Waiting for appt at infertility clinic, after recurrent miscarriage, v anxious x

[Kitty99]

Hi,

First time on here but just need some help to put my racing mind at rest please!....

Have had 3 mc since last June and have 1st appt in Sept, just wondered if anyone can tell me what to expect?! Do I get any definate answers then? apparantely only a 15 min appointment approx????

Thanks so much to anyone that can reply to me, really appreciate it xxx

[mumandlovingit]

no knowledge im afraid but didn't want you to be unanswered.good luck at the clinic. im sure everything will work out fine. xx

[Dozer]

Sorry for your losses. It's hard waiting for appointments.

I have also have 3 mc, since last September, and have been seen at my local NHS clinic and privately.

It'd be worth phoning up the hospital to ask what tests they will do and what to expect at your appointment. There seems to be a lot of variation between hospitals. In some areas, you may have a choice about where to go and it'd be worth some investigation as some clinics specialise in recurrent miscarriage.

I had to bring my partner to mine as he needed a blood test (they test both partners for genetic abnormalities), but the letter had not mentioned this and if I hadn't called in advance we would have missed the opportunity to have them done. It took several calls to get through to the right place, and perseverance, but was worth it for us.

I understand that some hospitals ask lots of questions about the losses, which can be upsetting. I did some notes which I handed to the doctor, which saved me having to do this.

At my appointment they did a vaginal scan to check my ovaries, and took blood for testing for lots of things. They said that there would be no follow up appointment unless any of the tests were negative. Some come back quickly, but the genetic ones take up to eight weeks as they have to do something special with them.

I also booked a private appointment as there was a test I wanted to have that the NHS doctor wouldn't do. I've also had a few more bloods done there and am waiting for the other tests.

[Kitty99]

Thanks so much for your quick replies x

Hi Dozer,

Sorry to hear about your loses too, mine were at 5 wks, 10 and then 8 the last one at the beginning of this month happened the day after Id had a scan and saw the heartbeat, id been having browny which is what happened the last time so asked for a scan... the 1st at 5wks I honestly wish I hadnt done the test the first day i was late but i did! anyway sorry to go on its just so nice to have someone else who has been through this to talk too hope you dont mind? x
I have had blood test already and at scan she looked at my ovaries and said they were fine, i just have sooo many questions I know you wont be able to answer, they said to me when I lost the last 'you know you can conceive you are half way there' but it kind of feels more frustrating than if i couldnt actually conceive!!!

Bet you cant wait to get results back and start trying again!!!

Thanks so much xx

[squilly]

So sorry for your losses. I had 3 mcs before I entered my local fertility clinic. It's a long process, but it's totally worth it. I got pg with dd after a few months of investigations and a course of Clomid.

I was so pleased to take the tests as I thought it would give me answers. As it happens, it didn't! Having said that, they ruled out the obvious problems and they helped me to have my daughter.

I hope you have the same success after your investigations. Good luck with the tests. They're not easy, but it's well worth it.

[OracleInaCoracle]

Hi kitty, I know how stressful it is, I have had 9 mc's (including cp's) and and ep and have found the whole process very difficult. do you have any dc's? what tests have you already had done? tbh initially they will do a lot of blood tests the depending on which hospital it is they will take it from there. I took in a list of questions to ask, it really helped me to remember and focus.

[ZippysMum]

Hi Kitty,
I'm another one who's been through this and just wanted to add my support and sympathy.

At our hospital they tested for lupus and AHA (to do with blood clotting factors, I think) and then also tested DH and my chromosomes for abnormalities. Nothing came up as abnormal for those tests but I had additional more detailed testing done privately (after 5 pg losses, all before 12 weeks) and those tests did identify the problem.

Hope it all goes well for you.

[Kitty99]

Hey,

Sorry im not sure about the lingo on here yet! Lissielou sorry to hear about your losses too hun x not sure what dc's are???

I have had blood test for blood clotting, i think for somethign else but not sure what, and Rubella and Chlamidya...

Zippysmum - Thanks for writing, sorry about your losses too xx I might go private after ive done the NHS route what other tests do they do that the NHS dont?

[ZippysMum]

Hi Kitty,
DC's are dear/darling children (took me a while too ).

I had the 'Chicago tests' for immune issues. They're called that because the lab where they do them is over in the States. I recommend a read of the book 'is your body baby friendly' by Dr Alan Beer if you are thinking of going for the testing. The tests can be expensive and the book will give you an idea of whether immune issues are likely to be an issue for you or not before you spend the money.
I went to Dr Amin Gorgy in Wimpole Street, London. He is ace.

The NHS is just starting to come on board with some of the treatments for recurrent m/c that private clinics have been offering for a while - for eg my local NHS clinic has just started giving steroids for the time around implantation.

Also, if you haven't come across it, baby aspirin (75mg per day) seems to have worked miracles for some ladies who have had several m/cs. Might be worth a shot if you are still ttc while waiting for appointments.

[Kitty99]

Hi,

I wondered if any of you while waiting for your appointments carried on trying? is this ok? Or do they need to see you in your 'not pregnant' state so to speak??

Thanks xx

[tom57]

Having just had third m/c we've been told to wait six weeks for preg hormones to subside so they can do accurate tests ,however we won't stop ttc but have been told start baby asprin if we do so.

[Kitty99]

Hi Tom 57,

Been a while since i last wrote, had appt at clinic didnt really tell me much as the blood tests my doctor told me to get done were the wrong ones! so now going this Friday to get them done, i was told anything about the baby aspirin thing is it safe just to start taking it then anyway if you dont know you have a clotting disorder?

Thanks v much xxx

[Asklaw]

Hi - I have had 5 miscarriages. One was an ectopic. Nobody could really help me for years. The NHS wouldn't send me to the clinic for recurrent miscarriage until I had had 3 - and the Ectopic didnt count! However, by my 4th miscarriage I was 40 and NHS said I was too old now for any treatment. I took myself off to a private doctor and scrapped together the £100 fee. He told me immediately that if I managed to get pregnant next time he would put me on low dose Aspirin and Clexane injections to thin my blood. All my miscarriages were within first 10 weeks, I even had two with a heartbeat. You should definitely look into the blood thinning therapies and ask about aspirin at your appointment. Don't be put off. I now have a 6 month old son and I am 42 years old with a very bad fertility and gyne history. Let me know you want any more info on the blood thinning treatment. Dont be too down hearted. xxx