"In 2003, after my third miscarriage, I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome, or APS.”
I was referred to a rheumatologist and specialist Obstetrician, who told me I may never have a baby because the disorder causes a lack of blood flow through the umbilical cord. My husband and I refused to give up, and chose to continue trying for a child of our own, going through 2 stillbirths and two further miscarriages. After losing seven babies, we despaired and had almost resigned ourselves to adoption. Then on August 8th, 2009 I discovered I was pregnant again. This is the last time, and this time it will work, I thought to myself.
My new specialist OB said she would try giving me a low molecular weight heparin injection twice a day throughout the pregnancy, to keep the blood thin enough to allow oxygen and nutrients through to the baby. I was only 5 weeks pregnant when I used my first Lovenox injection, and I was to use this drug until 36 weeks, then begin regular heparin injections, as Lovenox can cause permanent paralysis if taken too close to an epidural. Every side effect and danger seemed insignificant to the life growing steadily inside me, and the doctors certainly used my hope against me to keep me taking this dangerous (and expensive!) drug. Twice I was admitted to hospital with severe dehydration caused by an overdose of Lovenox, and I lost 36 lbs. during my pregnancy instead of putting weight on.
However, I was pleased to see the baby growing in all of our scans, and thrilled to find out we were having a boy. Still, we didn't dare hope too much. Only a couple of weeks after finding out we were having a little boy, I met Danny Curtin from Arthur Andrew when he came to my parents' health food store to teach us more about Neprinol. He and his colleague Cable Howard urged me then to try taking this product, but I was so scared of my previous history and hopeful that the Lovenox would work that I disregarded what he said.
When I got to 38 weeks, my doctors decided that it was time to induce labor, as the longer the baby was in my womb, the more likely it was that we would have a stillbirth again. After the chemical induction, nothing happened. Absolutely nothing. We thought it was strange, but trusted the doctors enough at this point to believe them when they explained that the first induction is often unsuccessful. We scheduled another induction for April 6th, 2010. When we arrived, I was already having contractions on my own, so the doctors were hopeful that it would be a very easy and quick labor. After 36 hours, however, we began to worry when the baby’s heart rate started dropping sharply with each contraction. Nothing seemed to make a difference, and my water would not break on its own. When the baby became even more distressed, the doctors decided it was time for an emergency C-section.
I was rushed into the OR, with a terrifying flurry of activity around me, and within 30 minutes, William David Stuart was born. I could hear the two doctors talking about my placenta while closing me up, with one saying he had never seen "such a fibrotic sac" in his career. Never mind, I thought, William is alive and now I can start the healing process. Little did I know! The next morning, my blood work came back normal, with a hemoglobin of 9.8. I felt great, I was even able to eat and walk around a little. Within two hours of waking up, however, my whole life would change.
I started to get out of bed to use the restroom, and was speaking to my husband, when suddenly the world went black. I remember nothing except waking up on the bed again, with several worried nurses standing over me, taking my blood pressure. It had dropped from normal to 78/45. They couldn’t find any internal bleeding when palpating my abdomen, so they just assumed it was "normal" postural hypotension. As the day wore on, things only became worse, with one fainting episode lasting over an hour. I was grey-faced, and getting such terrible cold sweats that I was soaking through my hospital gown and the sheets. My husband and I both knew I was hemorrhaging because of the heparin, but the doctors and hospital were unwilling to admit it. After 24 hours of being forced to stay in bed for fear of blacking out, my next set of blood work came back and my hemoglobin had dropped to 5.5, and the pain had become excruciating. No position I laid in, no painkiller I took would alleviate the agony I was in, and it became so bad before the end of the day that I was delirious.
At this point, the doctors tried to explain everything away by saying that because I was allergic to morphine, I may be allergic to the other pain medications I was taking—that's what was causing my low blood pressure, fainting, and even the pain. How, I asked, would that explain the severe drop in hemoglobin?? No answer. I knew then that I was going to die under their care if I didn't start taking more responsibility, if I didn't step up and take charge. I demanded a CT scan, they offered an ultrasound "because it was Sunday." I firmly and seriously again demanded a CT scan, which they finally arranged after a further 6 hour delay. Thank God I pushed for it, because the scan revealed what I had feared—a major hemorrhage that had leaked blood from every muscle in my abdomen, which then turned into a blood clot the size of a cantaloupe! The doctors told me I had a 50/50 chance, and that I should say my goodbyes before they rushed me in for another emergency surgery, less than 48 hours after my son had been born.
Somehow I made it through, whether it was the 6 units of blood they gave me, my own innate strength, or God watching over me, I don't know. All I know is that when I woke up, I felt great again, the pain was gone, and although much weaker than 24 hours before, I was aware of how lucky I was. Then the nurse came in with a very familiar needle. Lovenox. They were going to start giving me a blood thinner only 12 hours after fixing my internal bleeding! I refused to allow the injection, and the doctor came into my room within the hour to assure me that the drug had nothing to do with my hemorrhage, and that without it I would suffer terrible blood clots that could kill me. A moment of fear overcame me, but then I asked the obvious questions—Why didn't the Lovenox stop a 20cm. blood clot from forming in the first place? How could they deny that a major hemorrhage had been caused by a strong blood thinner?? Nothing they said made sense.
My brother David was desperate to help after seeing how weak I had become. He remembered what Danny at Arthur Andrew had said regarding Neprinol, and was convinced that Neprinol was necessary to save my life. He brought a large bottle from the store and begged me to take it, since I had already decided to ignore the doctors' advice. I took 9 capsules that first dose, and 6 more every 8 hours after that. The first thing I noticed was how little pain I felt for the first time in 2 days. And following a few other doses, I felt able to get out of bed and use the bathroom on my own. I had noticed a dozen golf-ball sized clots forming in other areas of my body, but these started to hurt less, and the bruising around them was becoming diminishing. I wasn't sure whether it was the Neprinol, but I continued taking it anyway, just in case. After a week in hospital, I was finally released, much to the doctors' amazement and confusion. They certainly didn't believe the Neprinol had helped in any way, but couldn't believe I was alive after ditching the Lovenox!
After a few more days, I ran out of Neprinol, and I didn't bother to get another bottle. After all, I was out of the woods and safe. So wrong. Within 24 hours, I had developed several more blood clots, and now had a high fever that made me hallucinate. I was rushed to the Emergency Room, where they thought I was having a stroke. My brother rushed to my aid again, bringing me a bottle of Neprinol, which I opened right in the ER, and hurriedly swallowed another nine. After an hour, my temperature dropped from 104° to 100.1° and the hallucinations stopped. Now I was convinced. Neprinol had not only saved my life after my second surgery, it was STILL keeping me alive!
Since that time, only a couple of weeks ago, I have gone from strength to strength. I've returned to work, even though the doctors said it would be 2 months before I would be able to manage that. I have taken to walking my dog around the park again, much to her joy. And even more importantly, I have been able to lift my son in my arms, raise him to my lips and kiss him, breathe in his scent and take in his face, and witness every amazing moment of his short life. I have been able to be his mom in every normal little way, and I do not take that for granted. I know the only reason I am here today is because Neprinol saved my life. I thank you, my husband thanks you, and my newborn son thanks you."