Surviving LUPUS

Despite the warning of my rheumatologist about getting pregnant, in Oct of 2005, after doing a pregnancy test at home, the kit reads two lines…POSITIVE. I was so happy but there was a bit of apprehension. The warning of my rheuma kept on ringing into my mind.

Actually his warning does not concern me having LUPUS. He is concern of the effects of COUMADIN to my unborn. COUMADIN/WARFARIN cannot be taken when you are pregnant because it will cause abnormalities to the child in your womb. He wanted me to be coumadin free for six months before even thinking of conceiving. And because of the nature of COUMADIN, I needed to switch to HEPARIN during pregnancy.

When I told my rheuma I was pregnant, his first question to me is ‘WILL YOU CONTINUE THE PREGNANCY?’. Without blinking an eye and full of confidence, I said YES. Which he answered ‘GOOD, I won’t agree with you if you say NO!’. Now asked your OBGYNE to perform TVS so that we can check if your child is affected by COUMADIN.

The TVS was performed. While the ultrasound is being done I was praying fervently. Asking GOD for a healthy baby. And GOD is really GOOD. There are no traces whatsoever. My BABY is NORMAL. But, that was not that end of it. In fact, it was just a start.

My rheuma told me that it was time to take HEPARIN. The medicine is expensive. It cost Php 900 and to be injected everday. I asked my rheuma if I cannot take the med, he told me I cannot but its too risky. Hubby and I are leaning on our faith and we told him will take the risk. He agree but he told me that we would be constantly monitoring my blood and any sign of danger we will have to inject.

Through the course of pregnancy, hubby and I prayed everyday. On the first trimester, we went to a healing mass by Fr. Joey Faller. Many might raise an eyebrow about this but I believed my pregnancy was blessed by God through him. Also, I have the best team in town. My OB GYNE was a good natured woman who make it a point to discuss my condition to my rheuma. They team up for ME! Actually it was my rheuma who told me about her. She was not my first OBGYNE. But i was not confident with my first so I decided to scout. And GOD was really with us along the way because when we were scouting we bump into my rheuma and he gave me a list of OBGYNE he knows who are familiar with LUPUS.

Every month, I have my ultrasound. At the home stretch the ultrasound and lab test became weekly. Which was a good thing because my pre eclampsia was detected on the first sign. When my rheuma and OBGYNE detected it I was instructed to be admitted already on the delivery room. I gave birth via CS.

My baby never had experienced NEO NATAL LUPUS although at the first day, the CARDIOLOGIST told me that my baby had a heart block. I was broken hearted and again I prayed. The next day, the CARDIO came to my hospital room apologetic. Her findings about the ECG was wrong. MY BABY is NORMAL. GOD is really GOOD!

Today, my little girl is two years old. And here I am writing about my LUPUS experiences with a smile. I cannot believed that I have surpass all those. LUPUS is still with me but with the help of my trusted RHEUMA we are trying to control it. And with GOD on our side, I know we will have a long way to go.

lupiemom and d blessed princess

Tags: hope despite of lupus

This entry was posted on Friday, August 1st, 2008 at 9:29 am and is filed under lupus and pregnancy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.