Recurrent miscarriage investigations

[Maurice76]

Hi all, I’m hoping you guys have some experience in this department, because I’m feeling seriously low right now 😕

We started TTC this time last year, got pregnant straight away, but at 9 weeks I was rushed into hospital with a corneal ectopic. Right tube removed entirely and a fair few stitches in uterus. Had to wait until Sept to try again. Again got pregnant immediately, but lost it at about 5/6 weeks. Tried again, fell pregnant again, but lost again at 5/6 weeks.

I’ve always been super healthy, don’t smoke, don’t drink that often and have never been overweight. But I am 36.

Now that I’ve had 3 losses, my GP said she’ll refer me for scans and blood tests, but because of the COVID backlog and Christmas etc, I’m not likely to be seen until late Jan/early February. I’ve booked to see a private consultant on Thursday instead now, as I just need to get the ball rolling.

Had anyone got any positive stories about a pregnancy going full term after losses like mine? Any experiences of investigations into losses?

Everything I read and consultants I’ve spoken to say that it’s really rare to have (a) a corneal ectopic, and (b) three miscarriages in a year.

I think I just need reassurance that it’s all going to be OK... I’m trying to be upbeat because I’m lucky enough to be seeing my family for the first time in two years this week, but inside I’m breaking.

Hi. I got pregnant with twins and miscarried them today at 13 weeks. This is my third miscarriage. I am defeated

@Hopingforarainbow27 Was just reading through this thread and recognised you from other threads, we were in the pregnancy after miscarriage thread together. I'm so sorry to hear you have miscarried again ❤️ I hope the EPU are looking after you and you have a great support network

I'm very sorry to hear about your twine @Hopingforarainbow27 ❤️ I've had 6 losses now and it's completely heartbreaking.
Are you having your twins tested? We tested my 4th and he was a healthy boy, so I went to see Dr Shehata who is a reproductive immunologist. He diagnosed me with overactive nk cells (overactive immune system which attacked the baby - I've had 4 MMCs and 2 chemicals). But once I started treatment I couldn't conceive. We did ivf on the immune protocol but I've had 2 more losses. I'm trying a trial drug called sitagliptin now to regenerate my uterine stem cells.

It's not an easy path to travel, especially if you're not getting support. I found the nhs very lacking in understanding and knowledge on recurrent losses. Particularly as I am losing healthy babies (my recent 6th baby was a healthy girl).

Sending lots of love xx

I am so sorry you've experienced so much pain. I'm seeing a Chinese herbalist so she said to take 4-5 months of herbs before I try again but I can't imagine trying again.

@VenusStarr

@Hopingforarainbow27 thank you ❤️ it's been 4 months since my last loss and I'm only just thinking about when we try again. We wanted to wait for our baby's results to be come back. But although I'm allowing myself to think about trying again, my anxiety is increasing. It's very scary. Especially putting your trust in a treatment plan and not knowing if it will work (or in my case, it didn't work, so having to try a new approach) xx

@VenusStarr what approach are you trying this time?
It's so so hard. I don't even know if I will try again or not. Just feel like it'll keep happening

I read It Starts With an Egg and have started taking a lot more vitamins than I was on before. I have also given up gluten and following a low GI diet. They say following a Mediterranean diet is good for fertility.

I paid for private tests since my last miscarriage rather than waiting for the NHS. I had my last mc on 31 jan and have already had all my tests and got the results apart from karyotyping which takes a bit longer. I got told I have a slightly polycystic ovary and am now taking Myo inositol as I have suspected insulin resistance. I'm hoping some of this may be the answer.

It's hard to know what the future holds and what might or might not work but I try and think about how happy I could be if I can make it work next time. Hopefully we will have a successful pregnancy soon

@VenusStarr @chasingtherainbow1 how are yous keeping?

@Hopingforarainbow27 I'm doing ok thanks. We're still trying for another pregnancy since the last mc. I think I dealt with the last mc better than the others. Had all my test results back now which came back normal so we don't really have anything else to do now but keep trying and hope the vitamins and healthier lifestyle makes a difference.

How are you? I hope you're doing ok, it's such a struggle isn't it after 3 losses. I feel as through the hope I had that it was 2 miscarriages due to bad luck turned into, 'ok maybe there's an issue'. But I try and keep positive every day.

Hi @Hopingforarainbow27 I'm OK, I had to have a hysteroscopy because my ivf clinic thought I had scarring from my d&c so it delayed our ivf. I had it at the end of April and got the all clear to try again. We have booked our frozen embryo transfer for my June cycle, but we are ttc this cycle.

How are you?

I'm sorry you didn't get answers @chasingtherainbow1 it's really hard to keep going ❤️

@chasingtherainbow1 yes I'm the same. I have dealt with this one better. I guess you build yourself up for it to happen. I'm still waiting on my results back from the lupus blood test and the genetic testing from the twins. I have a scan booked for 16th June which I'm dreading as I hate the internal scans. You'd think I'd be used to them by now.
@VenusStarr hoping this is your cycle!! I'm on cycle day 39 this month. I have no idea what is happening!!! It's never been this long!

@Hopingforarainbow27 yeah you're exactly right, you kinda expect it to happen by now. Have you been trying in between?

@VenusStarr it really is hard to keep going when you don't know what to do to help. My partner has not had any sperm analysis and I'm wondering if that should be our next check as I have read that in men have sperm dna fragmentation in 85% of couples with recurrent miscarriage.

I'm on 9DPO now and tested today on a whim but it was negative. I know it's only early but still feel disappointed. I find it bearable someday but today has just been one of those days when you feel really negative about things and feel like it's never going to happen. I just feel really helpless 😔

Ps sorry if it takes me a while hike to reply. I try to limit my time on here because I can sometimes find it triggering but also find it helpful sometimes. I have a love/hate relationship with mumsnet lol

@chasingtherainbow1 no I haven't been, this cycle was 41 days and so painful when it did come. So not sure what is going on!

@Hopingforarainbow27 oh no I hope you're ok now. I think sometimes miscarriage can throw your cycles off for a while. Are they usually quite regular?

They are usually between 30-34 days. Which I've been told is too long? @chasingtherainbow1
The cycle after the d&c it was 31 days!

@Hopingforarainbow27 have you been screened for PCOS? I always suspected I had mild PCOS because my periods varied from 28-34 days. I also get some facial hair although not too bad. When I went for fertility tests they said one of my ovaries was polycystic. Since then I had tidied up my diet and lost a bit of weight. I also take myo inositol to flagella and my cycles are 30 day exactly each month since.

I've never heard that's too long though?

I have a scan booked for June so I'm assuming they will check for pcos then. Each time I had an early pregnancy scan they always mentioned a big cyst I had on one of my ovaries but said it's normal to have cysts. I have never heard of myo inositol, I must look it up. I have always had bad facial hair too! Especially on the sides and chin! So it could well be pcos! I wonder could that be causing the miscarried though!? @chasingtherainbow1

@Hopingforarainbow27 myo inositol helps with pcos symptoms and helps regulate insulin levels. I think it should only be taken once pcos is diagnosed though. Yeah I get it on my chin too it's really annoying.

My consultant said it can cause recurrent miscarriage because it causes low progesterone, high testosterone and if you have insulin resistance, that can interfere with the lining of your womb too. It's definitely something worth asking about when you go for your scan.

Changing your lifestyle helps reduce it a lot too. I think I could do with losing another stone to be in proper shape. Like I'm not massively overweight but it could help me a lot.

Thank you!
I was on progesterone and still miscarried so not sure it was that for me but will definitely mention those other things though!
Im within a healthy bmi range, I have started incorporating more fruit and vegetables in my diet but this past few months I've been eating chocolate etc too as I was sick of restricting myself for so long and still miscarrying even though I was doing everything. I was getting acupuncture as well once a week. I have a phone call with the consultant next week to get the results from the twins so I'll be glad to just be getting somewhere. Im only 28 and just feel broke!

@Hopingforarainbow27 I'm glad you will get your results soon, it might feel like you can get answers and closure on it then. I've been bad with chocolate this week, sometimes you just need a bit of chocolate to feel better after doing so well. Ive stopped drinking alcohol and caffeine since the last miscarriage too, I know it probably won't make an ounce of difference but I wanna feel like next time I've done everything I can.

@chasingtherainbow1 I know. We have enough pressure on us. So we need to enjoy our life as well. What are your next steps? I can't remember if you had said or not but have they said what the reason is behind yours?

@Hopingforarainbow27 we don't have a reason for it, the only reason it might be is the pcos but I didn't find anything else. I think that is the most frustrating part. Our next steps are to just keep going with our supplements and to try progesterone and see if anything changes.

Fingers crossed we can both get our rainbows soon!

@chasingtherainbow1 aw I know, it's so frustrating. I'm hoping that too!
Please message me if you ever need to chat 💕