Monday Blues

I'm one of the many who's greatly affected by the so called "Monday Blues".  And my husband has scheduled our acupuncture sessions every Monday morning.  Another thing is,  I just can't understand why all our doctor's appointment is in the morning when it's too dreadful to wake up and drag myself in the bathroom.

 I guess there is nothing much that I can do...

Here's what has happened to our session:

Still Sis. Regina told me that my body is cold.  I know why it's happening because I haven't stop my desire for anything that's cold especially now that the weather is too hot and humid that cold water is a MUST!  Yes, blame it on the weather!

Here's my list of Do's and Dont's.

Sleep early
Exercise more (don't use the brain too much)
Eat right (drink a lot of soup)
Drink Ginger Tea (No Prescription Teas for now.  She said she won't interfere more to this stimulated cycle)
Always wear socks

Anything cold

Caffeinated drinks (coffee and soda)

Cold fruits (melon, watermelon and the likes)

Playing games on phone, IPad and the likes

I hope I can be more obedient.  I hope I'd be able to follow the do's and just cease the dont's.

Btw, tomorrow's my follow up at KATO and my LAT re-test.  Got to start early again.  For now I'd sleep and thank the Lord and pray that tomorrow's gonna be better!

 

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LIT FOR LAT

This infertility has been staying for so long in my system I just can't wait to kick it out.  It was a few years back that my friend already warned me - "you may want to see an immunologist".  She had APAS and so on.  I have PCOS.  I told her that it might not be possible for me to have 2 dreadful diseases.  I stand by what I believe in I have PCOS and that's it.  I'll get pregnant in time.

I let the years pass by.  I enjoyed life to the fullest.  Then I noticed that "the time" that I/We've been waiting for was still nowhere in site.

We started the fertility work ups and still failed all attempts to get my baby bump.

Then here's the wake up call.  I can't be just PCOS and don't get pregnant.  I have a friend who has the same but got pregnant without medical intervention.

I told my husband I got to do all the immunological tests and see an immunologist.  ASAP.

Voila! As I suspected I got a negative LAT score.  I need LIT.

What is LAT?

Leukocyte Antibody Test (LAT) or Leukocyte Antibody Detection (LAD) in the US. It is an antibody wherein the woman's body creates an envelop of protection for the fetus to prevent the immune system from attacking it. Also as according to Infertility Philippines -

"The problem is when the woman shares the same antibodies with her partner; in other words the couple’s DNA is too similar.  Normally the father’s DNA in the embryo tells the mother’s body to set up a protective reaction around the baby.  But when this blocking effect does not happen, the baby is rejected."  

For more details you may check on this link.

And the treatment for this culprit is Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy (LIT)

I had mine done at MEL.  In the morning, 12 vials of blood will be extracted from the donor (my husband's my donor until the 3rd session).  Then we went back at around 1pm for the procedure.  Out of 12 vials.  3 small vials of white cells were extracted.

I've got high pain tolerance but this one's just different.

I hate the prick and the push of the white cells into my skin.  Dr. A told me that my husband's end product has a good quality.  A bandage will be wrapped around the area and should not be removed for 48 hours.  (Dr. A said that the area should remain dry and must not be exposed to sunlight).

here's what happened after I removed the bandage after 2 days

I've compiled the photos that day.  

  

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Is it worth it?

Indeed Dr. O is a very expensive physician.  But in fairness to him he will give you a brief explanation of the immune conditions their treatments, but to sum it all he only believes in IVIG and not LIT. "IVIG supercedes all treatments." 

 And if anyone would ask how much does IVIG costs per session? it can range from 168k-196k (the amount will differ according to your weight, so it can either go up or down a little), he also doesn't use medicines outside (meaning he utilizes the medicines that are available in his office and at St. Luke's no more no less) and to top it all he said it's a minimum of 3 sessions. 

My husband and I went out of the clinic in awe.  First, the cost of IVIG, then with the list of tests that he wanted us to check. 

Curious to know what they are?  

Here's the list and the cost:

SLGC PATHOLOGY

While my husband is seated at the Pathology Center.  I phoned Tita Au of MEL.  She told me to drop by even if it is later than 5pm so she could see the tests.  After getting the total costs I was about to do Repro Immuno Panel 2 when I got the strange feeling of why should I be doing this when Dr. O said that IVIG supersedes all treatments even to LAT (which traditionally, is being treated with LIT - Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy).  Told the lady that I'll be back to take the tests.  

And so we went to MEL.  It's the second time meeting Tita Au.  But she's very nice and accommodating as ever.  I'm just happy to be able to talk to someone who'd be able to understand me/us with my/our situation.  This is not easy for me since all this time all I know is that I have PCOS and it's all I got.  But, that's what I know.  What I don't know before is that I have immunity problems and it may not be impossible to treat but the tedious of all.  

Tomorrow I shall see another doctor.  I hope she can give us a better game plan. 

This is all for now

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Immunological Testing Results

Here are the results of my immunological testing which was done at MEL last week.  Results were sent through email.  From the looks of it, I'm okay with Anti sperm antibodies and ANA.  I fail LAT and I'm not so sure about my NK test result.

ANTI NUCLEAR ANTIBODY 

ANTISPERM ANTIBODY

LEUKOCYTE ANTIBODY TEST

NK TEST RESULT

We'll see Dr. Ortigas this coming Thursday.  Here's his schedule SLGC - RAI Center - 2nd floor, Tuesdays and Thursdays 2-5pm, Saturdays 11am-2pm.

This is it for now.  Will post updates after our consultation with the immunologist.

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Immunological Testing

It's official.  Our R&R has now officially ended.  We are pushing through with our game plan.  Complete the immunological testing and then if everything is all well we're going to see a new doctor.  And if not we are seeing Dr. Alejandro Ortigas - a repro immuno doctor from SLGC. Heard a lot of good reviews about him so we'll see.









We started early today.  Had my immunological testing done at The Manila Endocrine Laboratory.

10 cc of blood for all 4 tests

And did the following test today:

1. LAT - Leukocyte Antibody Test
2. ANA - Antinuclear Antibody Test
3. Anti-sperm Antibodies
4. Elevated Natural Killer Cell

and yes he's also doing his part.
His blood is also needed for the anti-sperm antibodies.

No preparation is needed just go there and tell Ate Au what are the tests that you need (I've got no request since I'm doing this voluntarily but if you have one then you may show it).  Results will be emailed a day after you came in for the tests (except for NK which usually takes 3 days - and has a cut off day of Thursday)

Our bloody morning.

MEL does not accept card payments.  So better call first for the cost of the test that you need.  We spent a total of Php 18300.00 for all 4 test.  

breakdown of total cost.

This is it for now.  

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