormones - would a saliva test be accurate? I have done one before but it's been awhile.

A saliva test is accurate for some hormones. Estrogen and progesterone can be done via saliva. Thyroid must be done via blood.

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For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day.

Re: dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2009, 02:10:58 PM » by happymamaof5

so I was thinking about this and wondering if this causes problems with your period? I have very heavy long periods with lots of clots - is this normal or could this be a result of APS?

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Re: dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2009, 10:33:25 AM » by morningglory

I'm really not sure, Shana, although it's possible. I know sometimes disposable pads can cause problems like that, and it could be a hormone imbalance, or a deficiency. I would start with the progesterone and see what happens from there. You might look on some of the Women Only threads for help with periods.

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Re: dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« Reply #9 on: September 14, 2009, 11:58:07 AM » by happymamaof5

Alrighty! I wear cloth pads so I'm safe on that score! I will get on with having my progesterone checked.

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Re: dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« Reply #10 on: September 14, 2009, 09:30:02 PM » by mykidsmom

Quote from: Shana on September 14, 2009, 11:58:07 AM

Alrighty! I wear cloth pads so I'm safe on that score! I will get on with having my progesterone checked.

Please check back with us and let us know what they say. It would be helpful for others to know how you end up being diagnosed in case someone else comes along with a doctor telling them the same thing. Then they can look at both experiences posted here and the outcomes. Make sure a naturepath reviews your progesterone test after your MD does it. In order to being in the "normal" range from a naturepathic standpoint you almost have to be in the "high" range by MD standards. They run on two very different sets of numbers.

blessings,

patti

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For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day.

Re: dealing with auto immune disease during pregnancy
« Reply #11 on: September 15, 2009, 01:34:36 AM » by morningglory

I forgot to mention this earlier, but some people have APS chronically, others only when pregnant, like me. It is likely that someone who has APS chronically also has lupus or another autoimmune disease. If you get tested, you may have a negative result, and then get a positive result when you're pregnant. This was really confusing and contributed to one of my miscarriages, since we thought it was just a false positive, when I really should have been treating it from the moment I knew I was pregnant.

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