7 miscariages now pregnant 4.5 weeks scared to death

[CJG3]

Hello all you ladies with similar problems

I am new to this forum but certainly not new to unexplained infertility followed by 7 miscarriages in 3 years. I am now pregnant 4.5 weeks and after extensive immune testing after #7 misc. found out that my NK cells are elevated at 17.5. Is 17.5 NK elevation really that high? Dr. thinks I should do IVIg. Would love to but my BCBS insurance won't pay for tx. The minute they hear pregnancy they think infertility and the answer is NO. Can't afford treatment out of pocket. I am on Prednisone 30 MG/day, 20ML progest in oil and Prochieve 8% gel.(can't take promitium I had a nearly deadly allergy to peanuts few weeks ago was in ER unable to breathe)
Do any of you ladies have an idea if there is a cheaper alternative to IVIg? Can I maybe go without it IVIg? I have a 5 year grl.old that was conceived naturally and had no problems through preg. except low progest.
I am now scared that will lose this one too,but I can't afford the astronomical price of IVIg. Also is there another reason BCBS will cover IVIg immune system deficiencies? Are NK cells elevations considered immune system deficiencies?
I am all new to the NK problem. Any ideas will help.
Thank you so much!
CJ

[Virga]

Congratulations on your pregnancy. I bet you are scared. I've been through 5 losses myself. There are other reasons IVIg will be covered, ask your doctor. A friend was able to get IVIg covered by appealing to her insurance company citing research and including a letter from her doctor.

I'm sure our mod here has some better words of wisdom. =)


Hang in there! My fingers are crossed for you.

[CJG3]

Thanks so much for your kind words.
I try not to think of the worst that can happen..It sounds bad, but i am already used to it even thought it still hurts.
I am taking Prednisone 30 MG/day. Hope it will help.

CJ

[Tabithalyn]

Cj,
congrat on the new prg.

I am sorry that I actually DON'T have words of wisdom for the insurance as I'm in Canada but I do know that other girls ask their docs to set out letters to the Ins. Co. quoting/citing AUTO-IMMUNE DISORDER and leave out any reference to prg./fertility and that is how they can get it covered. Considering the peanut reaction / allergy coding and such the doc s/d be able to put in some codes that link directly to an immune and auto-immune reactivity - that is my best info. considering we have provincial health care structures here in Canada and I don't deal with ins. co.

Also, there is an alternative to high NK's - the prednisone is a GREAT start especially if you've never had any treatments before while prg. and in the m/c's you've had to suffer ... Some women only need /use prednisone and wean off in 2nd trimester and are fine. Also, daily fish oil (have to search for dosage levels/ some girls take up to like 6 capsules of 1000 mg daily I think)... is also proven to help with lowering NK levels.

And if you do find a way to get the IVIg as added reassurance it may only be required a couple of times until safely into 2nd trimester - in many women the NK levels resolve quite nicely as the prg. progresses, but again, the prednisone may do the trick on its own.

You could also ask your doc about intralipid treatments as an IVIg substitute and costs...
regards and best of luck!
Ally

[Danielle_PT]

If you join the immunology support group on yahoo, there are files that have tips on how to deal with insrance companies with respect to IVIg.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/immunologysupport/

Best of Luck to you!!!

[Pecan]

Hi, Congratulations on your pregnancy! I know this must be a very frightening time for you. 17. 5 is not that bad as the late Dr. Beer wanted those numbers to optimally be at 15%. I was able to get my ivig covered through insurance by never mentioning IF --- my ob used a generic autoimmune code 279.4 and that worked.

The other ladies have given you great advice to possible IVIG alernatives.

Take care and all the best,
Pecan

[Tanya T.]

CJ
Congrats on your pg. I know it's terrifying... I have been there too (so have most women here on the immune board)... I am not an expert on NK issues, but your NK level isn't really that high...

I would certainly start immediately on Fish oil... I believe it's 5000 to 6000mg a day... I am not saying it's going to solve the issues, but it does help... The prednisone is fantastic & I'm glad to hear that you are taking that...

I hope that you can get your dr to code things properly & quickly to get the IVIg though...

Also - are you taking daily aspirin (81mg)??? If not, I suggest you start that too...

And just to be on the safe side, I would have your Doctor test you for aPL issues now that you are pg... A lot of the aPL's (specifically aCL - anticardiolipin antibodies) will not show positive until you are already pg... Many times doctors themselves are not even aware of this fact... And in many of the cases of NK activity, the person is also dealing with clotting issues (aPL)... I'm not saying that you are dealing with it, but if I were in your position, I would be insisting on getting tested at least for aCL right now... Because if you are dealing with that too - it would most likely show now that you're pg. If you test positive, you will need to go on heparin or lovenox to control that too...

I hope that you are able to enjoy this pg for the full term & that you get your little miracle baby this time... Thoughts & prayers are with you...

Hugs