Recurrent miscarriage support - tests, treatment, trying again - thread 8

[Bakingtins]

Welcome everyone, pull up a chair! A thread for anyone who has suffered multiple miscarriages and is in need of company, information, moral support, tea or sympathy.

Can I suggest we start page 1 with a recap of where we are all up to, because my fuddled head can't keep track?

Bobsmum I think we have similar sticky blood - I have persistantly high iGm but no factor V, lupus antibodies or igG (tested at St Mary's). They diagnosed me as having "a type of" antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (in the words of Mr Rai one of the senior consultants) and put me on heparin. I have paperwork from St Mary's mentioning the term too and am taking part in a long-term tracking trial for women with APS - so I would definitely challenge your gynie on the assumption that on it's own no heparin is needed! Mr Rai was very specific about it being probable cause of my losses bar my partial molar and heparin being required in future pregancies.

...and as Baking says an over active thyroid definitely needs checking! The tested me at St Mary's for that too.

Knicker-watch update: tiny amount of CM was sliightly beige (like, a drop in with the rest of it). Stressed out. Having said that it was 1 hour ago and all knicker checks since been fine. NUTS I TELL YOU, I'M NUTS if when I have a kid I swear I'll still be poking my right boob in the church on their Christening or confirmation even.

It's usually under active thyroid that's a problem. If you have overactive thyroid like my friend you can't TTC because the drugs are toxic, so they knock out your thyroid with radioactive iodine then put you on thyroid supplements (thyroxine) which are safe for a pregnancy, but you need levels monitored.

Omg its so much more complicated than i thought! I have underactive thyroid ehich was stopping me ovulating, but getting weird symptoms on thyroxine (hot flushes) even though all thyroid tests say i'm fine. So paranoid i'm getting early menopause....
Sounds like i def need to push to see specialists for thyroid and blood, thanks for the info ladies!

That's really interesting Baking about the different thyroid treatments - they tested both ways for me and basically said they'd treat it if it was too high or too low, didn't realise how different the treatments are! Bobsmum have you read "Miscarriage, what every woman should know" by Prof Regan or Coming To Term by Jon Cohen - both really explain all the jargon well and helped me to hold my own with overworked docs to get referred. :)

Thanks squizita, will look it up. Am really struggling with my gp.

Squizita, do you mind me asking if ur on heparin all the time, or only when pg? X

Hi bobsmum sorry you find yourself here

baking,butterfly, squizita and downstairs the anxiety is awful

I have found christmas really quite difficult, loads of pregnancy announcements and births

Hi to everyone else

for bobsmum and for purplefrogshoe

Yes it's difficult. I actually found out boxing day so suddenly had to stop drinking, was a bit hard to explain. I haven't felt relaxed one day since I found out tbh, it's horrible isn't it? Especially when you see others excited and you just can't feel that anymore.

The loss of innocence is how I called it... I never relaxed in my pregnancy...

I am now trying again... just finished AF so let's see how it goes. my main thing is to try and get fit again. as the comfort eating after mc4 was terrible.

went running again on saturday and hope to keep up weekly runs

Thanks Ladies I don't feel as nuts now :) it's awful not being able to enjoy it but I guess that's what recurrent miscarriage does to you, we haven't announced it yet only parents and a couple of others know maybe I'll feel. better after my appointment next week I want to make sure nothings gone wrong before we tell people.
I'm feeling really rough today luckily it's my day off I'm lying in bed I would never be in bed at this time normally! When does the sickness wear off I literally feel nauseous 24/7 I get slight relief once I've been sick. Also getting a lot of hip pain at night it's waking me up and I feel like someone has hoofed me in the fan what's that?? Surely 14+2 is early for aches and pains!

for purple sorry christmas was tough, pg announcments are always hard.

Good luck this month tiny

Hi ladies. How are you doing squiz?

Ugh I'm struggling too with so many new babies and pregnancy annoucements. I find I'm constantly hanging out with people who have bumps. But I can't exactly change all my friends can I? Plus it's back to work tomoz :(

Butterfly I have heard (from a mum at my church) that some people find the body preparing for a big bump very painful - muscle pain in the belly/hips. Perhaps it is that? Sorry to hear about the sickness.

Bob I am on only when pregnant. Just as well, cut my lip this morning, was (not alarmingly but definitely) rather bleedy.

Actually have another heparin question. Baking maybe you know a top tip? My small local chemist gave me a mishmash of needle/injection styles as obviously low call for clexane there. The first lot I used were dead easy: just a syringe you put a lid onto when done. This next lot is a nightmare. You're meant to push the plunger until it's empty then the needle slides into a safety area inside a big tube surrounding the syringe. However, when I thought empty (and I pushed hard with my thumb, big white plunger was flush with the tube- no 'give') it was at that stage, and withdrew the needle, I had to push again with force to get it to 'click' into the safety holder, and it shot back in violently... and a couple of drops of clexane squirted out so I've probably given myself a too-low dose. But I'm not sure it wouldn't pinch my skin or leave me with a syringe stuck in my side if I 'clicked' it all the way in with the needle still inserted? Honestly, it really seemed empty and the 'clack' + drops of clexane made me jump! I know (by the burning) it did go in mostly though. Maybe I've just got a stiff and clunky batch. :/

Only two three knicker checks so far today, one thing to be said for being at work I guess. Keeps me saneer.

HI Squiz. I had some of those massive safety syringes and I didn't like them either! You always get a few drops forced out of the hub of the needle when you click the plunger right down. Don't worry.
I started asking for the standard needle/syringes when I ordered them.

Thanks Baking, glad to hear I haven't just dripped precious clexane all over the bathroom floor!

Hey butterfly i've heard that pelvic girdle pain can make you feel like you've been kicked in the whatsit, its where the tendons in your oelvis stretch too much. Might be that?
Wow squizita heparin sounds like hard work :-/
fedup me too. Am coming up on due date from mc3 (carried it for 12 weeks, embryo didn't get past 6 weeks), and my oldest friend is due at the same time. I'm not angry any more (i couldnt speak to her for weeks, felt like she stole my baby, how nuts is that), just v sad.

Not nuts bobsmum if you look back at all our posts you can see many of us have had feelings exactly the same as you. :)

squiz clexane injections are horrible. Could your DP do them for you? When i worked at the hospital we had a few patients who were regular heparin users and actually preferred others to do it for them. Even a lady who had been using it on and off for years used to be convinced it hurt less when someone else did it (so i used to get a "NURSE!" call at every drugs round!) I know if i ever have a succesful pregnancy (fx) i'll be having a c section and will get dp to do my injections for me after i think. How were the knicker checks?!

fedup even though i'm pg now I keep seeing bumps and tbh, I am jealous as there's a high chance i won't make it that far. It's not a nice feeling.

Only saw gp on friday but eagerly checked by mailbox for the obsetrics referal... nothing.. obviously. This is the NHS ffs! I did get my new attachments for my henry hoover (probably highlight of my day) Wonder how long it will take to hear. DP says he won't talk about the pregnancy till he sees a heartbeat so it's a bit like we are waiting for any news at th emoment.

Fx downstairs x

Bobs sorry to hear you're having a tough time.

Downstairs I'm quite happy to do them myself and don't find them all all that painful now, it's just the clumsy "you're injecting at home so must be PROTECTED" ones are annoying and I was scared I was squirting it on the floor not into me!! :)
I know what you mean about not wanting to talk until after a HB is seen. DH listens to anything I say and says "I don't know what to say, I don't want to pressurise or seem pessimistic, I'll just listen".

Don't want to jinx anything re knicker checks but the most distressing thing that happened at work was the weather when I was on duty. Phew.

downstairs I am the same, it feels like I spent today either checking my knickers or my phone. And I get home to find a letter with a booking in appointment for the end of the month I was meant to be referred to the epu for an early scan so I hope the gp can sort it out tomorrow. A booking in appointment already is most definitely putting the cart before the horse imo.

Hello Bobsmum. Sorry you are here, but I can see it's already been useful.

Tiny good to hear you're back to ttc. Fx for some news soon!

Fedup the only good thing about being as old as I am and ttc is that all my friends have had all their babies and think I'm off my rocker wanting sleepless nights and no social life when they're just getting theirs back!

There is a girl at work who's been on heparin and is now 25 weeks. Unfortunately she seems to avoid talking to me!

I had some bloods taken today, so hopefully I'll get some results from those at my consultant appt next week. I really hope they're all ok...

Hello Bobsmum, sorry you find yourself here. It's really useful to get others' experiences and perspectives as we all know what it's like to get to this stage. For me, getting pg really has nothing to do with having a baby - I just can't get my head around it at all, but these ladies give me hope! :)
Just been D-ing TD every day for about 5 days and I reckon We've given myself the bast chance possible, so the 2ww begins. I hate this next bit! FX!
Waves to everyone. x

Ahem - given ourselves... single minded or what!? And they say romance is dead...

Fingers crossed just

nearly im not even sure if mine is a scan or just checking in. Gp didnt make it clear. How far are you along now?

just I hated the 2ww with a passion, off course I did poas most days (addicted) despite knowing I was being daft.
downstairs by my calculation im 6. Bit wound up today because 6/7 has been when I have lost on 2 occasions. I was really hoping for a scan to check for hb. Luckily dh remembered the gynae docs name who said that if I became pregnant again they would offer reasurrance scans. How are you feeling? I've had nausea coming and going and super tired. All good signs I think