Update on the Blood Tests

I went to the doctor last week to get blood tests run to see what might have been the cause of my miscarriages.
They took EIGHT tubes of blood, one for each test they were going to run.

I got a call today from the nurse, and she told me that the tests all came back normal - except for one.  The one that came back abnormal was the (I had to write this down so I would remember it) " Antinuclear Antibodies" test.

I asked her "What in the world is that"?  and she told me that is where your body's antibodies are fighting against your own body's cells.  (!!!) 

She said not to get worried about it, because they need to do additional testing to make sure and all of that, but she said that IF that is a concern, it could be associated with such things as Lupus, and Rheumatoid problems.  

I don't know ANYTHING about either thing. I have heard of Lupus, and I've heard of Rheumatoid Athritis but I don't know ANYTHING about either one, and I think I'm going to have to do some big time research on the internet now.   It sounds really scary.  Does anyone here know of any information about it?

I am a little worried, because I don't know what this might mean for me, and I just don't know what's going to happen.  I have to wait a month though before I can get another blood test run to figure out if it's really abnormal, then the doctors will take it from there.

Posted by Bethany at 9/25/2007 4:59 PM
Categories: Pregnancy Loss

Previous Post
Next Post

 

What did you think of this article?




Trackbacks
Trackback specific URL for this post
  • Trackbacks are closed for this post.
Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

  • 9/25/2007 5:45 PM Christa Darr wrote:
    Hi Bethany ~ I am a pretty regular reader of your blog, and wanted to stop by and let you know that you are not alone with this! My ANA tested positive in 1999 and I was then given the official diagnois of Lupus. Once I got on track with medications and all, I quickly got pregnant and had a healthy set of b/g twins. Lupus and Rheumey sometimes go hand in hand, sometimes that are not related at all. For me, I have both. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions, I pray that I can somehow help you. There are a couple of links from my blog - homeschoolblogger/dartwns - that will get you some information on Lupus. Please don't hesitate to ask me anything -I share my illness freely - the only way to spread the wordis to spread the word...

    ~christa~
    Reply to this
  • 9/25/2007 6:01 PM Valerie wrote:
    Bethany -

    Did they tell you if it was a titer test that they did? If so, do you know the number?

    I don't know much about either that they said, but I would think you would have some more symptoms. (Maybe Christa can answer that? )

    What I do know is be very careful with what you read on the internet. There is alot of misinformation out there, especially when it comes to medical things. My rule of thumb is to only go to websites that are supported by some sort of medical facility or school. Or someone who knows the stuff because they've been there.

    Like Christa said - once everything is diagnoses and meds given if needed things usually get back to normal. I do know that some autoimmune problems can be helped by certain vitamin/mineral supplements. (Vitamin B keeps coming to mind - but that may only be in dogs.) And sometimes proper nutrition can keep things on track.

    Keep us posted. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers until all this is figured out.
    Reply to this
  • 9/25/2007 6:05 PM Bethany wrote:
    Valerie, I wish I knew...I have no idea what a Titer test is though. I have been taking folic acid and vitamin B supplements for the last few weeks. Vitamin B does give me energy. Folic acid I'm taking to hopefully help the next pregnancy.
    Thank you for the advice!

    Christa, I just sent you an email. Thank you so much for your help.
    Reply to this
  • 9/25/2007 7:32 PM Sara wrote:
    Bethany,
    I have been keeping up with your pregnancy complications and was wondering if you might have what I have - Antiphospholipid Syndrome. My doctors discovered that I had this after my first pregnancy ended in a stillbirth at 23 weeks. My pregnancy was rare though, because most women with APS end up miscarrying early in their pregnancies. I was able to be treated with heparin injections throughout two more pregnancies and both resulted in the births of my perfectly healthy boys! They were both born a little early, but had no complications due to their prematurity. If you have any questions or just need someone to listen who has been there and understands, please feel free to email me anytime.

    God Bless!!
    Sara
    Reply to this
    1. 9/26/2007 8:03 AM Bethany wrote:
      I don't know if that's what I've got, but I will be sure to do an update as soon as I find out. Last night after reading your comment, I have done a lot of research on APS, so thank you for giving me another lead to follow! I appreciate it. I hope that by the next month I will have some sort of idea what might be going on. It's good that if there is a cause, they will find it and that it might be treatable. I would love to think that my next pregnancy could be helped.
      Reply to this
  • 9/25/2007 9:23 PM shelly wrote:
    Bethany,
    Sorry to hear that one of the tests came back negative but on the other hand the more information you have, the proper health care can be given and hopefully in time you will have a healthy beautiful baby...hugs shelly
    Reply to this
    1. 9/26/2007 8:04 AM Bethany wrote:
      Thank you, Shelly...I appreciate it.
      Reply to this
  • 1/21/2012 1:04 PM airbrush makeup workshop wrote:
    "Colour and I are one. I am a painter." - Paul Klee /http://airbrushactioncom/airbrush-getaway-workshops/vegas-february-20-24-2012
    Reply to this
Leave a comment

 Name

 Email (will not be published)

Your comment is 0 characters limited to 3000 characters.