I am 23 years old. I have had three miscarrages. One baby I carried for 4 1/2 months. My last pregnancy, I was sent to a specialist because I got pregnant with an IUD. The specialist did every test known to man to find out why a helthy 23 yr old kept miscarring. It was found at 7 weeks that I have the anti-coagulant known as stick-blood. The doctor said that it was too late to start a blood thinning treatment, and I lost yet another one. That was 6 months ago. So here is my question. Is it possible to have the "sticky-blood" and not Lupus? Has anyone been able to keep their babies with out treatment prior to pregnancy? How bad are these shots? I am told I am going to have to take two a day? I have horrible brusing all of the time all over my legs, they are not blood clots, they are just from me hitting my legs on stuff. But they really hurts sometimes. Does anyone know something that will help with the swelling and help to make them go away quicker? What kind of treatment needs to be done while you are not pregnant if any? Please, I am the only person in my family that has this and I know very little about it. ANY information you can give, or insight, I would apperciate. Thank you!

Hello summerhouse,

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your babies. It is so hard to miscarry, and unfortunately many women with "sticky blood" do.

Sticky blood is also called Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS or Hughes Syndrome). It CAN occur without Lupus present, many women find out that they have APS when they do miscarry a few times. If you have APS, it is nearly impossible to keep a pregnancy because your body produces clots and will abort the fetus. You need to be treated in order to have a healthy pregnancy!

The treatment for APS can be either Heparin (which are the shots), warfarin or even asprin in less severe cases. I would think that Heparin shots would be better in your case, seeing as how you are having miscarraiges. You will notice a DRAMATIC improvement with the shots! What you need to do is see a specialist that knows a lot about Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Do you get headaches?

You need to get your blood thinned out, you can have strokes or Trans-ischemic attacks (mini strokes) in more severe cases and if your blood isn't thinned! Your especially at high risk because you have the bloodwork. And you can be on Heparin while pregnant, to help your blood stay thin so that you do not miscarry. If you are in the UK, Dr. Graham Hughes and his collegues work out of St. Thomas Hospital with women with primary APS so that they can be treated and have "normal" pregnancies. You really need to be treated!!! I hope this helps you, if you have any questions.. please stick them in here and I will try and help http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif I have APS too, and I am on warfarin and all of my symptoms got better! I do get the bruising on my legs, it helped with the warfarin http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif


~Angelic



[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 10-15-2003).]

Thank you so much for replying. Yes I do get headaches. At one point in my life I had migranes almost everyday. I have been trying to research some of my medical history and am trying to find out how many of my problems could be part of all of this. For instance, when I had the migranes I was taking the Depo birth-control shot which is associated with blood-clots and what not. Looking back on it now, that probably contributed to the headaches.

Sometimes I get very dizzy for what seems like no reason at all. My imunesystem is not quiet what it should be.

I know that when they told me I had this thing I scored an 75. I am not quiet sure what that mean, but they said it was going to take careful planning and a lot of work to be able to have a baby.

Dose this make you tired for no reason. Does the back of your neck hurt when you have your first drink of alchol. I had always wondered why the veins in the back of my neck felt like they were on fire for the first 15 of a drink. Not several drinks usually just one. I don't really like to drink.

I know that this is a lot. I just have so many questions. I just moved to Austin TX and don't have a doctor yet. I have been tested for Lupus, but they said that they would need to do the test again for some reason. I have not been able to go back again yet.

Once again, thank you, I am having a hard time with all of this. I don't want it to be something that rules my life. Thank you.

Summer House