a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

Hi guys….
I’m sorry I never came back last week after my post about my first appt. with Dr. B….we went on vacation for a week and this was my first chance to get back here and give you all an update….

First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to reply last week when I didn’t know what to expect and just basically needed reassurance and input. I appreciated it more than you know <3

As you all already know, Dr. B is AWESOME. I did have to wait about 45 minutes to get in to see him, but the office is beautiful and the staff is so nice and thye have good magazines and cookies :)

He was so patient and personable and, as expected, really took the time to explain everything to me and also to chat about personal stuff which made the whole meeting feel more like talking to a friend than a doctor…what a difference that makes! I didn’t have any of my records from my OBGYN or anything and I didn’t bring my husband, so he was basically just going off all the info I gave him…He asked me all the standard questions and right away he pretty much seemed to have it figured out….of course, we’re still going to go through all the testing eventually, just to cover all the bases but it was really, really reassuring to have him seem so sure that it could be an easy fix and so sure that he knew exactly what the problem is right off the bat….

I’m pretty p*ss*d off, actually, that none of the 4 OBGYNs I have seen, nor the endocrinologist I am seeing for my thyroid condition (which I started seeing because my first OBGYN referred me to because of my 2nd m/c) ever mentioned to me that being hypothyroid is the EFFECT of having Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. I thought they were one in the same and even though I was seeing the thyroid doctor BECAUSE I had had m/c, she never explained that hashimoto’s is an auto immune disease which means that I have killer cells in my body that are attacking and destroying my thyroid, the end result of which is hypothyroidism.

All I had to say to Dr. B was that I had Hashimoto’s and it was like a bell went off. He explained right away that those killer cells were probably doing the same damage to the embryos that they do to my thyroid. All this time, the thyroid doctor I had been seeing had been pumping me full of synthroid, treating the symptom and never considering the actual cause and never explaining to me (and possibly never even considering!) the effect that having Hashimoto’s might have on my fertility! So basically, for 3 years now, I’ve been taking ever increasing doses of synthroid thinking that should be the solution to the problem and…well….it’s not.

There are still lots of tests to be done….the whole RPL panel and CD3 testing, a hysteroscopy and immunology testing for me and my husband (which I’d like to avoid if possible since it’s probably not covered by my insurance and is pretty costly….not sure if he’ll let us skip it, but I hope so)…

If everything else comes back clear and the problem with the 4 extremely early m/cs (or technically CPs) is, as he suspects, the Hashimoto’s, he mentioned treatment with Prednisone and Intralipids. I looked this all up on the internet and there is some very interesting info out there on it…..interesting and pretty terrifying…I was going along under the impression that the fix would be an easy and painless pill prescription and some monitoring and possibly a couple goopy suppositories and now he’s talking pumping me full of steroids and doing an intravenous bag of fat (after spending the last 2 years working out like a maniac and getting my diet back on track to lose 45 lbs. to help the fertility issue…isn’t it ironic?). the way this treatment fixes the problem was really confusing and very detailed, and I don’t remember much of the explanation right now, but he seems, not surprisingly, totally on point….

In any case, it’s a LOT to think about and I keep trying to discuss it with my husband and he keeps avoiding the topis, so I think he’s as nervous and unsure about it all as I am….i’ll probably do the RPL and the other blood tests and possibly the hysteroscopy in a couple of months once all this info sinks in…..

In the mean time, I’ll be hanging out here, lurking and cheering you all on. Thanks again for the rec and all the advice and support!

Message edited 2/1/2010 12:04:06 PM.

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

Glad you had such a great experience with our man Dr. B He's such a good guy!!

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

Dr. Braverman got me pregannt and he will get you pregnant too!

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

Im glad your appointment went well!!

If you need someone to talk to about this, please feel free to FM me. DH and I are literally in the same boat as you. Next cycle I will be treated with prednisone and intralipids due to an immune issue.

We tried to avoid the immune testing as well but ultimately did it and good thing, because that found the problem.

Its A LOT to think about. I wasnt even sure I believed him when he said this was the problem. I looked up a bunch of stuff online too as well as spoke to a few people on here in similar situations and I have finally come to the point where I am comfortable with this diagnosis and treatment.

I find it ironic (for myself) that this is the issue considering Im the biggest hypochondriac in the world. Can you imagine? Worlds biggest hypochondriac with an immune system that works TOO WELL. Gotta love it....

Anyway, good luck and Im here if you need to talk or have any questions. I will be starting the prednisone/intralipids the beginning of March.

(edited for spelling)

Message edited 2/1/2010 1:04:28 PM.

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

thanks ladies....and especially Lisa for sharing your story too....

i'll be keeping an eye on you and thinking good thoughts for you....i'll probably also be sending you some FMs full of questions and hugs as they come to me.....

<3

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

Glad it went so well!!!
I have also done intralipids and prednisone so if you have any questions feel free to ask
good luck to you!

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

i do have a question about the intralipids, actually....i am totally freaked out about an IV full of a bag of fat....this may seem completely ridiculous, but...i mean...is it bad for your heart or your body to take in that much fat in one sitting? what about the calories (i know it's stupid, but i wonder...)...can you eat for the rest of the day or are you injesting like a week's worth of calories? i know....i feel so horrible even asking because it really is a small sacrifice to make, but my metabolism is terrible and i gain weight just looking at a bag of chips, and i have been working so hard and so long just to get where i am now, which is nowhere near where i'd actually want to be, ultimately, that thinking of putting all the fat i just lost back into my body is terrifying....so stupid, but i wonder. did you gain weight after the infusion? did you feel sick? how many times did you have to do it and when in your cycle? TIA :)

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

glad things went so well!

best of luck to you!

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

This is very good info!!!!!
I plan on seeing Dr. B once I get some test results back. I'm also hypothyroid and take synthroid. I've had 3 m/c (all about 7-7 1/2 weeks)

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

Glad things went well! Love dr. B

Message edited 2/1/2010 9:27:53 PM.

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

Posted by HopelesslyDiscouraged

Posted by DearHeaven

i do have a question about the intralipids, actually....i am totally freaked out about an IV full of a bag of fat....this may seem completely ridiculous, but...i mean...is it bad for your heart or your body to take in that much fat in one sitting? what about the calories (i know it's stupid, but i wonder...)...can you eat for the rest of the day or are you injesting like a week's worth of calories? i know....i feel so horrible even asking because it really is a small sacrifice to make, but my metabolism is terrible and i gain weight just looking at a bag of chips, and i have been working so hard and so long just to get where i am now, which is nowhere near where i'd actually want to be, ultimately, that thinking of putting all the fat i just lost back into my body is terrifying....so stupid, but i wonder. did you gain weight after the infusion? did you feel sick? how many times did you have to do it and when in your cycle? TIA :)

LOL...No, you will not gain weight from it. I had no side effects whatsoever. It's mostly made up of water, and the fats come from soybean oil and egg whites. And an little IV bag of it isn't enough to have you gain any weight from it.

I had it done about 2 hours after I ate dinner and did not feel sick. I was just glad to have had it done!

I had it done about 3 days before I ovulated......had it done only once and found out that my levels are now down to normal. I may have to do it again in another month b/c their effects last for about 4-6 weeks.

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

You are too funny with the lipids!! I thought of the same thing...a bag of fat. Why can't I just eat an extra bag of chips But really, I have faith in Dr. B and the recent success of many ladies who did the Intralipids.

Re: a full update on my first visit with Dr. B

an extra bag of chips?? just one?? girl, i was thinking like 12 plates of nachos and some chili fries too!! i'm gonna ask him if i can do that instead and then if you want, we can share them ;)