the results are in!

My doctor called today! My blood tests turned up heterozygous factor V Leiden, an inherited blood clotting abnormality. Everything else (and they were looking at a lot) looks normal.

So we have a plan now. My doctor wants me to start baby aspirin. That's it! I can do that!

She explained how she came to the decision not to do heparin; doctors are split on using heparin when a patient presents as I do, with recurrent pregnancy loss but no history of blood clots. After consulting with other doctors in her clinic and the perinatologist (see previous post on finding out that bit of info), she feels that the benefits don't outweigh the risks of heparin at this point, since the literature and protocols don't point to it as the standard treatment. If I were homozygous (two affected genes) instead of heterozygous (one normal gene, one affected gene), the recommendation would be heparin. Or if I had two blood clotting abnormalities, heparin. Insurance won't cover heparin therapy at this point. She did say, though, that if I were to have another miscarriage, we would do heparin and insurance would cover. Of course we hope that the aspirin will do it. It stinks to go through the steps one at a time sometimes, but it's helping us gain more information and rule things out at the same time. I am seeing a hematologist on Friday to learn more about the test results.

So medically, we're cleared to start trying to get pregnant again. Emotionally and mentally, we're not quite there. I feel so much better after talking to my doctor, though! I think going through the tests and getting results is a big step in moving forward. We have a plan.

We also have a plan for when I do get that BFP. My doctor wants me to call right away to get started on progesterone and have baseline hcg and progesterone levels taken. Then as soon as hcg is over 1000, I'll go in for an early ultrasound. Knowing that she plans to monitor me closely also gives me confidence.

So thank you, friends, for your kind words and thoughts!