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?

sherry welcome to the thread. I'm sorry to hear you've had MC3, but hope that means you can get the ball rolling on testing and hopefully some answers.

Tiny I'm so sorry

Tiny just wondering how you're doing. Hope you're ok and getting plenty of support in RL. Thinking of you xxx

Hi Tanny

I went to the EPU yesterday to take the first tablet. Felt a bit guilty as I could only go after work and nursery pick up, so there were 4 other women waiting at the EPU and I had my 2yo there...

She was quite good, quiet, drawing and I bought a new book, but still, when I had my first 3 before any other children, some days I was so angry that seeing kids tipped me over... but there was nothing else I could have done...

Tomorrow morning I have the second lot of tablets and then the miscarriage should start an hour or two later... I picked these timings so my husband can look after our daughter...

My body is still holding on, no bleeding, no cramps, no nothing... stupid body...

How are you doing? will you get more tests done? have a longer break?

thanks for asking

Tiny it all sounds desperately sad. I know that feeling of wanting to make it easier for people around you, even the ones you don't know!

I really hope tomorrow goes ok and it will be a bit of "moving on" to the next phase iykwim.

I had a meltdown at work on Tuesday and came home as I was close to resigning. I'm just struggling with multiple losses and it's all got a bit too much. My GP has signed me off for a week and a half, so that should help.

My next move is a second blood test for clotting, which I have to get done in a month. Will then meet with gynae and discuss next moves. We are imposing a 3 month wait on ourselves before we ttc again. I don't have the energy or resilience right now...

What about you? Is it too soon to have plans?

the plan once this mc is finished is to have one period, then look for ovulation and book the appointment with Professor Q for the NK cell testing... then one last try...

I will be 41 in August and don't want to go though it many more times...

one more attempt and that will be it...

Good to have a break tanny... sometimes you need to get your head in order. have you been offered counselling?

Yes, I've been thinking of going to see Prof Q too. I will get as far as I can with my twattish gynae first ...

I am having counselling at the moment that was arranged through work's EAP scheme. I started it before the MC and it's been a bit weird having it through the whole thing. It's a male counsellor but that's not too bad. We're due to finish next week, but I'm requesting an extension.

I am determined to wait to ttc until I have some clear answers about causes. For too long I believed the "bad luck" line, thinking it would be ok next time round. I'm not sure how many more goes I have in me, and I'm going to be 42 in May, so am fucking ancient.

yes, I came under the 'bad luck' in St. Mary's as all their tests came back normal... then I was indeed lucky that my 4th pregnancy was successful...

But two more is not normal either...

sigh I'm still not sure I want to restart couselling. they did say I could self-refer again if I needed... need to see how I am after this weekend

Personally, I've found it a bit intense having it now, but that may be a good thing...

Being a bit proactive in booking it might be no bad thing.

That and chocolate. And a good box set.

Saw Prof Brosens at Coventry today. Two biopsies due to thin-ish lining - ouchie. Feeling reasonably positive, got progesterone from day 21 to 28 if bfn, carrying on if bfp. No aspirin at all allowed. Waves to all.

I've found out today that I'm miscarrying :( x

Glad you are feeling positive just How long until you get results?

Sorry to hear that youandme How many MC have you had? Are you heading down the testing route now?

Youandme, so sorry to hear this. Hope it's as untraumatic as possible and that you get some answers.

Baking, results should be in about 4 weeks. He was not sure whether my samples would be OK as my lining was between 5 and 7 mm (ideally it needed to be 9mm), but he took 2 samples (ouch). Hopefully this means that my lining will be super irritated for next 3 months. I was pleased though, because I was only managing 2-3 mms this time last year. I think the acupuncture is working, in that department.

Hopefully the samples will show something up one way or another, rather than be duds. He gave me the 200mg progeterone anyway and told us to start trying again next cycle.

Baking, what did you make of the views on aspirin? Did you ever take it before? I presume you haven't taken it this time?

I took aspirin for MC4 on instructions from my local RMC clinic and didn't this time. I've no diagnosed clotting issues but was put onto clexane by Prof Q because it's supposed to be cytoprotective for the placenta.
I have more trust in what they (Profs Q/B) are saying based on their studies/evidence than in the local clinic who were just "we don't know what's wrong, we can't tell you why you lost a perfect embryo, we can only throw these "can't hurt" therapies at the problem"
I think the work Profs Q/B have done has suggested that far from being "can't hurt" aspirin can interfere with implantation, though it can also be useful in some clotting disorders.

Fingers crossed your samples are diagnostic, either way.

Thanks Baking, I agree. I will wait and see what they advise. I can see that, if you're already 'letting in' too many embryos, and aspirin improves your chances of 'letting them in', then, whilst it might help some people, it would be a disaster for people who actually need to improve the quality of implantation, rather than any other issue. I'm still conflicted as the 'longest' pg I achieved was when I was on aspirin (the Turners one). But I will go for my TEG test anyway and Prof Brosens said that if Prof Regan says I do need it then he would be OK with me taking it after 9 weeks. I guess I'll have to see how things play out over the next few months. How many cycles did it take you to conceive after the biopsies? After seeing Prof Brosens, I did feel like I'd FINALLY found someone who could actually DO something at last!

Cycle 1! And then I was freaked out because I wasn't ready for it at all. Best to get the benefit of the 'scratch' though!

Wow! Hope this is a corner turned. :)

Hello everyone just caught up on the thread and so sorry to hear of the recent MCs.
I am having a rather frustrating time with trying to get an appointment. After saying she would sort out me going for blood tests, my go then sent me a letter saying she had changed her mind and I needed to wait for the hospital appointment instead. Then I got a letter from the hospital asking me to call and book and appointment which I duly did. Then I got a letter telling me to ignore the first letter and not attend the original appointment and to wait for a letter from a different department. Then I got another letter confirming the original appointment- what a mess. I called them again And eventually spoke to someone who I think was from the right department who told me they would send me another appointment in a week or so but wouldn't give any indication of how long I might have to wait. Of course, I've heard nothing as yet. So fed up with it I was waiting for the appointment before starting ttc again but at this rate my child bearing years will be over before I get to see anyone! I noticed a lot of references to St Marys on this thread and I wondered which St Marys it was, is it the Manchester one by any chance?
Thinking of you all who are going through it xx

St Mary's in London. It's where Prof Regan is based.
If you want somewhere good up North you need Liverpool women's hospital or Profs Quenby & Brosens in Coventry.

Hello all
May I join please? Going through my 2nd early mc at 5-6 weeks and am not very keen to wait for the magic number of three before I get investigations done.

Based on reading some of the info posted on mumsnet and elsewhere, I have decided to definitely have tests done with Dr. Raj Rai which would cover all the conventional clotting and karo typing tests.

I now undecided about the NK cells testing and which route to follow. I have ordered Dr. beers book but at the moment I don't know much about this area, except that Dr. Shehata and Professor Quenby have good success rates (although slightly differing approaches / views).

I just wanted opinion here about these two individuals. The advantage of Dr. S is namely the location (I live in London) and that he does a much more full range if tests such as Liden Factor V etc. which as I understand Prof Q. Would not do. Is that correct? With Prof Q even though it is far, I find the theory of uNK quite appealing and can see benefits of the biopsy as it is similar to endo scratch done in preparation for an ivf transfer. It helps with implantation too.

So I am just facing a dilemma here. I guess if I could afford it I would go and see both and then decide based on seeing them is more appealing / convincing, but I don't think I want to waste that much money.

Anyone who may have see both ? What has your experience been like?

Also how soon after mc can I see Dr. S or Prof Q? I know dr. Raj rai needs me to wait 4 weeks.

Hi Triple you kind of know where I'm at, so I don't have any answers, but others will have. The thread has peaks and troughs of activity, but is a mine of amazing women and information. I've been here since number 2 too and have learnt so much. Unfortunately I just wanted to crack on so am only now sitting back and taking stock...

Hi Triple, sorry you're having a bad time. I totally understand your wish to do something and take action. I insisted on a loaf of tests which were all clear. I got them through my GP. I was also put on baby aspirin and progesterone. After mc 3 I had products tested and it was turners syndrome.
My advice is try to get products tested if you van. I regret not insisting and offering to pay. That is useful info. I have seen Prof Regan on NHS and had what they have to offer. I had a septum removed but no underlying cause was found. If you can get into St Mary's, its good to go. There is a 3 month wait, during which you can't TTC. Most recently I saw Jan Brosens at Prof Q's clinic. Money well spent, IMHO. They really made me feel 'not fobbed off' and they will see you before a 3rd mc, (unlike st Mary's). It cost £360 to go to that clinic. You can't be pg for that test either, the clinic can advise how long after this pg you need to wait. Good luck!

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can. bloody phone, sorry