Recurrent Miscarriage Support - tests, treatment, trying again - thread 9

[bakingtins]

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

Can we start the thread with a recap of where we are all up to again, please?

un-MN hugs fireman
take your time to recover and remember you are allowed to cry and eat as much choccy as you want

Glad firemansam the erpc went ok.

Have been offered a private appointment at st Mary's and I can choose between an appointment with prof regan or with raj rai. Any opinions on who would be better? Also can anyone tell me what they'll go through in the first consultation and where they tend to start with tests?

Take care of yourself Fireman and rest up.

Katie I saw Raj Rai, he is very good. But then again Prof Regan literally 'wrote the book' on miscarriage! Either would be extremely good I'm sure.

I see professor Regan and was really nervous because some people had said they found her a bit short with them and switched to Raj Rai. I've found her to be no nonsense and thorough though which is exactly what I want. My first consultation was talking through my history which took quite some time! I took all the paperwork I had on my miscarriages as well as test results. I also told her about things the consultants I'd seen disregarded such as how prone I am to UTIs and that I'd felt I had them shortly before my miscarriages and she told me there and then that I would be coming in for exploratory surgery and keyhole to look at my bladder properly….thus the six weeks antibiotics. I also got offered a last minute cancellation appointment so saw her a month before I thought I would which was great. I had a whole list of questions to ask her but she was so thorough I didn't have anything to ask by the end of the consultation. I saw her end of October and had bloods done afterwards, then a pre-op start of December and in for surgery two weeks ago so it was all quite quick.

I saw prof Regan. She is no-nonsense, and that's reassuring. She did my op to remove my septum in my uterus and the consultation a month later. When she told me and Dh we had the 'green light' I said, flippantly, that we could DTD that afternoon. Prof Regan looked at us over her glasses and said, totally dead pan, "please do at least try to wait until you get home,"

Just

ahaha Just
But honestly, my DD was conceived at lunchtime after my morning appointment with Raj Rai as I had to get back to work that afternoon and only had the morning off

:D Well those long stuffy train journeys are dead romantic aren't they?!
Yes she has a dry humour. She's so little. I thought from her book photo she'd be this tall, looming woman. When I first met her she said "ok follow me" and then stormed down the hall and a very young student smiled at me and said "just take a seat in here and she'll be back". It's nice to have someone so confident after years of being told so many conflicting things. Frankly, some of the people I saw in the early days were complete idiots. The worst was the very first consultant who said I must have been in a car accident or something and that's why my baby died! He must have just wandered into the hospitals, I can't imagine how someone so stupid could have passed medical exams!

Has anyone passed any clots after an ERPC? I stupidly didn't think I'd bleed much but I've had fairly heavy bleeding (for me, I'm not going through pads quickly) but I've just passed a fairly large clot. I'm not in any great pain but didn't think I'd get this!

Just and tiny, that made me laugh!

Firemans it sounds pretty normal but if it carries on for a couple of days, is very painful or starts to smell foul see your GP. Try not to worry. If you're soaking through a pad in less than an hour, call NHS direct or go to a&e. Good luck. I'm sure you're fine.

Thanks Just, naively I didn't think there would be much bleeding at all. Every day is a school day I guess!

As long as you're not in a lot of pain and not going through more than a pad an hour you should be fine. Watch out for any fever. I picked up an infection after I had ERPC. If there's anything you're worried about call your surgery or hospital. I used to worry that I was panicking about nothing and getting on the doctors nerves but I don't worry anymore!

I need to be quicker typing and not chat to the hubby at the same time so I don't write exactly the same thing!

This thread seems very busy! I've lost track after only a few days.

just very funny! I'm with prof. R too, i can just image her say this! I bet she's really funny on a night out with her pals!

aMum you have a really terrible time.. But I really admire your determination to keep going. Great that you are at st Mary's, if anyone can get to the root of things they can. Hoping for good news for you over the coming months.

baking have a fab weekend break!

cutie hope things are going ok and sorry to hear of your many losses. 5 weeks is so early (I'm the same) I wish it could be week 30! I hope you get past the difficult 7 week mark where yourlosses occurred, and maybe you can relax a little bit then. What a strange mixture of hope and anxiety.
Btw - Heparin and aspirin did not work for me last time, but I'm heading in the same direction next week and hoping they will work this time.

tanny what a disappointment... It's not over yet but I guess you need to prepare it to go either way. Thinking of you.

ahbut what a story! I can't believe you had the strength and courage to go through all that. Send some this way - I'm a wreck after 2 mcs and am so scared that one more will finish me off! But what courage and persistence. So glad you have your DS, though I can image that it is still painful for you given all your losses. Thank you for sharing.

jbrd I think you are right - it is so wishy washy, and there is a huge lack of research in this area. If you had a blood clotting disorder, there would be no other intervention - aspirin and heparin seems to be the main/only option. Feeling the same about 12 weeks - we need nice treats to distract ourselves. Fingers crossed for you..

Thinking of you fireman hope you are ok.

katie I'm sure both would be excellent. I'm with prof r and her no nonsense approach suits me. Though occasionally she has been very rushed ( I ave phone consultations due to distance), but she sends fantastic follow-up letter which ensure everything is as clear as it can be. Very best of luck.

squiz hope the bruising is not too bad! I remember going for pedicure on heparin and I had major bruises on my legs (not just in the injection locations). I think the girl though I had been beaten up. I bruise easily but the heaps run just made then much more obvious. If all is well after 6 week scan next week will be joining you for the bruise fest!

Got myself in gear today and informed me go and local consultant that I'm pregnant. I do need to get a grip as I was on the verge of tears informing he gp. My preferred strategy is distraction but then that gets overridden by significant distress at times.. Oh well. I got in touch with a counsellor I saw before - may as well get all the support possible r the weeks/months ahead!! And my consultant was really great and called me back, already making plans to see me next week...

So very happy, very hopeful and very anxious!!

Meant to say"informed my gp and local consultant..."

Fingers waning after too much iPad tapping. Must be briefer!

squiz I had an ectropian after I came on Yasmin and it shouldn't effect the pregnancy at all but can cause brown spotting which can be worrying when you are pregnant I agree with everything amum said to, you CAN have it removed if it bothers you but mine did bugger off on it's own. I always used to inject clexane into the lower belly for patient's, some were on it long term though and got fed up of brusing so I'd move to the thigh, a lot said they preferred it there!

Kirnim I am sorry to hear of your loss but it's good they are doing some tests for you. I think a lot of has have turned to alcohol before, the day of my erpc i came home and drunk even though I shouldn't of and it didn't make me feel any better sadly but at the time you think it will. for you.

butterfly tut for panicking to much (not that I can talk) I am meant to have the flu jab due to other medical issues but never get it. What does the NHS websie say about it? I usually scroll to the comments from people to see what they say.

Welcome cutie sorry to hear of all your losses. Hope this pregnancy sticks for you.

Tiny I am doing the same attitude as you, one day at a time! Then I tick the calender on my phone to when I turn a new week. Makes it a bit easier having little steps to get to.

Firemansamswife Have they given you some codeine for the pain? If it makes you feel a bit better after i had an erpc the bleeding was the heaveist for 2 - 3 days then it did get a lot more managable. Eat as much chocolate as you want, I think it has medicinal purposes for times like this! I remember the notes saying some clots could be normal, if it carries on though probably best to get it checked out. Hope you are getting plenty of rest.

Sorry if i missed anyone!

I am still pregnant and trying to focus on that. Knicker checking down to a minimum, paranoia slightly up but all in all I am ok!

Thanks for all the tips re st Mary's, prof regan sounds like a character! Think I'd quite like a no nonsense approach!

Firemansam, I had clots not long after my erpc and was quite crampy but painkillers I was given by hospital eased that. I also got an infection, I went back to work too soon (secondary teacher) and 3 days later i was rather ill and gp gave me very strong antibiotics and signed me off for few days. Look out for it, though I was led to believe its not that common.

I would definitely recommend chocolate and trash tv! After all my losses (7) I always go for big chunks of Brie!

Ah thanks all, that's put my mind at rest. I'm not actually all that sore, haven't needed painkillers yet. I have a massive pack of pate to chomp through tomorrow, then once I'm on my feet I'm on mission keep fit! Got a pill prescription so I can give myself a few months off knowing I won't get pregnant and I'm going to try to get my podgy unfit body into a better state of health before trying again.

Tay I'm really glad you have everything in place, I'm keeping everything crossed for all you ladies in the early phases, they really are the worst... xx

I'm well jealous of everyone getting treated either at St Marys or by Prof Q. I feel like screaming at my provincial gynae team that just taking aspirin won't make all pregnancies work!

I spoke to one of the nurses at EPAC yesterday, who is lovely (they all are), but the only thing they can offer is to scan me at 6 weeks (I'm currently 4+1). She is right. If it's failing it will continue to, whatever the results of a blood test are.

So I'm going to try to keep going, taking the progesterone and aspirin and all my supplements, and l'm going to try not to test. it only increases my anxiety.

If this one doesn't work out, I'll be asking for a referral to St Marys.

I also had my first free counselling session through work. God knows what he thinks he's taken on. I just sat and blubbed and kept apologising.

Sorry (apologising again) I'm very navel gazey at the moment.

Just - I don't think there's any treatment for Sjogrens, but I took clexane probably just for good measure! As far as I recall it gives an increased risk of congenital heart problems in the baby, so worth knowing if you're positive for it as they can monitor that via late scans and be prepared.

I'm going to bow out now and wish you all well ladies. Keep strong, believe me, you CAN get there. Believe in yourselves and keep using each others' support - there's nothing quite like someone who really understands. Thanks for letting me share!

tanny nothing wrong with not being in London, in fact, if this one doesn't work I will be going to Coventry to see Professor Q...

When are you due? I am also 4w +2 or 3 allegedly due 6th October (and I shall keep saying allegedly until I get scanned)

And positive thoughts to all of us going through the first few weeks

I am going to put a post it up on my computer reminding me every morning

T I A P

(today I am pregnant)

I like that Tiny, I've got a pink post it handy...

My alleged due date (ADD) is 7th Oct. I like the synergy of us both being pg at the same time again. God I hope it works out for both of us this time!

Tanny I'm 7th of september, exactly a month in front! One day at a time!