Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Support Group
Deep-vein thrombosis, also known as deep-venous thrombosis or DVT, is the formation of a blood clot ("thrombus") in a deep vein. It can be caused by something preventing blood from circulating or clotting normally. Join the support group if you are coping with DVT and find others who are going through the same challenges.
My partner and I are considering adoption because of my DVT history. But there's a part of me that wishes to concieve like any normal woman.
Brief history: Got first clot in Jan 2007 at 21 years old. The one and only cause (after much testing and research) was the contraceptive pill. After a 6 month dose of warfarin I came off, but 3 months later had to go back on due to a second clot. It has been decided that this second clot was there the entire time and just never discovered, and after coming off the warfarin it grew back. So, back on warfarin for a year and came off in Oct 08. Have had no issues since, on half an aspirin for the rest of my life and using the Implanon as contraception.
SO, with all that explained I get to the nitty gritty stuff. I would like a baby. But because the cause of the clot was the pill I feel it's highly likely I will get another clot. I will be considered a high-risk pregnancy and will have to have 9 months of Clexane injections (I understand these are essentially Lovenox, which seems to be the drug most of you talk about on here).
Are there any women on here who have gone through this in a similar fashion? Can you offer me words of advice? I don't want to risk my health and the health of my unborn child, I would rather play it safe and adopt. But, like I said, can't help wondering...
Brief history: Got first clot in Jan 2007 at 21 years old. The one and only cause (after much testing and research) was the contraceptive pill. After a 6 month dose of warfarin I came off, but 3 months later had to go back on due to a second clot. It has been decided that this second clot was there the entire time and just never discovered, and after coming off the warfarin it grew back. So, back on warfarin for a year and came off in Oct 08. Have had no issues since, on half an aspirin for the rest of my life and using the Implanon as contraception.
SO, with all that explained I get to the nitty gritty stuff. I would like a baby. But because the cause of the clot was the pill I feel it's highly likely I will get another clot. I will be considered a high-risk pregnancy and will have to have 9 months of Clexane injections (I understand these are essentially Lovenox, which seems to be the drug most of you talk about on here).
Are there any women on here who have gone through this in a similar fashion? Can you offer me words of advice? I don't want to risk my health and the health of my unborn child, I would rather play it safe and adopt. But, like I said, can't help wondering...
-
Look at what my best friend did with my picture!
-
We all have 24 hours in a day. How we spend these hours is important. Watching a little bit of a video about how sitting affects us made me aware of how much sitting and laying down I do. Gonna have to work on that.Your turn. Tell me another truth.
Over the years, the success of safe delivery for high risk pregnancies relating to clotting disorders has immensely improved. A lot of research has been performed by those in the OB/GYN field, especially Dr. Andra James of Duke University and Dr. Michael Paidas of Yale University. The possibility of a positive outcome has significantly increased as compared to the pre-1990's.
Here is a Women's Health Newsletter my organization did which specifically addresses pregnancy outcomes in patients with clotting issues. I hope it provides some help:
http://www.stoptheclot.org/Newsletters/FINAL_Spring%20Summer%2008%20Nwsl_WEB.pdf
Regards,
Tom
Because I have had the condition all my life, affecting me to a lesser degree, when I was scanned & venogrammed they could not believe that with the masses of collaterals and essentially varicose veins inside my pelvis, that I had carried 4 children and delivered them all at home, all without clots. I've had leg swelling, awful varicose veins, several bouts of phlebitis, etc, but nothing was ever investigated.
I have just been very lucky, and they do not know how the Pill set off the MTS so badly and the pregnancies didn't.
If I was in your position I'd do the Clexane jabs and have a baby - what I'm saying is I had a clotting problem that hadn't been spotted, and somehow managed ok - with your problem already on record and under treatment, I'm sure you'll be fine and achieve your aim to be a mum.
What I would suggest is that you hook up with a good high risk provider or otherwise known as a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists.
It reminds me of where we were years ago with the medical condition of diabetes. Women were counselled in never getting pregnant otherwise risk their lives. Not so today. With good prenatal care, following your doctors advise things should go well. While I personally haven't gone through this Jenny, I can with all honesty say I've seen and cared for women with great outcomes. Make an informed decision in whatever you choose to do. I'm thinking of you...:)...Lu
I do know that it has been done and many healthy babies have resulted. It is do-able, so I wouldn't put that dream on the back-burner. You might consider talking to a hemotologist and trying to find an OB/GYN who specializes in clotting risks.
I think women feel like they have gun to their head about planning families in general and having this clotting history makes it that much more daunting. It's not a race; it's not a decision you need to make today, so don't let the anxiety and pressure about making any kind of decision right now burden you. Ok, that's advice coming from a woman who never had her own kids and never had the desire to do so, so of course, you can take that for whatever it's worth ! ; )
I too am terrified of childbirth...and before my DVT/PEs I was already scared of it! :) It has been nice to read others experiences!
http://community.babycenter.com/groups/a241035/lovely_lovenox_ladies?
Adoption is extremely difficult and most people I know spend a minimum of $40,000 these days - and that is for a child from another country. I know of couples to tried for as long as 15 years or more to adopt and never got a child - so that is something to think about too.
I am 31 years old and had my first clot at age 22. I was in a car accident and developed my clot from a picc line. Fast forward 4 years later and 3 weeks after the birth of my daughter (c section) I developed my second clot. In my left leg. I was then on coumadin for 6 months and had numerous blood tests. All came back fine. Hematologist said the reason for my clotting was because I have no spleen(since my car accident) and because of that my platelets tend to run high. He then said for me to take a 81mg aspirin daily for life. Had no clotting issues until now. I have recently this past november developed a third clot, in the exact same place as I had my first. So I am now on warfarin for life.
In between my daughter and now I had my third (last) child. Because of my clotting history my OB put me on lovenox injections starting at 26 weeks. I never had any problems and neither did my son. He is a happy and healthy almost 2 year old now :)