Recurrent Miscarriage Support Thread 29 - Support for Tests, Treatments and Trying Again

[barkingtreefrog]

Support, hugs, a wealth of collective knowledge and lots of hand holding as we try again. This thread moves like lightning so prepare to read fast!

Previous thread here

Link to the RMC investigations information

Stats update:

allthereis: 29. DC, 4MC
anniehoo: 42. TTC#1 for 2.5yrs, 4MC
barkingtreefrog: 36. TTC#1 since Dec 11, 2MC
bettybutterchops: 40. DS, 3MC, pg
bootles: 41. DS, 1TFMR, 4MC, pg
brummiegirl: 38. TTC#1 since Apr 14, 3MC, pg
bubblybubbles80: 34. TTC#1, 3MC
bumblebee0: 29. DS, 2MC, pg
bunnymad: 40. DD, 2MC
bythesea82: 33. TTC#1 since Dec 12, 3MC, pg
casiopeia: . TTC#1, 3MC
chrystley: 41. DD, 5MC, pg
cloudjumper: 43. DS, 4MC, pg
confu3ed: 39. DS, DD, 5MC, pg
desperatelyhopeful: DS, 10 MC.
emerald72: 43. DS, 3MC
enlightenedbunny: 34. TTC#1 since '10, 1TFMR, 3MC, pg
erica21: 32. DS, 2MC, pg
extrablessings: 33. DS, 6MC
fackinell: 44. TTC#1, 4MC
fififolle: 37. DC, 2MC, pg
flen: 36. TTC#1, 3MC, pg
floweroct: 34. TTC#1 since 11, 3MC
frecklefire: 40. DS, 3MC
genwah85: 29. DS, 3MC, pg
girliesaints: 37. DD, 4MC (1 twins)
girlinoz: 32. TTC#1, 3 MC
Ifinishedthebiscuits: 37. 2DS, 4MC
iloveyoubaby: . DD, 2MC
inamaymaybewrong. 37. DS, 2MC
jady77: 37. TTC#1 since Sep 14, 2MC, pg
kazz2112: 31. TTC#1 since Feb 14, 3MC
lauren83: 31. TTC #1 for 7yrs, 2MC (1 twins)
leah1984: . TTC#1, 2MC
loopyaboutmy2boys: 38. 2DS, 6MC
lovemylittlebear: 29. 1 ectopic, 2MC, pg
marchgirl: 37. DD, 5MC, pg
maverick79: 35. TTC#1, 2MC, pg
me2me2: 2DC, 2MC
mimidoddrioni: 35. TTC#1, 2MC
minnie74: 40. DS, 3MC, pg
monten: 37. TTC#1 since Apr 13, 1TFMR, 1MC
morganlefey: 29. DD, 3MC
mrsb0710: 29. TTC#1, 2MC
mrsconfusion: 36. DD, 3MC, pg
mrsdiddlydoo: 34. DS, 2MC, pg
notspartacus: 39. 2DD, 2 ectopic , 3MC
onedaymaybe1: 32. TTC#1, 3MC
onestep2015: 39. TTC#1 since May 13, 3MC, 1 ectopic /PUL
patienceisvirtuous: 37. TTC#1 since Mar 14, 2MC, pg
peqpit: 33. TTC#1 for 2yrs, 3MC
portmoon: 43. DS, DD, 5MC
sallywade: 36. DS, 1TFMR, 5MC, pg
sashakerr: 37. DS, 3MC
sebsmummy: 40. DS, 3MC, pg
sizethree: 35, TTC#1, 3MC, pg
snoopysimaginaryfriend: 29. TTC#1 since Sep 14, 3MC
spamminit: 25. 2DS, 2MC
strubidooo: 34. TTC#1 since Sep 12, 3MC, 1 ect
sunandrainbow: 38, TTC#1, 4MC, pg
teach3: 27. TTC#1, 3MC
texta: 32. TTC#1, 3MC
thepopandcry: 38, DS, 4MC
thornfield38: 34. TTC#1 for 2 yrs, 2MC, pg
tomcat81: 34. TTC#1 since Oct 14, 2MC
twilightstruggle: TTC#1 since Nov 12, 5MC
wadsy: 36. DS, 1 ectopic , 4 MC, pg

ourdaywillcome
daisybell

Thread babies
bakingtins: 40. 2DS, 4MC. Faith born May 14
tannyloo: 42, 2DS, 5MC. Bertie born Mar 15
tinytear: 41. DD, 5MC. Alice born Mar 15
justonemoretime: 39. 3MC. Scott born May 15
purplefrogshoes: 38. 2MC, 1CMP. John born May 15
longestlurkerever: 34. DD, 3MC. Beth born Jun 15
catlover2014: 35. TTC#1 since 09, 3MC. Louis born Jun 15
boozle80: 34. 3MC. Mhairi born Jun 15
belleende: 40. TTC#1, 2MC, 1 TFMR. Cissy born Jun 15

Bloods look ok for now, have to go back to hospital Saturday to have more taken to make sure levels are increasing...

Progesterone was 96 (anything as low as 20 they said they would have been happy with)
Hcg was 300 (4 weeks gestation average range is 5-426)

Tbh, bleeding not too bad now, more just light brown stains...but that's how it started last time with mc.2. Just have to wait and see.

Scan booked for 6&1 on Wednesday 16th Sep! Thanks everyone for the reassurance x

Completely understand the need for a break bootles! Take care x

paws your bloods sound very positive which is a really good sign. I presume they haven't prescribed you anything given those results? Will they check progesterone levels again on sat or just hcg? Fingers crossed your levels will have doubled on sat as expected. Maybe the bleed was implantation? I imagine it's difficult to think positively though if the same type of bleeding happened with mc2. I hope it is nothing sinister though.

bootles Don't apologise, do whatever you need to do which helps you through. I'll be thinking of you til you rejoin us but know that you will get through this.

Hello all. Can I join you? Found out yesterday I'm have a missed miscarriage at 13 weeks. It's our 4th mc. This one especiall cruel as the others were all much earlier (and early scans on the last two showed things had gone wrong by 7 weeks). But 7 week scan with this one as fine and 12 week scan last week also looking right on track, so we had started telling people. We were so excited. And 8 days later the heartbeat is gone. I am bereft. I have never known grief like this. Sorry to post so negatively but just had to get that out.

Looking forward to catching up on the thread and chatting x

I'm having. Oops should have checked preview before posting sorry

I've just tried to read up on the thread and got a bit overwhelmed - must be the hormones! - you all seem to know each other so well and it's such a friendly, supportive thread.

Sorry I didn't realise when I first posted that the done thing is to share stats. So here goes....

• MC1 Dec 2011 @ 11 wks (but mmc at 7ish)
• Then pg July 2012 beautiful DD born April 2013
• MC2 July 2014 @ 10 weeks (but mmc at 7)
• MC3 March 2015 @ 9 weeks (mmc at 7)
• MC4 September 2015 @ 13 weeks (mmc at 12+2).

Apart from the gap between MC1 and DD (6 months ttc) we conceived much straightaway each time.

Before this last pregnancy I'd had a load of blood tests done (organised by GP) but to be honest I don't know what for exactly as they all came back fine and then I got pg again so didn't bother asking gp details re tests.

This time they're going to do karotyping (not even sure exactly what that involves to be honest - need to read up). Have the D&C tomorrow which I'm terrified about as I've not had before and dread the idea of the GA. But if it means tests that might give us some answers to help explain the heartache then needs must. I just can't understand how last week 12 week scan can say it's all fine and here we are just over a week later and it's stopped.

Sorry again - I'm so hormonal and emotional. Hopefully will snap out of the negativity and feel more optimistic soon

paws sorry you're having the worry of bleeding but those results sound really positive. Keeping everything crossed for you x

missie I'm so so sorry you find yourself here. The sadness of your last loss is just heartbreaking. To feel like you're out of the woods and then not be is truly shit. My third MC was at 12 weeks with good earlier scans so I understand a bit of how you feel. It's crap but this thread is full of knowledge and lovely ladies who know just how you feel. There are lots of positive stories on here too following different drug protocols. Hope the ERPC goes as well as it can under the circumstances and you're home quickly being well looked after. Do you have a local recurrent miscarriage clinic that you've been referred to or have tests been through your gp? Worth getting referred if not. Huge hugs and handholding through this especially dark and shitty time xx

Missie we're a friendly bunch so don't be too overwhelmed. I'm sorry to her about your losses and hope tomorrow goes as smoothly as it can. Some ladies prefer an eprc as its straight forward if a little scary because of the ga. I hope they take good care of you. You might feel a bit groggy afterwards. Will be thinking of you tomorrow. Huge hand hold and hugs

Will have a proper catch up and post again later

Thanks so much minnie and mrs for your wise, kind and welcoming words x I am apprehensive about the eprc mainly just because of the GA but if it means the process is less drawn out and unpredictable than the previous three times then that's a good thing. And we really want the tests of course.

I've not been referred to anything called a recurrent miscarriage clinic yet. Not sure it's known as that here (I'm in South London) but I expect the wheels will be put in motion for whatever is available soon enough. Before getting pg this time my GP had started the process of getting me checked out - lots of blood tests - but by the time the blood tests had come back (and shown nothing problematic) I was pg again anyway. The hospital I'm at apparently has a consultant who is a specialist in investigating recurrent miscarriage - that was why my GP wanted me to have antenatal care there and she pushed for it even though technically the hospital is out of borough for where we live. So it's good I got in there and hopefully I will get to see this consultant.

Does anyone know approx how long I'm likely to have to wait for the results of the karotyping tests on the tissue? Don't worry if not...I can ask tomorrow or course. Just craving any info I can get at the mo given so much of all this is just a total mystery, a sad, confusing mystery. I'm going over it all again and again in my head trying to figure it out (pointless I know). Especially how this pg can have ended a week after the 12 week scan showed everything was fine, when in our previous two pgs a scan at 7 weeks showed things weren't on track. Just don't understand. Can't help thinking there's something wrong with my body's ability to sustain pregnancy. We're not having any issues actually conceiving - that's for sure.

I'll stop ranting now. Really looking forward to getting to know you all and learning from your experiences. Even though I've now had 4 MCs I still feel so ignorant about all this. Good luck to you all in your respective situations too. I see several ladies here are pg again after several losses and things are now looking good. That's really inspiring to read in the situation I find myself in now xx

paws good news about your hormone levels. Brown blood is old blood, so it's likely the bleeding is stopping.

barking thanks for explaining the fresh vs frozen issue, that makes much more sense. Sounds like lots to take in.

hels glad to hear erpc went OK. It's completely understandable to cry, it's a horrible situation to be in. A friend of mine was offered the tablet trial but I think perhaps her thyroid levels weren't in the right range after they did the tests. That is really crap timing about your friend's announcement, well done for letting her know what's going on for you too.

Fantastic to be at 35 weeks bythesea , what a milestone.

Good to hear all going well for you too bumble

Hope ec goes well tomorrow flowers

Monten what a way to start back at work with flipping training! From your previous post about your friend it sounds like she's really understanding but obviously difficult to see her pg after your MCs.

Hello Missie , that's such a sad thing to happen, I'm really sorry this happened to you. Hope the erpc is OK tomorrow. I'm in the South too - my RMC consultant is at Lewisham but I'm considering moving to King's for the future as Lewisham's admin has been very slow (although the consultant was very nice). I haven't had karotyping so no idea on the timescale, sorry. Have you seen the info about the specialist clinic in Coventry (march posted a link to this on the 1st page of this thread - mc investigations and treatment)? I'm considering going there if mc again (currently ttc) or if we don't get pregnant in the next few months. Just realised this may be way too much to take in at the moment - most important to look after yourself and rest up after tomorrow.

bootles you do what you need to do to keep the menkul at bay

paws good news on the blood levels, hope it's brought a little comfort

missie welcome, it's especially cruel to lose a baby after a healthy 12 week scan, I hope they can give you a reason. Hope tomorrow goes smoothly and you're back home before you know it. Remember this is absolutely the darkest time and things will get better . Karyotyping is just a blood test, both the male and the female.
Look after yourself.

floweroct whoop! Everything crossed for EC tomorrow, hope you get a good haul from those follicles and it's not too uncomfortable. I'm usually in bed by 9-10ish and I had to do my trigger at 11.20pm! Had to set myself an alarm!!!

I've just found out FiL and step MiL are visiting in October (they live abroad). Their visit coincides with when I should be injecting daily and visiting the clinic regularly for bloods and scans. Marvellous.

Welcome missie I'm so sorry you find yourself here though . Any MC is awful but to lose your baby at 13 weeks after a good scan is just heartbreaking. I have had karyotyping done so can be of some use there I hope. Karyotyping on the fetus takes approx 6-8 weeks to come back and will tell you if there was a chromosomal problem with the baby. I'm not a medical professional (obviously) but this is how I have understood it: a loss at that stage is quite often a chromosomal problem like Turners, Pataus, Edwards or Down's syndrome. These are the result of a dodgy egg or sperm. Earlier losses which never really 'get going' are more often the result of spontaneous chromosomal abnormalities that happen when the cluster of cells start dividing. So you can have losses at very different times, but caused by similar issues. I can totally understand the fear that your body is somehow 'broken'. The reality is most miscarriages are caused by chromosomal issues so there's nothing you could have done to prevent it.

I am surprised they didn't pick up an issue at the 12 week scan though. Did you have nuchal etc and it was all fine? My first baby had Edwards syndrome but that was picked up at the 12 week scan, baby was still alive but very sick and we decided to terminate which was heartbreaking but the only choice I felt we had as babies born with Edwards die (in pain) within a few hours of birth (and most die in utero before third trimester).

You can also have karyotyping on you and DH to see if you are carriers of a chromosomal translocation that might cause problems. But that's very very rare.

My second loss was a chromosomal issue too - different one, unrelated apparently - and am waiting now on results for third. For me, knowing there was issues gave me real closure. As much as I wanted those babies they were never going to live. It's harsh but it's helped me accept it.

What hospital are you at? forest I'm a south London girl too! I can't say the rmc is all that great shakes but it is the hospital unit where Professor Nikolaides who pioneered the nuchal scan is based so they have very good scanning equipment and consultants in the actually neo-natal bit.

Sorry forest my post above isn't very clear, I meant to say I am a patient of Kings. X

Thanks so much monten barking and forest. I confess I've not yet taken in all your lovely wise words as I'm just so exhausted and emotional :-( But I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences. I'm much clearer on the karotyping now-thank you. And also how this miscarriage might be a different kind of chromosomal problem to the previous mcs.

monten I had nuchal measurement at the scan last week (and the blood test the week before) and even with my age (36) I was given a v low risk assessment. Can't remember NT measurement exhausted and emiand I've given my notes back to the hospital (through tears this morning) but I think it was just below 2mm.

I'm at St George's in Tooting. Had my DD in Kings and was under Dr. Nikolaides (sp? sorry can't scroll back to check!). But hoping to see this consultant who specialises in recurrent mc at George's. Hadn't hard about the Coventry research til it was mentioned on the thread earlier this evening (by forest I think - thank you). Will certainly check that out x

Hey missy** just wanted to pop on and lend you another arm to lean on. It's terrible that you've got to 4 mc without this kind of support and input of information. I am so so sorry this latest pregnancy, which seemed to be progressing well, is lost. We all on here know and feel this grief, in all it's forms. We all individially joined this thread in exactly your position, in the depths, drowning between loss and anger and confusion, don't feel overwhelmed, feel surrounded by support, empathy, friendship.

Lots of members now post regularly on a private facebook group, but we have to keepvthis thread going for exactly this instance - to be there for others.

Afm, just back from a week in majorca - very much needed after 3 mc in one year. After alwaus getting pregnant like dropping off a rotating dance floor, it seems impossible to get pregnant. Been using opk's since april, dtd, taking sups, accupuncture, getting rid of plastics in the kitchen ect. This month i don't seem to have had a month without blood when i wipe, from a tiny amount to a light bleed, between day 10 - 22. I got a string of flashing smilies but no peak fertility static smilie. I could say it's just an odd month - but it's always something. It just doesn't seem to be happening. And what with the episode of pain last month (still waiting for my scan appointment) i am starying to think there is something wrong with me inside that wasn't an issue when i had ds. I just wish they could just put a camera inside me and see what is going on. I know that at 40 i don't have time to waste, but i am seriously considering that if i'm not pregnant this month (which i doubt i am, despite dtd every other day for the ladt 10 days) that i have a break in ttc for the next three months. During this time i have to refocus my energy and interest in loosing weight, which i strongly suspect is a big contributing factor in my current situation. I need to see if the scan brings anything to light, and go to coventry. I'm sorry to really be 'thinking out loud' here, i am just drawing this out for myself, and i suppose using you ladies as my sounding board. How has anyone elses self imposed ttc ban gone in the past?

missy hi, so very sorry for your losses
The erpc will be smooth sailing I promise, I was so scared when I had to have one back in May, but even though it was an emotional time, the staff were lovely to me, very sensitive to my situation. I remember crying as getting up onto the table in theatre, and one of the nurses gave me a hand to hold as they put me to sleep....
And as quickly as I was asleep, I opened my eyes in recovery, very relaxed due to meds they give you while you're asleep, they also give you meds when you wake up if the contractions are causing pain...you should only have the contractions for at most, till the end of that day as the uterus contracts back down...i would recommend co-codamol for when you go home as you will probably still feel uncomfortable for a couple of days...some are absolutely fine the next day and are out painting the garden fence! Took me a couple of days to feel more comfortable, had a few twinges here and there.
I just wanted to reassure you that tomorrow will be fine, and be over before you know it hun xxx

Thank you all for the well wishes and reassurance...im hopeful, but not 'too' hopeful if you know what I mean
It becomes a defense mechanism doesn't it, not being exited and hopeful. Mc truly sucks all the magical naivety out of pregnancy...especially rpl!

Right, bedtime, I can barely keep my eyes open Zzz

Thinking of you today Missie

And flower go follicles!

Thanks freckle for the warm welcome and wise words. I suddenly feel a lot less alone for having found this thread. Maybe in time I'll join the private FB group too (if that was ok). Thanks for sharing your story. I hope you had a restful holiday in Majorca. Sounds like a v sensible idea after what you've been through. I've also had 3 mcs in just over a year so have said to dp we need to do something similar to recharge and decide whether/when we might try again, once the next couple of weeks are behind us. Good luck with your own ttc journey. I have everything crossed for you x

Allmy.. thank you too for posting - it was lovely to see messages so late last night when I was still wide awake churning everything over in my head. I definitely feel less terrified about the D&C today after reading your post-thank you x

I've been fasting since 6.30am and won't be out til 5pm earliest. Being hungry makes me grumpy at the best of times. Who knows what sort of state I'll be in by this evening. I think someone earlier on the thread mentioned cocodemol....I do hope they give me something suitably strong for any pain after. I have such a low pain threshold, not helped by being emotionally drained too of course. With my first mc, the pain leading up to when the 'main event' happened was just horrendous...proper contractions and not far off some of the tougher parts of my labour with DD (though didn't last as long thankfully). Cocodemol was the only that even vaguely hit the sides to help the pain.

Hey ho. Better get myself ready to go in. Will let you all know how it goes.

Sending you my thoughts and strength today missie**. I knoe if i have to choose again it'd the option i'd take a clean slate physically and hopefully some answers... X

Hi, I thought I'd lost you! So out of date. Waves to all! Xx

ARGH! typed a long response yday but got lost as my phone crashed.

Anyway, thank you so much for all your kind words. It really helps to hear all your stories and know that I'm not alone. Am slightly overwhelmed by the traffic here and am not sure if I can respond individually after losing my long post yday.

Monten I've not heard of the Coventry. I live in SW London. How do you get referred there? Because I started premenstrual spotting for several days b4 period after my first 2 MC's and also not managing to conceive for many months, my GP referred me to the fertility clinic at Chelsea & Westminster under Dr Nikolaides (dont know how to spell his name). I saw the gynae reg there and she is very nice. She has been emailing me with advice. I'm due for a f/u appt in 2 weeks. Does it matter whether I'm in an RM clinic or a fertility clinic?

Missie looks like we are almost neighbours! Good luck with your D&C today.

Just checked. Its Dr Nikolaou not Prof Nikolaides. Different people.

New thread here! Just in time - last message of this one!

See you on the other side!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/miscarriage/2461442-Recurrent-Miscarriage-Support-Thread-30-Support-for-Tests-Treatments-and-Trying-Again?watched=1