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?

For those who know about nk cells I had a question.
Some women who take a long time to concieve have high nk cells treated with pred
But I concieve quite quickly (1 month,2 months, 5 months) . I've noticed some reccurent miscarriers also concieve quickly but have high nk cells
How does that work? Is it a different subset of nk cells? Or do high numbers mean miscarriage but super high numbers mean difficulty ttc??

Mint how are you today?

I've not rung any of my friends since I found out I miscarried again (las week).I feel like I have nothing to say to them :(. 2 of them know about it and are being v sweet and supportive but I can't bring myself to talk about normal life to anyone. It just seems a bit pointless. Plus they don't know wot to say to me I don't think...they don't have kids and nowhere near ttc so it's a completely diff world. Glad I have this board because I don't know anyone either struggling to concieve or had miscarriages who I can offload to and they can understand all the stupid weird emotions we have...
I don't think that makes sense...hopefully I'll be a bit more myself in a few weeks.

Just popping in. mint so sorry that you have been bleeding. It's just so f£&ing unfair and you just don't need this worry. I would call the EPU on Monday and get seen before Friday as you just don't need that horrible anxiety. As just* says women do bleed in early pregnancy and everything is fine so have everything x for you.
Well...just wanted to say I am going to sign off for a while - just think I need to think about something else and let go of the past 2 years. I am sure I am going to find that very hard! I still think one day it will be fine so not giving up! But couldn't leave without wishing Baking all happiness for arrival of mini baking. I'll have to pop back in a few weeks to get the news! And thank you everyone for all your wise words and knowledge. We so deserve some good luck so fx for us all

Hello to all the new people I'm so sorry you find yourselves here
mint so sorry you have had bleeding fx for you

not good luck

I still have the fear so I have delayed TTC for now, it's hard enough to jump right back in after mc but the fear of mp is just to much to bear at the moment so giving myself a few months off

baking how far along are you now?

Trying, this article might help.
Not, take care and good luck.
Mint, how are you doing this morning?
Purple, take things easy; no need to jump in before you're ready. Hope you find your head space.
Baking, I'm getting so excited for you, you're story is such a beacon of hope. I remember when you were about to give up trying, and now look at you! Hopefully it won't be too long before we're following your fine example! :)

*your (grammar police alert! )

just that is a fascinating article! It pulls together the thing a lot of us have been told about being 'hyperfertile' but actually gives some science and some hope that it can be addressed. I'm not entirely clear how the NK cells fit into that picture, but I know Prof Q has published a paper saying they are a marker for abnormal steroid hormone production at the level of the uterus. She uses much lower doses than the London doctors but I don't think she is aiming for immunosuppression to the same extent.

trying I'm not sure I can answer that. I get pregnant pretty quickly for an old gimmer, but my MC have also been fairly late for the NK cells group at 9-10 weeks. A lot of the losses seem to be at the 5-6 week stage, so perhaps some of that difficulty conceiving is actually fertilised eggs failing to implant or being lost before 4 weeks?

not I hope a break does you good. Take care.

purple nice to hear from you. Don't blame you for wanting a bit of breathing space before trying again.

mint hope you are ok. Has your bleeding settled or is it continuing?

Hi there lovely people. Started bleeding again today: copiously and continuously. Cramping too I'm afraid. Been fairly ok emotionally though, particularly compared with yesterday. Feel more accepting. DH has also been his usual fantastic self which helps. We've reserved our new house today too (its a new build) which has got me quite excited in spite of myself. I don't think I'm going to bring the scan forward. I'm not really in any doubt about what is happening, and am fearful of any ambiguous outcomes - I don't cope well with uncertainty. I think I'd rather wait and have something more definitive on Friday (when I'll be 7 weeks).

Trying - I know what you mean about speaking to people. My friends at the moment seem to fall neatly in to the 'not trying, can't really identify with why you would want to' camp and the 'already have families which popped out with no difficulties (that I'm aware of' camp, neither of which is particularly helpful. I think that now is the time to give yourself all the space you need really. I'm sure you will feel a bit better given a bit of time, and in the meantime TLC is the way forward. It is just shite.

Not - lots of good luck for the breather. I had one for about six months towards the end of last year/beginning of this year and it did me the absolute world of good. I know I wouldn't be coping with what is happening now if I hadn't taken that time off to re-connect with all the other things that I have in my life that make me happy but that I 'forgot' about in the TTC/MC bubble of hell. Realising I'm projecting a little and talking about my stuff not yours; you're time off is to do with what you will obviously! - good luck with it whatever you decide.

Purple - ditto the above re. the benefits of a breather!

Baking - you are the ray of hope at the moment! I was on this thread (or perhaps it was the posifrickintivity thread) with you a while back under a different name (Camomile) and you were so kind and wonderful and I am genuinely so made up for you.

baking yes that is what I cannot follow from this article; how do NK cells fit in? If the issues are implantati

Oops got posted too quickly.

If the issue is implantation/lining related as per this article, how do NK cells fit into this picture and especially her protocol to use steroids from bfp rather than after ovulation.

Prof Brosens told me that its not the number of nk cells per she, its how evenly they are distributed. so even distribution is normal, clumps of lots are bad. But it don't think they know yet whether this is a symptom or cause of implantation problems.

per se. bloody phone.

It might be 2 seperate issues. I was told my cells decidualised normally, which would fit with losing normal embryos, but my NK cells were high, hence the steroids. Maybe the two things aren't connected.
My prev consultant had floated this idea of hyperfertility and the uterus accepting abnormal embryos but without offering any hope of doing anything about it. I sort of discarded it as a theory when genetic tests were normal on 4 th MC, but it may be the case for some individuals?

mint I'm so sorry it is not looking good

I'll ask quenby when I go see her. There's obv something diff between the nk cells which stop some concieving and those which cause miscarriage? To be honest it's such a new area of research they prob don't fully know themselves
Mint I would do the same-limbo is such a horrible place to be. In your heart you prob know whats happened and im sorry. hopefully the new house stuff will at least allow you to fill some time with thoughts other than the usual
I'm limbo as I was told I had a blighted ovum and she was certain (my dates are not wrong and sac was irregular which is a sign of impending miscarriage), but because Of protocol I have to wait 2 weeks for rescan before they can offer medical management/ d and c. And during this time I have continued with sickness and exhaustion-all for nothing. Making me really angry and feeling sorry for myself.
Hope others had a nicer weekend! X

I thought I'd repost the link to a documentary about investigation of recurrent miscarriage at St Mary's, for any thread newbies. Very interesting, but you need your tissues handy.

And I have absolutely no idea how I included a photo!

Thanks baking for posting this and also for the tissues tip!!

What was very interesting to me was Mr. rai prescribing steroids to girl who went on to have a successful pregnancy. Even more surprising that this was from 2005 - I would have thought they would have been more convinced of the benefits nearly 10 years later.

Place marking to watch that Horizon later.

I'll be joining you ladies imminently, first rmc clinic appointment on Thursday. I'll be back once I know where I'm going from there.

Good luck missh. It's nice to have the ball rolling. Are you at St. Mary's?

No, I'm in Leeds, can't remember the consultants names atm but will be posting here after Thursday!

Just interested in the Horizon programme, but need to be in the right frame of mind to watch it!

Hey folks. I sadly had my miscarriage confirmed at the EPU today. I had my favourite sonographer and she was lovely so that made it a bit easier (its very sad when you start having a favourite EPU sonographerer isn't it!). There was talk of referring me to St Mary's too, as my previous batch of tests didn't consider things like chromosome issues, and the sonographer wondered whether surgery should be at least considered for the bicornuate/subseptate uterus and I gather St Mary's are pretty hot on that. Talk of St Mary's cheered me up a bit having watched the Horizon vid last night. We've also had a fairly serious discussion about adoption which ended up feeling quite positive too. Its nice to have a 'back-up plan' you don't mind becoming 'the plan'. Thanks for all the support over the last week or so. Tonight's plan is our usual semi-drunken 'naming ceremony' (is it also sad when you have a post-MC tradition?). Sigh. Feeling much better than I would've anticipated - I sometimes find its a relief to just have it over.

Welcome MissH. Good luck with your appointment on Thurs.

Mint, Sorry to hear this. St Mary's will sort out your septum, Prof Regan whipped mine out in October last year. Let me know when you know if its being done and I'll be happy to advise on what to expect!
Take care of yourself, your OH sounds lovely and supportive. x

I'm sorry mint that your loss has been confirmed - though glad you are not left in limbo.

mint I am sad for you that you have been there enough to have favourite EPU staff and the postMC rituals down pat, but whatever gets you through.....
Going to St Mary's would be a v positive step, I'd really push for that to happen.

So sorry Mint...
I also have a favourite sonographer, nurse and room... oh hum...

Annoyed this morning in the Metro - some happy news about some woman who had 5 miscarriages in 4 years and now had a baby... fine and lovely, but i started counting and I have also had 5 in 4 years... (and a DD)
Not sure what made that news as there was nothing about any treatment (I read it hoping for some info on new treatments, maybe...)

Hi everyone. I have my first appointment with the consultant (or not) on Friday.

I've written down all the details of each MC. Date of BFP, any symptoms like spotting cramping etc and then the date I actually bled. I've also written down how long it was til my next period.

I've written what tests ive had at the GP and what other medical issues I have - IBS.

Will they need to know any more? Is there anything I need to ask? Do I mention my mum is Rhesus Neg?