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.

Hi butterfly. Glad you found us. Hopefully we can all offer support and share all the collective knowledge that we are unfortunate enough to have gathered from all our experiences.

Amuminwaiting I definitely think you're doing the right thing and shouldn't give up yet. You need to feel you've done all you can to have a baby and I think there are other places to try & specialists to see. The urge to be a mother is so strong I totally understand why you wouldn't give up. It's really all I've ever wanted. Stay strong & keep going. There's a thread here from someone who had a baby after 6 unexplained mc so there's always hope.

Can I just ask if anyone who had a cervical tear could tell me how long they took to heal, if you got any follow up scans/ examinations and if you had lots of weird cm for many many weeks after? I'm nearly 8 weeks post miscarriage and having the tear stitched up. The bleeding has stopped completely for the past five days but I'm still getting really horrible discoloured cm and yesterday there was something that looked like a tiny bit of placenta. My GP won't examine me and I'm still waiting for a follow up appointment from my consultant.

Hi amuminwaiting. So sorry you're still having such issues with it all. I don't have any experience of a cervical tear I'm afraid but just bumping this for you. Maybe start a new thread specifically asking for people who've been through this? Also, can you ring the nurses at the hospital that treated you as do they not normally deal with follow ups and any issues? Hope you get it sorted soon!

I did do that and was told they couldn't help me so I should see my GP and she wouldn't help me either.

That's awful. What reason did they give for not helping? Do they not want to mess about with it (ie use a speculum) to give it chance to heal? Do you have any signs of infection?

Yes that's it exactly but it seems like I'm stuck then. If no one will examine me I won't know if there's anything wrong. Bleeding started mixed in with the cm again today. It's been eight weeks. I kept waking up last night needing to pee and kept getting a sharp sensation in my bladder area.
Evie (our last baby) was cremated today. DH and I went to the tree we had planted for all of our babies and I put a letter I wrote to her in the ground at the back of the plaque. I've cried about it for weeks but today it wasn't so bad. I think the thought of it was worse than the day. This is all so hard, sometimes I wish I could step off my life for a while and remember what it was like before I started losing my babies.

Oh I'm so sorry, that's just so sad I can't even imagine how you must feel. I try not to think about my mc as babies but I guess you have no choice. I saw a friend today who lost a baby born prematurely 3 years ago. She is starting to feel better about it now as time heals but for you I suppose you can't take time to grieve as you just have to keep going back to it all again in order to get the baby that you deserve. I feel the same about my mc but I have my dd and even if I never have another I will have her so I know i shouldn't really complain. Please don't give up hope though.

If you're in pain I'd definitely go back to the gp and see if they can give you antibiotics as a precautionary measure. I understand what they're saying about letting your cervix heal but I do think they need to come up with a way of at least making you more comfortable. If the discharge smells at all I'd demand antibiotics. If you pester to see the consultant and he's not worried then I'd try to relax and give yourself a bit more time. Although don't feel bad, just keep annoying them all until you feel happy with your care.

I really hope you feel a bit better soon. Please try reflexology or acupuncture it has helped me so much with my anxiety. Sending you a big hug

Well the bleeding got heavier this morning and I have period cramps. So it's here, eight weeks and one day after losing Evie. It's like my body was waiting to say a final fairwell to her before starting. I hope this means my body is starting to function again even if my mind is no where near healed!

I feel the same as GuppieK about thinking about being pregnant again. There's heavily pregnant women everywhere and I can't see how i'll ever get to that stage. As soon as i start showing i lose my baby and it's all over. So many people take it all for granted.

I was veggie too in my first pregnancy and after 15 years went back to meat in the hope it would be some kind of miracle and giving my body everything would result in a healthy pregnancy but instead I had four early losses on the trot. The multivitimins do make a difference to my body though. When I'm not pregnant I take the solgar female multi and my psoriasis cleared completely! When i'm pregnant though I have to switch to the pregnacare ones because the levels of the other one are too high...and low and behold the psoriasis and IBS comes back. All worth it though if I get my baby.

Well I guess that's good that your periods here as at least your body is recovering. Although I'm sure everything else will take some time.

There are pregnant people everywhere! Just been to a childrens party of them, including my really close friends which is even harder. I feel really self conscious at social gatherings as I'm just waiting for someone to ask when I'm going to have another one and I really don't want to talk about it or know what to say. So I just try to avoid any proper conversations which is ridiculous!

I'm also taking a million vitamins! You have to feel like you're doing something positive don't you?!

Hi all, I posted back in May/June when I had my last mc and have been lurking recently so thought I'd say hello.
Pebs great news, congratulations!!
MumTum if you're lurking, I hope you're well xx
Amum so sorry to hear what you've been going through x
Tea hi!
Hello to everyone else too x

Since trying to have a second DC I've had 3 mc in the last year. I'm under Dr Raj Rai as a private patient at St Marys, the NHS wait was 4 months!! When I did call for a private app I was offered one a few days later - I read someone said it was difficult to get one..... We've spent around £1000 so far on tests and appointments.
All tests I've had are clear, I had an SIS scan in Sept which showed scarring. I'm now waiting for my NHS app so I can get surgery scheduled then start trying again!
I've been taking Solgar multi vits too but haven't noticed any difference apart from bright yellow wee!
Obviously I'm obsessed with pregnancy/babies and everyone is pregnant or trying. A friend announced her pregnancy this weekend, she doesn't know what we've been through, I am really happy for her but it was hard to see her showing off her bump. Especially as I can't even try at the moment. Booo.
I only wanted to say hi!
X

I forgot to mention the neon wee! Yes that was a shock the first time I noticed it! I guess they're different for different people but certainly minimised the constant urine infections I was having for years. I'm currently bleeding from both bits right now and it kills! Nothing seems to help. I actually dread walking my dog.
There's been a pregnancy announcement here too. I keep smiling but thinking, the bigger she gets, the worse I'm going to feel. Same as you, especially as I can't even try to get pregnant. I wrote a letter to my consultant at the weekend hoping to get the ball rolling. Calling the hospital or speaking to my GP has done nothing and I feel forgotten. I know they have a lot of women to see but frankly now is not the time to be understanding, it feels like the time to be selfish and fight to be seen. I wish I could afford to go private. As you said it took about four months from being referred to getting an appointment for St Marys and by then I was already pregnant so they wouldn't see me (that bit of info would have been helpful before getting pregnant).

That's really annoying they wouldn't see you! So are you trying to get referred again? Sorry you're still in pain x
I had a letter yesterday from Dr Rai to say my second anticardiolipin antibody test came back positive!! Im so glad they found something, wasn't expecting the result as it was the second test and assumed it would be fine!!

So is that where you are injected with your Dh's white blood cells so your body doesn't reject the baby? Do you have more tests left to go?
DH and I were really low today. Our little dog had a bug and was puking and pooping from 3am -8am so we didn't get much sleep. Poor bunny. I think he's been trying to train us to be parents for the past two and a half years. Still no appointment from consultant or the counselling people. Feel invisible.

I went for my 20 week scan yesrtday and everything was fine.

Very exciting!

Hope this good feeling lasts as i get very stressed thinking things can still go wrong.

Hi pebs! That's amazing news well done! I'm so pleased for you & its nice to hear a positive story. Hope the rest of your pregnancy continues to be uneventful!

I was meaning to update this thread. I got my thrombophilia test results back and all normal. I've read about the high risk of false negatives so I'm still worried. And also frustrated that noones found anything wrong but glad I don't have another issue to contend with. So all we can do now is try again. Probably not til the new year though as I can't face being pregnant and stressing over the festive period. Just want to enjoy it and not have another occasion marked with a miscarriage.

How is everyone else doing??

That's great news Pebs, wishing you a very uneventful pregnancy too!
Amum - sorry for the late reply, I think heparin reduces clotting.
Tea, that's good news that all is well but I do know what you mean with feeling frustrated, fingers crossed for next time x I'm waiting for surgery in the new year so v much looking forward to not having all the questions about not drinking.....

Hi ladies,
mind if i join? i have been on this thread before and Pebs and some of you other ladies were lovely and helpful- just couldnt quite face it (hope you know what i mean) for a while so have had a break. to try to be brief my story is that i have a 3.9yr old DS and in the last 2 yrs have had 4 miscarriages... 2 MMC (9 wks, discovered 12 wks and 8 wks discovered 9 wks) then a miscarriage at 5 wks then another MMC at 9 weeks. 1st one was blighted ovum and numbers 2 and 4 we saw a heartbeat then in later scan no heartbeat. fast forward to now i have been referred to Dr Farquharson at Liverpool womens hospital and he has diagnosed anti phospholipid syndrome (normal levels are 6 and mine were 35 apparently) ie my blood is sticky. so now i am on 5mg follic acid and when i next get pregnant (hurry up!) i need to start taking asprin and also call them and i will go in and be shown how to inject heparin.

sopebs i am so pleased to hear how well you are getting on

how can i be so desperate yet so dreading of a BFP??!

Hello

I havn't posted on here for a while, but thought I'd pop in, mainly to say congratulations to pebs. Great news - how are you?

I'm currently 10 weeks pregnant (after 4 mc's). I had a uNK biopsy in the summer and was found to have a high number of NK cells in my womb.
I'm on Prednisolone, progesterone pessaries and Clexane injections.

I've had two late mc's (one at 20 wks and one at 15 wks) so am starting to get nervous about the 2nd trimester now.

It doesn't seem to be very busy on here - it would be nice if we could get the thread up and running again.

amuminwaiting so sad to hear to you lost your baby girl How are you?

Hi school
How funny - no posts since 19th Nov, then we both post within minutes of each other

Thats great news that you have a diagnosis (although obviously not that you have APS), and I've read that the pregnancy success rate with blood clotting disorders and Heparin is high.

I completly understand the feeling of wanting and dreading a BFP at the same time. Its exactly how I felt this time. Hope it happens soon for you

hi ilove thats spooky :)
wow they really have got you on half the pharmacy there havent they?! 2 late miscarriages must have been awful- i'm so sorry.

great they have got a diagnosis of something though - are they monitering you really closely now with scans etc?

Liverpool womens where i am now said when i next get pregnant they will scan every 2 weeks which is reassuring (and scary..)

a week till POAS testing for me (though since last ERPC in July my body has been a bit bonkers so god knows if thats right...

maybe we can get the thread moving again.. unless its moved onto another thread and we've missed it!?

I'm being seen by the consultant at my local hospital and Prof Quenby at Coventry hospital (think she used to be at Liverpool women's) because my hospital refused to prescribe the medication . But its worked out quite well scan-wise - have had one pretty much fortnightly up till now. Next one is on Friday - so am starting to get nervous. I find them so traumatic after the bad experiences.

Fingers crossed for a Christmas BFP for you.
Have you started the aspirin yet or do you take it from BFP?

So annoying re. local hospitals but good that you are now referred to right place. I know what you mean about scans.. It gets to the point where you can't imagine anything other than that "I'm sorry.." Speech doesn't it. We just have to remember all those stats that say likelihood is next time will be ok I guess (easier said than done)..

No it's aspirin from point of BFP. I actually took just aspirin last time (heartbeat seen at 8 weeks and sopped at 9weeks) but didn't work. dr farq says as so many potential reasons for mc you can't say that my sticky blood caused them all. Anyway here's going the heparin as well helps (he also said research he had read said heparin plus asprin showed same results as just asprin but all the googling I've done shows journals by mainly prof regan at st Mary's where yet show significantly better results with both. So I'm going for both anyway (he said up to me on that one). Heparin starts once heartbeat seen.

Will be thinking about you on Friday. What times the scan?

Scan is at 2.15pm. I've got to get two trains and a bus to Coventry hospital - so its a bit of a trek, but worth it as they've been so great.

I was on aspirin only too (75mg) with my last mc but baby died at 13 ish weeks. I convinced myself that it got that far due to the aspirin (previous two mcs were early) so I'm taking it again this time.
Finding things really tough at the moment - have been signed off work with throat infection (I'm a teacher), and finding it hard to get excited about Christmas with the possibility of another mc looming.
I do have positive days but feeling a bit wobbly at the moment.

Hi iloveblue and schooldilemmas. Thanks for starting this thread up again. Ilove congrats on your pregnancy. I know what a horribly stressful time it is. I actually hate being pregnant more than not being pregnant. I also totally relate to the worry about Xmas - one of the main reasons we are not trying again until Jan is because I can't face being really stressed over Xmas and new year and possibly having another mc and maybe having to go into hospital over the festive period. But good luck with it all. You have loads of help on your side and such a good chance it will all work out. Although I literally never take my own advice so feel free to ignore me! Otherwise just grit your teeth and get through this as best you can. Hopefully by xmas you will be able to relax a bit. Always here if you need to chat.

School do you mind if I ask how they diagnosed the APS and whether you have any symptoms other than the mc? I have had all the nhs thrombophilia tests as well as karyotyping, general blood tests and a saline 3D scan & all came back clear. I just worry they've missed something. I asked one consultant about nk cells but he said as I've had one normal and one definitely chromosomally abnormal pregnancy (tissue tested after erpc) it's unlikely I have high nk cells.

So we are pretty much waiting to try again. Going to try to enjoy this month and hope that we have better luck in 2013 than we did in 2012!! Absolutely dreading it though. :(

ilove wow that sounds like a mission to get there but like you say- worth it if they are good- will you have someone with you? hope so. you poor thing off work too :( youre bound to be unsettled with the scan coming up as well... keep those calm thoughts whenever you can but know its difficult and advise you would give others is lost when you try to tell it to yourself doesnt it.

teaandchoc now there's a good idea! (your username that is :) agree with your hate being preggers more than not- when youve done that horrid first few months bit with no baby to show for it 4 times you're just so over it.
:(

dont mind you asking at all! i had had the 4 miscarriage so got referred to the recurrent miscarriage clinic at liverpool and as part of the standard tests they do they test for the antibodies (i think thats right) and the test just came back positive. now weirdly enough my local hospital had tested me for "clotting" issues before (not sure on specifics but assume was testing for same thing) and it came back fine. but apparently there are loads of problems with the test ie it has to be sent off within an hour of the blood being taken otherwise the results will always come back negative and a lot of local hospitals dont know that so thats why best if you can to get refered to a specialist recurrent miscarriage one. Dr Farquharsan said that women often have this come on in late 20's early 30s weirdly (i am 33) and it maybe explains why i had my DS aged 29 with absolutely no issues at all.

Completely feel for you on the dread of it all. im due to test at the weekend (not feeling it this month- pretty sure wont be bfp) and where as i have always been a bit exited despite it all- this time i'm dreading it.

on the plus side.. no pregnancy pre jan means we can all go out and drink wine at xmas parties :) (can you tell i'm trying to put a positive spin on it here?)

sorry that turned into an essay!
x