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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

Hospital appoint after 4 mc-advice needed pls

5 replies

Giraffe32 · 16/06/2013 21:23

I ve my appointment tomorrow with the consultant as I ve had 4 mc and also 2 dd. I ve just turned 40 so I'm afraid I ll be fobbed off esp since I m on the larger side. Has anyone any advice of what I should be asking?

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Bakingtins · 16/06/2013 21:46

Hi giraffe. We're waiting for appt to come round after 4MCs and 3-in-a-row, but have already had most of the tests as we paid to see a consultant privately after MC3. GP did a lot of the testing for us on the NHS following the consultant's advice.
I'm sure you know that your age is not helping, but you can't make yourself any younger so I don't think it's helpful to focus on that ( I'm 38 btw so in the same boat). Do you know if any of your MC were due to chromosome problems? (as these are more likely to be age related than if you are losing for other reasons)
We had a chat about lifestyle factors, family medical history and then a load of mainly blood tests plus a scan for me. As I have children that meant I didn't need some of the tests for physical problems.
Both of us were karyotyped, then I had full blood count and ferritin, thyroid tests, panel of tests for APS + clotting, day 2 FSH/LH, anti mullerian hormone (this one not available on NHS) TORCH screen for infection and swabs.
The other thing you may want to ask about, although not provided by the NHS, is testing for autoimmune conditions and natural killer cells.
In my case as for 50% of RMCers nothing was found. Consultant was v positive about our chances but we've since had another identical loss. We're having the embryo tested hoping to find out if it's chromosome probs or if there's an immunity issue. V mixed feelings about where we go from here.
My feeling was if I hadn't had the tests I'd always wonder if there was something relatively simple like thyroid treatment or aspirin/heparin to improve our chances. If we'd been given a diagnosis that made the likelihood of success very poor we'd have stopped TTC and dealt with that. The grey area is difficult to come to terms with.
I hope whoever you see tomorrow is helpful and that you come away with a plan for moving forward. Let us know how it goes and come join the RNCers thread 7 further down this board.

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Giraffe32 · 17/06/2013 12:14

Thanks fir taking the time to answer, I ve jotted down the tests so at least I ll feel I can ask for these or ask why they aren't considering testing.I ll update this eve.

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Giraffe32 · 17/06/2013 22:17

Hi, Had my appointment and wasn't totally surprised at the consultants' attitude. He said everything will be fine next time but that seems to be what they tell everybody. I gave him my 'shopping list' as he disparagingly called it and he ruled out all but the APS and karyotype test which he said would come back fine but he did them after I insisted. To be frank, he was a complete as s!
I m thinking of going to see a specialist in London which is about as far away from my home as I could get so am going to mull it over for the next week or so. Had a friend who went there and she raves about him and has a little toddler to prove it.
Kind of stuck between really wanting another child and feeling completely stupid at even trying at my age. Was embarrassed when I mc last time so much so I didn't tell my mum or friends and made up some story about having the flu.
I agree that the grey area will be hard to deal with and I'm kind of expecting it but as you say best to rule out the simple things. If I get to that stage, I think I ll call it a day.
Wishing you all the best and thanks for your help.

Ps Struggling to find the RMC thread?!

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Bakingtins · 17/06/2013 22:29

We got the "everything will be fine" line too. I think it's something they teach them at miscarriage classes. It wasn't though. I assume the specialist in London is Dr shehata whom people seem to rave about? There is Prof Quenby in Liverpool/Coventry who is doing the same kind of work if that is nearer for you. I think the reproductive immunology will probably explain a lot of the unexplained MCs, but I'm not sure if I want to go down that route or not.
Sorry I can't link to the RMC thread as on iPad but it's called something like Recurrent miscarriage testing and tribulation - thread 7 and on this board.

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squizita · 18/06/2013 09:11

I cant believe some consultants' attitudes! It really seems a postcode lottery. Ironic people say they'll move away from the city for the sake of kids... In my case, living in a big city is making my journey smoother than otherwise. Even the doc managing my epu knew all the new research trials and was on the ball re unusual symptoms.

Makes my blood boil not everyone gets this! Angry Although they've said "you're more than likely to succeed" to me, they've never fobbed me off.

See if you can get a London NHS appointment. Maybe it's because the ambitious medics go there? I dunno. If not, mr Sahota seems to be the famous private one, and the St Mary's team have private practices.

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