recurrent miscarriage: please help!

[Keenoonvino]

Hi all

I have just discovered this board.

I have been seen in a recurrent miscarriage clinic once and had blood tests (NHS). This appointment took me 3 months to get, and that is after 4 miscarriages. When the tests came back normal, I was essentially signed off from NHS. I called up and asked to be re-seen in the clinic and they've agreed and have another appointment in a month.

I have been getting so fed up with the wait that I've got a private appt today in a woman's clinic (in one hour!). I have left it a bit late but I would love to know all the things to ask him. I think the first appt is a 30 min consult and a scan.

It's expensive, but I am not sure how much more I can take. I'd really appreciate other's experiences and suggestions of what to request. I will come back to the thread I have just seen on here for all those experiencing the same thing.

Thanks so much in advance.

Sorry to hear what you're going through but well done for not taking the "we don't know" at face value. Too many rmc-ers get fobbed off.

I doubt it on the NHS but were you tested for high levels of Natural Killer Cells? Ask the clinic today if they test for NKCs. You don't say how many weeks pg you were when you mc'd but several early mc's could indicate immune issues ie your immune system (NKCs) fails to realise that the pg is ok to be there - it basically thinks its some sort of invader/virus. Anyway I can't and won't diagnose on the information you've given but look up about reproductive immunology, NKCs, and especially a consultant called Mr Shehata. He has practices on Harley St and in Epsom. And check out a thread on the conception board called "ttc and pregnancy on Prednisolone" where there is a wealth of knowledge and experience of rmc.

Pm me if you have any questions and good luck with your appointment.

Good luck...

I am going to try Proffessor Quenby in the NHS Coventry (but you pay £360 to help with the research) about the killer cells as my other NHS st Mary's tests came back clear as well...

Feel free to join us the in recurrent mc thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/miscarriage/1971464-Recurrent-Miscarriage-Support-tests-treatment-trying-again-thread-9

HI keen probably too late to this to catch you before your appointment but hope it was helpful. I also post on the RMC thread on this board and the prednisolone one on the conception board and you are very welcome on either or both. I had 3MC, all NHS tests normal, had a 4th MC that was tested as genetically perfect and then went to Prof Quenby for NK testing. I have high NK cells and am now 21 weeks pregnant on her treatment. There is hope, there are people out there who are interested in finding out what is wrong and helping you, and there are many of us in similar positions who would be glad to keep you company along the way.

hi, thanks for all your replies.

I did ask the consultant about NK cells, but he said that there is no evidence that knowing they are there will help. He said that they usually treat it with steroids and this may have a detrimental effect on the growing baby. so, baking it's interesting to read your story. I think I need to do more research. He scanned me and couldn't see anything unusual or anything that would indicate the reason for my miscarriages. He has put me on a high dose of folic aid (5mg daily) and said as soon as I next get pregnant, to ask him for asprin and progesterone.

I had 2 miscarriages (1 MMC), then a healthy DS, and now another 2 miscarraiges (1 MMC).

I will go over to those threads now. Thanks all

That's simply not true. It's a fairly new field of research so not funded by the NHS, but there is growing evidence that they are a significant cause of recurrent miscarriage in some sufferers. I'm part of Prof Quenby's research based at Coventry University Hospital, her success rate s between 60 and 80% depending on levels of NK cells. I think Dr Shehata in London claims up to 80%. Bearing in mind often these women have had 4,5,6... MC before treatment that is pretty good.
Prednisolone doesn't cross the placenta to any great extent. It is associated with an increased, but still small, risk of cleft lip/palate. It's also associated with low birthweight babies, though whether that's the drug or because the condition itself tends to affect the formation of the placenta is not clear. If you are treated with steroids they check more carefully for clefts, and you'd have extra growth scan later on.
I was prepared to take some calculated risk, set against 4 dead babies that never got far enough to have a cleft palate.
Professor Siobhan Quenby and Professor Jan Brosens are actively researching and publishing on this subject. Drs Shehata and Gorgy in London both treat NK cells, I don't know if they have published papers. The pioneer of immunological causes of miscarriage in America wrote a book called 'Is your body baby friendly' which is worth a look, though not easy to read.
It is all new and controversial. No doubt in 10 years it will all have been settled one way or the other, that will be 10 years too late for me.

Ignore the consultant. baking is bang on with all she said. Please do join the boards Baking mentioned. I've had 7 mc's and am now 32 weeks pg on Mr Shehata's treatment.

Acupuncture helped me.

Really interesting. I was taking what he said at face value as he was not a recurrent miscarriage specialist, just a gynae.

I wonder if he tests me for NKCs, then I can try and get on some treatment with the Drs above that you've mentioned. I need to read up more, but it's pretty obvious that the proof is in the pudding really....