Looking for a Green Thumb

Who can successfully implant a nice embryo on me? 

From Jan-Feb 2014, four people referred me to one OBGYNE. It was a coincidence or what? Because of this, she earned a secret nickname: My Fairy Godmother. Who knows maybe My Fairy Godmother has green thumb. 

My Fairy Godmother is an ivf specialist / reproductive endocrinologist.

Autoimmune disease and infertility

HLA-B27 is hereditary. Ergo, I can have children. I seldom got eye inflammation. (I got seven episodes of uveitis so far: year 2000, 2001, 2006, 2006, 2011, 2011 and 2013.  I never consulted my rheumatologist for 12 years already. I feel that I am perfectly fine.

I never told my OBGYNE1 that I have autoimmune disorder. First failed IUI (June 2013), my husband’s sperm were moving like maggots. Second failed IUI (Oct 2013), I blamed travelling to Cavite City on bumpy road as the culprit. Third failed IUI (Jan 2014), who or what shall I blame?  

My OBGYNE1 sighed while she was writing my prescription for the fourth IUI. She asked why my three IUIs failed? I felt my world stopped spinning. I felt our eye contact was so intense. It seems that she was seriously waiting for my answer. I thought IUI has 20% success chance.  I tried to break our eye contact, I looked at my shoes and replied: I guess my immune system is the culprit.  I paused and look at her again. I told her I had tested my blood for HLA-B27 gene more than a decade ago. I suffered recurrent uveitis. I told her I missed the fertility work-up in Nov 2013 because I had uveitis. 

Then, she replied: no IUI and IVF shall succeed if I have immunologic problem. Then, she crossed out GonalF in the prescription and requested LAD (leukocyte antibody detection), anti-lupus coagulant and anti-cardiolipin antibody be tested. Based on her reaction, I felt “HLA” was a bad word for that day.

I used Letrozole only, and I never used GonalF before, hope it will work next time. I felt like I was deprived of chance. On the other side, I felt I had a new lead- immunology.

Lately, I just learned that people with many allergies and autoimmune disease has higher risk of infertility.

OBGYNE1 is a reputable reproductive endocrinologist in Manila.

My Fear- autoimmune disorder of pregnancy

Few years ago, I met my ophthalmologist in a wedding reception. We had a little chit chat. My fiancé was curious about our conversation. On our way back home, I spelled U-V-E-I-T-I-S! Uveitis! I told him I have just visited my ophthalmologist 3 days ago. My fiancé replied: Why don’t I just use Eye-mo? I used oral steroid and steroid eye drops.

It was quite a challenge to explain autoimmune disease to him. He never heard of any autoimmune disease: psoriasis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and the like. Then, I thought of my cousin-in-law who had a miscarriage. She had antiphospholipid antibody attacking her blood, causing it to clot. She has natural killer cells were responsible for attacking her fetus. I am not certain of the nk cell thing.

My fiancé asked whether my natural killer was responsible for my uveitis? Ai... I knew nothing about immunology. I believe lightning never strikes the same place twice. My fingers are crossed, who knows… I may also have autoimmune disorder of pregnancy- my worst fear. I am the unluckiest person in this world, if that happens.

My truth

I had uveitis, inflammation of the eye. The first attack was 14 years ago. I was 24 years old back then. If it is not infectious in nature, then what is the cause? Is it caused by allergy? I had another bout of uveitis the following year. That prompted me to check if I have the HLA-B27 gene.

HLA-B27 is an inflammatory marker and it is strongly correlated to uveitis and ankylosing spondylitis. My immune system was attacking my eyes and joints. It thought my eyes and joints were foreign bodies. This is the reason why I suffer from recurrent butt pain back and uveitis. Sad to say, there is no breakthrough cure for autoimmune disease.