A future of being poked...

and a *probably* high risk pregnancy is headed my way. Perinatologist, here I come.

Issue # 1 : Thyroid - I have anti-thyroid antibodies- in addition, my TSH was 2.86. For the thyroid savvy, that is still in normal range, but that is a bit higher that one would want it to be during a pregnancy. I'm going to need a fair bit of thyroid hormones and a LOT of blood tests to monitor hormone levels. And thyroid insufficiency is a funny thing- I remember one glaring thing from my pregnancy- I was so cold, so often. 3 days after my IUI, I was just folding clothes, I'd been fine all day and suddenly I was chilled to the bone, a trend that continued on and off throughout that shortlived pregnancy. I'd sleep with sweaters on, something I never ever did before.

Issue # 2: Possible autoimmune clotting disorders too. I got cardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant back- I'm just straddling the far boundary of normalcy for both and the scariest thing is it is documented that it can sometimes increase during pregnancy. So I'm looking forward to very regular blood tests in that area as well and immediate treatment in case the levels increase.

I'm really getting angry with the OB who managed me. She is a lovely person with an excellent bedside manner, but her reaction to everything is, oh, lets not test, these things just happen. I want a super aggressive perinatologist to go with my super aggressive RE- UCSD is supposed to have a very good one.

I'm so utterly glad all of this is coming out now, and not after I have had another loss, which was definitely possible had I listened to everybody around me and left all of this alone. I'm also so utterly grateful I can understand and process all these tests and jargon so easily, it would be so much more scary if that was not the case. Although I now have good doctors, its so useful to understand what is happening so you are not entirely at some MD's mercy.

But it might not be so bad. Possibly I might not need more managing other than the thyroid. Lets hope it stays at that. Otherwise- bring it on, heparin, aspirin, even steroids- I'm ready.

And after that brave last statement.. I'm rethinking Lovenox(that is the heparin injection), it has to be taken 1-2 times a day in the stomach?!?!? Which sadistic SOB dreamt that one up?!?! OH praying I don't become more autoimmune with time!