Complicated

So my blood tests are back, and I have inherited multiple genetic blood clotting factors.   

Part of me had hoped this genetic ass-kicking would have passed me by, and I was pretty upset when the doctor was explaining it to me.  I finally asked him to write it all down and I would reflect and get back to him, and honestly nothing was processing anyway.  Furthermore, Tim is away on business, working 18 hour days, so I have been dealing with the aftermath alone.  I had to schedule 5 additional doctors appointments, yesterday.  That’s FIVE different doctors  prior to June 2.

To be detailed, I have:

1- Hetero Prothrombian Gene Mutation (also referred to as G2021A and/or Factor II)
2- Hetero MTHFR
3- CardioLipin IGM Autoantibodies at a 34, <10 is a good number.
4- Protein S Dificiency at a 53, just shy of the normal 60+
5- An LDL of 194, while all my other levels (triglycerides, etc) are average.

The top 4 are all “increased risk of blood clotting” and my LDL is also worrisome as both my parents, but more particularly my mother, had quadruple by-pass in their 50’s.   So increased risk of clotting, plus a family history of heart disease, is a shitty combination.  Simply put, blood clots can lead to heart attacks.

I am scared but trying to educate myself.  I am also in a precarious position.  The oral medicines (like blood thinners and cholesterol medicines)  prescribed to someone with my particular cocktail of blood clotting issues cannot be prescribed to someone who is trying to conceive.

In fact, if we choose to have children, it would be a high-risk preganancy, not just because of my “advanced age of 34/35″ – but because normal pregnancy increases your risk of clotting.    My factors contribute the risk of increased miscarriage, clotting in the placenta, throwing a clot during delivery, and a few other things.   To combat those possible outcomes, I would need to do blood thinner needles twice a day, while we try to conceive and during the entire pregnancy.    However, there is also a risk with the needles/injections too, like hemorraging and increased bleeding, etc.     In my online research, most of the women who have been diagnosed with the same, are discussing it in conjunction with infertility.  It seems people normally run this gambit of genetic testing, after multiple miscarriages.     Currently, my entire family is in the process of being tested, ever since my uncle was diagnosed with multiple genetic clotting mutations in the late 90’s.   In one respect I am lucky, I did not inherit all the factors he did – and my factors are heterozygous, meaning they only come from one parent – not both. 

I often wonder if there is a cosmic agenda?  What if after I had gotten married at 25 we had immediately attempted to have children?  I would have put myself and any possible babies at great risk.  Furthermore,  my husband and I have always been against the birth control pill.   A woman with the prothrombin gene mutation who uses oral contraceptives has a risk for deep vein clotting sixteenfold.  16x.  Damn.   Birth control could have triggered a clot for me!   Maybe everything really does happen for a reason.

As we are not currently trying to conceive, I  am learning what my risks are HERE AND NOW.    In the meantime,  I have been prescribed folate, baby asprin, and omega 3’s.  I have had to change my diet and increase my phsyical activity.   I have to inject myself with blood thinners before airline flights and long car rides.  And I just scheduled an appointment with a second hemotologist — second opinions are always a good idea.  There is not much I can do but protect myself.  In fact,  I am still reacting, reflecting and researching.  It’s still to new to me.