Mr Rai the recurrent miscarriage specialist

[Peach Blossom]

Hi ladies,

Some of you will know my story. I have miscarried 3 times in the last 12 months. I've had every test under the sun and they haven't as yet found out why it all keeps happening. Added to this I seem to have unexplained fertility problems and once the current round of investigations in to my miscarriages is over we will be embarking on IVF.

Last Thursday I went to see Mr Rai, who is a miscarriage specialist. He runs the clinic at St. Mary's. It was great to meet him and I truly felt like we might get some answers this time. I've written about the appointment on my blog: b-loss-om I thought that I would share it with you as I know that I'm not the only one out there with unexplained fertility issues who's miscarried several times.

It has been such a frustrating 2 years. All blood tests, scans and x-rays have come back saying I'm normal... But I'm obviously not. It's almost harder to deal with although, as my FS says, I am statistically in the best group. Sometimes it feels like things would be so much easier if they could say "this is what's wrong with you and this is how to fix it".

Anyway, I hope sharing the info from my appt is helpful to some of you.

 

[dan-o]

Hi peach, sorry to hear you have lost another baby. That's so sad, I really feel for you.

Hopefully the specialist may find something previously missed he can help fix for you, I'll keep my fingers crossed xx

Sending lots of

 

[fluffyblue]

hey pb so sorry you are back again, really had my fingers crossed for you.

I believe he is very good, im under Siobhan Quenby who has now moved to the Heartlands Trust so am in good hands also, luckily for me I have a cause - APS which is a blood clotting issue - very treatable, but unfortunately now having fertility issues too !

Hope it works out for you hunni xxxxx

 

[bellaxan]

{{{hugs}}} been there done that. im much the same no cause ( oh an i have two kids with my husband so its not like we are incompatible) but in 3 years i have had 6mc all before 7w.

one midwife i was suggested asprin and i discussed it with my ultra-unhelpful consltant and she gave me free reign ( and washed her hands of me) anyway 75mg of asprin a day and im now 11w pregnant. i hasten to add that you shouldn never take asprin in pregnancy unless advised to by a dr. but as i said i ran it past mine and she was like "yeah whatever" so i went for it. im told i can come off the asprin after the 12w scan, taking the dose down to one every two days then once a week then none at all.

but there is hope. they have no idea why the asprin is working cos i dont have anything it should help with. but they dont know what i do have and as long as baby is ok i dont care!

 

[fluffyblue]

The only thing I would say about aspirin is taking it whilst TTC it can affect fertility. Both my RM specialist and fertility specialist have told me to not take it whilst TTC and only commence when pregnancy is confirmed.

 

[Peach Blossom]

Thanks for the advice guys. My blood tests showed that I had no clotting issues so therefore do't need to take the aspirin and was told not to take it. I may bring it up again if all these tests come back normal!! Thanks again. x

 

[bellaxan]

i was told that for it to work you have to take it from before conception, but as its not for a diagnosed condition in my case ( they still have no idea whats wrong) it may be different advice.
then again conceiving is not my problem ( 7 times in 3 years) im virtually always pregnant. anyway sorry to hijack just wanted to mention it incase you hadnt already been there/done that

 

[Peach Blossom]

Thanks Bellaxan

 

[Having_hope]

hi new here,

so jealous you actually have miscarriage specialists and clinics over there, N.Ireland doesnt have that, not even recurrent miscarriage counselling

hope everything goes well and we get some answers , if not answers a sticky BFP

 

[Peach Blossom]

So sorry you don't have miscarriage clinics over there. I hope you get the answers you need soon. to you and wishing you all the luck in your journey ttc.

 

[JolleyGirl86]

Hi I know what you are going thru, I have also had 3 mc's, they did blood tests and they said I had antibodies in my blood that makes it clot more so they think thats why Ive been having them but arent 100% sure. Next time I get pregnant I will be put on heparin, and I am currently taking 1 baby aspirin daily. Now if i could just get pregnant again. With the past 3 it seems like I got pregnant really easy and now it seems like its been harder for me to get pregnant. Ive been trying for 6 months. Good Luck to you all!

 

[Amos2009]

Peach I could have written your exact post. We even lost our angels at the same time My tests all came back "normal" too, so now we are just having to proceed like there is nothing wrong. Well, obviously there IS something wrong. 3 mc's don't just happen when everything is "normal". I am off now to read your blog...please keep us updated on what you find out if you don't mind.

 

[Peach Blossom]

Well I had my follow up appt with Mr Rai today. I've tested positive for Lupus Anticoagulant which is an autoimmune condition that attacks the placenta and causes recurrent miscarriage. It also mean my blood clots don't break down properly. I already have one autoimmune disease, Graves', so it wasn't such a surprise to me that I have another one. I had queried it before actually, but been fobbed off. Anyway it's fairly easily treated with aspirin and heparin which is started just after a +ve pg test and continued to 34 weeks. Not relishing the idea of injecting myself everyday though. I feel relieved that we have an answer now. I know it doesn't mean that things will 100% be ok next time, but my chances have just gone up from 10% to 70%!!

 

[mazee71]

Peach blossom - so glad you got some answers, a good friend of mine had 3 early losses and 4th time tried asprin from BFP & clexane from 12 weeks - the result of that pg is my delightful 3 year old god daughter.

FX for you xx

 

[NatoPMT]

Thats great youve got some answers Peachy, and a treatable answer at that - that leap in chance from 10% to 70% is amazing!! brilliant news.

The only thing I would say about aspirin is taking it whilst TTC it can affect fertility. Both my RM specialist and fertility specialist have told me to not take it whilst TTC and only commence when pregnancy is confirmed.

any idea why that might be? thats in direct conflict to a lot of what i have read and what my sisters IVF dr said. A lot of information is conflicting which is very frustrating

 

[Amos2009]

Peach I am so happy they found an answer for you and that it is easily treatable. Here's to a sticky bean soon!!

 

[fluffyblue]

Well I had my follow up appt with Mr Rai today. I've tested positive for Lupus Anticoagulant which is an autoimmune condition that attacks the placenta and causes recurrent miscarriage. It also mean my blood clots don't break down properly. I already have one autoimmune disease, Graves', so it wasn't such a surprise to me that I have another one. I had queried it before actually, but been fobbed off. Anyway it's fairly easily treated with aspirin and heparin which is started just after a +ve pg test and continued to 34 weeks. Not relishing the idea of injecting myself everyday though. I feel relieved that we have an answer now. I know it doesn't mean that things will 100% be ok next time, but my chances have just gone up from 10% to 70%!!

Hey hunni snap exactly same as me. THe only thing we gotta do now is get pregnant !!!

So pleased you got an answer xx

 

[fluffyblue]

Thats great youve got some answers Peachy, and a treatable answer at that - that leap in chance from 10% to 70% is amazing!! brilliant news.

The only thing I would say about aspirin is taking it whilst TTC it can affect fertility. Both my RM specialist and fertility specialist have told me to not take it whilst TTC and only commence when pregnancy is confirmed.

any idea why that might be? thats in direct conflict to a lot of what i have read and what my sisters IVF dr said. A lot of information is conflicting which is very frustrating

Hey hun, I saw my recurrent miscarriage specialist just like Peaches and she told me not to take aspirin whilst TTC - the reasons why I didnt ask and as she is a professor in recurrent miscarriages and has written many books and ran many trials - I didnt question !!

I like Peaches have to report as soon as I get a BFP as I have APS and have to take aspirin and clexane as soon as I am PG.

I have had 5 MC and an ectopic so I listen to the experts xx