Recurrent Miscarriage Support Thread 19 - tests, treatment, trying again.

[bythesea82]

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.

minnie my bloods were back when I went to see the consultant about 5 weeks after having them taken.

Thanks for all the OPK advice, CD8 today so will get on it tomorrow...

queen welcome and sorry to hear what you've been through. This is a great thread for advice and support.

brummie hope you get into a rhythm again soon. My cycle also seems to have lengthened, which is confusing and annoying - feels like more time wasted!

My kitten is in for spaying today, feeling totally anxious about it although it's just routine. Anxiety has generally been much higher for me post mc3, hoping this month off ttc will help me re-balance.

Welcome queen, so sorry to hear of you losses, especially the most recent later loss which must have been truly devastating. I hope you can find some advice and support here. I am glad your hospital are being proactive with the testing - I hope you get some answers.

Interesting on cycles - mine has always been between 40 and 44 days which drove me mental when ttc and I consulted the dr a few times but they always just said "it is probably just normal for you". I tried agnus castus to shorten it (although I think my luteal phase was OK) and I think it may have brought ov forward by a couple of days. I only tried it for 2 cycles (only one of ttc) before I got my bfp though. I do wonder if it helped with the progesterone levels and got the bean to stick though, as I always took longer to get pregnant before. Also when I took it in my wtf cycle (not ttc as waiting for tests) af arrived bang on 42 days, whereas previous wtf cycle was 8 weeks. Could all be coincidence though - hate stumbling around in the dark.

Blood sugar levels have suddenly gone very low. Was a bit worried so called mw but she thinks I have just overdone the diet. Chips for me! Wish this baby would move around more though - she does move, but I need constant reassurance which I don't get, and I can't remember what dd was like now it was so long ago. x

so scared

Am over a week late so tested, and positive. And I should be happy right? But am petrified. Have had cramps for the last week, expecting my period. None of the 'usual' symptoms - no nausea, no 'spidey-sense' of smell, breasts were sore but ok now...

Had 3 MC already - 2 last year and 1 a few years ago. The first time I bled, but the last 2 were MMCs, only picked up on scan. RMC clinic advised aspirin and cyclogest so arranging prescription with GP, and scan but so scared...

bunny congratulations on BFP but understand the mixed feelings. I think you have to concentrate on it being a fresh pregnancy and a fresh chance. Do you have any support like additional scans to help reassure after 2mmc?

bootles was anyone able to give you any info as to why the pregnancy failed when you were taking the prescribed medicines? I know it's no guarantee of success but was it just a case of try again or were any further tests done?

Congrats Bunny it's a fresh start but I completely understand the fear.

We will be her for you the whole way

Brummie injections so far have been fine - same as for the iui only 6 x the dose. The antagonist injections start tomorrow though (on top of the gonal f as well) and these I have to mix myself and suck up into the syringe. A little more to think about and more of a 'needle' so not looking forward to it!!

pop not sure about ripe ovaries but my hypnotist had me imagining the drugs flooding golden light through my body and boosting my ovaries .

Flen I used opks twice a day so I didn't miss the surge. They'd get gradually darker until I got a positive. Never bothered cooling anything, just weed in a pot and dipped!

bythesea less than a week now, you can do it!!!

queen welcome, and sorry you find yourself here.

On the age thing - I was 30 when I met DH and was aware we both wanted kids so we started ttc when I was 32. Now I'll be 36 this year and am too old for egg sharing (ie the affordable way to get private ivf). It stinks . If I was younger we'd still have further chances if our one nhs round doesn't work. As it is, this is our last chance.

Congratulations on the bfp bunny. A new start as everyone else has said. Fingers crossed for you

Congrats bunny exciting and scary but as everyone says new pregnancy, new start!

So just got back from my call back rmc appointment and it was relatively successful. after long discussions the consultant has agreed to prescribe heparin. It actually wasn't until i convinced her that heparin was part of the standard protocol for profs brosens and quenby that she began to take it seriously. She seemed to be completely out of the loop as far as current research goes, which is somewhat disappointing. But after a few tears (me, not her) she agreed that if that's what they come back with then she will arrange the prescription through the hospital. Yay.

Still trotted out the bad luck line (is that part of the study pack to become a rmc consultant or do you think they just don't know what else to say when results come back normal!)
When I mentioned prof quenby her mouth said the words "she's very... enthusiastic", but her expression suggested more like 'she's a bit annoying in her enthusiasm'. I was chuckling to myself as enthusiasm is exactly what I need right now but it's clearly not her style

Congratulations bunny. So pleased for you

I had an interesting afternoon at a speech therapy drop in session at my local Children's Centre. My darling darling son couldn't have made me look any worse if he'd tried. From the minute he set foot in reception he screamed and tantrumed, people stared, staff ran about trying to find toys and books. Then some qualified woman appeared and tried to find out what was going on and asked me to let him loose to see what he would do (I was trying to stop him from opening cupboards and drawers as the receptionists had asked me to stop him from opening the cupboards and drawers). Well he calmed down long enough to pick up all the files and books that were on the desk and hurl them to the floor. When I tried to correct him the qualified childcare person was all 'nooooo, let him vent his anger, he is trying to get attention' so we all had to look away lol. It was like being in an asylum.

When the longest 15 mins of my life was done and we were able to see the speech woman she pretty much said there was nothing wrong with me but signed me up on a parenting course! You couldn't make it up. So now I have to try and find some childcare so I can attend the course. God knows how I would cope with more children to be honest as my son is going to have me running around for many many years I think judging from the reaction I have had this far from all the professionals.

I was proud of myself though as I said he was an only child and didn't cry. Small steps and all that.

• nothing wrong with him that should have said but apparently lots wrong with me!

Welcome Queen & sorry you find yourself here. Hope you find us a supportive bunch.

Congratulations Bunny. Appreciate its a scary place to be, but we'll hold your hand every step of the way.

Sebs- don't worry my dd has been a right little madam all day and has had two massive meltdowns with paddies in public today. Deep breaths all round (well done to saying about only child)

March- nothing surprises me with RMC consultants. Mine remains of the opinion that Coventry is snake oil, so at least you got a prescription.

Can I ask a question? Has anyone else found that an internal scan brought forward their AF. Since I had the scan yesterday my tummy was very bloated and I'm apparently grumpy (so Dh told me when I was having a better moment) all symptoms that AF is on the way but it's not due for 5 days. Could be coincidence but I'm starting to wonder...

queen sorry to find yourself here but echo the other ladies regards support and the wealth of knowledge they have.
flen i really like cb opk's (dual hormone), I test from day 7 first thing in the morning and definetly think they helped us pinpoint when to try so we weren't at it every other day as we were in early months. Helped me to see that according to opk's that my cycle is regular.
bunny can completely understand your mixed emotions, one day at a time, I guess x

Hi all. I'm a massive virgin to this sort of thing I don't really do forums etc but just wanted some advice and support really.
I have had 3 early MC's all at around 7 weeks. Fell pregnant again in June and all seemed to be going well, had an early scan at 7 weeks and finally had a strong heartbeat. Every day that passed was a god send. At my 13 week scan they found baby Violet-Jane had a cystic hygroma. Appointment after appointment later we discovered Violet-Jane was just too poorly and would most likely die in the womb. At 18 weeks we decided to have a medical termination (which was the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my life and I have always been anti abortion). It has now been 4 months since Violet-Jane passed and we're thinking about ttc again after the 6 month mark but my mind is so messed up what if it all happens again?! myself and DH were tested for karotyping and sticky blood but there has to be some more testing that can be done?? If anything all this has taught me is that us women are bloody strong and we should all be proud of ourselves for making it through! Sorry to jabber on. Love and light x

Hi LeahJane I'm so so sorry for the loss of Violet-Jane

This thread really is the best place to be, lots of incredible ladies who have lots of knowledge. I've suffered 3 mc's but some ladies have had even more than me. But we still keep going and lean on each other.

Thinking of you x

Welcome leah, and so sorry to hear about your losses. I was a forum virgin as well when I started, and i know it feels odd at first, but you'll soon get a feel for it and you'll find lots of support here.

You seem to have had the standard nhs tests. Did you also have a uterine scan to check for abnormalities? Your gp may also agree to some other basic things. The ones that spring to mind are full blood count, thyroid function, blood sugar, hormone levels and coeliac screen, if you've not had them done. There are probably more but i can't think now.
Then there is the implantation clinic in Coventry, they test for uterine natural killer (uNK) cells (self funded nhs, £360), and st Marys in London do other clotting tests, called TEG, which are beyond the scope of the standard nhs ones. No idea about the cost of that.
There's a lot to take in so i won't go on anymore. Lots of advice/experience here if you have any questions, and lots of good news stories. Good luck with it

Hello you guys. Can i just say, thankyou? Its four weeks tomorrow since i started spotting with my third mc. I've felt at times that i would melt, like sugar in water, but you've been a rope around my waist, pulling me back. Thankyou for your beautifulness. And Queen - sorry to call you 'sister', but this thread will help, i promise. Xxx

leahjane really sorry you find yourself here. I have just had a missed miscarriage which was discovered at the 20 week scan. Being on here has been a real help and has made me feel I’m not on my own.

queen hello again. Regarding the blood the hospital took from you, it’s probably for infection/blood clotting issues but it would be worth ringing the hospital and finding out. I did this, people were vague at first but I persisted and said I wanted to know exactly what the tests were for! I’m also going to ask for copies of all of the results as and when I get them. Like baking says, I have also found out from Liverpool that these tests should be repeated in a couple of months as your blood will change.

just thanks for that. They said yesterday that it was only slightly arcuate and there isn’t a septum so don’t think they will do anymore on this front (phew!)

march thanks for the link. I will read later.

minnie have no complaints about Leeds. They have done a load of blood tests and looked after me for the first trimester of my recent pregnancy. But after everything that’s happened I just really wanted a second opinion. After doing lots of googling, I found out that Liverpool seem to have a good reputation. I got the referral through my GP and got an appt really quickly. I had a meeting with Dr Farquharson who was lovely and said that as well as the blood tests, they would check me out physically (hence the apt yesterday that found I may have these adhesions) and for infections. As that's going on at the same time as the Leeds stuff (and I'm waiting to do the Coventry tests) I don't feel I'm having to wait any longer, as such.

bunny that’s great news! One day at a time.

march well done you. It’s ridiculous that lots of us are having to advocate for ourselves but I suppose if we know this then it helps us prepare for these types of conversations.

sebs I think you have done very well. You definitely deserve a few tonight! x

Sorry for the ridiculously long post - lots to catch up on! Hope every reading has a nice weekend planned. I'm off to watching Damien Lewis in tights...

Leahjane I'm so sorry to hear of your awful time and the loss of Violet-Jane. As brummiegirl said this really is a lovely thread with very understanding people.

march glad you got the heparin prescription agreed to. Is that ok to have even if results are found to be normal? Just planning ahead to cover all bases!

sebs kids! You can always trust them to show you up! Well done on not crying at only child though.

My mum asked if I wanted to do a baby and toddler sale today. In fairness I mentioned it a couple of months ago, thinking of getting rid of some of ds's old wouldn't want to keep toys. However she didn't seem to get why now might not be the best time. Because obviously having recently miscarried I'd want to see people excitedly buying baby stuff with their big pregnant stomaches!

Oops missed your post pop thanks for that. I'm desperate to get my appointment through and get on with things now. The more knowledge the better I think.

Just wanted to say I'm lurking a little at the moment, without the energy to engage properly (sorry) but still thinking of those in tough times and rooting for those in hopeful times.

Hugs counting - limbo waits are awful.

Hello new people and sorry you find yourselves here.

X

minnie, Coventry prescribe heparin to everyone, regardless of test results. It's for its cytoprotective effect (to stop cell death) rather than for the anti clotting function it's normally prescribed for. It's still being researched and the benefit is v controversial hence the consultant's hesitance (and her parting shot, where she told me it would do nothing to help me!)

Bunny - holding both your hands tightly! Xxx

Marchgirl... "Bad luck yadda yadda...it's your age gobble gobble" = me yelling "FECK OFF YOU LAZY ARSED CONSULTANT! GET SWOTTING UP AND DO WHAT MY TAX PAYS FOR!" And breath...