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MSK and Pregnancy
I have just found out that I am pregnant. I have had MSK since I was in the third grade. I am worried that it will cause my pregnancy to be difficult with it. I have always been afraid of having children because of it is unfamiliar to me. Ive also been told if I can deal with a stone with out pain meds labor will be a breeze. Is that true? Will this also hurt my baby?
I am soo sorry, really haven't wondered off the MSK site much since the daily updates have not been coming to my e-mail addy, hopefully that is corrected now!
I would first of all really encourage you to repost this question on our MSK Support group on this site:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Medullary-Sponge-Kidney-Disease-MSK-/show/256
That said we all have MSK throughout our lives since it is a birth defect basically that we are born with. I have had 5 healthy children only one of which has ever had a stone to this point and my kids range in age from 27-15. The oldest of which is the only one who had a stone.
That said I did struggle with chronic UTI's in my pregnancies, but my MSK was only actually diagnosed in 03. So no one knew what was going on nor how to prevent problems.
The big question is how much problem has the MSK caused already in your life. 90% of people with MSK are said to be basically problem free, but for those of us who struggle with constant stones and infection, which they say is only 10% it can create difficult issues to deal with. Keeping in mind I am not a doctor but an MSK patient who has had to learn myself, I can only share my personal experience and you need to discuss all of this with your doctor. My goal is only to provide help, info and tools to enable you and your doctor to set up the best plan for you and hopefully your baby.
1. Since most are said to not have problems my theory is that those of us who do also have some metabolic issues that combined with the MSK create the problems. These often don't show on a simple 24 hour UA because we have learned how and what not to eat just in daily life. The only test that revield my issues was done at a University as part of a study. Here they had me come in fasting and took blood and urine samples. I was then given a high dose of calcium to see how my body would react to it. Here we learned that my body does not process calcium right and therefore, esp, when I am pregnant and on prenatals, drinking milk etc. all the calcium went into my urine and only a little in my blood. Giving me my large stones with each baby and lots of calcifcications. The next thing we learned is that I have very low Vit. D, which we are also finding as a common thread amoung MSKer's. Vit in D in the right amounts helps the body to absorb calcium, in too high levels it can increase stones.
So, the first thing I would recommend is a 24hour and test as I mentioned above, along with a test of your vit D levels. This enables you to prevent problems.
2. Since we know that MSKer's are more prone to infection because the inner collecting ducts do not drain properly, you also need to take preventative steps to avoid infection. There are many things that can help with this that are natural first. Many find cranberry helpful since it keeps the bacteria from attaching in the urinary tract. For those of us with bladder issues or high oxalate, taking D-Mannose does the same thing without the acidty or
oxalates. I personally have to live on a product called Silverbiotics from America Biotech labs. It is natural silver different from typical collidal silvers, and much safer. There have been no know side effects from taking this and I have pesronally done so for over 5 years every day. The other options is for the doctor to give you a low dose antibiotic to prevent infections that you would take throughout the pregnancy and increase if you have intercourse.
3. If you get an infection, it is very important to treat it completely and aggressively since bacteria can often linger in our bodies. Once "gone", you still may need to remain on a low dose antibiotic. A low dose antibiotics is actually recommended in the FDA paper on MSK as well. Then if you are on antibiotics make sure you are taking a good probiotic to prevent
yeast infections as well. The silverbiotics also helps treat yeast infections but orally and vaginally. They also have a silverbiotics gel that can help significantly and can be used as
a lubricant during intercours as well to prevent infection.
I hope this gives you some info to help you make your decision. I am so thankful I have each of my children, and know this has to be a difficult decision for you. Please feel free to pm me with questions and I hope you will check out our MSK support board as well. Just do not let it scare you either. Keep in mind that the worst patients tend to seek out help and connect,,,
when your not having symptoms your not online talking about it, your living life!
Shelly
I would first of all really encourage you to repost this question on our MSK Support group on this site:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Medullary-Sponge-Kidney-Disease-MSK-/show/256
That said we all have MSK throughout our lives since it is a birth defect basically that we are born with. I have had 5 healthy children only one of which has ever had a stone to this point and my kids range in age from 27-15. The oldest of which is the only one who had a stone.
That said I did struggle with chronic UTI's in my pregnancies, but my MSK was only actually diagnosed in 03. So no one knew what was going on nor how to prevent problems.
The big question is how much problem has the MSK caused already in your life. 90% of people with MSK are said to be basically problem free, but for those of us who struggle with constant stones and infection, which they say is only 10% it can create difficult issues to deal with. Keeping in mind I am not a doctor but an MSK patient who has had to learn myself, I can only share my personal experience and you need to discuss all of this with your doctor. My goal is only to provide help, info and tools to enable you and your doctor to set up the best plan for you and hopefully your baby.
1. Since most are said to not have problems my theory is that those of us who do also have some metabolic issues that combined with the MSK create the problems. These often don't show on a simple 24 hour UA because we have learned how and what not to eat just in daily life. The only test that revield my issues was done at a University as part of a study. Here they had me come in fasting and took blood and urine samples. I was then given a high dose of calcium to see how my body would react to it. Here we learned that my body does not process calcium right and therefore, esp, when I am pregnant and on prenatals, drinking milk etc. all the calcium went into my urine and only a little in my blood. Giving me my large stones with each baby and lots of calcifcications. The next thing we learned is that I have very low Vit. D, which we are also finding as a common thread amoung MSKer's. Vit in D in the right amounts helps the body to absorb calcium, in too high levels it can increase stones.
So, the first thing I would recommend is a 24hour and test as I mentioned above, along with a test of your vit D levels. This enables you to prevent problems.
2. Since we know that MSKer's are more prone to infection because the inner collecting ducts do not drain properly, you also need to take preventative steps to avoid infection. There are many things that can help with this that are natural first. Many find cranberry helpful since it keeps the bacteria from attaching in the urinary tract. For those of us with bladder issues or high oxalate, taking D-Mannose does the same thing without the acidty or
oxalates. I personally have to live on a product called Silverbiotics from America Biotech labs. It is natural silver different from typical collidal silvers, and much safer. There have been no know side effects from taking this and I have pesronally done so for over 5 years every day. The other options is for the doctor to give you a low dose antibiotic to prevent infections that you would take throughout the pregnancy and increase if you have intercourse.
3. If you get an infection, it is very important to treat it completely and aggressively since bacteria can often linger in our bodies. Once "gone", you still may need to remain on a low dose antibiotic. A low dose antibiotics is actually recommended in the FDA paper on MSK as well. Then if you are on antibiotics make sure you are taking a good probiotic to prevent
yeast infections as well. The silverbiotics also helps treat yeast infections but orally and vaginally. They also have a silverbiotics gel that can help significantly and can be used as
a lubricant during intercours as well to prevent infection.
I hope this gives you some info to help you make your decision. I am so thankful I have each of my children, and know this has to be a difficult decision for you. Please feel free to pm me with questions and I hope you will check out our MSK support board as well. Just do not let it scare you either. Keep in mind that the worst patients tend to seek out help and connect,,,
when your not having symptoms your not online talking about it, your living life!
Shelly
Shelly... Where AAARRRRRRE you?!?
Just kicking this back up to the top of the page where Shelly can see it.
As I said yesterday, she's our resident MSK expert.
Just kicking this back up to the top of the page where Shelly can see it.
As I said yesterday, she's our resident MSK expert.
I'm sure Shelly will be along soon to talk to you about this. She's the resident expert on all things MSK-related!
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