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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

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Recurrent Miscarriage Support Thread - Thread 17 - Tests, treatment and trying again

984 replies

Flower29 · 05/02/2015 12:28

Information, support, hand holding, tea, sympathy and a hell of a lot of combined knowledge - all welcome as we try to make sense of the RMC roller coaster of tests, NHS admin, heart ache and (hopefully) happy endings!
Please start with a recap of your stats Smile

OP posts:
ourdaywillcome1983 · 16/02/2015 17:05

Great news bythesea wooohoooo!

March well done for making it through today - re hormone testing, that sounds right from what i can remember

Me2Me2 · 16/02/2015 17:13

Whoop for 3 good scans!

Ladies, I'm not even pregnant and I snuck a nap this arvo (I work from home most days). Set my alarm for 30 mins but woke up 2 hours later. Arghhh too much to do for this

Sunandrainbow · 16/02/2015 17:14

Sorry march - typing in a hurry. Reread last post and it sounds like I'm telling you not to get the hormone tests. Definitely not saying that - just wanted to share my experience which was they just worried me a lot but without being of much use on understanding the recurrent miscarriage. X

Marchgirl · 16/02/2015 17:39

I was wondering if it should be more about the progesterone and not so much the other one, as it is purely for mc rather than infertility. Hopefully gp should know

Catlover2014 · 16/02/2015 17:51

Great news Sea, glad they are going to keep an eye on you too. I'm having a little dance in my living room right now Smile xxx

barkingtreefrog · 16/02/2015 18:12

Whoop for the hat trick!

March I had those hormone tests but all for fertility, not sure what it would tell you about mc, particularly Lh and FSH.

Marchgirl · 16/02/2015 18:46

Thanks barking, sun and others. I think the progesterone one tells you about whether you would be able to sustain a pregnancy as well as about ov, so think that's worthwhile but perhaps not the other, from what you say.

bakingtins · 16/02/2015 18:51

Woop woop bythesea that's an excellent start!

I'm not sure how useful hormone tests are unless you have fertility issues. The progesterone seems to be underinterpreted, if you are over a pretty low threshold value at day 21 they conclude you have ovulated. I'm not sure anyone knows what "too low for implantation/decidualisation" is. Coventry don't measure levels, they look at how a biopsy sample behaves, but I've never come across them not recommending supplementary progesterone.
The FSH/LH is about if you are ovulating and your follicular reserve, if you are getting pregnant it's not going to be an issue.
Again, not saying don't do them, I had them as part of standard work up, but I wouldn't pin your hopes on them for the missing answer.

Justonemoretime · 16/02/2015 19:12

March, FWIW, Prof Quenby told me that she'd never heard of anyone being reassured or made happier by the FSH/egg reserve test and strongly recommends that no body should have it tested. She says it only adds to the stress of ttc. Progesterone maybe useful, although it was not a test I was ever offered as cycles were regular.

Monten · 16/02/2015 19:46

Woo hoo ladies! Such amazing news! Just brilliant. If I ever have a happy scan I will definitely cry.

march a gp will test on cd2 or 3 and then 21 usually, to test background hormone levels. As far as I know the nhs won't test ovarian reserve.

That's really interesting what prof quenby said about ovarian reserve tests. I have heard mixed things.

I'm considering going to a private fertility clinic (called create - anyone been?) for the sole reason that they do ultrasounds to check lining and Hsgs etc. But I reckon they're going to try and make me do all the other tests and not sure if I want an fsh test.

cloudjumper · 16/02/2015 19:49

Excellent scan news, so happy for you, cat, boozle and bythesea! long may it continue.

march I had my FSH tested (home test, bought on Amazon) and my AMH, and I agree what the others have said - it won't really tell you anything about the mcs. Egg reserve doesn't really have anything to do with why a pregnancy fails, it's more to do with egg quality, and that they can't really test.

Seekingmiracles · 16/02/2015 20:30

Congrats on all good scan new ladies- brilliant news.
March- I had the full hormone profile done for MC. I think it's mainly to rule things like pcos out as miscarriage is more likely if you have it..
AMH Test will give a more definitive answer as to ovarian reserve but if you're falling pregnant I doubt this would be an issue

bootles · 16/02/2015 21:31

cat (a boy!!!) boozle and bythesea that's fantastic news!

I have never been offered any hormone testing at all - not by GP, St Mary's rmc or Coventry. As I have regular cycles and a few of my pg have got past the first few weeks, I guess they don't think it necessary.

purple and march glad your first days back are done.

me2 I would love to work from home.
Had a shite day at working, leaving late, high levels of stress..god I hate my job.

Check out my new concise posting...

bythesea82 · 16/02/2015 22:37

Thanks for all the good wishes everyone, it's a lovely feeling knowing you were all there with me in spirit today Smile

just good luck for tomorrow's scan (hope that's right)

Justonemoretime · 16/02/2015 22:40

Yes, I'm up tomorrow, looking for good views of spine and kidneys. Latest (hopefully irrational) worry is 'what if it hasn't got any kidneys!?!?'. Am telling myself to get a grip...

bythesea82 · 16/02/2015 22:43

Wow, the things our brains do to test us!! just you'll see little kidneys, I am sure of it Grin

longestlurkerever · 16/02/2015 22:49

What you all say makes sense but just to give another perspectiveI wanted hormone testing but got my bfp before being tested. I have pcos, long cycles and sometimes random positive opks at weird times of the month, which means high lh I think? I am not convinced about the lack.of link with mc personally - there is a correlation between pcos and mc though it's poorly understood. I think it has been dodgy hormones leading to lack of implantation that has been my issue and I would have liked a bit more evidence to back up my theory, not because there is a particular cure, so far as I know, but because I would have stopped worrying so much about there being another hidden issue. I found it easier to accept having another try without any treatment once I understood about the hormonal issues and the fact it was a question of optimising conditions by losing weight, taking supplements etc and hoping for the best, rather than holding out for a quick fix. That's just my experience though.

Baking I am still thinking a lot about baby Faith but don't want to badger you for updates. Keep talking about it if it's at all helpful.

Sorry you had a rubbish day Bootles. Might it be time for a change?

Loopyaboutmy2boys · 16/02/2015 22:49

Hi all, sorry but I am struggling to keep up with the pace of this thread, wish I had time to read back and name check.

So my appt has come through for Mr Watts at Worcester, for 9th March. Have had blood tests done last week at my GP. The haem hbac1, tsh and clotting have come back normal. Am waiting for 3 more test results. I have long cycles. Based on cervical mucus I think I might be about to ovulate any day, after the last mc in mid jan. So if I were to get a BFP in this cycle, that would put me at 5 - 5 1/2 weeks at the appointment date. Which means if it is destined to be another early miscarriage, i may already know if it's a mc by then in which case I can plough on with whatever the consultant suggests, which won't be until next ovulation which would be April. Or it might just be ok and be a good luck sticky bean and no need to pursue investigations. With my age, and long cycles, I'm thinking that ttc this cycle isn't crazy but not sure if my logic is right, what do others think? We had sex last night, so there is a chance of BFP.

I can't help thinking I would be ideal for the Coventry clinic as I don't have any issue in getting pregnant. 5 pregnancies, all conceived first month of trying, but the last 3 ended in mc. So maybe the next one might be an egg that my body should be allowing to implant as after 3 bad ones the next one will be a good one? And can't shake that I keep reading comments that people have increased chances of a good pregnancy in the 3 months post cm and I don't want to waste those 3 months if it's true...as I MC in jan, could conceive Feb, and if I don't try/don't get BFP, I won't ov again until April which is the third month. Although I also read you don't always ovulate the first cycle after a MC? So much confusing data.

And for Coventry they wouldn't see me until after second cycle post cm I believe? So not until sometime in April or early May which feels so long away...so kind of thinking we have one shot at it, which shouldn't really affect the consultants appointment, as if no BFP or if MC then appointment goes ahead, if BFP then can monitor it and would they give progesterone or do you need it earlier? The nurse I saw after the MC scan wasn't sure re progesterone, she said that they had been prescribing it but that they think the new/recent research shows it has little benefit to people?

Sorry for poorly constructed ramblings, have no one to talk to in RL and DH just doesn't get involved, he thinks we have had 2 children and it will just happen if it's meant to be, and whilst he is onboard with ttc, if we only have two then so be it, he isn't as emotionally affected as I am. He is an only child and he just thinks they each have a sibling and it's not the end of the world if there isn't any more, but it is to me!

bootles · 17/02/2015 00:08

Sorry you're feeling isolated loopy. It is difficult to not TTC for any period of time, and there are plenty of conversations about it on here. Its a very personal decision I think, but one thing I would say is that your RMC consultant may want to do tests they can't do when you are pregnant. I sort of thought of it as not wasting a month, because if I had another mc it would waste even more time. Having said that, sometimes I haven't waited when I should have.

Progesterone has to be given early I believe. Coventry prescribe it from cd21, and others from bfp.

I don't know about a better chance of a good pg in tbe 3 months after a mc...certainly not in my experience. I have heard it said that you are more fertile post mc but am not at all sure it's true. Hang in there, good luck with the decision making.

Arrrgghh longest a change is long overdue. Kept putting it off as was getting a mortgage, then kept thinking I'd be on mat leave...same old story. Am doing a course to try and change things dramatically and work for myself, we'll see. What happened about your job situation and the interesting possible change in role? Did you go for it?

Me2Me2 · 17/02/2015 00:11

Argh sorry about your day bootles. Working (napping?) from home is good in many respects but being the one with a flexible job means it always comes second to dh's despite similarly heavy loads. Can't really complain tho

tannyLoo · 17/02/2015 04:23

Boozle and sea, what a great scan day! Just, bonus scan day in the morning! It will all be fine, I have no doubt!

I'm awake with terrible hip pain, which came back with a vengeance yesterday. I have acupuncture today, which will help, but feeling very sorry for myself at the prospect of entertaining DS during half term. This last bit is so exhausting. The baby is so wriggly, I can't believe I ever worried about lack of movement!

Not big problems in the scheme of things, so sorry...

Catlover2014 · 17/02/2015 04:41

Sounds painful Tanny, I would take DS to a ball pit / soft play and drink coffee while he tires himself out haha.

I'm wide awake too, still full of cold and can't stop coughing x

Catlover2014 · 17/02/2015 04:41

Sounds painful Tanny, I would take DS to a ball pit / soft play and drink coffee while he tires himself out haha.

I'm wide awake too, still full of cold and can't stop coughing x

girliesaints · 17/02/2015 06:02

Tanny, hip pain sounds like baby's starting to engage so probably won't be long. I had same with DD and found bath's helped it ease. So excited for you x

bakingtins · 17/02/2015 08:15

loopy it's personal, but I'd wait. Treatment for early MC needs to be on board early, often before your BFP, to be effective. If you are early pregnant or God forbid miscarrying again the consultant won't be able to do further tests and any treatment is likely to be too little too late. Of course you could be lucky and get a sticky one but equally you could be wasting the opportunity to get testing done and pushing a visit to Coventry even further into the future. We do appreciate it's tough waiting if you feel the clock is ticking, but imo it's worth it to be giving it your best and most informed shot next time.