Recurrent MC--Testing and beyond--Part 5 continues here

[LAF77]

Here is the list of us on the thread and where we are in our journey through RMC. Nearly 4,000 posts in a year, so mark your place for the next thread.

Part one Part one

Part two Part two

Part three Part three

Part four Part four

STARTING TESTING
LOLA78: mc1 Dec 07 (6wks), DD Oct 08 (problem free pregnancy and natural birth), mmc2 Nov 10 6wks ERPC at 10wks, mc3 Feb 11 at 7wks - suspected ectopic but mc naturally, mc4 mar 11 at 5wks (started 75mg aspirin from a week before bfp) - hospitalised for excessive bleeding and clots. Now referred for testing at local fertility clinic, we have started having blood tests and am on 5mg folic acid.
SCOOTERCHASTER: DS Oct 08 (managed for SVT heart from 35wks), mc1 Sept 10 (7wks), mc2 Dec 10 (9 wks - hb @ 8wks), mc3 April 11 (7.5 wks, hb day b4 mc).
HAIRYLIGHTS, age 42, MC1 (Jun 10, very low HCG, suspected ectopic, methotrexate), MC 2 (Nov 22 2010, MMC,ERPC, no heart beat at ten weeks, fetus 8 week size), MC3 (MMC - Medical Management, Feb 13 2011, MMC at 7 week scan). Waiting to 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 28 - 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. High dose folic acid prescribed.
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. All tests have come back clear. Going to take Aspirin and Progesterone in next pregnancy (will be on Promise trial) currently ttc.
IGGI999 - Age 40, 3 year old DS. 3 MC last year, at 6, 8 and 8 weeks. Last two had hb detected. NHS blood tests came back clear, except for presence of antinuclear antibodies. To take aspirin for this. Going to see Shehata in May as think steroids are needed.
CONFU3ED - Age 35 1st MC 1998 14 weeks. DD age 11. 2nd MC July 2009 5.5 weeks. ERPC Twice. No tests. 6 months Clomid 3rd MC January 2010. The foetus sent for testing - came back fine. Been referred to recurrent MC clinic at the hospital for tests, waiting for appointment. Was told I have PCOS through a scan but never diagnosed.

UNDERGOING TREATMENT
HAVINGKITTENS Age 41 - MMC1 Nov 07 8wks (discovered due to bleeding at 10.5wks) ERPC, TOP1 for TS21 Aug 08, TOP2 for TS21 Feb 09, TOP incomplete, ERPC performed, Genetic Counselling & tests confirmed no chromosome problems with us, "just bad luck ", MMC2 Feb 10 5.5wks (seen at 8wk scan, no bleeding), MMC3 May 10 (as MMC2), RMC testing at UCH, no cause found - empirical 75mg asprin & vit D + early & regular scans for next pregnancy, MMC4 No fetal pole seen at 6.5 wks, follow up scan 10 days later, told of MMC, then "Something" spotted so instructed to wait another week before they would allow ERPC, ERPC a week later, waiting for NK Cell test results from Mr S on NHS, taking 75mg Asprin, Vit D, Pregnacare Plus (w/Omega 3), 5mg Folic Acid (been taking since 1st TOP to try & prevent TS21 or similar issues), NK Cells levels almost double what they should be. 25mg Prednisone from ovulation - CD1 or if BFP then 'til 12 wks and then weaned off 'til 14wks plus Progesterone pessaries from BFP - 16wks, Folic Acid, Omega3, Vit D - 12wks, Asprin - 20wks.
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
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. MC4 MMC @ 8.1 wks (discovered @ 11 wk scan) following hb seen at 6+6 wks. Consultant suggests aspirin + clexane to start at 4 weeks, plus progesterone pessaries. Management of MC tbc.
DIGITALGIRL Age 32 - DS 2.8 - 4MCs since ttc#2. MC1 Nov2009 @5wks. MC2 Apr2010 @6-7wks. MC3 Oct2010 @7-8wks. MC4 Mar2011 @8wks. All natural, except MC4 managed with ERPC for karyotyping. Clotting tests normal. DH & I genetically normal. On Metformin for mild PCOS, plus 75mg aspirin, Pregnacare Plus & 25mcg VitD3. Diagnosed with high NK Cells (1.25) after MC4. Starting TTC in May with prednisolone from ovulation and will add cyclogest once pg. Under care of Mr S.
PUREEQUEEN Age 34, MC1 (7 weeks Jan 08) MC2 (6 weeks March 08), DS born (prem) 2009, MC3 (9 weeks Oct 10). MC4 Jan 2011. First 2 natural mcs latter 2 mmc/ERPCs. Chromosome test MC4 showed she had a genetic abnormality (cri du chat). Karotyping for me and DH fine but with "increase in length on satellite of short arm 13 and 15" (??) . Also have endo &septate uterus. Now TTC and will take aspirin and progesterone.
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 . No children, First appointment with St. Mary's in April, second round of bloods in May, with results in June.

PREGNANT
MATTSMAMA Aged 41. 1st MMC November 2004. My DS (who I love with all my heart) born 2006. 2nd MMC July 2010. 2 chemical pregnancies September and October 2010. Under Dr Shehata and got BFP on first round of treatment for high thyroid antibodies and high killer cells.
BANANA87 Age 30- 1mmc@7 weeks, DD (2), 1 mmc 6 weeks, 1 mc 7 weeks, Going to try aspirin and progesterone as per consultant. Clotting bloods normal.
MUMMYABROAD Age 36, 1DS (2.9), 1MMC Mar 2010 (@14weeks) Ashermans diagnosis and treatment Nov 2010, Started TTC Jan 2011 BFP on Cycle 2 EDD 4/11/11. Heartbeat seen at 10 weeks.
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
LOVELYBUNCHOFCOCONUTS Age 23, 1 MC (13 weeks), 1 MMC (10 weeks - growth stopped at 7), 1DD born 2008, PCOS diagnosis, bi-cornuate uterus. EDD 03/10/11
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 - aspirin, progesterone, steroids, omezaprole and one intralipid infusion completed.

GRADUATES WITH BABIES!!
LUNATIC dd1(4) 2 mmc (8 wks) dd2 stillborn (32+5). Seen at St Mary's. clotting problem, pg #5 aspirin 150g daily. Ds1 born 9/2/11 c/s @ 35 wks
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 but currently home and doing well.
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.

I will get a digital one and retest in a couple of days I guess. Now wish I had waited!

first response will give you a results now if you are impatient? They are extremely sensitive!

Ok thanks, will pick one up after work and test again in the morning. Just read about clear blue false positives, awful business how can they sell them if they do that?! Mine was strange as the whole cross was very feint then 40 mins later it had a negative line showing as it should and a very faded positive. Rubbish!

Couldn't get first choice to test yesterday morning so used another clear blue and got the same feint positive. Felt really sick yesterday but put it down to my imagination. Used first response this morning and got another positive, the line was lighter than the usual line but not much and was definitely there. Still not believing it just yet nor is dp.

just popping on to whisper congrats to confu3ed. thought you might be pg. a line is a line after all!

just take each day at a time and fingers crossed for you!

Tentative congrats from me confu3ed Day at a time :)

Thank you Pebspop and ALovelyBunch, and thank you for the advice definitely going to take one day at a time whilst keeping everything crossed that the many Vitamins and progesterone I am taking can make a difference this time.

Oh wonderful wonderful news confused keeping everything crossed for you!

Congratulations confu3ed I had a feeling that it wasn't a false positive when I saw your news on Monday :-)

Thanks Farfalla and Laf77! I reckon the next few weeks are going to be really tough.

Yes confu3ed they will be hard. Will your EPU give you regular early scans? With your history, they should be more sensitive to you.

The appointment last night was great if not what I was expecting.

I thought he would say - all good, its just bad luck, plough on. But the TEG test revealed that I have a 'Impaired fibrinolysis', bascially I don't break down blood clots as fast as most people. This can lead to miscarriage and inhibit implantation. I was so surprised to be honest I was convinced my problem was hormonal. However, he did say there was a strong link between this and PCOS which I also have according to the scan (but not the blood tests). Which explains the acne!!!

So the plan of action is to take heparin in the next pregnancy. Quite a scary prospect (I have had a couple of those when I broke my leg and they are nasty little things) but needs must. I suppose I am getting my head round the fact the any subsequent pregnancy will be a highly medicalised affair with a swift visit to St Mary's for tests and heparin the minute I get a positive test and very close monitoring. My only concern is that I lose them so early I won't know I am pregnant before the implantation starts to fail. I could have probably saved the first one at 5 weeks but not the 2nd one but the consultant seems to think was an unrelated chemical pregnancy. It also makes me rather sad to think that there was probably nothing wrong with the first pregnancy and we lost a perfectly healthy baby but I don?t want to drive myself mad thinking that to be honest.

So I am glad we did the investigations so early on because one of the risk factors of this condition is late losses and pre-eclamsia which would have been even more distressing so perhaps there early mcs were a blessing in disguise.

The consultant was absolutely wonderful, we spent 40 minutes with him and he has such a lovely manner, very reassuring, good sense of humour and very patient with my endless questions. He actually took my list of questions and wrote the answers in the side in case I wanted to refer to it later!!

So we are digesting all this news and he said we could start trying as soon as we want to. I think we are going to have a relaxing holiday and xmas and then start again in the New Year.

glad it went well for you far i am going to have heparin in my next pg. i have never had it before so don't know what it's like. i am choosing to ignore your comments on it!!!

lets have our fingers crossed for a jan bfp!!

Farfalla good news that you have a diagnosis and treatment plan!

Went to the docs this morning and been referred to my EPU, they were the ones who did my rmc tests and remembered me. The doc seemed shocked that I tested so early and it looks like I have to wait 4 weeks for a scan as they said there is no point in scanning till 8 weeks. Fingers crossed the vast quantities of pills I am taking mean that I will get good news at the scan.

farfalla it's good you have a diagnosis. There are plenty of women who take heparin/clexane in pg. Katandkit on the freak out thread is on it.

I'm intrigued by your TEG test results as the conclusion from mine was aspirin. I have high MA levels, but I guess mine can be managed through aspirin. TEG just looks at the behaviour of blood clots mimicking conditions in the body. I thought you only had heparin for antiphospholipid antibodies, but there must be other things that crop up.

confu3ed I suppose it is possible to go for a private scan at 6 weeks, but sometimes you don't always get a good picture and things can be OK, even if you can't see. 8 weeks will definitely tell you if things are OK.

Well, I had my 20 week scan and all seems good. There will be a boy joining our family, just like I thought. I'm starting to relax a bit, but won't feel in the clear until he is in my arms, crying, and feeding.

Don't give up, ladies, it can happen for you too, in spite of RMC.

Congratulations on your scan Laff a boy!! :)

I have had a letter today from the EPU asking me to go in for a scan on Wednesday and to see the consultant. I will not even be 5 weeks, so not sure what it will show or what additional help they can offer me.
Really worried today as I was feeling sick in waves but nothing today. I think that these days and weeks will be a roller-coaster. DP just says what will be will be and doesn't really want to talk about it at all, I have not told anyone either but need someone to talk to. DP says we shouldn't tell anyone yet but easy for him as he doesn't feel the need to talk to anyone! Frustrating!!!

Great news about the scan LAF
Confu3ed I had a scan this time at 6 weeks - I knew nothing conclusive would be found from it but it's quite a good baseline for subsequent scans (ie it should have grown a certain amount from 6-8 weeks or whatever). I can't remember what I said to get them to agree. I think it was that last time I had a very early mc, but didn't know as the progesterone I'm on seems to prevent bleeding - so if there was nothing there I wanted to know so I could stop the steroids etc. (You will not be in that boat though!)

Great news about the scan LAF!

Yes I am a bit confused by the heparin as well. I am waiting for the letter and copy of the restults to confirm it all but there were about 7 or 8 things the TEG looks for on the test all of mine were normal apart from one, I can't remember which now as I was reeling from it all at the time. I know that the results should be over 5 and mine was 4.4, I did ask if this meant I was borderline but the consultant said no, anything under 5 is a problem as the ranges are so tight. I so wish the solution was aspiring instead of jabs! I might come over the to the freak out room and try and learn some more about it.

iggi did you have your scan yet?

Laf I had one earlier this week with my specialist (11 weeks) which was all good, and I have my dating scan next Wed. I do feel (and look, I think) quite "pregnant' now. So many weeks to go though!
Hope you are doing well yourself.

Hooray iggi so glad to see your news!

Hi ladies

I wondered if i can join this thread?

Im 23 nearly 24 been ttc and married for nearly 3 years in march. During that time I got pregnant nov 09 and mc early on 5-6 weeks 6 dec 09, got pre straight away accidentily and mc at 5 weeks 6 feb 10!

We then tryed again after a break and conceived june 10 after two weeks in france had spotting at 8 weeks had scan fine heartbeat and all. Then sharp pain and very light spotting at 11 weeks scan showed stopped growing no heartbeat measured just over 10 weeks had a d nc day after had terrible contractions afterwards.

Consultant ran bloods and sent off tissue all tests came back clear in dec 10. Was pregnant again and mc xmas eve at 6 weeks.

Since then my af have bedn horrendous all over the place don't think I ovulate every month is this normal?

My last mc was sep at 7 weeks after various bloods and scans! Dont know where we go from here thinking of going private more tests and support what do you think? Xx

Oh forgot to say I've been recommended by consultant to take low dose aspirin since dec 09 and 5 mg folic acid anybody found this has helped

Hi Jules, sorry you find yourself here, you have had a very rough time. It's hard to know if seeing someone privately would help, but if you feel you've reached a dead end with the nhs it is probably worth a shot. Do you have any other health issues (eg pcos, or thyroid problems?)

Hi jules so sorry to read of your losses. It is heartbreaking.

where are you in the country? Are you actually being treated by an RMC specialist? They run different tests than most gynae consultants will.

I can't advise on the cycles as mine have all come back normally quite quickly, but there are other ladies here who may be able to advise.