Game of life and antifospholipid

​"You can not control the cards you're dealt, just how you play the hand"
- Randy Pausch

It's Friday and we're playing Texas hold´em. Feeling pretty optimistic about the cards I get dealt. Of course I have to stay in this round! The first 3 cards are dealt. Bummer, not even close to the ones I was hoping for. The pot is raised. Hand reaching for more chips, there are still 2 cards left that can turn this game around so I'm not out yet..

The phone call I got before this weekend was a new twisted card. It was the rheumatalogist that called back with test results on the second antiphospholipid test. The test that had to be confirmed after 12 weeks.
Antiphospholipid antibodies are antibodies that react with fats or lipid in the blood and lead to an increased risk of blood clots. There are 3 types of antibodies you test for:
Lupus anticoagulant
Anti-cardiolipin antibody
Beta-2 glycoprotein antibody

About half of those who test positve for these antibodies have blood clotting events. The antibodies can also be found in healthy people, and they estimate that 1-5% of the population have such antibodies. This is why the results must be confirmed twice at 12-week intervals, as it may be a temporary positive. About 40% of those with SLE have such antiphospholipid antibodies, but there is also a separate diagnosis associated with these; Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Antiphospholipid syndrome is often detected in connection with thrombotic events and recurrent miscarriages.

Mentally, I am already prepared that it is unlikely I will get a different result this time. So it's not a big blow when the rheumatologist tells me that the results are pretty much the same, I've tested positive for 2 out of 3 antiphospholipid antibodies. On a positive note, the titers are not that high and I have never had any blood clot events. However, these antibodies means a significantly increased risk of blood clots in risk situations. Pregnancy will be such a risk situation and there will be an increased risk of miscarriage. Therefore, I will probably be put on both acetylsalicylic acid and Fragmin (blood thinner) if I get pregnant.

When I first heard about the antiphospholipid antibodies, I was devastated. Today, as I'm getting the confirmation that the tests are in fact positive,  I just think of it as information. Information means I can actually take precautions in risk situations. Like pregnancy, and flights over 4 hours. It's a tough card to get dealt, but I still have chips and an ace on hand.

 
Sources:
https://www.revmatismesykehuset.no/behandlinger/antifosfolipidsyndrom
https://revmakompendium.pressbooks.com/chapter/antifosfolipid-antistoff-syndrom-apl/
https://nhi.no/symptomer/blod/antifosfolipid-syndrom/
https://sml.snl.no/antifosfolipid-antistoff