Well today's hurdle is that I can't get my insurance to cover the Lovenox shots. I was just informed by them that it will cost me $2000 every 90 days! That is insane and completely unrealistic! So, now I am trying to figure out alternative options. I get so frustrated at how stressful it all can be sometimes!
Welcome,
I am sorry to hear you are having problems getting insurance to cover the Lovenox now, yes tat is very expensive, but from different members who've had babies w/ mch valves and Coumadin, I think it is very easy for it to be VERY expensive after all is said and done, especially if you have several specialists, or have to spend much time in the hospital before delivery and all the additional testing. Im not saying it isnt worth it, just that it can end up costing much more than people would think.
Maybe this extra time, while you try to get the Lovenox approved, was meant to be, so you can get your ducks all in a row and make sure when you are pregnant, you have made the best plans possible to make it as safe for you and the baby. There are a couple threads here discussing mech valve/coumadin pregnancies and diffferent things to consider so you arent blindsided. For example I BELIEVE while on Lovnox for pregnancy it is very important to not only have a center that can do Factor X testing, but quick results since sometimes you need to have them done twice a day.. Many centers, even larger ones dont have that ability. Well at least that was the case a few years ago when Willow was pregnant (she also had a mechanical Mitral valve) So it would probably be good to findout now if your hospital does them and how much insurance covers.
I know you said your doctors gave you the go ahead, i was wonderring what doctors, and if they have had many other patients not only on Coumadin but more importantly on it for mechanical valves and specifically mechanical mitral valves, which seems to be the toughest, I'm guessing you discussed it with your Cardiologist, I was wonderring if you go to a cardiologists that specializes in Adults with Congenital Heart Defects, if not I think they would probably be the ones with the most experience getting heart/and valve patients thru pregnancy. Has your Cardiologist had other pateints with mechanical Mitral valves or any mechanical valves have successful pregnancy?
I dont know if you searched here for others wanting to get pregannt or being pregnant, but one older member Willow's husband posted alot of info during Willows 2nd pregancy Here is his first thread discussing all the options at that time as well as all the doctors involved in her Care, Just to be upfront, Willow and her baby were doing fine last we heard, but she had alot of problems and needed valve replacement surgery right after the baby was born.
http://www.valvereplacement.org/for...y-w-St-Jude-Mechanical-Valve&highlight=willow sorry they are no longer members so to find his other posts you hsave to search for Willow and threads started by Anthony or Waltsmom (Willow) are about her pregnancy. There are several in between but here is the update ater she had the baby
http://www.valvereplacement.org/for...Willow-s-Pregnancy-after-MVR&highlight=willow
Actually by searching for Willow you can find most of the threads discussing pregnancy since people ( like me) mention her posts since they spent alot of time researching and talking to the best doctors across the Country and shared what they learned, since she had alot of problems with an earlier pregnancy and he Mechanical Mitral valve. Again thatt was 5 years ago, so hopefully things have improved since then.
What kind (brand) mech valve do you have now? I've heard ON-X claim teir valve would be safe (safer?) for pregnancy, but I knw one person here clotted during pregnancy with an On-x valve. I dont know if it was a mitral or Aortic tho.
http://www.valvereplacement.org/for...nd-Valves-Women-Please-Read!&highlight=willow
Sorry if this isnt that upbeat, but since Pregnancy with a Mechanica valve and anticoagulants can be risky for both the Mother and baby, I think it helps to know as much as possible so you can be sure to ask all the right question and get several opinions if necessary. So you can make the best plans possible for you and your baby.
You might want to also check out the forums at the Adults with CHD site
http://www.achaheart.org/ Since most member there had surgery as children, hopefully some have gone thru pregnancy on Coumadin or with mechanical valves and can give some more recent reccomendations.
