3rd MC. :( How to get tested?

[squizita]

Hi everyone,
I have had 2 MCs in the last 7 months, got pg again... had an ectopic scare thankfully over but now they think it's a blighted ovum. One more scan (in 7 days time) before they give up hope on this pregnancy and I feel so down. 3 is like the number where it's 'recurrent' and the risk of never having kids becomes real.

I am 34 now, so if this one doesn't work I need to get tested soon. We live in West London, so St Mary's would be our local centre and I know it's a VERY good one too. The problem is that our GP is a locum and their admin women are dragon-y and not very good. I've had issues with them messing up EPU bookings, also when I mentioned Queen Charlottes for EPU care a few weeks back at the start of this pg (bearing in mind it is IN OUR AREA) the Dr sighed and said 'well it's very popular there might be a waiting list would you rather have another?" (waiting list for an EPU? Sounds bizarre- 'sorry, please have your bleeding in a week at our convenience...') and basically she fobbed me off. I went to another local one, they are GREAT but it's not the same knowing there is a world class centre 3 or 4 miles away.

I DO NOT WANT this to happen if we need testing - has anyone got tested with a non-pro-active GP? Or even gone private? Any advice?

Thanks

[Kasterborous]

We got referred to St Mary's after six miscarriages (we had tests at our local hospital after three), but after another three we wanted referring again. Our local hospital referred us to St Mary's and we got an appointment in two weeks. Was so worth it. As a result of that appointment our seventh pregnancy ended with our healthy DD being born. I was 38 when I was referred and 39 when I had DD.

You need to be persistent I know it's not easy to do over such an emotive subject but keep at them.

I hope you get seen soon and ultimately have a happy result in time.

[squizita]

Thank you ever so much for this. Just what I needed to hear, we will definitely push for tests.

So glad you got your DD after all that heartache!

[MouseThatRoars]

I can relate to how down you must be feeling. I had a termination for a chromosomal abnormality followed by two miscarriages. Be persistent. I was lucky; I had a good GP who referred me to Guys for genetic testing after 3rd pregnancy loss. They did not find an underlying genetic cause for the miscarriages which helped me believe there was no reason why I couldn't have a normal pregnancy.

While I waited for a successful pregnancy to happen (and it did), I read 'Miscarriage: What Every Woman Needs to Know' by Professor Lesley Regan, who heads the miscarriage clinic at St Mary's. I cannot tell you how much hope this book gave me and I also credit it with keeping me calm throughout my pregnancy with DD, even though I had a threatened miscarriage early on in my pregnancy with her. She is now a beautiful five-year-old. Keep positive and very best of luck.

[MouseThatRoars]

Maybe the Miscarriage Association can help you with referral queries?

www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/support/how-we-can-help/

[olivertheoctopus]

After my 3 recurrent mc's I got tested at the same hosp (Addenbrookes in Cambridge) in the EPU. Didn't show anything up mind you which was kinda a double edged sword tbh. Just unlucky I guess as now have two DS and am pg with DS3 after mc 4 earlier this year. I hope all comes good for you soon, don't give up hope.

[squizita]

Thanks all, again. Your stories give me hope. I understood that tests only sometimes tell us reasons ... And that oliver and mouse you were successful after that process not being conclusive is wonderful news. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

I have emailed the MC Assoc for advice. Hopefully they will advise me on how to make my lousy GP refer me. Otherwise, we have some savings so could perhaps get some tests privately.

[olivertheoctopus]

I should point out that the GP never had anything to do with the referral for testing. The EPU just referred me for the testing as part of dealing with mc3. But we have an EPU here where you can self refer so only ever went via the GP the first time before I realised I could just call them myself.

I did get Lesley Regan's book but tbh, as our tests didn't show anything up, it didn't make me much the wiser. The one thing I would say is that recurrent mc's are very very common and its not until you enter that awful world that you sadly discover how many other people have been affected. Def talk to the MC Assoc as they have lots of good advice to help you cope. Hugs.

[squizita]

Thanks! I have ordered the books but thanks for your kind offer LunaticFringe.

I emailed Ruth at the MA.

Oliver... Ask at my EPU... Good idea, several of their staff have worked at St Mary's and recommend it (its a few miles up the road) so I will try that. Just waiting now. Feel sick, hormonal, but know 90% I'll be given medical management or start to bleed. Sigh.

[Jollyb]

Oh Squiz sorry you're having such a rough time. If this pregnancy doesn't work out just be straight with your GP and ask to be referred to St Mary's. There is no reason why she can't initiate some of the tests either ie bloods tests to exclude diabetes, thyroid and blood clotting disorders. This is what my GP did for me whilst waiting for my referral to come through.

I too had mixed feelings about getting the tests done. I half wanted there to be an easily reversible cause for my MCs and I half wanted to be 'normal'. Well meaning friends made comments like 'well at least they'll find out what's causing your MCs now'. As I expected all the tests came back negative (I didn't go down the NK cell testing route) and my consultant simply said that it will happen, take multivitamins and if I wanted to I could take aspirin until 12 weeks though the evidence for this is conflicting.

I'm now 25 weeks and god knows whether the aspirin made the difference this time. In the end I only took it til 7 weeks as I had a bleed and it seemed counterintuitive to continue.

Will be thinking of you and crossing fingers.

[squizita]

Thanks JollyB. I definitely will aim to be tested I think. Even if it's just a case of 'we don't know wait and see' I will at least have some reassurance that I did what I could.

So glad to hear that aspirin or not, you've got your bump!

[Kasterborous]

It was aspirin that did the trick for us it was what st Mary's said to us to do so we did I took 150 mg from when I found I was pregnant until 36 weeks and it worked was the only thing we did differently they since told us that women over the age of 35 with no other obvious cause for miscarriage can take aspirin. I was a bit cross that they didn't tell us this after the first three but that wasn't at st Mary's.

[squizita]

Yes I've read up on aspirin - I suppose it is worth getting tested at St Marys and not just taking aspirin though because it could be something else - but the test for needing aspirin is a simple blood test so I agree they could have sort that sooner on the NHS!

[squizita]

Oh WouldBeHarrietVane my goodness that sounds such an EXCELLENT plan! Start private and ask for support with NHS... cuz I kid you not, my GP would probably balk and the standard blood tests St Mary's ask the GP to do in advance, I swear she's referred people for injections before let along taking blood. The problem is it's a centre, Drs are variable and she is a locum but their standard policy (I guess to be sympathetic) is female Dr for gynie... ironic!! Maybe I could request the male surgery manager instead?

Unfortunately my locum's attempt at TLC treatment this time backfired severely. Locum Dr asked the (clueless) admin staff to 'book me in the EPU' without clear instructions it was for a referral at 8 weeks (she also flat turned down my request of Queen Charlottes for EPU- my LOCAL maternity - because it was too popular and had a 'wait', 'well it can't be longer than 9 months' I quipped, she looked confused... this is in spite of me previously being offered it and blithely turning it down for my local 'everything' type hosp the 1st time I conceived as it was 5 min from work, with the permanent GP). They - in that bossy Dr receptionist way - insisted that EPUs operate emergency or 12 week only and booked me in at 4 weeks 6 days!! Of course the scan showed nothing which triggered the young Dr at the EPU to create a MASSIVE ectopic scare. I was in and out for a week, the only mercy being when the sac got big enough to see they broke it to me it was a blighted ovum early this time. Next time I am emailing my local maternity service directly and asking them to arrange an 8 week scan and my reasons why.

[squizita]

Thanks. I have actually gone and got an email from St Mary's saying 'yes 3 MCs and local you are eligible', so hopefully printing that will work!

However, what I hope is the local hospital EPU will refer me hospital-to-hospital on Friday. I am sure they would they seem very familiar with it and don't have a RMC clinic themselves (obviously being so close to St Mary's).

[Jollyb]

Hi Squiz.

I hope everything goes ok on Friday. I suspect your local EPU will ask your GP to do the referral (though may be wrong!). This is not because they are bring awkward - it's to do with funding. I work on the other side.

Having said that - I really can't see why your GP wouldn't refer you in. If you are really having such a difficult time with this GP have you thought about changing? When you're dealing with pregnancy and miscarriages it really helps to have a supportive GP.

[squizita]

Unfortunately although we are in London our GPs split their services VERY strictly by postcode. However it is a medical centre with about 4 Drs so I could request a more experienced Doc. I saw an EXCELLENT one with my 1st MC but she only works 3 days a week - mind you the male manager would be perfectly OK... I might just request the Dr I see is permanent and explain why to the receptionist. I bet if I've noticed the lack of clarity so will the receptionists and it's easier for them if the Dr I see knows how to fill in the form right!!