18 wks & 2 d, Docs fighting..so comforting
As of this past week, I still have a complete Placental Previa. The last couple of weeks have been peppered with lots of medical appointments and countless calls from the perinatologists and my OB. No one can agree on how to handle the fact that I am having contractions all the time, have a complicated history of pre-term labor and a threatened miscarriage/threatened abruption right now. I guess I am supposed to now regret all the medical intervention I received in previous pregnancies which helped me carry to term...because the new drug company that hijacked the progesterone compound which the docs want me to switch to have now made up their own rules that are difficult to get around with my current insurance/financial situation.
The drug company will not allow you to participate in their financial aid program unless you had previous DELIVERIES before 36 weeks. It does not matter that I have NEARLY delivered time and again throughout my 3rd trimesters (and even as early as 18 weeks with Sophia). It also does not matter that it was this very compound of progesterone that saved Sophia's life. Now that this company has taken over and hijacked the drug, they make all the rules. I can either pay $700 per shot (uh...my husband is still NOT working), or I have to fit their profile for assistance. My state's medical insurance (now that we've lost our private insurance) will not pay for it.
I am still on daily injections of natural progesterone in oil, but my doctors and 3 of the 4 perinatologists that I see are against it...they say it is not proven to prevent pre-term labor like the other compound (P17 or Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate). They are all worried about the long term effects of being on it. I have told them all that until they come up with a better plan, I am taking it. Besides, it is a more NATURAL form of progesterone than P17 anyway.
I see the 4th perinatologist in our Maternal Fetal medicine group on Wednesday to talk about an action plan.
We should see the baby's gender on Tuesday (5/24) when I go for the 2nd trimester anatomy scan!!
I had my nasty little sigmoid on Wednesday of this past week (like a mini colonoscopy). Ugh. After the procedure (which had to be done in the hospital because of all my issues), the head L&D nurse tried for 35 minutes to find our baby's heartbeat on the doppler. (2 dopplers to be precise). WHO WOULD DO THAT?!? She was pressing HARD all over my bruised tummy (bruised from Lovenox injections). She flat out told us that other nurses would have sent us right to Ultrasound, but her "ego couldn't handle that" because she had 38 yrs of experience and they would give her such a hard time. HELLO?!?! How did she think my DH & I felt while she struggled & struggled to find the heartbeat?!?! UNREAL. Finally she did locate it. WHEW.
The docs had me rather worried about the sigmoid because the prep & discomfort of the procedure would likely increase contractions....and therefore the risk of abruption because of my previa. Contractions got so bad after the procedure...for the next 48 hours that all I could do was PRAY..not a wink of sleep...just lay here and pray and drink 2 gallons of water a day.They have finally gone back to the level they usually are.
I am NOT WORRIED about the Previa in terms of DELIVERY...mine (like most) always seem to resolve before delivery, and if this one didn't, I don't have a phobia about C-sections. The REAL PROBLEM with a Previa for me is that I have these awful contractions 24/7 and that can cause a placental abruption. That is why I am not allowed to move...why I can't shower very often...why we are scrambling to find ways to settle my uterus.
As anyone in this position knows, there are 2 major hurdles...one is 20 weeks, where doctors, in general, take your pregnancy more seriously and the big one...24 weeks, where they will fight to help save your baby's life. I will be 24 weeks on June 30th and am doing everything I possibly can to get us to that point.
One other little twist is that my doctors (OB & perinatal) do not believe in checking progesterone levels in 2nd trimester. My former fertility doc received all of his training through an institute that studied progesterone levels throughout pregnancy and drew a strong correlation to low progesterone in ALL trimesters & pregnancy loss. He tested my levels the week before last when I was contracting so bad that it felt like it does well into active labor...and my progesterone level was LOW...LOWER than their research shows is needed for maintaining a pregnancy. My OB blew this off. But the fertility doc immediately increased the dose of my injection and my contractions eased up. I am so grateful for him. He is helping me without getting paid a cent...because he is now long distance. He orders labs, my progesterone, everything...without a dime in remuneration. He prayed with me over the phone for our baby...for my uterus to calm down...for my other docs to be open to the research they have done in the last 30 yrs...etc. I love him!!
The best part is that because the AWESOME Fertility Doc is my prescribing doc for the progesterone I currently take, I have the option to keep taking it through 36 weeks if my other docs can't work out the details...I may or may not even tell them, since they are all worked up about it. I'm pondering that. I've been very up front with them about my plan to continue taking it for now...but we'll see what happens on Wednesday.
Sorry this was so long. Please pray for our little one and for my docs! Please pray for all the sweet ladies on DS who have lost their babies lately...it breaks my heart. I would be lost without you amazing ladies!!
The drug company will not allow you to participate in their financial aid program unless you had previous DELIVERIES before 36 weeks. It does not matter that I have NEARLY delivered time and again throughout my 3rd trimesters (and even as early as 18 weeks with Sophia). It also does not matter that it was this very compound of progesterone that saved Sophia's life. Now that this company has taken over and hijacked the drug, they make all the rules. I can either pay $700 per shot (uh...my husband is still NOT working), or I have to fit their profile for assistance. My state's medical insurance (now that we've lost our private insurance) will not pay for it.
I am still on daily injections of natural progesterone in oil, but my doctors and 3 of the 4 perinatologists that I see are against it...they say it is not proven to prevent pre-term labor like the other compound (P17 or Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate). They are all worried about the long term effects of being on it. I have told them all that until they come up with a better plan, I am taking it. Besides, it is a more NATURAL form of progesterone than P17 anyway.
I see the 4th perinatologist in our Maternal Fetal medicine group on Wednesday to talk about an action plan.
We should see the baby's gender on Tuesday (5/24) when I go for the 2nd trimester anatomy scan!!
I had my nasty little sigmoid on Wednesday of this past week (like a mini colonoscopy). Ugh. After the procedure (which had to be done in the hospital because of all my issues), the head L&D nurse tried for 35 minutes to find our baby's heartbeat on the doppler. (2 dopplers to be precise). WHO WOULD DO THAT?!? She was pressing HARD all over my bruised tummy (bruised from Lovenox injections). She flat out told us that other nurses would have sent us right to Ultrasound, but her "ego couldn't handle that" because she had 38 yrs of experience and they would give her such a hard time. HELLO?!?! How did she think my DH & I felt while she struggled & struggled to find the heartbeat?!?! UNREAL. Finally she did locate it. WHEW.
The docs had me rather worried about the sigmoid because the prep & discomfort of the procedure would likely increase contractions....and therefore the risk of abruption because of my previa. Contractions got so bad after the procedure...for the next 48 hours that all I could do was PRAY..not a wink of sleep...just lay here and pray and drink 2 gallons of water a day.They have finally gone back to the level they usually are.
I am NOT WORRIED about the Previa in terms of DELIVERY...mine (like most) always seem to resolve before delivery, and if this one didn't, I don't have a phobia about C-sections. The REAL PROBLEM with a Previa for me is that I have these awful contractions 24/7 and that can cause a placental abruption. That is why I am not allowed to move...why I can't shower very often...why we are scrambling to find ways to settle my uterus.
As anyone in this position knows, there are 2 major hurdles...one is 20 weeks, where doctors, in general, take your pregnancy more seriously and the big one...24 weeks, where they will fight to help save your baby's life. I will be 24 weeks on June 30th and am doing everything I possibly can to get us to that point.
One other little twist is that my doctors (OB & perinatal) do not believe in checking progesterone levels in 2nd trimester. My former fertility doc received all of his training through an institute that studied progesterone levels throughout pregnancy and drew a strong correlation to low progesterone in ALL trimesters & pregnancy loss. He tested my levels the week before last when I was contracting so bad that it felt like it does well into active labor...and my progesterone level was LOW...LOWER than their research shows is needed for maintaining a pregnancy. My OB blew this off. But the fertility doc immediately increased the dose of my injection and my contractions eased up. I am so grateful for him. He is helping me without getting paid a cent...because he is now long distance. He orders labs, my progesterone, everything...without a dime in remuneration. He prayed with me over the phone for our baby...for my uterus to calm down...for my other docs to be open to the research they have done in the last 30 yrs...etc. I love him!!
The best part is that because the AWESOME Fertility Doc is my prescribing doc for the progesterone I currently take, I have the option to keep taking it through 36 weeks if my other docs can't work out the details...I may or may not even tell them, since they are all worked up about it. I'm pondering that. I've been very up front with them about my plan to continue taking it for now...but we'll see what happens on Wednesday.
Sorry this was so long. Please pray for our little one and for my docs! Please pray for all the sweet ladies on DS who have lost their babies lately...it breaks my heart. I would be lost without you amazing ladies!!
Replies
KV Pharmaceuticals donated $1.5 million dollars to the March of Dimes to get them to back them under the auspices of making the medication more consistent by giving them exclusive rights to make it (even though they were NEVER in the development of P17 to begin with...and it has been used for 10 yrs without them). So, because of the March of Dimes and their argument that this would \"save babies and prevent birth defects (by preventing preterm labor)\" KV Pharmaceuticals was able to bribe their way into the exclusive rights to P17. March of Dimes, however, was FURIOUS about the cost increase and spoke out against it, but they appear satisfied with the drop to $700 and the financial aid program (which I can\'t qualify for since I didn\'t deliver early enough). So, while I LOVED MOD before, I am DISGUSTED with their part of this travesty. Money talks in the world of politics, drugs and powerful charities.
Is that in the June Issue? We love RD!!
I will keep you and your little one in my prayers! Good luck I hope the doctors wok out something soon.
I am so sorry you are going through all of this right now! Praying you are baby continue to be safe and some dr comes up with a better plan!
Wow-so sorry to hear you are dealing with such major challenges. I will be praying for you for a resolution to the drug problem-could you talk to your local media? Your RE sounds like an angel- it\'s crazy that your other docs can\'t support what seems to be your best chance to support your pregnancy and keep your baby growing strong. You sound so strong! Keep up your energy to keep fighting however you can!
Continued prayers that baby stays put!
what a situation you find yourself in! All of this medical stuff is too political and dramatic....
praying for you!
Even though I am not on as much as I used to be you are in my prayers everyday! Come on June 30th and beyond!!!!
I am sending lots of prayers your way:) You have been through So very much, you deserve a break!!!!
Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers your way!
Sorry i am so late on this sweetheart!!! oh i feel so terrible for you! you have gone through soo much and are such a trooper!! so crazy how u can keep that wonderful sense of humor:) that must be why your hubby loves you so much :) I am praying for you and you sweet baby and i hope hope hope those dr\'s get their Shit together and figure out whats best for you and this baby... *BIG HUGS*!!!!