Messy Blood

My phone vibrates and the text message reads, "Just got off the phone with Austin Fertility Institue and my blood work is somewhat a mess."

Brittany and I have been waiting to hear the results of her blood work for several reasons.  First, knowing her blood type and if she is CMV positive or negative will help narrow down the candidates for donors.  Second, with Brittany having Hashimoto's the thyroid numbers are important to look at.

So when she said her blood work was a mess, I was assuming she was talking about the thyroid numbers and I was right.  We both figured Brittany's Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) would be high because she has not been on medication and has not been strict on her diet, but I don't think we expected it to be as high as it was.  The TSH number is important, because if it is above 2.5 then the risk of miscarriage increases and the possiblity of intellectual retardation increases.  Brittany's TSH came in at a 5.2.  This will be addressed with meds and diet.  Another concern was revealed through the test, Brittany has a high A1C level.  Dr. Crawford told her she is not diabetic, but in the pre-diabetic range and will need to take meds to regulate this and will need to cut sweets and carbs from the diet.

These results mean we will have to wait to start trying to get pregnant for at least 4 to 6 weeks.  Like I said, it is important to get the TSH numbers down and to regulate the A1C levels.  Brittany has already started the medications and there will be new blood work in about 4 weeks and hope the numbers come back lower and we can be ready to move forward in June.

Looking at the positive side of the setback, this gives us more time for the extreme vetting of possible donors.  From the testing, we know we can go with a donor that has any blood type and needs to be CMV -.  It is time to get serious about the vetting!