Dr Shehata advice

[Wolfemum]

Hello, I am currently experiencing my 3rd consecutive miscarriage and my 2nd MMC. I have been told I will now be referred to the RMC unit but due to my age (42) i think I need to go privately and I was wondering what your opinions are on Dr Shehata? I've heard he has a brilliant reputation but is quite focused on NK cells and less on other things. Can anyone share their thoughts, opinions experiences?
My first pregnancy was healthy and resulted in my 6 year old boy but the last 2 MMC we saw a heartbeat at 6 weeks but then no growth or heartbeat at 7/8 weeks.
Many thanks for reading

@KatyTTC usually If it’s too low can cause issues..
I was never tested first round and only on one pessary. Was pregnant with twins and miscarried early but was long and drawn out. Someone I knew having treatment same clinic also pregnant with twins had it tested and was low so was given a shot extra in the muscle belly to increase it.
gps will probably say it’s “normal” in context of their parameters but ask for the result.
mine has always been in 100 there abouts but I’ve been on pessaries 3 times a day and injections x

Thanks ladies.. I will of course keep you updated. I am back at CRP tomorrow for intralipids.

Yes have had 2 losses that have been fine at 8 weeks.. one got to 9+3 but never beyond that other than with my son.

@KatyTTC it recommends taking prog on day 7 DPO. I find the pessarys have been plenty to keep it high. But deffo worth checking

@JandL2020 gosh what an exciting and nervous time for you.. I will keep everything crossed for august xx

So happy for you @MeganBistram, was thinking of you today!! Keeping everything crossed for the next 2 weeks. When is your next scan - 10 weeks?

@JandL2020 great point about getting progesterone checked in pregnancy. In my last pregnancy, I had private blood tests which showed low progesterone (38.5 at 16DPO) and so they increased my pessaries to 3x per day, but a few days later my HCG levels had dropped and then I miscarried a few days after that. I wasn't sure if my progesterone levels were low because the pregnancy wasn't viable (as I have read that can happen), but my doctor said it wasn't necessarily the case. I think if I get pregnant on Dr S's plan I'll go to the EPU and get blood tests to check progesterone levels, and maybe take 3 pessaries a day to be on the safe side.

@KatyTTCwe are in this together!! When is your test day? Mine is next Monday. I am exactly the same about reading all Dr S's newspaper articles and podcasts. It helps to stay hopeful!!

@MeganBistram thank you lovely x
@Lily1990 im just listening to one of the podcasts…really interesting!

Good listen and reassuring for those that need a boost xx

Thanks so much girls.
It worries me a bit that he doesn’t mention these tests! I never knew this could cause an issue. I’ll see
if my gp can check this tomorrow 🤞🏻.
@MeganBistram does it have to be tested on 7dpo or is it anytime from then do you know?
Thanks for the podcast suggestion @JandL2020 . I’ll definitely listen to that. Xx

@MeganBistram im so sorry to hear that. Really hoping the next 2 weeks don’t send you mad. Xx

@Lily1990 we really are! I’m not sure if I ovulated on the 4th or 5th so I’ll test on Sat 15th but I hate the idea of testing early so much 🙈. I just want to wait until 19th earliest! But then I don’t know what to do about the drugs so I’ll have to bite the bullet. Im nervous about what happens if you get a negative and stop taking the drugs only to get a positive a few days later?! Arrrggghhh! Minefield! 🤣
how are you feeling about it all? Xx

@whatsgoingon22 are you ok? Hoping those lines got darker for you but if not sending you lots of luck for the next cycle. Xxx

Hi @KatyTTC thanks for your message. So the lines have got darker but twice they have been very similar to the day before (including this mornings) so I hope levels are rising as they should 🙏🏻. I requested Hcg and progesterone from my GP so I had my first test yesterday so will pop back again for a repeat tomorrow or Friday. I’ve decided I’m not doing anymore testing - no point now! I don’t have many symptoms, sore boobs, occasional tiredness but this is not consistent and that’s it. ive never had many symptoms but then I’ve never been successful before. But I know they also say that the steroids can mask some pregnancy symptoms.
@MeganBistram Greats news on your update. Keep the positive vibes. ❤️❤️❤️

Do most people generally contact their NHS hospital /Epu/Nhs recurrent miscarriage clinic once they get pregnant to see if you can get scanning/testing through them alongside CRP or just stick to CRP for this period? I know they won’t do intralipids but just wondering if it is worth having that extra ‘free’ support when Crp is so expensive for everything!

@whatsgoingon22 try not to worry, urine is such a horrible measure, mine were not strong but then my HCG blood test was high.

I do both, so the scan I had yesterday was my recurrent specialist and I phoned them, they also provide the progestrone free which is helpful as the costs really start adding up. Especially if they randomly test something else... I had 2 swabs and they cost £150 extra.

So any support from the nhs I would take :)

@JandL2020 I listened to that one before I started was very interesting and hopfully our answers too rainbow babies :) xxx

Thank you for that @MeganBistram ! I did drop them an email this morning too to see what they say. In one of my appointments Dr S was not impressed at all (!!!!!) that I had simultaneously gone to see my nhs hospital recurrent miscarriage clinic and told me I had to do one or the other 😞I stuck with him privately but hope the nhs will see me now too given that I abandoned them and went back to him🫤!!

@MeganBistram oh also sorry forgot to ask do you tell Crp that you are being seen/scanned by NHS also?! 😂I hate the private/public sector politics! 😃

Hahah @whatsgoingon22 tell me about it. I went up against them today as they were being funny about my bloods at the gp and the timings.

Bascislly I have not told them about each. Other.. it’s like a secret love affair LOL.

Ring them I am sure they will be fine. Which clinic are you with? Xx

Don’t mess with a hormonal pregnant woman ;)

@MeganBistram Urghhh I hate all the politics and treading on egg shells possibly saying the wrong thing! We are with Epsom hospital also so he overlaps both 🫤!! An unnecessary stress!
Out of interest did you do your repeat hcg bloods 48 or 72 hours apart or somewhere in between? Im toying whether to go tomorrow which would be 48 on the dot or the next day about 65 hours 😂😂don’t want to get the margins wrong either way too early or too late!!😂

@whatsgoingon22 im keeping everything crossed for you and a great result tomorrow or Friday. How long do you have to wait to get the results back? how nerve wracking 🙈.

@MeganBistram did you have your scan at CRP today?

Been thinking of you both!

Starting to feel a bit nervous about testing on Sat. I’ve got absolutely no symptoms whatsoever and it would be a miracle
if it worked first time but there’s always that ‘imagine if…!’ feeling isn’t there 😬

xx

@KatyTTC i will keep everything crossed for you. Keep us updated

Yes scan was today.. they are great unless you question anything then it becomes quite defensive.. but if they give me my Miracle baby I will take it :)

@whatsgoingon22 i did exactly 48 hrs.. so I would go for it. Will also stop your concerns hopefully and move forward xx

@whatsgoingon22 @MeganBistram
i refused to pay for several tests which were done on nhs. Saved me nearly a grand.
I am told from my history with Ectopic I must be scanned early/have bloods etc and my EPU have been brilliant, and more local than Epsom. Crp can’t deal with emergencies, and there are plenty that nhs can do like the standard tests/swabs so why pay hundreds/travel miles when we should be entitled for free?
how many weeks do you need to be to be under nhs midwife?
I was listening to podcast last night, he seemed pro nhs and works with local ccg to push for people to have tests under nhs which is not standard anywhere else…so I’m surprised by his reaction.
he is obviously very wealthy and probably doesn’t appreciate we are not millionaires. The only reason I can afford is due to inheritance and both working full time !! And even then it’s crazy the amount +ivf round more expensive. Best of luck @whatsgoingon22 fingers crossed. Why can’t you have the intralipids? X

@MeganBistram ive noticed this defensive reaction to a few things as well but like you say, if it works…!

what are the swaps a few of you mention?
don’t think I’ve ever had a swab?
ive had group b strep before (only pre all the miscarriages to my knowledge) but he says it won’t cause early miscarriage so he won’t test for that until I’m further along in to a pregnancy.

@whatsgoingon22 best of luck if you go tomorrow. keep us posted!

xx

@JandL2020 exactly my plan.. I will give them the absolute bare min to get the protocol and then trying all other avenues for any extras. We are fortunate to be able to use savings to pay for this but I hate the thought that if you can’t afford it you can’t access the right care to have a child :(

@KatyTTC interesting as it’s got group B strep I had it with my son and tested again on some micro biome thing I did sometime between my miscarriages and it came back really high so they swapped me at 6 weeks and will give me anti biotics every 6 weeks through this pregnancy as a precaution xx

So lovely to see some positive outcomes already from this group.

@MeganBistram you brought a massive smile on my face. So happy your scan went well. As always got everything crossed for you for the coming weeks🙏🏻
@whatsgoingon22 this is good news. Good luck for your blood tests. Hoping the hcg will only double up. Keep us posted

@JandL2020 wish you all the very best for your ivf journey. Give yourself time to relax before it all starts again. I am sure good things are on its way.

@Lily1990 @KatyTTC hoping the wait won’t be too brutal 😂 fingers crossed for you both. Keep us updated

i visited CRP today for my intralipid. 2 hours journey just to get there 🥵 but every time when I see patients with a bump in there, it gives me so much hope 🤩

@Hope646 @MeganBistram @JandL2020 @KatyTTC thank you for all your messages and positive vibes! I went back to my local hospital today to get my repeat HCG and progesterone done! Won’t get the results probably until next week now! I’m really putting everything to the back of mind as much as possible after so many disappointments in the past I just have to keep distracted! 🙃

@JandL2020 yeh we were extremely disappointed with his reaction to us in the consultation when I mentioned that the NHS had tested me (for NK cells) simultaneously( retrospectively wish I shut my mouth!)! He pretty much said choose one or the other and if you chose the NHS I’m not giving you your prescription for Humira!!!! Felt pressured to choose him because of the additional things he can offer over the NHs and he said ‘right, I’ll let the NHS know you won’t be going ahead with them’😱really left a bitter taste but as you all have said if we get where we need to be it will be worth it!! I’ve been having intralipids with Dr S and have booked in my 4 week intralipid with them too. The NHS (even Epsom who he covers) won’t do intralipids!

@KatyTTC i had ZERO symptoms this time when I got the faintest line and was 100% sure it was back to the drawing board so don’t give up hope ❤️I still don’t have many symptoms but the lines appeared so have to go with it! I’ve also had strep b in the past identified after a miscarriage so will have to remember to mention that at some stage 😵‍💫

@MeganBistram sorry I hadn’t realised you had two consecutive scans! Well done - keep going lovely- positive vibes🥰you are right it’s like having an affair, simultaneously now I’ve been told now by Nhs to contact Epu at 6 weeks for an early scan at 7 weeks so I assume Dr S will want to do one at 6 weeks first! Hopefully can juggle this without drawing attention to doing both!!!

Can I ask do you see much of him after the positive test? Who does the scans etc? Or does he just do the consultations?
Sorry for long response! Hope I haven’t missed anyone’s messages x

@whatsgoingon22 you will not see him again.. unless you have a miscarriage I believe. He hands you onto dr. Edge who has a similar trained mantra to dr S which is all with them.

I got highly frusted again with the “follow up” notes from our appointment from yesterday. She wrote that she had told me about bloods and basically I forced her hand to give me more drugs .. I keep my contact to the absolute bare min now. Just give me the drugs haha.

I have used the NhS as a stepping point. Did 6 weeek with CRP then 8 with NHS to register a heartbeat with them as hopefully won’t be a issue.. but I am sure you all know that they have to not see a heartbeat after seeing one before they declare a miscarriage.
they have offered me another one which I might do at 11 weeks or if I have another scare. Even though he works for Espom I am confident the two will not speak to each other.
my GP have both sets of notes and haven’t put the two and two together.

I really hope you get the results tomorrow so you can try and move positively forward. I have my fingers toes and all other moveable body parts crossed for you 🥰 xx

@MeganBistram that’s interesting re
group B. Did you order that test online? I don’t think my gp would have an issue with testing me if I asked. they found it in my urine as I had a UTI. Can you have it in vagina but not urine?
It’s so silly but I just want to eliminate anything that might niggle at the back of my mind!
xx

@whatsgoingon22 keeping everything crossed you get the results tomorrow just to put you out of your misery. And really hoping for good numbers 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 xxx

@KatyTTC you can order a test of anywhere online for fairly cheap but I would go GP if they are willing :)

I believe once it hits your urine that’s when it is needed to take antibiotics but yes I think it’s not possible to have one without the other. Interesting that we all have had group B step.. they say there is no correlation but like you I just want to eliminate absolutely everything in my control this time and if that means more anti. Biotics then so be it :)

xx