Yeah, one would think this was some kind of curse...
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase or more commonly known as MTHFR
This enzyme plays a role in processing amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is important for a chemical reaction involving forms of the B-vitamin folate (also called folic acid or vitamin B9). Specifically, this enzyme converts 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate.
HUH??
Basically, with this blood mutation, I do not convert folate and B12 correctly which is necessry for the formation of a fetus. Also, it can cause tiny little clots in the uterus and placenta which may increase losses. However, I am told by several docs that MTHFR research does not show a correlation bw the mutation and miscarriage. BULL CRAP!!
Luckily, my favorite high risk OB, Dr.A diagnosed this after a full blood panel. Anyway, now I have to take enormous amounts of B12 Folate and B6 daily in addition to my prenatal vitamin. The upside is I feel as I have way more energy these days. I have also started taking baby aspirin which the jury is still out on whether it can help.
It ain't hurting that's for sure....
Saturday, March 31, 2012
The Journey thus far....
Friends:
It's been a while since I have updated you on my journey to be a mom. Its difficult to tell my story over and over again so this is the easiest (and least painful) way to share. However, I have to believe that sharing this story with my closest friends (and family) will help me heal.
To remind you, I started this journey back in July 2010 just after my 39th birthday. After surgery to repair a septum in my uterus (heart shaped uterus are not a good thing) and picking my donor I was ready. I was lucky to get pregnant on try #2 unmedicated and my "bean" was with me for 10 weeks. I miscarried at home so the cause was unknown. Devastated. Two months later, repeat loss blood work and a uterine biopsy, I was given the green light to try again. I started acupuncture.
Tries 3 and 4 were not successful and then I received the best 40th birthday present ever. I was pregnant again. Nervous as one can imagine, I was monitored closely and put on progesterone when a drop in mine was detected. 6weeks and no heartbeat. Doctors confirmed it was not viable and I had a d and c to be able to test the embryo. Tests confirmed that it was a chromosomal abnormality #22. And a boy. Ironically, knowing it was a boy was very cathartic. Time to heal again. My doctor referred me to Shady Grove for a consult and he thought I might be better off with IVF-PGD (where they test the embryo prior to transfer). I hated Shady Grove,and was completely overwhelmed as they wanted to complete every test all over again. I headed straight to a bar. Mojitos. Several of them.
Lots of soul searching, therapy and tons of acupuncture later, I decided I was going to try IUI with my last two vials. I just needed one good egg right? My RE was open to trying again. Despite adding, injectables and getting 3 good follicles, try #7 failed. Disappointed but in the back of mind a sigh of relief it wasn't a miscarriage. But started to feel the financial strains of paying for what might be IVF.
I needed a break and decided I was going to take the winter off. I couldn't imagine trying during the holidays and new years.
In July after my 3rd miscarriage (I had miscarried back in 1996 after Peace Corps), I reconnected with a close friend, BP. BP and I met day one of Peace Corps and were instant friends. Our relationship has definitely had its ups and downs but we remained friends and he was very supportive to me over the summer. Currently, BP lives in Georgia and has two beautiful boys (12 and 3) and understands my deep desire to be a mother. He has struggled personally over the past year and I think timing wise we have been each others support. You know I need to take the road less traveled and after more soul searching, BP offered to be the donor. I agreed. Donor. No strings and just a wonderful friend helping me along my journey.
Fast forward to Christmas Eve and I was pregnant again, try #8 (and the first time with BP)...he sure does have good swimmers!). Let's just say my RE was shocked and my nurse was happy that things were looking up for me. Even my parents were supportive after learning that my donor was a "known donor".
I had hope. This had to work. It felt right. In fact, I ovulated three days early while BP was visiting....and it was a full moon (call me superstitious). My peach was growing and looking good. But my progesterone began to drop and my levels were no longer doubling. I had that deep fear within me. BP was optimistic. hopeful. He just knew our "peach" or Zoe as he thought it was a girl....was growing and would be fine. He came with me to my 6 week appt. No heartbeat. But they wanted me to wait another week just to be sure.
January 19th, confirmed there was no heartbeat. Again, I had a d and c to confirm what we probably already know that it was chromosomal. So, now I am waiting for the results. BP has been super supportive as I am sure he is going through his own personal sadness. We booked a getaway weekend to Jamaica (maybe the Caribbean is our comfort zone)
Turns out that the last pregnancy was a girl (my sweet Zoe) and it was not chromosomal (maybe)
Apparently, since it came back as female they can't be 100% sure it wasn't my tissue tested. Maybe my eggs aren't so jacked up after all.
Decided that I was going to just keep trying with BP and see what happened. Try #9 resulted in a negative but thank goodness I was pool side in Ochos Rios when I found out. Another rum punch please!!
It's been a while since I have updated you on my journey to be a mom. Its difficult to tell my story over and over again so this is the easiest (and least painful) way to share. However, I have to believe that sharing this story with my closest friends (and family) will help me heal.
To remind you, I started this journey back in July 2010 just after my 39th birthday. After surgery to repair a septum in my uterus (heart shaped uterus are not a good thing) and picking my donor I was ready. I was lucky to get pregnant on try #2 unmedicated and my "bean" was with me for 10 weeks. I miscarried at home so the cause was unknown. Devastated. Two months later, repeat loss blood work and a uterine biopsy, I was given the green light to try again. I started acupuncture.
Tries 3 and 4 were not successful and then I received the best 40th birthday present ever. I was pregnant again. Nervous as one can imagine, I was monitored closely and put on progesterone when a drop in mine was detected. 6weeks and no heartbeat. Doctors confirmed it was not viable and I had a d and c to be able to test the embryo. Tests confirmed that it was a chromosomal abnormality #22. And a boy. Ironically, knowing it was a boy was very cathartic. Time to heal again. My doctor referred me to Shady Grove for a consult and he thought I might be better off with IVF-PGD (where they test the embryo prior to transfer). I hated Shady Grove,and was completely overwhelmed as they wanted to complete every test all over again. I headed straight to a bar. Mojitos. Several of them.
Lots of soul searching, therapy and tons of acupuncture later, I decided I was going to try IUI with my last two vials. I just needed one good egg right? My RE was open to trying again. Despite adding, injectables and getting 3 good follicles, try #7 failed. Disappointed but in the back of mind a sigh of relief it wasn't a miscarriage. But started to feel the financial strains of paying for what might be IVF.
I needed a break and decided I was going to take the winter off. I couldn't imagine trying during the holidays and new years.
In July after my 3rd miscarriage (I had miscarried back in 1996 after Peace Corps), I reconnected with a close friend, BP. BP and I met day one of Peace Corps and were instant friends. Our relationship has definitely had its ups and downs but we remained friends and he was very supportive to me over the summer. Currently, BP lives in Georgia and has two beautiful boys (12 and 3) and understands my deep desire to be a mother. He has struggled personally over the past year and I think timing wise we have been each others support. You know I need to take the road less traveled and after more soul searching, BP offered to be the donor. I agreed. Donor. No strings and just a wonderful friend helping me along my journey.
Fast forward to Christmas Eve and I was pregnant again, try #8 (and the first time with BP)...he sure does have good swimmers!). Let's just say my RE was shocked and my nurse was happy that things were looking up for me. Even my parents were supportive after learning that my donor was a "known donor".
I had hope. This had to work. It felt right. In fact, I ovulated three days early while BP was visiting....and it was a full moon (call me superstitious). My peach was growing and looking good. But my progesterone began to drop and my levels were no longer doubling. I had that deep fear within me. BP was optimistic. hopeful. He just knew our "peach" or Zoe as he thought it was a girl....was growing and would be fine. He came with me to my 6 week appt. No heartbeat. But they wanted me to wait another week just to be sure.
January 19th, confirmed there was no heartbeat. Again, I had a d and c to confirm what we probably already know that it was chromosomal. So, now I am waiting for the results. BP has been super supportive as I am sure he is going through his own personal sadness. We booked a getaway weekend to Jamaica (maybe the Caribbean is our comfort zone)
Turns out that the last pregnancy was a girl (my sweet Zoe) and it was not chromosomal (maybe)
Apparently, since it came back as female they can't be 100% sure it wasn't my tissue tested. Maybe my eggs aren't so jacked up after all.
Decided that I was going to just keep trying with BP and see what happened. Try #9 resulted in a negative but thank goodness I was pool side in Ochos Rios when I found out. Another rum punch please!!
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