Recurrent Miscarriage Testing, trials and tribulations...Part 7!

[squizita]

Hi all, carrying on from part 6. All kinicker-checkers, blood-testers, clinic-attenders and finger-crossers welcome. Nothing but love and crossed fingers...

Hi everyone!

Butterfly so nice to hear from you and I'm so sorry you're having such a rubbish time still. I agree you should push for some answers about this especially if its not normal for you. Although my cycles are always totally messed up after mc, especially the later ones. However, I do have pcos so chances are its hormonal as mine are very sensitive and prone to getting out of kilter. When you see your consultant push for a detailed scan to get everything checked out physically and also blood tests. Hopefully it was just your body flushing everything out and getting ready for ttc again. I agree you need some good luck now! I also agree your GP sounds very annoying. Its not as if you don't have a reason to be concerned, looking at your history and surely its more worrying because you're young as we kind of accept the our bodys go a bit mental as we get older!! Anyway, hope you get some answers and things settle down a bit. How have you been feeling in yourself?

Lands Hi! thanks for popping back to reassure me. 22 weeks is amazing!! I often think of you and how stressful your early pregnancy was and how far you've come!!

Baking how are you feeling? Any brighter? You have been so strong for so long its not surprising that you have a wobble. I am in awe of your determination to keep going to have a 3rd. If I ever get to have a 2nd I'm not sure I could do this again. But its such a difficult decision and one that is hard to make without letting the physical need to have a baby take over completely. The running sounds like a fab idea. I'm jealous! I have done no exercise at all recently as am so paranoid that I'll dislodge something! So added to the fact I've been eating rubbish as can't face healthy food I feel like a blob!

Latebloomer glad you sound like you're doing really well. Hope you have a fab time with DH when you see him.

Justone and Polka hello and welcome. So sorry for your losses. I haven't been to St Marys but read good things about it although they don't test for immune issues. I did a bit of research and did like the sound of Zita West as Dr Nduke has moved there as he is big into immune issues (Chicago tests etc) and is apparently very nice. I also like the fact they look at alternative therapies etc. Its such a hard decision knowing where to go. I had private healthcare and it would cover some tests (none of the immune stuff) but I ended up getting quite a few on the NHS through a lovely local consultant. However, the private healthcare has a limit on how much you can spend per year and it ran out very quickly!!

Picardy FX for the ttc!! I always think its best it happens as inconvenient times...maybe I am warped!!

Blimey as I mentioned above my cycle always goes a bit mental after a mc or erpc. Takes a few months to settle down. Found acpuncture really good at sorting stuff out and calming me down!!

No news here really. Was sick again and feeling pretty dreadful yesterday so felt a bit more positive but still terrified for scan tomorrow as just not sure how I'm going to cope if it goes wrong again. I can't help thinking positively about it now for some reason which really scares me!! Will keep you all posted.

Thanks tea I know thankfully all has settled down sort of now except they think I might have the onset of spd but only time will tell not much I can do about it anyway not going to moan as it is a small price to pay seeing as I never thought I would get this far again hope you are feeling better i know exactly how you feel though I found it easier to set myself goals eg midwife in 5 days rather than keep thinking week by week it helped me get passed the first few months xx

Hi tea I've been feeling ok just petrified at the thought of. ttc again and going through those early weeks I'm just so scared of it happening again I can't ever imagine us getting a happy ending, then this bleeding has just piled more worry on but apart from that I'm ok keeping busy with wedding plans!

The sickness sounds like a good sign for you hope all is well tomorrow, positive thinking is good I've always had a feeling something wasn't quite right with my pregnancies so the fact you feel ok about it is hopefully because everything is fine :) will be thinking about you tomorrow x

Good luck for tomorrow, Tea everything crossed for a positive update from you.

Hi ladies - thanks for the welcome and all the advices, it certainly is a complete minefield of who/where to go and what tests to have, I just wish it was a bit more simple as feel I'm running out of time and sanity to not get this right - aggh!

I'm currently having a conundrum as I'm pretty sure I've miscarried this time but its all been delayed due to Cyclogest (this is my non-medical knowledge gut feeling) however as I've only had 30mins of cramping (Sat eve) and only passed one clot then light bleeding since, I've been told to carry on taking Cyclogest and wait for a my 6 wk scan next week to be 100% sure. I know I'm being really impatient and would dance and do cartwheels if I hadn't mc but in my heart of hearts I definately think its game over so just want to stop the Cy. and move on.....

Hope you are all managing to enjoy the sunshine today anyhow - I feel like leaping into a vat of Mr Whippy!!!

Cyclogest is a real double edged sword, isn't it? I took it in my last pregnancy - found out at 7+4 that baby was measuring 5 weeks, then at 8+4 it was 6 weeks and had a weak hb, then finally miscarried at 9+2. My instructions were to keep taking the cyclogest until the point at which a MC was confirmed, but I think actually all it did was string the whole thing out. Lesley Regan is not a fan, says that low progesterone is the symptom of a failing pregnancy and not the cause of it, but on the other hand I know of people who have had RMC and then done well on cyclogest, and it has been shown in studies to improve outcomes of IVF. My consultant is of the opinion it "does no harm" or at least the only harm is it may drag out the process of a pregnancy loss. I think whilst there is a chance that your gut feel is wrong and everything is progressing ok you need to take it. I hope you get better news than you expect next week.

Thanks baking, think you're absolutely right about double edged sword and stupidly I'd sat all my hopes that I'd offer the magic needed for a viable pg

Hi All,
Yes, I agree that the cyclogest is a double edged sword. I found out at the 13 week scan that my latest had died at around 9ish weeks (saw a good hb at 9 weeks 1 day). But because of the cyclogest I had no idea as still feeling pg, no spotting etc as my body was fooled into thinking everything was OK. Then had to wait a week to arrange ERPC (I wanted it done with US guidance as I had lots of problems with retained products last time). I am convinced that cyclogest kept it 'in'. Looking forward to a quick and uncomplicated recovery this time.
Having said that, I'd rather take it than not if there's a chance it can tip the balance in my favour next time.
xx

Hi, Does anyone know how far in advance of ttc again they need to do the tests for NK cells? Has anyone had this test done? What does it involve? Thanks in advance, Ladies. xx

I haven't had it but did look in to getting it done in Coventry (Dr Quenby). She does a uterine biopsy, you have to have had at least one normal period and be 7-10 days post ov and definitely not pregnant, so I guess that's c2months post MC at the earliest. They do a consult, scan and test on the same day (biopsy is done conscious, something like a smear) and the results are emailed or phoned to you within a month. Cost £350
That may not apply to blood testing though.

Thanks Bakingtins. I'll ask and see what I can get sorted. Just want to get as many tests as possible done ASAP so we can get on with deciding whether to ttc again.

I got a BFN this morning so at least I don't have to wait for a scan next week before stopping my Cyclogest and I can move mind/body onto the next stage.

Sorry to hear that, Polka that's rubbish news

Thanks BakingTins, I knew deep down it was game over so just wanted the BFN sooner rather than letter so I could stop the meds and let nature do its thang. Gutting but expected!

I got a copy of my AMH results today 19.9 which is 'satisfactory fertility' but not far off 'low' which is anything

Tea are you ok? Have been thinking of you today.

I've also been thinking about you tea. X

Hi everyone! Thank you for all your support and sorry for not updating sooner.

Scan today was perfect!! 9.3 weeks and heartbeat all fine and it was wriggling around and waving! So so relieved and happy. Trying not to get too excited as need to wait until proper nuchal test etc. next scan in 2 weeks then full nuchal and tests probably the week after hopefully. Keep all your fingers and toes crossed for me!!

Not had a chance to read through the other post properly as was in a state of anxiety the past 2 days but will do later. Thank you so much for thinking of me, I really do appreciate it.

Tea, that's marvellous. Fingers crossed things continue to go well.

Baking, I can't tell if your message was one of positivity or one of resignation. Or just covering the bases. In any case, hoping that finding out options provide some peace of mind.

We met with the surgeon today which was good- I got to ask a lot of questions (I operate better when I know the facts) and DH seems comfortable with the plan. We need to explore putting his junk on ice as he'll need to do chemo which is likely to affect fertility. Found out that my private insurance won't cover the RMC so will need to try through the NHS. Normally I'd be up for a fight but I need to direct my energy toward DH and stupid cancer.

Tea that is brilliant news I am so pleased for you fingers crossed everything will be fine :) x

Great news, tea :)

Baking, your message makes me feel all sorts of things - sad for you and empathic (won't start going on about mememe now) and curious and tentatively excited about your struck-out news.

Phew! Tea that's brilliant news.

LB our health insurance won't cover RMC either. Now I've got the magic 3-in-a-row I've only waited a month for an appointment and I think that was mostly about time for results to be back. I hope it won't delay you seeing someone too much. Glad you are getting answers and a plan wrt DH.

I think I'm gradually coming around to the idea of not trying again, though the decision is not made yet. If there's something we missed when we see the consultant next time then we'll have the tests. if baby had some completely random chromosome problem that isn't likely to recur then maybe that changes things, but really, how likely is it that that has happened 4 times, 3 times in succession? I personally think I'm in the group that will eventually be explained by the reproductive immunology conditions, but that seems to be a black hole of possible tests and controversial treatments to pour our remaining emotional energy and £££ into. I'm going to ask about it next week. It's an odd feeling because previously I haven't really even thought about not trying again, but maybe we've just gone as far as we can cope with.

Baking, suffice to say that we are living parallel lives, to quite an extent. We too are very close to cutting our losses and giving up the dream.

There's an 'in other news' for me too: the genetics report is at the gynae's and I'm going to collect it in a couple of hours. Erk.

Baking a mix of sad but exciting/brave news - I wish you luck with it all.

Tea wow, what lovely news from such a positive scan and it was waving at you too!!

I didn't know wether you ladies follow/had seen/were interested but Zita West and Dr Ndukwe are running a Q&A on Twitter between 1pm-2pm - thought it might be interest and worth a nose! (wink)

It was a boy, probably with monosomy 21. They think one of us might have a balanced translocation. Appt for genetic counselling in Aug.