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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

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Dr Shehata advice

1000 replies

Wolfemum · 10/02/2023 08:58

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

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Lara8 · 29/07/2023 21:27

Does anyone know why one might have high NK cells? I’ve tried to research this and it’s clearly got me nowhere. I also think I’ve tried to ask Dr S this twice and I’m still no clearer haha

Lara8 · 29/07/2023 21:27

(My friend asked me yesterday so why do you have high NK cells and I couldn’t answer haha)

KatyTTC · 29/07/2023 22:34

As I understand it, Nk cells fight infection. If you have too many your body starts attacking itself, as with autoimmune disorders or in our case an embryo/foetus leading to infertility or miscarriage 😢.

here… this is from the Tommys website. Quite helpful.

Natural killer cells (NK cells) form part of the body’s immune system. They help the body fight infection and cancer. Every organ has NK cells to protect it, including the uterus (womb).
NK cells in the uterus are known as uNK cells. They play an important role in helping the body become pregnant.
In order to become pregnant, the womb lining needs to inflame slightly so the embryo can attach (or implant) to the uterine wall. uNK cells contribute to this process of inflammation. If there are too many or too few uNK cells, this can cause too much or not enough inflammation, which are both associated with infertility and miscarriage.

KatyTTC · 29/07/2023 22:48

Talking of inflammation… Can I ask everyone what they are eating/not eating?
I was trying to stick to an anti inflammatory diet limiting things like gluten, dairy, sugar etc but this month I’ve massively fallen off the wagon with it.
Are any of you sticking to any diets tailored for fertility?
Someone mentioned the other day they weren’t having caffeine. I don’t have a huge amount but I have a coffee every day and a cup of tea or two. I’ve heard that while Shehata is so amazing in this field, nutrition for fertility isn’t his strong point. I asked about diet when we had our first consultation with him and he said to just eat a balanced diet but I’m wondering if I should be doing a bit more than that?

Just wondering what others are doing or not doing!

xx

Lara8 · 29/07/2023 23:47

@KatyTTC thanks for this really helpful explanation. I think the thing I’m struggling to get is what leads one to have high NK cells in the very first place. Why us and not others. And why now and not before. I get why they cause miscarriage and that they are part of the immune system but I’m questioning is there a reason my body has a higher amount. Like is it due to something lying dormant that they are needed for. Sorry for the head spin…

I try to eat a Mediterranean diet, lots written about it being the best for anti inflammatory with wiggle room for not being perfect 80/20. My brother had terminal cancer (was given less than a year) and is now cancer free after a huge alternative treatment plan, a major part of this was following an anti inflammatory diet. So turmeric plays a big part in my cooking these days!

whatsgoingon22 · 30/07/2023 00:15

Hi again gang x thanks again for the messages, although the day of relief was short lived as the brown spotting returned today 😔back to panicking while walking and going to the toilet etc 🙈
so @JandL2020 the medication is Nifedipine (had never heard of it), think it’s for pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure. Don’t see much about it online but Dr E said it won’t harm so she would like me to try it for a few weeks. I wasn’t taking coq10 religiously 🙈and I wish I had now as I was/am worried about my egg quality. I agree about the scan, I’m not going back to my local hospital for that reason - going to go to Epsom hospital instead (further away but can’t face going back to my old hosp - too traumatic).

@Lara8 and @KatyTTC thank you 😘😘hope you’re doing both okay too xxx

@MeganBistram oh nooo I’m so sorry you have had those nightmares, that’s awful. I think as it’s on our mind constantly we’re just even subconsciously anxious - try not to worry and I pray and hope all will go well for you on Monday. My appetite is crazy on these steroids I’ve eaten so much in the past two weeks I need to reign it in big time 🫠🙈
re: my previous losses, they have all been at different stages, 4/5 of them were missed miscarriages and one chemical pregnancy. but in 3/5 the spotting started at about 6 weeks. The spotting stopped/started continuously for weeks in each of the pregnancies. I’ve had about 20 scans over all the pregnancies because one week it would positive /next it was unsure/next it was fine again and then after weeks of rollercoaster rides they’d say sorry. Hence my constant state of anxiety and unease. The only thing I can think as you have all said is hopefully it will be different this time with the amount of medication I’m on 🙏🏻❤️
night all, sending you lots of love xxx

whatsgoingon22 · 30/07/2023 00:23

whatsgoingon22 · 30/07/2023 00:15

Hi again gang x thanks again for the messages, although the day of relief was short lived as the brown spotting returned today 😔back to panicking while walking and going to the toilet etc 🙈
so @JandL2020 the medication is Nifedipine (had never heard of it), think it’s for pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure. Don’t see much about it online but Dr E said it won’t harm so she would like me to try it for a few weeks. I wasn’t taking coq10 religiously 🙈and I wish I had now as I was/am worried about my egg quality. I agree about the scan, I’m not going back to my local hospital for that reason - going to go to Epsom hospital instead (further away but can’t face going back to my old hosp - too traumatic).

@Lara8 and @KatyTTC thank you 😘😘hope you’re doing both okay too xxx

@MeganBistram oh nooo I’m so sorry you have had those nightmares, that’s awful. I think as it’s on our mind constantly we’re just even subconsciously anxious - try not to worry and I pray and hope all will go well for you on Monday. My appetite is crazy on these steroids I’ve eaten so much in the past two weeks I need to reign it in big time 🫠🙈
re: my previous losses, they have all been at different stages, 4/5 of them were missed miscarriages and one chemical pregnancy. but in 3/5 the spotting started at about 6 weeks. The spotting stopped/started continuously for weeks in each of the pregnancies. I’ve had about 20 scans over all the pregnancies because one week it would positive /next it was unsure/next it was fine again and then after weeks of rollercoaster rides they’d say sorry. Hence my constant state of anxiety and unease. The only thing I can think as you have all said is hopefully it will be different this time with the amount of medication I’m on 🙏🏻❤️
night all, sending you lots of love xxx

Sorry I missed all the more recent messages.
@Lara8 wow your poor brother, thank God he’s cancer free now but that must have been awful for you all 😞that’s horrific. Can I ask what you would typically eat in a day? I know my diet is not as good as it should be. I need to cut out all the shitt- I used it as a comfort crutch over the past few years.
Also i think the NK cells get activated the more miscarriages you have so it’s a flipping catch 22 for us 😔😞

Lara8 · 30/07/2023 09:19

@whatsgoingon22

You poor thing, just try hold onto the fact there was a heartbeat and the bleeding was the fluid/blood seen on the scan. Sending you so much strength and love right now. Try not to worry about egg quality, it’s so hard to remember to take all of the supplements religiously ♥️

Diet wise: i juice to try get loads on the good anti inflammatory stuff in so celery, greens, beetroot, ginger, carrot and turmeric. I try to drink a glass of this 3 times a week. Making a smoothie is a good call too.

I try and take kefir which is also good for the gut/microbiome. There is lots of new research about the microbiome and miscarriage and i listened to an interview with DR.S and he said it was an area he is interested in and plans to look further into.

I try and eat good quality wild caught salmon or tuna twice a week.

An anti-inflammatory diet helps with psoriasis and crohns which is what humira is used for so I figured it makes sense to see food as a medicine too.

I try and eat:

  • oily fish, such as tuna and salmon
  • fruits, such as blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and cherries
  • vegetables like spinach, kale and broccoli
  • beans
  • nuts and seeds
  • olives and olive oil
  • raw vegetables and humous to snack on
  • Loads of lentils
  • spices, such as ginger and turmeric
  • probiotics and prebiotics I used chuckling goat stuff- their kefir if the best. Look at their website.
so loads of stir fries, sweet potato curries, whole grain carbs not white starchy, stews with lentils etc.

I try not to eat much process food, or lots of sugar and salt. White bread and pasta, chips . I try not to drink alcohol unless going out. Again, I leave room to live. I got drunk on my birthday on Friday!

If you google Mediterranean diet recipes you can’t go wrong.

Who knows if any of this will make a difference but here’s hoping! And there is research on this.
xxxxxx

JandL2020 · 30/07/2023 10:11

@KatyTTC feeling okay but feeling very tired already on the meds so expecting to feel worse when the extras are added to the mix. Sounds like you are about to ovulate. I read somewhere that the flashy smiley day before static if you’re most fertile time. I take 200mg it says coenzyme then b1 …says gives energy so I’m all for taking it 🤣 Best of luck this month xx

JandL2020 · 30/07/2023 10:18

@Lara8 im on similar diet and already feel less bloating and not had any of my stomach issues. I think it’s related too
if anyone asks I tell them I have an imbalance. I like the description below as my results were same - and dr shehata thinks why I’m having early losses with grade an embryos.hope you had a great bday on Friday.

just enjoying my last day of gym membership. Saying that there are lots of families at swimming so I feel a bit sad 😞

im going to see the barbie movie this week to cheer me up. Anyone else seen it? Xx

Dr Shehata advice
JandL2020 · 30/07/2023 10:21

@whatsgoingon22 they may have taken it off as more important for pre conception - my embryos are already made so as long as I’m taking folic
acid being healthy it’s not going to make a huge difference. Although I’m hoping the steroids will 🤞
did you have your progesterone levels tested? Hope the spotting is nothing serious. They sounded reassured at the scan but I would be feeling the same xx

JandL2020 · 30/07/2023 10:22

@MeganBistrambest of luck for your scan tomorrow and a happy birthday xx

Hope646 · 30/07/2023 12:14

Thank you all❤️❤️❤️ right now my body is being dramatic and ahead of itself already. Can’t believe it for the triggering signs to appear this early.
so I got solid face on Cd18 and today I am on cd22. We DTD three nights in a row and none yesterday. Sorry tmi but just to not miss out we were planning to DTD this morning but when going to toilet I saw dark brown spotting when wiping. So decided to avoid any activity. Since morning there has been brown discharge. I decided to straightaway use the progesterone. I started Steroid the very first day of solid face and progesterone after I saw spotting this morning. I was planning to start taking it this evening anyway.

This is so strange. I am 7 days away from my period if my cycle does not end up being long. This can’t be implantation bleeding as ovulation sign was only maybe 3 days ago. Can’t be pregnancy so early. I have had few cramps on and off the last few days, just mild that I would feel for a moment and it would go away.
I don’t know what to make out of this spotting at this stage.

has this happened to anyone so early maybe few days after ovulation?

Hope646 · 30/07/2023 20:14

Just an update. The pain is getting worse. Feels like period pain. Could this be period or something else? So soo confused. I had really high hopes for this cycle. This is so frustrating and such a mind game

JandL2020 · 30/07/2023 21:34

@Hope646 have you had irregular cycles before? I always used to ovulate late and have a short luteal phase and spotted around day 22. One month it came full on bleeding day 24/25! I still don’t know what was wrong back then. I now don’t spot at all. Are you taking progesterone? It could be irritation from that and also intercourse? Hopefully you are not out yet. It could be worth temperature charting too and we never truly know when we ovulate but temp alongside the sticks I found useful xx

Hope646 · 30/07/2023 22:03

@JandL2020 thank you so much for responding. I am so lost right now. With late ovulation this cycle, I really thought I would have a longer cycle, if not atleast normal cycle but not for period to arrive 7 days early (if this is really period). I got ovulation sign only 3 days ago. My cycle has always been regular (28 days). And today I am on day22. This cycle I actually used both digital and non digital OPK to avoid any error and both were correlating.

I started taking progesterone today after I saw spotting as this cycle I didn’t want to start taking it too early on the very first day of seeing solid face. I wanted to make sure ovulation happens before taking progesterone.
the pain is now like period pain. I don’t know what to do with progesterone now. If it is period then I am only stopping it with progesterone.

I will check with CRP tomorrow to see what they suggest.

Hope646 · 30/07/2023 22:37

Ladies.. I am so sorry for going crazy here. But I don’t know what made me do pregnancy test just now and I can see a line. It shows as pregnant. I am not sure if you guys can see the line.
If you look at my non digital ovulation tracker, it kept rising the last few days with today being the peak so far. Now it makes me think if it was taking Preg hormone as surge (I am not sure if that’s possible)
But now this period cramp and brown spotting is making me still question everything. Am i miscarrying 😭😭😭 did I take progesterone too late 😣😣😣 it can’t be happening again.
I will go and buy another pregnancy test tomorrow. Sorry I know I should wait at least until another test but my head is exploding

Dr Shehata advice
Dr Shehata advice
whatsgoingon22 · 31/07/2023 03:14

Oh wow @Hope646 sorry I woke up and can’t go back to sleep. That’s a really clear line, like really defined so I want to say congratulations and I really hope you’re not miscarrying- what an absolute head f* for you in the space of 24 hrs. Call CRP in the morning and can you ask your GP for a repeat HCG test? Are you taking pred also? CRP may tell you to stop the aispirin but take the progesterone still - I’m not sure. Sending you lots of love ❤️❤️❤️

@MeganBistram good luck later today and happy birthday.

thinking of you both xxx

JandL2020 · 31/07/2023 07:53

@Hope646 this is very exciting! I would say you have ovulated earlier than you thought and this could implantation bleeding with cramps? X

Lily1990 · 31/07/2023 08:50

@Hope646 what a mind f* but I agree with @JandL2020 that it’s exciting and seems like you ovulated earlier than you thought and have been having implantation bleeding with cramps. When I had brown spotting last time it stopped after a couple of days, i guess after implantation finished. Your line looks really good and also that it’s being picked up on the ovulation test.
Good luck @MeganBistram for your scan today and happy birthday!
hope everyone else is doing well! X

KatyTTC · 31/07/2023 09:25

@Hope646 my goodness I can’t imagine where your head has been overnight. What have CRP said? I read somewhere that you can have two surges so perhaps you had one earlier in your cycle and actually ovulated earlier!
you know what they say… a line is a line! And I can def see that line. Keeping everything crossed for you 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻.

@MeganBistram Happy, happy birthday!!! Wishing you all the luck in the world today. I hope it’s the best birthday ever 🥰.

xxx

MeganBistram · 31/07/2023 13:05

Hi Lovely Ladies

Firstly thankyou for the birthday wishes and luck on the scan. I went to see Dr. S today ( with Dr. Edge ) Baby was all good. Measuring quite ahead now though at 11+4 weeks but apparently nothing to worry about. Was quite nice seeing Dr S again actually. He decided that because of my late loss I need to carry on the Steriods now until 14 weeks. So looks like moon face is here to stay for now ;)

@Hope646 oh gosh what an exciting / stressful time for you. Its a very positive test perhaps you did ovulate earlier? based on my scan dates mine would have been 4/5 days earlier than my Surge.. so seems possible. Can you get to a clinic to get the blood test? I really found the pregnancy tests useless as I drink to much so they didn't get much darker and caused alot of Anxiety. Also try not to worry about the progesterone I stopped mine as I didnt show pregnant for 4 days and then started again. The cramping / spotting can defo be implantation

@whatsgoingon22 hows the spotting? I know its hard but try and rationalise that you have blood in your womb so its likely to be that and all is ok with baby.. :)

@Lara8 I am in awe of you, My diet is whatever I can eat or drink that stops the rank taste I have had since 6 weeks.. which right now is frosties, fruit & orange juice lol. I was so sure I would follow anti inflam but I literally cant. I am not big so I think its so obvious I am pregnant now ( my face is deffo Steroid induced )

@JandL2020 how you feeling about next month? xx

MeganBistram · 31/07/2023 13:05

Oh and its poor quality as its the portable scanner at Harley street, but here baby is today xx

Dr Shehata advice
whatsgoingon22 · 31/07/2023 13:56

Oh @MeganBistram thank God! Im so happy for you! I hope you’re feeling good now, what a happy birthday present!! Can I ask at what stage was your late loss if you don’t mind? Yes I hope you’re right re the spotting, I honestly can’t shake the fear and trauma of it from the last times. My pelvis was feeling really heavy yesterday so I just lay on the couch the whole day. The spotting kinda petered off today so I hope it stays that way now 🙏🏻❤️🤞🏼

@Lara8 I agree with @MeganBistram that is unbelievable! You are amazing!!! And you inspired my online shop yesterday from the couch! Im so impressed, I fell into a cycle of feeling sorry for myself and emotional eating and going out and have put on well over a stone since I started out ttc and now the steroids on top 🫤I’ve cut out alcohol since January but would struggle way more with sugar and processed foods which I know need to go 🙈😞. Well done you! That can all only be positive!

@Hope646 thinking of you all morning, hope you’re okay. As all above have said it could be implantation so don’t panic and I hope the pain and spotting has subsided. That is such a significant line for early on in my opinion xx

MeganBistram · 31/07/2023 14:59

@whatsgoingon22 It was at the 12 week scan... however from my memory it was measuring 9+5 which according to Dr. S is only 2% chance of so he considers it late.
I feel good today and actually the last week I have been trying to remain calm, helped by being at my parents and having a mad house with 3 kids there distracting me. I have had ALOT of heavy pulling this time round, Sometimes lasts for a min and sometimes an hour or more. I am thinking / Hoping its all the medication.
Next scan is the 7th with the NHS so my next goal is set.. not sure I will ever move pass the "goalposts" but here's hoping :) xx

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