Recurrent Buns - MC Testing and Beyond... Part 4...!!!

[Julezboo]

Gosh we can chat ladies!!!

Part one HERE

Part two HERE

Part three HERE

List

STARTING TESTING

LAF77 , Age 33, MC1 (7 weeks Apr 10) MC2 (5 weeks Sept 10) MC3 (9 weeks Dec 10). All have been natural mcs and number 1 and 3 were embryonic for sure. No children, no RMC appt, no diagnosis and not TTC.
PANDA 3MMC, no.1 (embryonic loss - empty sac) 7weeks, no.2 at 12 weeks, no.3 at 8 weeks. Awaiting raft of tests for recurrent MC
CLAIREDELOON Age 38 1st mmc, development stopped approx 5 weeks (2007), 2nd mmc development stopped at approx 6 weeks (2009), 3rd mc development stopped at 9 weeks after seeing hb at 8+3 (2010). Bicornate uterus, starting testing Feb 2011.
NOTSOBARRENBROOK Age 35. 1st mmc @ 6 weeks (Jan 2009), 2nd mmc @ 6 weeks (Jan 2010), 3rd mmc @ 11 weeks, development stopped at 6 weeks 3 days (March 2010), 4th mmc @ 5 weeks (August 2010). Possible adenomyosis, awaiting hsg and results of testing from St Mary's.
MILKYWAY2007 Age 27 - DD age 3. 1st MC Oct
2009, 6 weeks. 2nd MMC March 2010, 11 weeks (baby passed away at 7 weeks). 3rd MC July 2010, 6 weeks. 4th MMC 24 Jan 2011, 9 weeks - no amniotic sac, baby measured 7weeks 4 days, no HB, had seen a healthy HB at 7 weeks. Blood clotting, hormone, genetic karyotype and shape and health of uterus checked and all clear - although high prolactin level found. Waiting for appointment at RMC with consultant, and wanting to be referred to St Mary's.
LUCKYFOR2 Age 32 - DD age 5. DD age 3. 1st MC May 2010 found at 12 week scan passed away at 9 weeks. 2nd MC September 2010 natural at 8 weeks. 3nd MC January 2011 at 16 weeks, saw hb at 13 but no hb at 15.5. Bloods taken from me and DH at hospital at last MC and awaiting results on baby from PM.
IGGI2011 - Age 40, 3 year old DS. 3 MC last year, at 6, 8 and 8 weeks. Last two had hb detected. Having bloods taken by obs soon.

UNDERGOING TREATMENT

CRYSTAL5 Age 38 - DS age 4. 6 m/c 1 at 11 weeks, 5 at 5/6 weeks. Ok blood tests, under Endocrinologist for Hypothyroid
BANANA87 Age 30- 1mmc@7 weeks, DD (2), 1 mmc 6 weeks, 1 mc 7 weeks, currently waiting one more cycle before TTC. Going to try aspirin and progesterone as per consultant. Clotting bloods normal.

TTC

MUMMYABROAD Age 35, 1DS (2.9), 1MMC Mar 2010 (@14weeks) Ashermans diagnosis and treatment Nov 2010, Started TTC Jan 2011 Cycle 1
DIGITALGIRL Age 32 - DS 2.4 - 3MCs since ttc#2. MC1 5wks. MC2 6-7wks. MC3 7-8wks. Awaiting clotting & karyotyping results, under consultant care for rmc. Mild pcos. Currently TTC.
LOVEMYSLEEP Age 39, 1 mmc, dd born(now 5), 2nd mc (9wks, 2days), 3rd mc (9wks, 3days) and 4th mc at 5 wks. All tests on NHS came back clear. Currently undergoing treatment with Dr.Shehata for very high natural killer cells

PREGNANT

LUNATIC dd1(4) 2 mmc (8 wks) dd2 stillborn (32+5), clotting problem, pg #5 section booked for 9th Feb @ 35wks. On 150mg aspirin daily.
GLITTERYBITS 1 anembryonic MC (12 weeks), unexplained infertility, 1 round of clomid, currently pg and terrified!
JUSTMEE Age 21, MC1 (7 weeks), MC2 (6weeks), MC3 (5weeks) currently pregnant with 4th pregnancy using clexane injecting 20mg a day
LADYBEE 37, MC1 (5wks), DS (2), MC2 blighted ovum discovered @ 8 wk scan, MC3 natural @ 9 wks following hb seen at 7 1/2 wk. PCOS previously diagnosed, Factor V Leiden heterozygote discovered in recent testing. Treatment with aspirin (from BFP) + clexane started at 6 weeks.
LOVELYBUNCHOFCOCONUTS Age 23, 1 MC (13 weeks), 1 MMC (10 weeks - growth stopped at 7), 1DD born 2008, PCOS diagnosis, bi-cornuate uterus.
HAIRYFAIRYLIGHTS
HAIRYCLAREYFAIRY

GRADUATES WITH BABIES!!

STILLFRAZZLED Age 35, DS1 (3.6yo), 1 mc @ 5 weeks Jan 09, 2nd mc @ 9 weeks March 09, DS2 born @ 35+3 on 04/01/11 with Intra Uterine Growth Restriction and currently in Special Care Baby Unit.
MUMATRON Age 28 2 dc then 4mc, 3 @9weeks 1@5weeks, tests showed possible free protein s ishoo. dd2 born 06/01/2011, aspirin, claxane and high dose folic acid through pg.
JULEZBOO Age 29 1 mc @ 14 wks, DS1 (8yo) 4 mc @ 5/6 wks, DS2 (3) 2 mc @7 wks... DS3 (14/01/11 @35 wks) Dx with Factor V Leiden and Septate Uterus. Clexane and Aspirin throughout pregnancy and progesterone with DS3.

Will do a catch up post now...

Hi ladies,

Just a quickie for now as at work :( will catch up later on

Just had my bloods done for initial investigations, 13 bloods taken! Is this normal? I was in there ages! I know the genetic ones take 6-8 weeks to come back but think that the others will be back by Friday when I have to go for a scan, another test I think.

just needed to share....one year ago, I lost my beloved first bean. I always thought of my bean as a boy. No one in RL knows what this day means to me, except DH. I'm not over it. I can remember every detail so clearly as if it were yesterday.

It is a beautiful day outside, but I can't feel happy or joyful. I haven't felt truly happy about anything since the pregnancy ended. I'm fine and functioning, but joy is missing from my life. I didn't expect that one year on, I would still be without a baby or a pregnancy. Even if I do have a baby, I will never forget this bean and this day.

Kittens for what it's worth I used the clearblue digital ovulation predictor. Slightly more expensive but they worked. The month I got pregnant I actually ovulated 4 days later than normal and was beginning to wonder if I was actually going to ovulate that month at all. But I did - and on the same day we did the "deed" and the day after. Twice. That is all. And that is the month I conceived! A little smiley face shows on the stick when you are ovulating so you are in no doubt at all. Also that same day I started taking the prednisolone. Hope this helps

LAFF77 I am so sorry you are feeling like this - I know how you feel. I can remember both my MC's of 12 weeks as if they were yesterday and can remember every detail still so clearly. You will always remember - but it does get easier. I always light a candle on the day as my own little way of marking the day and I know some people plant a tree or something similar. Maybe this will help you? I don't know everyone is different, but you aren't alone in the way that you feel. Big hugs

Laf77 so sorry you feel so down. After my mc in 2009 i felt exactly the same it took over a year of fertility treatment for a bfp only to have another mc, the losses will always affect me and I still wonder about the baby I lost over 12 years ago. Miscarriage is tough really tough but this site is an amazing place full of strong women who understand and are here to listen. Chin up sweetie things will get better x x

LAF so sorry.

The anniversary of my first pregnancy (and first loss of three) is coming up too :( Oh for the innocence of this time last year.

confu3sed I was told by the consultant that there are 'about fifteen viles' taken for recurrent mc - that's why he wants me to have them done at hospital rather than doc - as he says GPs don't always take enough and it's then a faff to get you back in.

My bloods are being taken on Monday.

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't been in touch for a while, just got back from a week away.

Coconuts sorry to hear about your FIL, its hard to be strong for other people when you're struggling with your own issues. Glad DD is keeping you all sane.

Purequeen sorry you had to spend a night in hospital with your DS I hope he is okay, not sure of his medical history but hope everything is being done for him. Its awful seeing people who are heavily pregnant or as far pregnant as you should have been, there is a lady where I live who is due any minute and I remember her getting pregnant after I had my second mc, it makes me so angry to see her flying through her pregnancy without a care in the world. I'm massively jealous and would hate to have to see her face to face. I'm so sorry you have to work with her and I would be avoiding her just the same!

LAF It's sad when no-one remembers the date of lost ones and its nice that you can share it here with all of us. We all understand how you feel and are all so sorry for you losing your little boy. I hope you start getting answers from St Marys and can get some happiness into your life again. Miscarriage does sadden your life for a very long time.

Glittery I had bleeding with my last pregnancy (not to do with mc) I had a small clot which was probably implantation bleeding, I felt very anxious seeing the blood daily but you probably already know that lots of ladies suffer from bleeding in pregnancy. So sorry it is making you anxious I hope your scan puts your mind at rest.

Claire sorry your hysteroscopy had to be put back I hope they arrange it asap.

I got a BFP yesterday a very faint line but its clearly there, my AF is due tomorrow so I was abit early but felt different and thought I'd do a test (you just know don't you!) so I was feeling positive but obviously petrified and then last night I woke up with the worst cold and my body is aching all over, feeling very fluy but I think if I could just take something I would feel so much better, just trying to get through the day, its really hard when you can't take pain killers. I haven't spoken to my consultant or Quenby yet so not taking aspirin or progesterone, I'm guessing if I hadn't done the test until Monday I wouldn't have known anyway, do you think it will be okay? Also slightly worried because I was feeling a little pregnant and now the symptoms have been taken over by the cold/flu, guess its v.early days.

Kittens I have always used clearblue and have got pregnant three times straight away by using them. This time I used the cheap amazon ones as well as the clearblue and although the line did come up it wasn't as strong as the test line and the clearblue one did come up. As regard to the day of ovulation I have also charted for two months, the first month I didn't ovulate but this month I did and the chart like you said pointed to the date after the positive OPK. I tested positive for two days in a row and the third day was negative and my chart said date of ovulation. I hope this helps.

Waves to everyone else x

Thanks for everyone's well wishes regarding FIL. We are all doing ok thanks, it is DD's third birthday tomorrow so things have to carry on as normal. Can't believe my baby girl is a big girl now. It is so scary that time goes by so fast.

lucky I'm sure you can take paracetamol. Obviously don't take OTC cold remedies as they contain caffeine and I was always told you aren't allowed to have throat sweets but people take and do alot worse in the early days before they know they are actually pregnant so I'm sure nothing will cause harm, but obviously in our RMC position I would understand if you don't want to take anything.

LAF sorry you are feeling low. I remember the anniversaries of both of my mcs and always have a little moment to reflect and remember. You have been through so much, sending love to you x

Hi ladies,

Sorry for everyone else's loss and a few of the low feelings that are flying around. Sorry too for asking a question that is a bit me, me me, but I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts or experience about ttc after mc with high thyroid antibodies? Am in a bit of turmoil as to what to do. This is my third mc although the other two were 15 and 16 years ago with a different person. I have asked my GP to refer me to both Dr Shehata and also St Mary's (I asked for the former after I realised St Mary's might not accept me) but I have read that having raised antibodies makes it another mc around 50% more likely.

I am currently waiting for the first af after mc and the plan was to ttc again immediately afterwards. However I am now very worried that if I get pg again it will just happen again, especially as I am having no official treatment (just added selenium and vit d to my pre-preg vits).

I don't really want to wait as I am almost 37 and want to get a move on, but do you think I should wait until I have a referral and treatment or take a deep breath and go for it?

Would waiting for an appt and being treated after I was already pg be detrimental if I wasn't treated from conception? If anyone has any thoughts or experience of this it would be great to know.

Well so much for the BFP, I have had a few drops of bright red blood this evening - so not looking good! Wish I'd have waited a couple more days. God what a rollercoaster.

Hi luckyfor2 Am just lurking as I posted a question earlier but saw your previous BFP feint line post and thought it was really great news for you. Sorry to see it might not be what you are expecting but it is early days and it would seem strange to get even a feint line for nothing wouldn't it?! So finger and everything else crossed for you xx

LAF Sending you a big hug. My little bean would have been 1 at the end of this month. You never forget. I thought it would be easier to deal with in a pregnant state, but in some ways it will be harder. People all around me will be having their second or third babies at that point and it's going to be another case of congratulating them all AGAIN when I'm hurting. It's important that we recognise these important dates here. They tend to be forgotten about in RL by everyone except the mother. I doubt even my DH would remember. I don't blame him for that. It's just very different when it's your body and your hopes and dreams.

kittens The EWCM thing always baffled me a bit, too. Some months I'd get what I thought was 5 days of it prior to ovulation and then others, I'd find I'd have a break and then it would start up again! Charting worked best for me, but I reckon you'd be safe to start the steroids when you think you have a positive. Probably better to go for it when you think it's occurring rather than miss your shot at it.

lucky Tentative congrats to you. I hope your illness hasn't caught you at the wrong time and prevented things before they can start. It is indeed the worst kind of rollercoaster. I hope you're holding up okay.

freelance I'm really sorry. I have no personal experience of this. Hopefully someone with a bit of knowledge will be along with some helpful advice soon.

Coconuts Hope you all managed to enjoy DD's birthday, despite everything that has happened recently.

Not much to report at this end. Bleeding has been absent for a few blissful days. I'm about as relaxed as I'm going to get right now - and the sun is shining.

Waves to everyone else. xx

I just posted a long message but it hasn't shown up. Grr!

Short version:

lucky Hope you are ok and the spotting has stopped

glittery glad your bleeding has given you a few anxiety free days :)

DD had a lovely birthday, loved blowing out her candles and unwrapping all her presents. The happy day ended on a low though, as when we were on our way home we had a collision with a cyclist. We are all ok and the cyclist just had a few scratches but it was a bit scary. Glad I had the doppler to check on things once we were home.

Hope everyone else had a nice weekend.

Such a lot of news to catch up on since I last got a chance to log on. Lucky I was so excited for you and then I scrolled down a bit. Oh no. Any news?

LAf do keep remembering - I think it's really important but I know it is so hard when the rest of the world keeps moving on. This might sound a bit strange but when my DS was a month old I sobbed and sobbed for several hours one night about his two "brothers" who I lost before him. The pain is so very real. I have a big date looming in May which is my "due date". I bet it will pass my husband by!

freelance I don't have any experience sorry. I am juggling private and NHS care - seeing a private guy and waiting for the NHS to catch up with me (appt in June). I am incredibly impatient... I think in your case it is a matter of balancing your age (and alleged increased fertility post m/c) and how you will cope if this happens again. (I hope that doesn't come across as too blunt - I am quite a pragmatic person so I sometimes come across as heartless -which I am not!). Have you got a clued up GP? Is high thyroid antibodies something that can be helped with by diet in addition to medical treatment? That way you could get things started on the dietary change front while you wait for your appt to come through?

As for my DS he is OK, it is really nothing serious, just under investigation and involves a few hospital visits. Just hard to balance with work - superwoman I am not.

Hi to everyone else.

Just updating. Had my bloods taken today for rmc. Have felt really awful all weekend. Burst into tears when my PA said cheerily "how did it go" ... Felt like saying "oh fuck off and leave me alone." Or "oh fine, it's really great having bloods taken after three mc in a year, at the same hospital you had the last scans and the bad news, the Erpc and the medical management and the sympathetic looks on the nurses faces when they read your form
are just delightful".

Oh hairy so sorry you're feeling so crap and today was like that, how long will the bloods take to come back.

freelance sorry I posted yesterday without acknowledging your response I was so unbalanced after the bleed I didn't know what to do. Unfortunately I have no experience of high thyroid antibodies so not much help but understand what you're saying and can imagine how frustrating it is trying to balance it all up.

coconuts glad your dd had a lovely bday but about the cyclist. Good job getting the doppler!

glittery brill that the spotting has stopped I hope it continues that way.

Thank you so much everyone for your response on my BFP and spotting. It wasn't looking good but I'm feeling a little more positive after seeing my consultant today (plus the aches and pains seem to have gone and I'm just left with a sniffle). She thinks that it is almost definately cervical erosion as I have had the same red blood drops throughout my last two cycles, she seemed to think it was no problem whatsoever and has booked me in for a scan on 21 April. Hard to think so positive but I'm going to try and keep relaxed and positive until I know otherwise, she did say that the bleeding will keep coming as my hormones fluctuate...scary stuff !

Hope everyone else is okay.

just poking my head in to say good luck luckyfor2 I hope your cons is right.

btw, the 21st is a good day (it's my birthday! )

glittery did you get my message? good to hear the bleeding has eased off.

Ah hairy sorry you were feeling down after the appointment.

freelance no experience of the thyroid issues but hope someone else can shed some light.

lucky Glad you are feeling more positive, really hope everything works out :) Yes the cyclist was a big but he wasn't injured, just a scratch or two and everyone in the car was fine. It didn't help the situation that the poor bloke was Polish so he didn't understand us asking if he was ok and if he wanted police/doctor/ambulance involved. We didn't understand his responses so it was a bit difficult to sort out. But everyone is fine :)

mumatron glad to see you popping in :) Hope little one is ok xx

Hope everyone else is ok.

I have made it to 15 weeks. Next week is my first MW appointment and have my 20 week scan on 20th May. I think I am still in major denial about it all. I am avoiding baby aisles in shops and refusing to really even talk about it to anyone. DH mentioned names the other day which got me thinking but then I had to snap out of it quickly. So scared to get emotionally attached to it but OTOH scared not to in case all works out ok and then I don't love it or something Oh to be an OMW!

Hi all. Thanks pureequeen, Lucky, Coconuts and others for your comments or advice. Lucky glad you are feeling a bit more positive but yet that must be scary stuff.

pureequeen that was good advice about being a matter of balancing age (and alleged increased fertility post m/c) and how I would cope if this happens again. High thyroid antibodies can to a certain extent be helped by diet - selenium and vit d both of which have started testing. Also aspirin is often recommended but I think the main thing would be steroids which of course is dr administered.

Interesting summary of St Mary's Lunatic, thanks so much for that. I am sure a lot of it will find it useful. I guess some of us look forward to treatment so much that it might be an anticlimax when we get there and realise it's just the same dodgy old place as anywhere else we have been. But the testing is the key isn't it so great news you have the ball rolling.

Something else has cropped up with me now and I might need your advice ladies if you have any thoughts on this: I had an email conversation with a midwife at one of the testing centres have been referred to (Mr Shehata's) and she said please, please (twice!) don't ttc until you have started to see us as you will need to be on steroids to have a good chance of addressing the thyroid antibodies. Waiting lists (she said private ones but am wondering if she got confused and meant NHS?) are between 4-6 months!!!! Not sure what to do. Had made the decision earlier to risk a mc and ttc again after af but they seem to really think I shouldn't.

Choices are: Wait as they say, get treatment and trust that their 85% success rates hold for me too. But get frustrated from waiting, worried about age, worry about not using that supposed post-mc fertility boost and also worried I will next time find it harder to conceive.

Don't wait and risk another mc as am not being treated properly and have 50% chance of one.

I guess there are some pros of waiting: Get to drink and go out and not feel sick and tired, get to feel a bit more positive that next time it might work, get to not panic about another mc for a few months... even get to have (travelling hopefully) a baby more towards spring than winter...But the cons are pretty rubbish too.

freelance are you trying to see Shehata privately or on the NHS as when I rang up a few weeks ago to make a private appointment I couldn't get in for about six weeks, I asked if it was possible to be on a reserve list in case anybody cancelled and the next day I got an appointment for a few days after. Apparently people don't ask to do this which I found quiet strange though I guess you'd have to be ready to get there at the drop of a hat. I think there are a few different clinics too (i'm not totally in the know and didn't actually go to the appointment in the end but I'm sure smeone else can help you with this).

I don't know if this helps at all but I thought if you had to wait a shorter period of time it would make your mind up.

freelancegirl I got a private appointment with Mr Shehata within 2 weeks of calling up to make the booking. You have a diagnosis, you also know of a treatment that is available to lower the risk. Personally, I would wait to get a prescription.

Waves at everyone. Congrats to lucky

My follow up appt on Monday has been changed to a different consultant. I'm hoping this doesn't have any bearing on the type of treatment plan I'll be given. I'm also wondering if I'll be able to start ttc next week as I still haven't had a proper period since the erpc, but this is as expected for me. I'm expecting to ovulate a week on Saturday.

Lucky and Digital - thanks so much for that. Am starting to think she might have meant to say I could get a private appointment within 4-6 WEEKS. I know he has gone away for a week which might set things back but that would make more sense based on what you both say. i have asked for a nhs referral and that was sent from my doctor last week, but I am willing to consider private if that takes too long.

How has your treatment been so far digi and what are they treating you for? I know I have 'spoken' to you before but can't remember - what with my head being full of antibodies, obsessive reading and research and my eyes beginning to melt with lcd exposure.

Actually, talking of brain meltdown, I had forgotten I called up Epsom the other day and they said NHS waiting was 10 weeks.

Am starting to feel a bit more positive about the potential wait. Thanks gang.

freelance if you do decide to go private and the wait seems a little bit long. If you can go at anytime do ask to be rang if theres a cancelation beause apparently as I said before nobody asks that and there are often cancelations!

I will indeed ask to see if there are any cancellations Lucky. Thanks so much for that info. I am feeling cautiously optimistic that I got it wrong. I am physically feeling a bit of a weight lifted off. The whole mc/ttc thing is such a whirlwind of emotions.