Recurrent Miscarriage clinic -anyone know what to expect?

[smidgen]

Just trying to keep my mind off this pain (got an infection from d & c last thurs), and just wondered if anyone could tell us their experience of what to expect at recurrent miscarriage clinic. Our appointment has come thru already - we've to go at 0830 on 1st Feb.

 

[fluffyblue]

Hey hun yes first appointment they will do a full history ie very very detailed analysis of all your losses so be prepared for a cry.

If not done already they will do lots of blood tests and infection testing (ie swabs down below) then arrange a further appointment when they come back, I got my 2nd appointment on 6th Jan xxx

 

[Widger]

Hi, sorry you are having a horrible time at the moment smidgen.

At my first appointment I met with a consultant (not the main person I met at the end) to go through my mc history with dates etc, previous operations etc. Then I had my blood taken - be prepared as they take a lot. If you look on my recurrent mc thread I have included a list of all the tests they took as I can't remember off the top of my head. It will prob be included on page 1 or 2.

I also had another appointment for an u/s to check that nothing was untoward inside too, swabs taken etc.

Once the results were in I met with the main consultant who told me my results and the steps that would be taken when I got my next bfp.

I didn't get the chromosome tests results (from myself and husband) for 3 months after this meeting - actually it was a lot longer for me in the end to get them so although everything else was clear, this I had to wait for. If it came back that we had issues with these tests then there wasn't anything they could do about this result anyway - just for knowledge sake.

I hope that you get through the process quickly and good luck for the future xxx

 

[BeanieBaby]

Good luck with your appointment, I hope you get some answers and you're well looked after. xxx

 

[smidgen]

thanks for the info. how long does it take for all the test results, second meetings etc?

 

[Smiler13]

Hi Smidgen, really sorry for your losses. If you'd like to chat, there is a good recurrent miscarriage thread on here with lots of nice ladies.

There is helpful information on the Royal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' website:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/womens-heal...ent-miscarriage-what-rcog-guideline-means-you

I wrote down the history of losses with dates etc. before the first appointment as I didn't want to have to go through it verbally. They asked questions and did blood tests on both my partner and me and also a vaginal ultrasound, which I hated as it brought back nasty memories of the pregnancy ones.

There are various types of test and, confusingly, different hospitals and doctors have different opinions about certain ones (and what treatments should be tried). They all do the "standard" tests as outlined in the RCOG guidance, and some do additional ones. There are also some tests, to do with "natural killer cells" that are not supported by all doctors and tend to be done only privately (though there is a trial in Liverpool at the moment - info on another thread and the miscarriage association website).

It is worth asking for a list of the tests being done and writing it down - sadly, with the NHS you often have to keep tabs yourself and check that stuff comes back as the admin can go wrong. They come back in batches. For example, I got a letter saying "your test results are OK", but when I checked, only half of the results had come back. The "karyotyping" results (for both partners) take the longest to come back (4 months in our case, which was really frustrating).

Also, some tests, e.g. the "thrombophilia" ones, have to be done a certain way and processed within a certain amount of time. My (large London) hospital got these wrong twice, had to have them repeated as the lab sent them back.

Similarly, it's worth chasing up about follow-up appointments, that test results are there before appointments etc. (doctors don't like it when you're in front of them but tests / information is missing). Lots of phone calls and hassle, but can help speed the process along.

Sorry if this is alarming, but personally I've found it helpful to take charge of all this stuff. If I'd relied on the NHS and hadn't checked / followed up / read all about tests etc. I wouldn't have made the progress that I have in terms of identifying a problem and trying treatments. Guess it's part of how I cope.

Also, there are some well-known specialist centres like St Mary's in London and the Liverpool Women's Hospital - depending on where you live might be worth looking into being referred there.

Hope your first appointment is helpful.

 

[smidgen]

wow - thanks for all the info - a bit overwhelming just now but hopefully by the time our appt comes round i will have a clearer head and get prepared for the appt etc. Can you just ask thebe referred to St marys or the hospital in Liverpool?

 

[Widger]

It depends on how your hospital works Smidgen. In my hospital I think I got thoroughly tested because of my consultant (he was recurrent mc specialist). I know that with some others on here their hospital only tested for a couple of standard things and they were able to ask to be referred over to St. Marys. Their hospital were ok with this because they realised they weren't able to give specialist opinion. Does this all make sense?

By the time I'd had my first appointment it took about 2-3 months for follow up and results with consultant I think. I had mine in Feb and was seen end of April if I've remembered rightly. Again, as the others have said arm yourself with as much information as you can. I was lucky with my hospital but others have not been so lucky.

As well as my recurrent mc thread, Smiler13 started up a recurrent mc thread just on treatment and tests etc if you do a proper search and on there we have all included the tests we had taken etc.

The good news is you have your appointment date and hopefully you will get some answers soon.

Thinking of you.

 

[cheekyk]

Hi, I am 24years old and i have had 3 M/C's the 3rd MC being only 2weeks ago!
I have been referred recently to the recurrent MC Clinic.
I dont know what is going to happen and how long it will take for an app to come through???
Me and my partner have been sexual active within the last week but we are not trying to conceive just yet as waiting for first period to start after MC
i looked at dates if its the same after MC that i am not fertile for another week, which we will not be active for that time. But does it work the same after a MC with the dates of being fertile or is it different and if so, could that mean that i could be pregnant?
Thank You for your time and support