The Treatment

So, I'm flying out to Chicago tomorrow morning to meet Dr. C at the Rinehart Center for Reproductive Medicine. She specializes in recurrent pregnancy loss (and fertility complications). Dr. C. runs her own laboratory as well, in Chicago. She's a pioneer in the field! And, she seems to have unlocked the mystery to my many pregnancy losses. It's a quick trip... flying in & out on the same day.

After my 8th loss last December, my physician (Dr. A) got me in-contact with the Rinehart Center. I didn't have any luck with the local "top doc" specialists - so we needed to look elsewhere. We needed to dig deeper this time.

After a phone consultation with Dr. C, I went through a series of lab tests. I've had many tests in the past that have given us insight on the "miscarriage" issue we were having, but we still were losing the pregnancies. These new lab panels checked more "unlikely" or "uncommon" sources for the problem. They were not the usual lab tests performed by many labs in the area. Millenova Immunology Laboratories is one of very few labs in the nation that perform these type of blood tests... they dig deep!

After the process of sending my blood work to Chicago's lab, we had another phone consult with Dr. C. We now had some answers...

The lab work determined that my natural killer cells (NKa) were elevated (over-active). They don't know the cause for this but it would explain the pregnancy losses. Basically every time I would become pregnant this NKa factor would attack the embryo that implanted, seeing it as foreign, thus causing me to lose the pregnancy. Fortunately they have recently found a way to "suppress" the natural killer cells, allowing the pregnancy to continue. The immunologic treatment is called Intralipid. It's a synthetic product composed of soybean oil, egg yolk, phospholipids, glycerin and water.....hmm, a bit strange - but it seems to do the trick! It will change my rate of success from less than 1 percent to 80 percent. This is great news!! I will be case study number 121 for the treatment, as it has not gone to trials as of yet. It's said to be completely safe with little to no side-effects.

This brings me to tomorrow's Chicago trip. I will be having my first "lipid" infusion - 1 of 6 infusions I'll need throughout the pregnancy. The intravenous treatments are performed and timed, based on my cycle. The first infusion is to occur between 5 and 9 of my cycle. Then Scott and I do our thing..... if we get a positive pregnancy test, I'll need to get over to Chicago for the second infusion ASAP. Thereafter, I'll need an infusion monthly, up to 20 weeks gestation. After that my NKa (cells) lower naturally and should not pose problems for the term of the pregnancy.

Along with the Intralipid infusions I will have daily Lovenox injections (to keep my blood from clotting), a daily baby aspirin, the usual folic acid supplement (needed for my MTHFR result), daily progesterone (first trimester only...glad to hear it!). I will also have a weekly blood draw at my local clinic that is shipped to Chicago's lab - to track the Intralipid dose efficacy rate.

So that's the story - in a nut shell. I'm sure I've forgotten a few important notes along the way. In the past four years I've learned so much about this subject...more than I ever thought necessary. But I'm always excited to take-in the process and share my story with others. I know so many women, so many dear friends that have their own story to share. It weaves us together!

Tomorrow is a big day for us! I'm excited to start this new treatment and obviously hoping for a good result! As always, I'll be "cautiously optimistic" as we go through the course of treatments. But I'm feeling good about trying something new! Going into this with a new set of tools is very comforting! I may be able to "attach" myself to the process this time.

I will keep posting, as I have new thoughts and stories to share. Until then, my best to you all!

Love, Cinda