Recurrent Miscarriage - clinics & testing

[MrsMoose]

Hi ladies

I'm going through my 4th pregnancy loss at the moment, which I'm devastated about, although it's really not sinking in yet. I'm being referred to a miscarriage clinic, but wanted to find out from all of you who have been down this road or are travelling it at the moment, when did you start getting tested for recurrent miscarriages?

I don't know whether to wait a few months or start testing right away. I don't want to feel callous towards this loss, but I'm so anxious to have a solution, even if there isn't one (i.e. there's nothing wrong, it's all just bad luck). It's DH and my 5 year wedding anniversary in March and we're going away, and we've both partly said maybe we start getting tested once we get back from our holiday (which is probably wise).

I'm also a complete control freak who needs to know everything, so I've started researching the best recurrent miscarriage clinics out there and have come across 2 that seem to stand out:

Dr Lesley Regan's m/c clinic at St Mary's hospital
Dr Hassan Shehata at The Miscarriage Clinic

Both are in London and both seem to have had positive results. Has anyone been to see these clinics and can you tell me anything about them?

I so wish I didn't have to write this post, as it feels so completely unreal that I thought I'd ever be here. I come from a family of extremely fertile people, where the women just seem to be within smelling distance of their husbands and they get pregnant! I feel like I've let the side down, like there's something wrong with me and that I'm broken. How can I not feel this way? It makes me so sad, so angry, so bitter (the worst part). I don't want to resent friends and family who are pregnant or who have kids, but I'm finding myself avoiding all social situations which involve these 2 scenarios. I can't hide forever....can I?

Carmen. xx

 

[ttcmoon]

I am so sorry for you Carmen.Just wanted to give you my hugs.
I am also from a very fertile family and a very fertile country!You really can't hide forever, so can't I.But for sometime you can hide yourself.I feel bad when I speak with anyone with children/pregnant, I feel guilty.Though I know I could have done nothing to save my babies.We didn't do any mistake dear.I feel very down and obsessed sometimes.

I am not from UK but I heared about Shehata in the Recurrent Miscarriage thread.Many helpful ladies are there going through similar conditions.

I hope you best of luck and hope you get your answers soon!

 

[franks17]

hello i have recurrent loss i have m/c 5 times and got tests done after the 3rd firstly at my local hospital, those test came back clear ie im healthy :/ then they referred me to st marys in london and i didnt find it too helpful personally! i found the staff lovely and the test they done was just an ultra sound and blood tests so why not helpful well.. i misscarry every time 5 weeks 2dys ish so have a short window of when im able to see anyone while actually being pregnant so was awful as i rang lots of times and couldnt get through so left message after message then id miscarry and i got a voice mail saying i need to contact them a out my positive test and at the time of misscarryingi found that hurtful and i didnt have a point of contact either . soon as i had a positive test it took until i after id misscarried to get an appointment baring in mind i live in northampton a 75 mile drive ! in the end i gave up and am with a consultant at my local hospital and they are great !

 

[sara75]

Hi hun,
Sorry to hear about your loss, I understand what you are going through, as I am miscarrying now my 4th. After my third miscarriage, I demanded answers from my GP, and they referred me to a hospital, after waiting weeks to see someone, and weeks for the test results, I was told test results came back normal, and I am fine but they told me to take progesterone, and daily baby Aspirin after I get bfp. I was not sure it will work, as I miscarry very early on, normally 5 days after BFP, sadly as expected this pregnancy also ended even though took longer but never the less it is over.

I am also in London, I have read about both clinics but I have a feeling that Dr Hassan Shehata at The Miscarriage Clinic might have the answer for me, as he specialised in early miscarriages, I believe there is something that happens early on, the make the pregnancy not viable, I have called his office, and I have arranged an appointment for next week.

 

[MrsMoose]

Hi ladies

Thanks for your responses and I'm so sorry we have to go through this heartache and desperation just to try and get an answer!

It seems that most women who've been through this have been recommending Dr Shehata. I've dropped his clinic an email so I'm hoping they'll be able to see me.

It's so traumatic to have to keep going through these losses time and time again. I hope that we find out what is the cause of our problems and let's hope that this is the road to our forever babies!!!!


Carmen. xx

 

[MoBaby]

MrsMoose i know you from the other thread and hate this for you

 

[MrsMoose]

MrsMoose i know you from the other thread and hate this for you

right back at you MoBaby....Thanks for the kind & supportive words. Didn't think I'd ever be here but anyway....life loves throwing these little curve balls at us. How are you doing honey? xx

 

[MoBaby]

im okay i guess. really depressed this morning...i am afraid that any minute any one of my friends will say im preggo and I dont think I can take it.... i got a baby shower invite yesterday and tossed it..not going...

anyways i f/u feb 5th...hopefully some answers for my recurrent losses as well. Curve ball for sure since today was end of 1st tri for me and I was supossed to be making an announcement

 

[FeLynn]

I am not from your area but plenty of women on this board are and I have heard good about both. I didn't have any test for RPL until after my 3rd loss. I was 13.2 weeks when the baby died. all my losses were back to back and were after my pregnancies that made it to term with no problems during pregnancy. So its shocking that now I would have this issue. My drs wont do certain test since I have kids but I am from the US so things are completely different here from what I have seen on these boards. Good luck!

 

[MrsMoose]

im okay i guess. really depressed this morning...i am afraid that any minute any one of my friends will say im preggo and I dont think I can take it.... i got a baby shower invite yesterday and tossed it..not going...

anyways i f/u feb 5th...hopefully some answers for my recurrent losses as well. Curve ball for sure since today was end of 1st tri for me and I was supossed to be making an announcement

Oh Mo I'm so sorry that this is such a sad time for you and that you would have had this anniversary. It's so difficult to take ourselves out of the 'what if's' and 'would have been' mindset. It's all these daily reminders.

I know how you feel about the baby shower. With my SIL due in 4 weeks I really don't want to have to see the new baby (even though I love my SIL to bits). We haven't told anyone about the loss or that I was even pregnant, not even our parents, so it would look very strange if we suddenly started avoiding everyone, especially those with kids or pregnant. So hard, I can only keep making excuses so long.

Where are you going for your testing?

AFM - I got a reply back from the Miscarriage Clinic saying to book in for a private appointment so I'm going to give them a call tomorrow. Feeling a bit low tonight, my husband's up north until Thursday night for work so I'm all on my own. Feel like I need some TLC. Maybe I'll have a bath and curl up on the sofa and watch trashy tv.....

Hope you ladies are doing ok. Big hugs!

Carmen. xx

 

[MoBaby]

Ha my friend did tell me she was preggo and she is due a few days after I was! I broke down when we got in the car and decided I can no longer hang out with her... Time to protect my heart.
Glad you are getting an appt at the mc clinic soon.

 

[MLPotter]

Hello Mrs Moose,

I am going through something very similar to you, although with "only" 3 miscarriages. I have been referred by my GP for an appointment to St Mary's yesterday but read all over the internet that I can expect an appointment in about 10 weeks, then something like another 10-12 weeks of tests and waiting for results. I don't want to wait 6 months in total!!!


We could afford Dr Shetata but want to make sure it is worth it. We could get an appointment in 3 weeks, with blood tests sent out on the same day.

How did it go for you?

Good luck and thank you!

Melanie

 

[Hope39]

Melanie I seem Dr Shehata on nhs. My gp referred me. I got my appt thru in a week, seen him 4 weeks later and results 4 weeks after that so I got my diagnosis in 9 weeks. He doesn't do the TEG test that st Mary do xx

 

[Hope39]

Melanie there is a sticky thread at the top of the loss section, especially for us that have had 3 or more mc. Lots of us are under Dr Shehata and others have been to St Mary too.

You can ask lots of questions there and will get answers

The recurrent miscarriage thread is what you are looking foe

 

[FloatingKiss]

Hi Mrs Moose,
I'm so sorry that you are going through this... I know how you feel and its just awful... I'm currently going through my 3rd mc and I just want to dig a hole, jump in it and cry... horrible.

But... in answer to your question, I went to the recurrent miscarriage clinic in Birmingham after our 2nd mc. They have a new policy and will see people after 2mc's instead of 3 (which was what the other hospitals in our area was).

I have found them to be lovely.... they are helpful but like you have explained, I'm also a control freak and you really do have to 'let go' as they are very much in control!!! I've found them to be quite slow BUT that is purely because of the amount of people they are helping and the fact that their consultant is only there one friday every month....

I have heard of the clinics that you mentioned and I've also read about a really good book written by Lesley Regan.... a little complicated but very helpful.

I'd definately recommend you go and see them if you have the opportunity, they can give you hope and if that helps you get through this tough time, that is a very positive thing.

Wishing you all the luck in the world.
Sending you massive squiggy hugs.
FloatingKiss x