Recurrent Miscarriage Support Thread 18 - tests, treatment, trying again.

[bakingtins]

Buckle up, the threads move like lightening! Tea, sympathy, information, support and combined wisdom to guide you through the maze of testing and treatment for recurrent miscarriage. Newbies always most welcome.

Please start with the traditional recap of your stats.

E-mail [email protected] and she'll send you the clinic leaflet and details of how to book.

Sebs, google profs Brosens and Quenby implantation clinic. Yes, 2 cycles post mc, just phone Kerri to book in. You need to not be pg for the appointment. Just book in 7-10 days after ov after your 2nd af.

Tanny I hope you aren't kept waiting too much longer.

Sebs mummy I had barely any bleeding at all following my ERPC.

I hope Coventry has a run of success, maybe mumsnet should negotiate a reduced rate for all the customers heading to them!

Can anyone please answer a question for me? I went to pick up a prescription today from the hospital, having not actually met Mr Watts there, but his secretary was off sick and so there was no one there who could talk to me about it all. I was expecting (after lots of google) to be getting aspirin and heparin, as I read those were the norm for preventing clots. So what they have actually prescribed is progesterone (cyclogest pessaries) and the aspirin. The leaflet doesn't mention taking progesterone for aiding implantation and development, and it says to use either in vagina or up your bum. Does it matter where I stick them for the reason I am taking them? And should I be questioning them as to why I am not on heparin? When is the optimum time to start it?

Coventry was absolutely my last chance. I had exhausted all the NHS options first and felt that I couldn't go through with that level of guesswork again, because that was how it felt. And it started with the cheapest option first, rather than listen to what I was saying about my experiences. I believe that my last pg triggered an autoimmune response that is not currently picked up in conventional tests. I also think my hyperfertility is linked to this, as is my thin lining. Sounds bonkers now, but I hope that this condition will be finally diagnosable in the future and will be another treatable cause if RMC.

I'm probably rambling. Sorry.

Grrrrrr! Bloody app lost my msg. Sorry I've been quiet, struggling to keep up with you chatty bunch hehe.

Sea a heartbeat is very reassuring and the size is only a rough guide this early on so try not to worry about those + days. I found the 8 week scan was when I saw a big change, hopefully you will have that too. Know it's an anxious time.

Hugs to Tanny, no wonder you're getting fed up. I do hope this baby doesn't make you wait too much longer.

Sebs after my ERPC I had light bleeding for about 4 days and then something more like a very heavy period for a few days. Overall the blood loss was nowhere near natural MC.

I want to send a supportive hug to all you ladies fighting the hard times at the moment. I pray for better times and rainbow babies for you all.

Hugs xxxx

loopy I found progesterone to be much better up the back passage, stays in better and makes less mess of your under garments! Just be sure to only start 7 days past ovulation. X

Loopy, either way is fine. I found the second option less messy, but they are equally effective. Vaginally may cause some irritation of the cervix, too. Lots of controversy over aspirin, I believe that heparin has fewer risks. I'd ask for heparin if you can. Good luck.

Never mind Tanny, bet when bump decided to appear it will be quick.

Waves to everyone else. Hellish week at work, so off to bed x

Loopy, if you do decide to take aspirin I would certainly wait for a bfp. I took it prior to conception and honestly think it seriously messed with implantation. If you get heparin, you normally need to get scanned at 5-6 wks just to check its not ectopic. Perhaps that's why its not on your prescription yet? I was prescribed it after the scan. If you do take the progesterone from 7 after ov, test on 14 after ov and stop if bfn. Otherwise carry on with it if bfp. Good luck! x

Thanks for your kind words ladies. 8 months on and it does feel like the grief from the miscarriage has subsided, I just am aching for a baby now.

Did anyone see those sleb breastfeeding selfies all over the news? Made me sad. I hope get to experience that one day. That and feeling a baby kick inside you are my real things - it must be such an amazing feeling!

sebs I was same as others, light bleeding, one heavy gush. Cycle about 2 weeks longer than normal if you count erpc as cd1. I'm so glad you're feeling better

Sorry you're having a bad day loopy x
How are you getting on twilight? Have been thinking about you.

Hope af arrives soon brummie x

loopy I second that on only taking aspirin after BFP. I'm in the minority group with aspirin as I feel it helped me keep this pregnancy (now 22 weeks). I know the hard evidence is a little questionable though!

Sebs I'm doing Coventry alongside my consultant simply because I can't bear to attempt number 4 without throwing literally everything at it.

We've got no dcs and I'm 38 and DP is 46 this year so very conscious of our ages

Bythesea, glad your scan was OK today. Try not to worry about dates, they can be a few days either side at this stage. Hand holding for the next one.
Ourday, hand holding for you for tomorrow, too.

sebs I haven't had any nhs tests but am choosing to go to Coventry as I think their theory possibly fits with me (hyper fertility or nk cells), whereas it seems more unlikely the standard nhs problems would fit (as I seem to conceive quickly and I already have a son, also regular cycle etc). I'm going to ask whoever I see at Coventry tho about other tests and if they think its worth me getting then. I would have had other tests if it didn't seem like such a battle, tbh I don't know which are worth me having and where to get them, the cost etc. the nhs just don't want to know coz I've only lost 2 babies!

bythesea I think your scan sounds positive as well. I don't think measurements can always be spot on, the baby may be curled up more for example which would make a smaller reading...

just it's sad to read that you think your 2nd baby could have been saved if you'd have find things differently. We don't know if that's the case, please don't be hard on yourself. X

I think they are trying to phase out erpc and call it surgical management to match the medical management.

monten hope you get to experience those things too.

sebs I can understand you being so pleased about the light bleeding. I bled for 6 weeks after medical mgmt, and then about 4 weeks this time (even though I was only dated at 4.5wks), i had a week off and then had my period which got heavy too.
I do wonder if I my lining is too thick hence all the bleeding and if this fits in with the Coventry theories at all...?

march and brummie I hope we get the same date now. I'm thinking a stiff drink after might be in order afterwards!

Thanks Flower, I don't feel sad in a 'still grieving' way, but I do feel the fobbing off and lack of knowledge meant I simply didn't know any better. A real case of 20/20 hindsight. But, I'm in a much better place, job wise, so things will be easier on that score. Silver linings and all that. RE tests, do you think your GP would order a few standard ones? Some GPs seem prepared to bend the 3 mc rules. I got a few clotting ones, vit d and coeliac tested via my GP just on request. Its the TEG and the kayotyping ones that I got at hospital, and they also repeated some of the ones my GP ordered. Worth asking.

Mine calls it surgical management too.

Cat lover/just how long does it take for the pessary to go? Sorry if TMI but if you put them up your bum how long before you can go for a poo? I don't know when I ovulated, but we had sex on the 15th, and based on cervical mucus I think ov could have been 15th-17th. So I think I'm between 8-10dpo so guess should start the progesterone immediately. Not sure whether to test tomorrow or wait another day or 2. I have 1 FRER and 1 cb digital at home, and I know the latter won't be sensitive enough so just got one test really!

They have provisionally booked me in for a 6 week scan on the 18th March, assuming we get that far, so maybe they will switch to heparin then, they have given me 4 weeks of progesterone and 4 weeks of aspirin today which is the max they can dispense at the hospital, but that would cover me until after the scan. Brummie do you know if Mr Watts is known for prescribing heparin? (Or clexane or anything else that achieves the same result)

just I asked my gp and it was a big fat no. I thought as she had been so good with my sick notes and checking me when I was still bleeding etc she might do them but no.
Glad you're in a better place now. Yes I've come to realise how (scarily) little is known of miscarriages. The number of times I've been asked by friends 'do you know what might have caused it?'. Ha, what little do they know that there is no such thing! (99% of the time that is)

Loopy, I think absorption is fairly quick. However, I used to use one pessary in the middle of the night when I went for a wee and the other when I got home from work. I avoided, say, after breakfast because, well, you know ... You know how 'regular' you are, so I'd plan it around that. I'd test on whatever you think is likely to be closest to 14 dpo (if you can resist that long...)

Flower re you not thinking nhs tests might apply to you, I have 2 children and also conceive easily, every pregnancy has been conceived first month of trying, and four of them were from just one bonk each month (hubby works long hours and away so it was only ds2 that was conceived following several sessions in the first month as it was just before Xmas one year and hubby was home a lot :). It was only after my third mc last month that they arranged blood tests and one of the 6 came back as me being positive for lupus anti coagulant. I have googled a lot over the past 3 days and seen a lot of info suggesting women who have had children can suddenly have this happen and childbirth might somehow screw your immune system and trigger this to happen, saw a description saying it's the opposite of HIV, you end up with an over active immune system and it's a common cause of recurrent miscarriages and is often treatable because there has been more research done on this. Might be worth seeing if your GP can arrange just the one test to rule it out? I had never heard of it and I'm struggling a bit with the fact that if only I had known this sooner then maybe I wouldn't have had to lose 3 babies.

Just that's what was worrying me. They told me to use one in the morning and one at night, but I need to go after breakfast at some point! How long do they take roughly? Or maybe I should stick to the other entrance. Am struggling a bit with the idea of putting them anywhere but my vagina, maybe because it's normal in my head for things to go there, unlike my bum lol

Not sure Loopy my sister has only ever mentioned progesterone. Although that's not to say he wouldn't prescribe heparin. Might be worth emailing Monica and asking her. You wouldn't get it until a scan anyway so defo email asking question

Good luck for a BFP though!!!!!

AF should've been here today (24 days like clockwork normally) so maybe acupuncturist has increased my cycles. Fascinated to see how long it is now and how long I bleed for - but not too long I'm waiting for ovulation!