Recurrent Miscarriage Thread

[Smiler13]

Hi Cupcake Queen,

Sorry for your losses, that must be really hard especially after the other treatment and stuff.

There are a lot of other tests (not natural killer cells) that the NHS can do after 3 miscarriages, e.g. blood clotting and hormone tests. Some of us are being treated with progesterone supplements, aspirin and / or heparin, for example. It may be possible to be referred by your GP to a miscarriage specialist.

The NKC stuff is controversial and it'd perhaps be a good idea to read up on it before you take a decision. There is an NHS clinical trial being run by Prof Siobhan Quenby in Liverpool - links to information elsewhere on this thread I think, where they do a uterine biopsy. Though the criteria for the trial are quite tight, and some of us haven't qualified, and you have to have all the "standard" NHS tests done first. Other (all private) places do more general blood tests for the NKCs, which are expensive.

Some doctors believe in it, others don't agree with the science.

There is some information on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology website: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/fertility-treatment-options-reproductive-immunology.html

Best of luck with it all.

 

[bklove]

Cupcake Queen, sounds like they should look into what else may be going on. I am being treated for NKC and that was after a battery of tests. The steroids aren't great, but after 4 losses it seems to have done the trick. It is controversial, but it has worked for a few of us on bnb who was found to have elevated natural killer cells.

nickynoonoo I hope this one sticks to

 

[LeaArr]

I had my intake appointment at the RMC clinic yesterday. The doctors and nurses are lovely. Looks like next cycle is going to be interesting!

CD 3 and 21 bloods
Ultrasound
Genetic testing for both Nick and I
HSG

The doctor seemed very hopeful (but realistic and honest), that due to my age, they will figure this mystery out.

 

[fluffyblue]

Well sperm analysis was fine (for his age she said) bless him, slight sluggish swimmers but the quantity was 60mil so happy and 8% whatever that means

My haemotology appointment was a disaster as the doc couldnt even be bothered to turn up ! All she did was copy the notes off the screen and said she would write to me - I mean WTF. I asked if I got pregnant would I be treated as positive for APS and she said "thats not up to us its up to the professor but I would think so " - was really really angry !

 

[LeaArr]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at the appointment.

 

[WannaB]

I often wonder why they cant do some of these consults over the phone and save everyone some time, especially if they are going to be like that one! My gyno appointment could have been done on the phone too, it only involved a lot of questions, there was no examinaton! Would have saved me hours of travel time! Pfft to them fluffy, your three eggs will all get fertilized and you can be done will all the garbage!

 

[smidgen]

Has anyone been to Mr Shehata from the Miscarriage Clinic in London? We've decided we are sick of NHS waiting lists, time to get tests back etc that I called Mr Shehata's office this morning - am waiting on them calling me back with more info, costs, timescales etc. We've been to the NHS recurrent miscarriage clinic on 1st Feb - they took a pile of blood from me and one vial from OH. We got a letter last week saying the chromosome testing was fine although i have some abnormal cells due to my again ( I am 36) and the lupus anticoagulant test came back negative. The letter just states they will discuss further on 12th April. Surely they have done more tests than that??

 

[Smiler13]

Smidgen, I don't know much about Mr Shehata other than that he is one of the more "radical" doctors in that he tests and treats for "natural killer cells" found in the blood, which is controversial (some doctors / miscarriage specialists don't believe in the science and think that some of the tests exploit women).

I went to St Mary's privately after being disappointed with the tests and manner of the doctors at my local hospital, they are a renowned team, but more "conservative" re. things like the NKCs.

Would recommend Prof Lesley Regan's book on miscarriage which has lots of information about tests. The information on the basic NHS tests is on the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist's website.

Some links are below.

https://www.hfea.gov.uk/fertility-treatment-options-reproductive-immunology.html

https://www.rcog.org.uk/womens-heal...ent-miscarriage-what-rcog-guideline-means-you

 

[nickynoonoo]

Hello ladies

Just had all my results sheet including the rare anticoagulent test results back form B'ham Women's and everyhting normal.

I am now 6 weeks and hanging in there, although today I don't feel as nauseous so instead of enjoying it I am obviously panicing

My scan is next friday.

Smidgen I was referred to B'ham Womens and I got an appt very quickly. I think London waiting lists are probably longer. Hope you get seen soon

Fluffyblue sorry some people can be so crap. We have to take comfort from thinking we try to be better human being than them

WannaB how you doing??? I am so desperate for this pregnancy to work out for my dear OH, it would make us a lovely complete family.

 

[WannaB]

Nicky fab to see everything is humming along nicley for you hun! Im just plodding along planning my next bfp!

 

[jenny25]

hi girls i have my first appointment at the miscarriage clinic at queens hospital on thus i wa just wondering what happens at your first appointment and what can you expect to gain out of it x

 

[fluffyblue]

Quick question do you think I should ask for a HSG / Lap & Dye as this is the only thing I havent had done, despite my 5 mc im on my 22nd month of TTC (taking out the months I have been pregnant and lost which is about 7 months so nearly 3 years of TTC?

 

[WannaB]

You could. Mine wanted it done to look at the shape of my uterus, my tubes obiviously worked too as Ive had 3 mcs, so there must be something with the shape of your uterus that can cause mcs as well. He even said he wasnt bothered with my tubes, just part and parcel when looking for abnormalities of the uterus.

 

[Teddysbaby84]

I have lost my baby Back in November. The baby was going to be a girl </3 I keep changing my mind about trying again. I want to but afraid it will happen again. My Husband and I said we will try again in a few years but, I don't know!

 

[fifi-folle]

Hi girls
We've now had 3 early m/cs and are seeing my gynae in her fertility clinic in 4 weeks time. I have severe endo which I guess is probably what has caused the m/cs and I was just wondering what might be done.
I have also read about clotting disorders and baby aspirin, immune conditions and steroids but I have no idea what they might be able to do for us. I have had 2 laparoscopies and numerous u/s so we know my uterus is ok, and the 3 bfps show the tubes are clear. DH has had SA done and that's fine (that and the bfps) but for some reason the embryos don't stick. Any thoughts?

 

[WannaB]

With endo your hormones get confused, they can get pumped into the wrong place like your abdominal cavity instead of the uterus or you just dont pump them out at all and continue to cycle hence the early mcs, they should be able to give you progesterone pessaries after O to help with that. Endo normally buggers up your tubes so its great news they are all clear, Just got to tweak you at the other end now to get that sticky one. Bugs hugs to you, looks like both you and I will be trying for the fourth time lucky!

 

[fifi-folle]

Had my progesterone checked and it came back normal. I've done some more reading today and prostaglandins seem to fit with the early m/cs. Apparently with endo the endo deposits outwith the uterus can produce prostaglandins(the hormone like chemical that signals for the endometrium to shed) even though you are pregnant so just after when AF is due the lining is shed taking the embryo with it. Aspirin is one possible treatment for this as it blocks the prostaglandins. This is at least my understanding from what I have read. I will be asking my gynae when we see her. Don't think I have had prostaglandins checked, but apparently women with endo have really high levels.
Sorry for your losses WannaB, really hope the next one works out for you! Are you having tests done etc?

 

[WannaB]

I didnt know aspirin does that also, seems like such a handy little pill doesnt it! I knew with the endo the hormones dont get to the spot they need too and yeah everything just gets shed when it shouldnt, basically your body doesnt get the message that you are pregnant! When do you see your gyno next? As for me Ive had the usual run of the mill tests, hcg, US, bloods for all sorts, hsg and US were all good, just waiting on bloods now. Gyno put me on aspirin and progesterone and now we just wait and see hey!

 

[Smiler13]

Quick question do you think I should ask for a HSG / Lap & Dye as this is the only thing I havent had done, despite my 5 mc im on my 22nd month of TTC (taking out the months I have been pregnant and lost which is about 7 months so nearly 3 years of TTC?

Hi fluffy, it'd be worth at least asking. These tests, especially the lap and dye, are fairly expensive for the NHS, which I think seems to affect
the willingness of doctors to offer them. After a C-section and ERPC and lighter and lighter periods I wanted the HSG test, but my local specialist said it wasn't indicated. This was one of the main reasons I decided to go to St Mary's privately, where the doctor said it was the main test indicated!

In the end my results were fine, but was glad I had it done to rule out adhesions as a possible cause.

 

[Smiler13]

hi girls i have my first appointment at the miscarriage clinic at queens hospital on thus i wa just wondering what happens at your first appointment and what can you expect to gain out of it x

Hi Jenny, I hope the appointment goes well.

Not been to that hospital, but think that in general at the first appointment they tend to take a history of your losses and any other relevant health info(I found this hard, so wrote it all down in advance and gave it to the doctor, easier than explaining it verbally), explain what tests they are going to do and how long the results will take, and take lots of blood tests.

I only ever had one appointment at an NHS miscarriage clinic - there was no follow-up unless any of the test results was abnormal.

The tests done seem to vary by hospital - some hospitals do no hormone tests at all, while others do. Some will arrange more invasive tests, e.g. HSG (see Fluffy's post above), but mine did only the "basic" blood tests, which are explained on the RCOG website (link somewhere on here). I asked for a list of the specific blood tests that were being done, and for copies of my results, so I knew what had and hadn't been done.

Sometimes your partner is asked to come too, so that he can have a blood test done for genetic issues - my hospital didn't mention this in the letter, so it was lucky he came with me!

It is worth thinking in advance if you have any questions or have any worries, e.g. about a potential cause, or if you are keen to have a particular test.

Also, hospitals have different policies on what treatments they do / don't offer in different circumstances, especially if no abnormal results are found. Some hospitals will say "just try again", others might prescribe progesterone supplements (links to clinical trials on this elsewhere).

My hospital lost some of my test results so I had to have them repeated - grrr! Then a doctor was off on long-term sick and no-one checked my results - it took almost 5 months to get all of my results, so I complained. Once the tests have been done it is worth chasing up the results. Hope your hospital is more efficient!